January 15, 2025 Tutorial

Getting Started with Your First R36S

This comprehensive guide walks you through everything you need to know to get started with your R36S handheld - from unboxing to playing your first game in under 30 minutes.

Introduction

Congratulations on getting your R36S retro gaming handheld! Whether you're new to retro gaming or upgrading from another device, this tutorial will help you set up your R36S properly and start playing games quickly.

By the end of this guide, you'll know how to charge your device, insert SD cards, navigate the menu system, and launch your first game. We'll also cover essential first-time setup tips to ensure optimal performance.

Unboxing and Initial Inspection

What's in the Box

When you unbox your R36S, you should find the following items:

⚠️ Important

Check your device for any physical damage immediately upon arrival. Test all buttons by pressing them gently to ensure they click properly. Report any issues to your seller within 24-48 hours.

Initial Battery Charge

Before first use, it's recommended to fully charge your R36S. Connect the USB-C cable to the port on the top of the device and plug it into a 5V/2A USB charger or computer USB port.

The charging indicator light (usually red or orange) will turn on while charging and may turn green or blue when fully charged. A full charge typically takes 2-3 hours from empty.

💡 Pro Tip

You can use the device while it's charging, but letting it complete a full charge cycle before first use helps calibrate the battery indicator for more accurate readings.

Understanding the SD Card Setup

Dual SD Card System

The R36S features two MicroSD card slots located on the bottom of the device:

Most R36S units come with at least the TF1 card pre-installed with a custom firmware like ArkOS or a stock system. The TF2 card may or may not be included depending on your purchase.

Inserting the SD Cards

  1. Power off the device: Make sure the R36S is completely turned off before inserting or removing SD cards.
  2. Locate the card slots: On the bottom edge of the device, you'll find two MicroSD card slots labeled TF1 and TF2.
  3. Insert TF1 first: Gently push the OS card into the TF1 slot until it clicks into place. The metal contacts should face down.
  4. Insert TF2 (if you have one): Repeat the process for your game card in the TF2 slot.

⚠️ Important

Always power off the device before inserting or removing SD cards. Removing cards while the system is running can corrupt data and damage your save files.

First Power-On and Navigation

Turning On the Device

With your SD card(s) properly inserted, press and hold the POWER button (usually located on the top right edge) for 2-3 seconds. You should see the screen light up with a boot logo.

The first boot may take longer than usual (30-60 seconds) as the system initializes. Subsequent boots will be much faster (10-20 seconds).

Understanding the Interface

Once booted, you'll see the main menu interface. The exact look depends on your firmware, but most R36S devices use either:

💡 Pro Tip

Spend a few minutes exploring the menu system before adding games. Familiarize yourself with how to navigate between systems, access settings, and exit games. This will save you frustration later.

Basic Button Controls

Button/Control Function in Menu Common In-Game Use
D-Pad Navigate menus Movement (varies by game)
A Button Confirm / Select Usually Jump or Action
B Button Back / Cancel Usually Attack or Secondary Action
SELECT + START N/A Opens RetroArch menu
SELECT + R1 N/A Save state (quick save)
SELECT + L1 N/A Load state (quick load)

Playing Your First Game

Finding Pre-loaded Games

If your R36S came with a game card (TF2), it likely has some games pre-loaded. Navigate through the system list using the D-pad or analog stick to find different console categories like:

Launching a Game

  1. Select a system: Use D-pad to highlight a console system (e.g., "Game Boy Advance")
  2. Press A to enter: This opens the game list for that system
  3. Choose a game: Scroll through the list and highlight a game you want to play
  4. Press A to launch: The game will load (may take 5-10 seconds)

✅ Success!

If you see the game running on screen, congratulations! You've successfully launched your first game on the R36S. The controls should work immediately, though you may want to adjust button mappings later.

Exiting a Game

To exit a game and return to the menu:

  1. Press SELECT + START: This opens the RetroArch quick menu
  2. Navigate to "Close Content" or "Quit RetroArch"
  3. Press A to confirm

Alternatively, some firmwares allow you to hold the POWER button for 3 seconds to force-quit back to the menu, but this should be used as a last resort.

💡 Pro Tip

Before exiting a game, use SELECT + R1 to create a save state. This lets you resume exactly where you left off next time, even in games without built-in save features.

Essential First-Time Settings

Adjusting Screen Brightness

To conserve battery and reduce eye strain, adjust the screen brightness to a comfortable level:

Recommended brightness: 60-80% for indoor use, 90-100% for outdoor use.

Setting Audio Volume

Use the volume wheel on the top of the device to adjust audio. Set it to a comfortable level before putting on headphones to avoid sudden loud sounds.

Configuring Wi-Fi (If Available)

Some R36S models and firmwares support Wi-Fi for online features, updates, and scraping game metadata:

  1. Navigate to Settings → Network or Wi-Fi
  2. Enable Wi-Fi if it's turned off
  3. Scan for networks and select yours
  4. Enter your Wi-Fi password using the on-screen keyboard

⚠️ Important

Not all R36S units have functional Wi-Fi. Check your specific model's capabilities. Wi-Fi is not required for playing games, only for online features and updates.

Power Management

Putting the Device to Sleep

To quickly suspend gameplay and save battery:

Sleep mode is perfect for quick breaks and can extend your play session significantly.

Shutting Down Properly

To completely power off your R36S:

  1. Exit any running game first (SELECT + START → Close Content)
  2. Return to the main menu
  3. Navigate to the system menu (usually START button)
  4. Select "Shutdown" or "Power Off"
  5. Wait for the screen to turn off completely

🚨 Critical Warning

Never power off by holding the POWER button while a game is running or while in the middle of saving. This can corrupt your SD card and cause data loss. Always use the proper shutdown procedure.

Battery Life Expectations

Typical battery life on the R36S:

Usage Scenario Expected Battery Life
8-bit games (NES, GB) at 60% brightness 5-7 hours
16-bit games (SNES, GBA) at 70% brightness 4-5 hours
PS1 games at 80% brightness 3-4 hours
Sleep mode (idle) Several days

Next Steps and Resources

Now That You're Set Up

Congratulations! You now know the basics of using your R36S. Here are some recommended next steps:

✅ You're Ready to Play!

You've completed the essential setup and played your first game. The R36S has thousands of games available across dozens of systems - enjoy exploring retro gaming!

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