- Platforms
Downloads
Windows
DuckStation needs VC++ runtime to be installed before we install DuckStation, so get both of them below.
Android
- APK available for Android
- Supports: ARMv7, AArch64, x86_64
- Best: 64-bit devices
32-bit: Needs ≥1.5 GHz CPU
Linux
- AppImage: Needs Ubuntu 22.04+; download from below, run
chmod a+xthen execute. Flatpak: Not recommended; deprecated as of 2025-07-26. Use AppImage instead.
macOS
Universal macOS builds available — supports x86_64 (Intel) & ARM64 (Apple Silicon); requires macOS Big Sur (11.0) or later.
- Platforms
DuckStation PS1 Emulator – Features
Prior to sharing the installation and usage steps, let us have a look at the primary features of Duckstation PS1 Emulator.
- Edit/save from memory card
- Emulated CPU overclocking
- Auto updates
- Auto-scanning for the content
- Support for both Analog & Digital controllers
- Preset controller configurations for different games
- Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Avoids disk sleeping disruptions by preloading disc images in RAM
- Save-state support
- Unparalleled blending abilities
- Hardware rendering with upscaling, true color, and texture filtering
- CPU Recompiler/JIT
- Screen rotation support
- Read directly from CD, images, MAME CHD, ECM single track, and more
- Supports auto-load for PPF patches
- Cheat codes support
- Support available on Discord
- Supports up to 8 multi-tap controllers
- Availability of free camera function
- Fast-boot available
With the above set of cool features, certainly the next question will be regarding the minimum system requirements. Check the same below.
Minimum System Requirements
- CPU requires to be x86_64, AArch32/armv7, AArch64/ARMv8, or RISC-V/RV64.
- A GPU capable of OpenGL 3.1/OpenGL ES 3.1/Direct3D 11 Feature Level 10.0 (or Vulkan 1.0) and above.
- SDL, X-Input, or D-Input compatible game controller.
- Platforms
PS1 Emulator Information
Emulator Name | DuckStation PS1 Emulator |
Developer | Stenzek |
Platform | Windows, Android, Linux, & macOS |
Price | Free |
Latest version | Released Today |
Emulator size | 64.4 MB |
Release | Today |
Other Names | PS1 Emulator, PSX Emulator |
Category | Entertainment |
Age Rating | 4.3+ |
Downloads | 1M+ |
Downloads
Download DuckStation PS1 Emulator (Windows / macOS / Linux / Android)
Windows
- First, you need to navigate to the website duckstation-emulator.org
- Now, depending upon what platform you are downloading Duckstation, you can choose from Windows, Android, or Other Platforms.
- For convenience’s sake, we will go ahead with Windows.
- On the next screen, if you do not have Visual C++ Redistributable installed on your PC, tap on Download VC++ RT. Else, please tap on Download Duck.
- Make sure you have 7Zip extractor installed on your PC as well.
- Go to the downloaded DuckStation compressed file on your desktop and extract the contents using 7Zip.
- Go to the extracted folder and create a new folder inside it named bios.
- You can easily locate PS1 Bios by a simple web search. Download the same to your PC and again extract the contents using 7Zip.
- The BIOS file should be read as SCPH1001.BIN. Move this to the bios folder.
- Now you can go ahead and open the emulator from the app icon present in the folder.
macOS
- Make sure you have macOS Big Sur or above.
- From the above provided official links, download the DuckStation MAC Release ZIP file.
Android
- Android users can download the DuckStation app directly from Google Play or you can scroll to top to find the latest links download.
Linux
You can download the App Image for Linux from the above-mentioned download links of DuckStation and use it like an executable.
Set up DuckStation [How-To]
Follow the steps below to set up the DuckStation PS1 Emulator
How to add games
- Launch the DuckStation emulator from the application icon present in the extracted contents.
- Make sure you have a PS1 ROM file for any game ready on your system. You can get it easily via a web search.
- Extract the contents of the ROM file, and you will see two files, viz, BIN & CUE, in it.
- Create a new folder, preferably titled ” PS1 game, and copy the extracted contents of the ROM file into it.
- Go to the Emulator main screen and tap on Add Game Directory and choose the PS1 Games directory that you created.
- Tap on Yes when prompted for a directory scan.
- You will see your games listed in front.
Display Settings
- Under the side menu options, tap on Display.
- Here, under the Renderer, you can leave Hardware D3D11. However, if you face issues while playing your game, you can come back here and choose from other options to see if that fixes the issue.
- For Adapter settings, leave it as Default if your PC has a graphics card. It will automatically get picked up.
- Turn ON the option of V-Sync so that you do not see any screen tears while playing your game.
- Similarly, you can change the Aspect Ratio according to your needs and even select several options like Resolution, FPS, Controller Input, and CPU/GPU usage to present themselves on the display as statistics.
How to Set Up BIOS
- In the emulator app, go to Settings > BIOS.
- Under the BIOS directory, tap on Browse.
- Select the BIOS directory that you created in the extracted contents of the DuckStation Emulator folder.
- After selecting the folder, under the BIOS Selection option, you will see your BIOS file present in the drop-down.
Enhancement Settings
- Under here, you can set up the resolution up to 1080p, 1440p, and even 4K.
- Change the setting of Texture Filtering to XBR (very slow) to smooth the game textures.
Setup the Controller in DuckStation PS1 Emulator
- First, Go to Settings > Controller.
- You can use PS5/PS4 and even Xbox Series controllers.
- Make sure your controller is connected to the PC via Bluetooth prior to opening the DuckStation emulator.
- Next, on the emulator, under the Controller settings, go to Controller Port 1 Analog Controller.
- You will see that initially, the actions are mapped to your keyboard. You require changing it to the controller.
- To change, just tap on the action and hit the corresponding controller button to change the mapping to the controller.
- Once you are done mapping the controller, tap on New Profile and give a name for the controller profile.
In case you have a second controller connected, you can repeat the settings under the option of Controller Port 2 Analog Controller.- That’s it. Enjoy PS1 Games to the fullest with our favorite DuckStation Emulator.
Final Check Before Launching Game
- Go to Settings > General.
- Under Game Display, tap on Start Fullscreen.
That’s it! You are all done. Tap on the loaded game now to start playing.
- Screenshots
See Duck Station Emulator in Action!
Most Popular DuckStation Emulator
- FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Q – Is DuckStation PS1 Emulator compatible with Android?
Yes! However, for Android, support is not available.
Q – What are the prerequisites for installing DuckStation PS1 Emulator?
You should have the Visual Redistributable C++ & 7Zip tool installed on PC.
Q – How to download PS1 Games BIOS?
A simple web search can put you in possession of the BIOS that you require.
Q – Does DuckStation Emulator support controllers?
Yes! You can easily connect and map controllers to the emulator.
Q – Could I use cheat codes while playing games on Duck Station?
Yes! The emulator supports cheat codes.
Q – Does the emulator allow me to save different controller profiles?
Yes! You can store different profiles with different control mappings.
Q – Will DuckStation work on my macOS?
The OS version should be macOS Big Sur and above for the emulator to work.
Q – How to update the emulator?
The emulator supports auto-updates, so you don’t have to worry about them.
Conclusion
DuckStation brings the golden era of PlayStation back to life with ease. It’s lightweight, runs smoothly, and supports controllers right out of the box. Whether you’re reliving your favorite childhood adventures alone or casting them onto a bigger screen, DuckStation makes PS1 gaming simple, reliable, and fun.
DuckStation – Fast PS1 Emulator.
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