RetroX can keep working when your device has no internet connection. Your games, collections, favorites, and save states are stored on your device first and synced to the cloud in the background, so losing the connection doesn’t stop you from playing.
Starting RetroX without an internet connection
Every time RetroX starts, it checks whether it can reach the RetroX servers. If the connection is not available, RetroX keeps trying for a few seconds before giving up. When RetroX is configured to start automatically on device boot, it waits a bit longer (up to 25 seconds), because the network may still be starting up.
If the servers still can’t be reached, you will see the message An active internet connection has not been found with two options:
- Continue offline: starts RetroX in offline mode.
- Retry connection: checks the connection again. This is useful if you have just switched to another network or restarted your router. If the connection still fails, the same message is shown again.
Pressing Back on this message closes RetroX.
How long can I use RetroX offline?
Each time RetroX logs in online, your device receives an offline pass. This pass is tied to your device and lets you use RetroX offline for a limited time, depending on your account type:
- Lifetime: 1 week.
- Subscription: 3 days.
- Trial: 2 days.
- Expired: 1 hour.
The offline period starts counting from your last online login, not from the moment you go offline. Every online login gives you a new offline pass, so if you connect regularly you will always have the full period available.
When the offline period is over, RetroX will ask you to connect to the internet to validate your license again. The offline pass can only be renewed with an internet connection.
The offline period is only checked when RetroX starts. If it expires while you are playing, nothing happens; you can keep playing until you close RetroX.
Note: a device that has never logged in online cannot be used offline. The first login (or a new device activation) always requires an internet connection.
What works offline
- Browsing your games and collections, including the artwork and game details that were already downloaded. A placeholder is shown when the artwork has not been downloaded yet.
- Playing any game whose files are already on your device or on your local network (for example, a NAS).
- Saving and loading save states.
- Adding or removing favorites, creating and editing collections, and voting on games.
- The list of recently played games.
All the changes you make offline are kept on your device and are uploaded automatically once the connection is back. You don’t need to do anything to sync them. If the same save state was changed on two devices, the most recent one is kept.
What requires an internet connection
- The first login, and activating a new device.
- Downloading games, emulators, or any additional files a game needs. If a game needs something that is not on your device yet, RetroX will tell you that an internet connection is required.
- Downloading themes, backgrounds, and artwork.
- Connecting to cloud storage services like Dropbox or Google Drive.
- Renewing your offline pass after it expires.
If you have any problem using RetroX offline, please check our Troubleshooting page or see How to help fix issues on RetroX.