# Fast Forward

Fast forward lets you speed up emulation — perfect for RPG grinding, slow dialogue, unskippable cutscenes, or just getting through menus quickly.

***

## How to Use

### Toggle from Pause Menu

1. Open the **pause menu** during gameplay (Menu button / `~` key)
2. Select **Fast Forward**
3. The game runs at increased speed
4. Open the pause menu again and toggle off to return to normal speed

### Controller Shortcut

You can assign a fast forward toggle to a physical controller button:

1. Go to Settings → **Controllers**
2. Set a **Fast Forward** shortcut button
3. Press the assigned button during gameplay to toggle fast forward on/off without opening the pause menu

***

## Speed

Fast forward speed varies by core and device performance:

| Factor              | Impact                                            |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
| **Emulator core**   | Each core has its own maximum fast forward speed  |
| **Device hardware** | Newer devices can sustain higher speeds           |
| **Game complexity** | Simple 2D games fast forward faster than 3D games |
| **Screen filters**  | Disabling filters increases maximum speed         |

**Typical speeds:**

* **Simple systems** (NES, Game Boy, GBA): 4-8x or higher
* **Medium systems** (SNES, Genesis, PS1): 2-4x
* **Complex systems** (N64, PSP, Dreamcast): 1.5-3x
* **Heavy systems** (3DS, GameCube): Limited speed increase

{% hint style="info" %}
Fast forward runs the emulator as fast as your device can handle — there's no configurable speed cap. The actual speed depends on how much headroom your device has beyond real-time emulation.
{% endhint %}

***

## Core Support

Most cores support fast forward:

| Core Type                  | Fast Forward | Notes                 |
| -------------------------- | ------------ | --------------------- |
| **RetroArch cores**        | Yes          | Most systems          |
| **PPSSPP** (PSP)           | Yes          |                       |
| **emuThreeDS** (3DS)       | Limited      | Performance-dependent |
| **Dolphin** (GameCube/Wii) | Limited      | Performance-dependent |
| **Native cores**           | Varies       | Check per-core        |

***

## Tips

* **RPG grinding** — Fast forward through random battles and level-up animations
* **Visual novels / text games** — Speed through already-read dialogue
* **Unskippable cutscenes** — Get past long intros and transitions
* **Save before fast forwarding** — Create a save state first in case you need to go back
* **Disable filters for max speed** — Turning off CRT/LCD filters frees up GPU for faster emulation

{% hint style="warning" %}
**RetroAchievements Hardcore Mode** disables fast forward. If you're achievement hunting in Hardcore, you'll need to play at normal speed. Switch to Softcore mode to use fast forward while still earning achievements.
{% endhint %}

***

## Rewind

Provenance does **not** currently support rewind (frame-by-frame backwards playback). Use **save states** as an alternative — save before difficult sections and reload if needed.

***

## See Also

* [In-Game Menu](/using-provenance/in-game-menu.md) — All pause menu features
* [Performance Optimization](/platforms-and-performance/performance-optimization.md) — Get better performance for higher fast forward speeds
* [RetroAchievements](/using-provenance/retroachievements.md) — Hardcore mode disables fast forward

***

{% hint style="info" %}
Need help? Ask on [Discord](https://discord.gg/provenance).
{% endhint %}


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