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How to Play PS1 Games on Android: Complete BIOS Setup Guide

Step-by-step guide to setting up PS1 emulation on Android. Install the BIOS, configure DuckStation or RetroArch, and start playing PlayStation games on your phone.

PS1 BIOS Team
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5 min read

PS1 on Android in 2024

Playing PlayStation 1 games on Android has never been easier. Modern phones easily outpace PS1 hardware — even a mid-range device handles everything at full speed. The main requirement is the PS1 BIOS file, which this guide covers in full.

Best PS1 Emulators for Android

The best PS1 emulator for Android. Excellent compatibility, hardware rendering, widescreen support, and active updates.

Download: Get the APK from the DuckStation GitHub releases page (search “duckstation android apk”).

RetroArch with PCSX-ReARMed

Best if you want to emulate multiple systems from one app. Use the PCSX-ReARMed core for PS1 on most Android devices — it’s optimized for mobile.

Download: Available on Google Play and the RetroArch website.

Step 1: Download the PS1 BIOS File

The BIOS file is required by both DuckStation and RetroArch. Download SCPH1001.BIN from this site — it’s the most compatible option for Android.

Save the file somewhere you can easily find it, such as:

Internal Storage/Downloads/SCPH1001.BIN

Step 2: Setup for DuckStation

  1. Install DuckStation APK — allow “Install from Unknown Sources” if prompted
  2. Open DuckStation → tap the ☰ menu → Settings
  3. Tap BIOS Settings → tap BIOS Directory
  4. Navigate to your Downloads folder (or wherever you saved the BIOS)
  5. Tap the folder that contains the .BIN file (don’t tap the file itself — select the folder)
  6. DuckStation detects SCPH1001.BIN automatically

Create a dedicated BIOS folder for clarity:

Internal Storage/Emulation/BIOS/SCPH1001.BIN

Load Your First Game

  1. Main screen → tap + (Add Games)
  2. Navigate to your PS1 game folder
  3. Tap the game to launch it

Step 3: Setup for RetroArch (Android)

  1. Install RetroArch from Google Play or the official APK
  2. Download the core:
    • Main Menu → Load Core → Download a Core
    • Find Sony PlayStation → Download PCSX-ReARMed
  3. Place the BIOS file:
    • Copy SCPH1001.BIN to /storage/emulated/0/RetroArch/system/
    • Use any file manager app
  4. Verify BIOS: Load the PCSX-ReARMed core, then Main Menu → Information → Core Information → BIOS section should show the file as “found”

Load a Game in RetroArch

Main Menu → Load Content → navigate to your game file → select it.

DuckStation

  • Renderer: Vulkan (best performance on most phones)
  • Internal Resolution: 2x for mid-range, 4x for flagship phones
  • PGXP: Enable for much cleaner 3D graphics
  • Controller: Works with Bluetooth controllers automatically. On-screen controls available in Settings → Controllers.

RetroArch (PCSX-ReARMed)

  • Renderer: OpenGLES 3 or Vulkan
  • Resolution: 1x or 2x on mid-range devices
  • On-screen overlay: Settings → On-Screen Display → Overlay → enable and choose a PS1 gamepad layout

Using a Physical Controller on Android

PS1 games are much better with a real controller. Options:

Bluetooth controllers:

  • Xbox Wireless Controller — works plug-and-play
  • PlayStation DualSense / DualShock 4 — excellent Android support
  • 8BitDo controllers — great PS1 button layout

USB controllers:

  • Any USB controller with an OTG cable works on Android

Both DuckStation and RetroArch auto-detect controllers. No extra configuration needed for standard controllers.

Compatible Game Formats

DuckStation and RetroArch on Android support:

FormatNotes
.isoMost common, works everywhere
.bin + .cueMulti-file format — keep both in same folder
.chdCompressed format — smaller files, recommended
.pbpPSP conversion format — also works
.imgSimilar to ISO

.CHD format is recommended — it compresses PS1 disc images by 30–50% with no quality loss. Use chdman tool (PC) to convert ISO to CHD.

Troubleshooting Android

“Failed to initialize” on DuckStation
→ Grant storage permissions in Android Settings → Apps → DuckStation → Permissions.

BIOS not detected
→ Make sure you selected the folder containing the BIOS, not the BIOS file itself. Also confirm the filename is SCPH1001.BIN (all caps and exact spelling).

Game runs slow
→ Lower internal resolution to 1x. Disable PGXP. Try PCSX-ReARMed core instead of Beetle PSX on RetroArch.

On-screen controls covering the game
→ In DuckStation, go to Settings → Controllers → Port 1 → Touchscreen → adjust button opacity or position.

No sound
→ Check that your phone volume isn’t muted. In DuckStation, Settings → Audio → ensure the output is set correctly.

Performance Expectations by Device

Device TierDuckStation Settings
Budget (Snapdragon 6xx)1x resolution, software or OpenGL
Mid-range (Snapdragon 7xx)2x-3x, Vulkan, PGXP on
Flagship (Snapdragon 8xx)5x-8x, Vulkan, all enhancements on

PS1 games are not demanding — even budget phones can handle them. The enhancements like high resolution and PGXP are optional extras that improve visual quality.

Ready to Start

Download your BIOS file, set up your emulator of choice, and you’re ready to play. The downloads page has all PS1 BIOS versions available for free.

All guides Download BIOS →