R36S Custom Firmware

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ℹ️
Info
Refer to the Guides section or the provided links below for help with installing / flashing these firmwares.
ℹ️
Info
The recommended Firmwares are Community Maintained ArkOS and AmberELEC.

StockOS

StockOS
Description The R36S is shipped with different versions of ArkOS. Some resellers even have their own boot logo. Not recommended to use.
❌ Cons
  • Outdated
  • Missing features
  • Possible corrupted files because of the bad SD cards quality

Custom Firmware for the EmuELEC Clone

Custom Firmware for EmuELEC Clone Devices
Description Some R36S clones do not support the standard ArkOS or AmberELEC custom firmware.

For more information and download links, please refer to the R36S Clones section.


ArkOS Community Maintained Image

ArkOS Community Maintained Image for the R36S
Website: https://aeolusux.github.io/ArkOS-R3XS/
Latest version ArkOS-R3XS.png
Download ⬇️ GitHub Releases

⬇️ Older Versions on Mega

Wiki / Documentation / FAQ / How-To ArkOS Wiki

FAQ for RG351MP

Changelogs (includes instructions for added features) R3XS Changelog & Features Update
ArkOS Screenshots/Options/Tools R36S ArkOS Screenshot Gallery
Hotkeys Global & Emulator Event Keys
✅ Pros
  • R36S optimized ArkOS version
  • Very good performance
  • Lots of features
  • Frequent updates
  • Great customization options
  • Fast boot time (~16 seconds)
❌ Cons
  • Overlays need to be manually enabled

MyMinUI

MyMinUI for the R36S
MyMinUI running on the R36S
Latest version MyMinUI.png
Download / Instructions ⬇️ GitHub Download & Instructions
Description A simple alternative to EmulationStation (used in ArkOS).

It installs on top of ArkOS and can easily be disabled if you prefer to return to EmulationStation. Instructions are included in the download. Works only on ArkOS devices.

✅ Pros
  • Very minimalistic
  • Easy to install on top of ArkOS
  • Easy to switch back to ArkOS
❌ Cons
  • Lots of missing features
  • Different rom folder path

AmberELEC

AmberELEC
Website: https://amberelec.org
Latest version
Download ⬇️ GitHub Pre-release Downloads
Documentation / FAQ Getting Started Guide

FAQ Page

Hotkeys Controls & Hotkeys Reference
✅ Pros
  • Very good performance
  • Lots of features
  • Overlays are enabled by default
  • Newer emulationstation
  • Better theme support
  • Most emulator settings can be changed in emulationstation
❌ Cons
  • No official support for newer screen panels
  • Slower update cycle
  • FN button not mapped for hotkeys
  • Slower boot time (~25 seconds)
  • No easy way to change boot logo and loading screen

PAN4ELEC

PAN4ELEC (Custom AmberELEC for Panel 4 Devices)
Website: https://github.com/Kegg1701/P4ELEC
Description Unofficial AmberELEC build by KEgg for the most recent Panel 4 (V5) devices.

Includes additional features and general usability improvements.

Latest version P4ELEC.png
Download ⬇️ GitHub Releases
Documentation / FAQ Reddit Announcement & Guide
✅ Pros
  • R36S optimized AmberELEC version
  • Very good performance
  • Lots of features
  • Overlays are enabled by default
  • Newer emulationstation version
  • Great standard theme with lots of options
  • Better theme support
  • Most emulator settings can be changed in emulationstation
❌ Cons
  • Only Screen Panel 4 is supported officially
  • Slower boot time (~25 seconds)
  • No easy way to change boot logo and loading screen

ArkOS

ArkOS for the R36S
Website: https://github.com/christianhaitian/arkos/wiki
Latest version arkos.png
Download ⬇️ Official GitHub Download Page

⬇️ Reddit Announcement & Download Info

Documentation / FAQ ArkOS Wiki & Setup Guide
Hotkeys Global & Emulator Hotkeys

cHAos multi panel R3xS

cHAos Multi Panel R3xS
Website: https://github.com/tech4bot
Description Debug image that supports three different display panels.

It is a fork of AmberELEC.

Download ⬇️ GitHub Releases
Documentation / FAQ AmberELEC Getting Started Guide


ROCKNIX

ROCKNIX for the R36S
Website: https://rocknix.org/
Community Discussion Reddit thread discussing ROCKNIX on R36S
Download ⬇️ GitHub Releases
Documentation / FAQ ROCKNIX Wiki & Setup Guide


JELOS

JELOS (Just Enough Linux OS)
Website: https://github.com/JustEnoughLinuxOS/distribution
Status

The JELOS project has come to an end, however the sources will continue to be made available. Binaries are no longer provided.

Continuation ROCKNIX is a continuation of JELOS.
Source Code GitHub Repository

UnofficialOS

UnofficialOS for the R36S
Website: https://github.com/RetroGFX/UnofficialOS
Last Update February 7, 2025
Download ⬇️ GitHub Releases
Documentation / FAQ View the Wiki

Lakka

Lakka on the R36S
Website: https://www.lakka.tv/
Description Outdated / lightweight Linux distribution with the RetroArch interface.

Booting directly into RetroArch is also possible on ArkOS (see FAQ).

Download ⬇️ Download from Lakka.tv
Documentation / FAQ Lakka Docs and FAQ

Xorg

Xorg on the R36S
Website: https://github.com/OkJacket2022/R36S-Xorg
Description XFCE, LXDE, and LXQT Desktop Environment for the R36S
Download ⬇️ GitHub Releases
Documentation / FAQ View the Wiki
Video Guide
Load video
YouTube

Gentoo

Gentoo for the R36S
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AAjIPa1W1g
How-To Gentoo for R36S Status Update & How-To

Firmware and SD Card Test

A short test that compares the boot time and GBA/SNES performance of various firmwares and SD cards. I am too lazy to copy over the site, so here's a link to the old R36S Wiki on GitHub:

https://github.com/manster-zz/R36S-LINKS/wiki/Firmware-and-SD-Card-Test

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