# Getting Started New to Provenance? This walkthrough takes you from installation to playing your first game, step by step. *** ## Step 1: Install Provenance {% tabs %} {% tab title="iPhone / iPad" %} 1. Open the **App Store** 2. Search for **"Provenance"** or tap: [Provenance on App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/provenance-app/id1596862805) 3. Tap **Get** (it's free — \~2.5 GB download) 4. Once installed, tap **Open** {% endtab %} {% tab title="Apple TV" %} 1. On your Apple TV, open the **App Store** 2. Search for **"Provenance"** 3. Select **Get** (it's free) 4. Once installed, open Provenance from the Home Screen **Tip:** You'll need a Bluetooth controller — the Siri Remote can navigate menus but not play games. See [Apple TV Guide](https://wiki.provenance-emu.com/platforms-and-performance/tvos-guide). {% endtab %} {% tab title="Mac (Apple Silicon)" %} 1. Open the **App Store** on your Mac 2. Search for **"Provenance"** 3. Click **Get** (it's free) 4. Launch from Applications or Launchpad **Requires:** macOS 13.0+ on Apple Silicon (M1 or later). {% endtab %} {% endtabs %} {% hint style="success" %} That's it for installation. No developer account, no sideloading, no Xcode required. {% endhint %} **Want to sideload or build from source instead?** See [Alternative Installation Methods](https://wiki.provenance-emu.com/getting-started/installing-provenance/advanced). *** ## Step 2: Get Your Game Files Ready Provenance plays ROMs — digital copies of game cartridges and discs. You'll need: 1. **ROM files** for the games you want to play 2. **BIOS files** (only for certain systems — see below) ### Which systems need BIOS files? Most systems work without any BIOS. These popular systems **do NOT need BIOS** — just drop in ROMs and play: * NES, SNES, N64, Game Boy, GBC, GBA, Genesis, Game Gear, Neo Geo Pocket, Atari 2600/7800 These systems **require BIOS files** before games will run: * PlayStation (3 BIOS files) * Sega CD (3 BIOS files) * Sega Saturn (3 BIOS files) * TurboGrafx-CD, Atari Lynx, Atari 5200, ColecoVision **Full list with filenames and MD5 hashes:** [BIOS Requirements](https://wiki.provenance-emu.com/getting-started/bios-requirements) {% hint style="warning" %} Import BIOS files **before** importing ROMs for that system. Provenance auto-detects them by MD5 hash — filenames don't matter. {% endhint %} ### Supported ROM formats | Format | Type | Best for | | --------------- | --------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | | `.zip` | Compressed single ROM | Most cartridge games | | `.7z` | Compressed single ROM | Most cartridge games | | `.chd` | Compressed disc image | CD-based games (PS1, Sega CD, etc.) | | `.cue` + `.bin` | Disc image pair | CD-based games (keep both files together) | | `.iso` | Disc image | PSP, some CD systems | **Full formatting guide:** [Formatting ROMs](https://wiki.provenance-emu.com/using-provenance/roms/formatting-roms) *** ## Step 3: Import Your First Game Pick the method that works best for you: {% tabs %} {% tab title="AirDrop (Fastest)" %} **Mac to iPhone/iPad — the quickest way to get started.** 1. On your Mac, find your ROM file (e.g., `SuperMarioWorld.zip`) 2. Right-click → **Share** → **AirDrop** 3. Select your iPhone/iPad 4. On your device, tap **Provenance** when prompted 5. The game appears in your library automatically {% endtab %} {% tab title="Files App" %} **Works with iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive, or local storage.** 1. Save your ROM to the **Files** app (iCloud Drive, local, or any cloud provider) 2. Open **Files**, find your ROM 3. Tap and hold → **Share** → **Copy to Provenance** 4. The game appears in your library {% endtab %} {% tab title="Web Browser" %} **Import from built-in web server (great for bulk transfers).** 1. Open Provenance and tap the **+** button (or Settings → Import/Export) 2. Note the IP address shown (e.g., `http://192.168.1.42`) 3. On your computer, open that URL in a browser 4. Click **Imports**, then drag and drop ROM files 5. Games appear in your library when the upload finishes **WebDAV option:** Connect to `http://[device-ip]:81` from Finder (Mac) or any WebDAV client. {% endtab %} {% tab title="Safari Download" %} **Download directly on your device.** 1. Open Safari on your iPhone/iPad 2. Download a ROM file from your source 3. Tap the downloaded file in Safari's download bar 4. Choose **Open in Provenance** {% endtab %} {% endtabs %} {% hint style="info" %} **Importing BIOS files** works the same way — just AirDrop, copy, or upload them. Provenance auto-detects BIOS files by their contents and puts them in the right place. {% endhint %} **Detailed guide:** [Importing ROMs](https://wiki.provenance-emu.com/using-provenance/importing-roms) *** ## Step 4: Play! 1. Your imported game appears in the **Library** with cover art (auto-matched) 2. **Tap the game** to launch it 3. Use **on-screen controls** or a connected **Bluetooth controller** 4. To pause, tap the **Menu** button (top of screen) for save states, settings, and quit options ### Essential controls while playing | Action | On-screen | Controller | | --------------- | -------------------- | -------------------- | | Pause / Menu | Tap pause button | Press Menu / Options | | Save state | Pause → Save State | — | | Load state | Pause → Load State | — | | Fast forward | Pause → Fast Forward | — | | Quit to library | Pause → Quit | — | *** ## Step 5: Make It Yours Now that you're playing, here are ways to improve the experience: ### Connect a controller Physical controllers make a huge difference. Any MFi or Bluetooth controller works: * **Best overall:** PlayStation DualSense, Xbox Wireless Controller * **Best for iPhone:** Razer Kishi V2, Backbone One (clip-on style) * **Budget-friendly:** 8BitDo SN30 Pro **Full guide:** [Controllers & Controls](https://wiki.provenance-emu.com/using-provenance/controllers-and-controls) ### Customize your on-screen controls Don't like the default buttons? **Skins** are free custom controller overlays: 1. Visit [DeltaStyles.com](https://deltastyles.com) on your device 2. Download a skin for your system (`.deltaskin` file) 3. Tap the file → **Open in Provenance** 4. Apply in Settings → Controller Skins **Full guide:** [Skins Guide](https://wiki.provenance-emu.com/using-provenance/skins-guide) ### Sync across devices (optional) **Provenance Plus** ($3.99/month, $39.99/year, or $99.99 lifetime) syncs your library, saves, and settings across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV via iCloud. **Apple TV users:** iCloud sync is included free! *** ## Quick Reference | Task | Where | | ------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Import games | **+** button in Library, or AirDrop / Files | | Change controls | Settings → Controller Skins | | Connect controller | Pair via Bluetooth (Settings → Bluetooth) | | Save/load state | Pause menu during gameplay | | Check BIOS status | Settings → Cores → \[System name] | | Get help | [Troubleshooting](https://wiki.provenance-emu.com/help-and-community/troubleshooting) or [Discord](https://discord.gg/provenance) | *** ## Troubleshooting First-Time Setup
Game doesn't appear after importing 1. Check the file format — must be a [supported ROM format](https://wiki.provenance-emu.com/using-provenance/roms/formatting-roms) 2. Pull down to refresh the library 3. Force quit Provenance and reopen 4. If importing via web server, wait for the upload to fully complete before navigating away
"Missing BIOS" or game shows black screen The system requires BIOS files. Check [BIOS Requirements](https://wiki.provenance-emu.com/getting-started/bios-requirements) for the exact files needed, then import them the same way you imported ROMs. Verify in Settings → Cores that the BIOS shows as detected (green).
Game runs slowly * Close other apps running in the background * Try a different emulator core (long-press game → Game Settings → Core) * Some systems (N64, PSP, Dreamcast, 3DS) need newer hardware — see [Performance Optimization](https://wiki.provenance-emu.com/platforms-and-performance/performance-optimization)
No sound * Check your device isn't in Silent Mode (flip the side switch on iPhone) * Make sure volume is up * Check that no Bluetooth audio device is connected unexpectedly
Controller not working * Ensure the controller is paired in Settings → Bluetooth * Open a game, pause → check controller is assigned to Player 1 * See [Controllers Guide](https://wiki.provenance-emu.com/using-provenance/controllers-and-controls) for setup details
*** {% hint style="success" %} **Need more help?** Check the [Troubleshooting Guide](https://wiki.provenance-emu.com/help-and-community/troubleshooting), browse the [FAQ](https://wiki.provenance-emu.com/faqs), or join the [Provenance Discord](https://discord.gg/provenance). {% endhint %} --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://wiki.provenance-emu.com/getting-started/getting-started.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.