How to Install DeSmuME on Ubuntu

DeSmuME is an open-source Nintendo DS emulator that lets you play handheld classics on your Ubuntu desktop. It supports save states for instant game saves, controller remapping for custom input layouts, and configurable rendering filters to upscale graphics beyond the original 256×192 resolution. By the end of this guide, you will have DeSmuME installed and running, with clear commands for launching, updating, and removing it.

You can install DeSmuME using Ubuntu’s default APT repositories or as a Flatpak from Flathub. The APT method integrates with system updates and requires no additional setup, while Flatpak runs the emulator in a sandbox with a full graphical interface on all Ubuntu versions. Both methods are covered below, along with version-specific launch commands and troubleshooting steps.

Choose Your DeSmuME Installation Method

The APT package receives security patches through Ubuntu’s update cycle but may lag behind upstream releases. Additionally, the APT package differs between Ubuntu versions: Ubuntu 22.04 includes the full graphical interface, while Ubuntu 24.04 and 26.04 ship only the command-line version. The Flatpak build from Flathub provides a consistent graphical interface across all Ubuntu releases and runs isolated from system libraries.

Method	Channel	Version	Updates	Best For
APT (Ubuntu repos)	Ubuntu Repos	Distribution default	With system updates	Most users who prefer distro packages
Flatpak (Flathub)	Flathub	0.9.11 (stable)	With Flatpak updates	Users who want the graphical interface on 24.04/26.04

For most users, the Flatpak method is recommended because it provides the full graphical interface with menu-based ROM loading on all Ubuntu versions. Choose APT if you prefer distro-packaged software and are comfortable launching games from the command line on Ubuntu 24.04 or 26.04.

This guide covers Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, 24.04 LTS, and 26.04 LTS. The APT package includes the full GUI on 22.04 but only the CLI version on 24.04 and 26.04. Flatpak provides a consistent graphical interface across all supported releases.

Method 1: Install DeSmuME via APT

Update Your Ubuntu System Before DeSmuME Installation

Before installing DeSmuME, refresh your package index and apply any available updates. This step helps avoid installation issues caused by outdated package metadata or dependency changes.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Install DeSmuME on Ubuntu via APT Command

Ubuntu provides DeSmuME in the Universe repository. This method integrates with APT upgrades and requires no external repositories. Install the package with the following command:

sudo apt install desmume

After installation completes, verify that dpkg reports the package as installed:

dpkg -l | grep -E '^ii\s+desmume\s'

The output varies depending on your Ubuntu version:

Ubuntu 22.04 LTS:

ii  desmume  0.9.11-3build2  amd64  Nintendo DS emulator

On 24.04 LTS:

ii  desmume  0.9.11-7build2  amd64  Nintendo DS emulator

On 26.04 LTS:

ii  desmume  0.9.13-4  amd64  Nintendo DS emulator

If you need the full graphical interface on Ubuntu 24.04 or 26.04, use the Flatpak method below instead.

Method 2: Install DeSmuME via Flatpak and Flathub

Flatpak provides a sandboxed installation with the full graphical interface on all Ubuntu versions. This method is especially useful on Ubuntu 24.04 and 26.04 where the APT package lacks GUI support. Ubuntu ships Snap by default, so you need to install Flatpak separately before accessing Flathub apps.

Flatpak is not pre-installed on Ubuntu. If you have not set it up yet, follow our Flatpak installation guide for Ubuntu to install Flatpak and add the Flathub repository. Setup typically takes under five minutes.

Add the Flathub Repository

If you have not already added Flathub, run the following command. The --if-not-exists flag prevents errors if the repository is already configured:

sudo flatpak remote-add --system --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

The --system flag installs the repository for all users on the machine, which is the recommended approach for desktop applications.

Install DeSmuME from Flathub

With Flathub configured, install DeSmuME using the following command:

sudo flatpak --system install -y flathub org.desmume.DeSmuME

The -y flag automatically confirms the installation without prompting. Once installation completes, verify that DeSmuME appears in your installed Flatpak apps:

flatpak --system list --app | grep org.desmume.DeSmuME

DeSmuME  org.desmume.DeSmuME  0.9.11  stable  system

The Flatpak installation always includes a desktop launcher, so you can launch DeSmuME from your applications menu regardless of which Ubuntu version you run.

Launch DeSmuME

How you launch DeSmuME depends on your installation method and Ubuntu version. The sections below cover both graphical and terminal launch options.

Launch from the Applications Menu

If you installed DeSmuME via Flatpak or the APT package on Ubuntu 22.04, a desktop launcher is available in your applications menu:

Activities > Show Applications > DeSmuME

However, if you installed the APT package on Ubuntu 24.04 or 26.04, no desktop launcher is included because the package only contains the command-line binary. In this case, use the terminal launch commands below or consider switching to the Flatpak version for GUI support.

Launch from Terminal

Terminal launch commands differ based on your installation method and Ubuntu version.

Flatpak installation (all Ubuntu versions):

flatpak run org.desmume.DeSmuME

APT installation on Ubuntu 24.04 or 26.04:

These versions only include desmume-cli, a command-line interface that requires you to pass a ROM file as an argument:

desmume-cli /path/to/your-game.nds

If your shell cannot find the command, use the full path:

/usr/games/desmume-cli /path/to/your-game.nds

APT installation on Ubuntu 22.04:

Ubuntu 22.04 includes three binaries: desmume (GTK GUI), desmume-glade (alternative GTK GUI), and desmume-cli (command-line). You can launch the graphical version without arguments:

desmume

If needed, use the full path:

/usr/games/desmume

Managing DeSmuME

This section covers updating and removing DeSmuME, with separate instructions for APT and Flatpak installations.

Update DeSmuME

Update commands differ based on your original installation method.

APT Update

If you installed DeSmuME via APT, refresh your package lists and upgrade the package:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade desmume

The --only-upgrade flag ensures APT only upgrades DeSmuME if it is already installed, rather than installing it fresh.

Flatpak Update

If you installed DeSmuME via Flatpak, update it with:

sudo flatpak --system update org.desmume.DeSmuME

Remove DeSmuME

Removal steps depend on your original installation method.

Remove APT Installation

To remove the APT-installed package:

sudo apt remove desmume

After removing DeSmuME, clean up any unused dependencies that were installed alongside it:

sudo apt autoremove

DeSmuME stores configuration files and save states in ~/.config/desmume/. If you want a complete removal including all settings and saves, delete this directory:

The following command permanently deletes your DeSmuME configuration, save states, and game saves. Back up any saves you want to keep before running this command.

rm -rf ~/.config/desmume/

Remove Flatpak Installation

The --delete-data flag permanently removes all DeSmuME application data stored in ~/.var/app/org.desmume.DeSmuME/, including save states, configuration, and game saves. Export any saves you want to keep before running this command.

To uninstall DeSmuME and remove all associated application data:

sudo flatpak --system uninstall --delete-data org.desmume.DeSmuME -y

If you no longer need the Flatpak runtimes that DeSmuME used, remove unused runtimes to free disk space:

sudo flatpak --system uninstall --unused

Troubleshooting DeSmuME

This section addresses common issues you may encounter when installing or running DeSmuME on Ubuntu.

No Desktop Launcher on Ubuntu 24.04 or 26.04

If you installed DeSmuME via APT on Ubuntu 24.04 or 26.04 and cannot find it in your applications menu, this is expected behavior. The APT package on these versions only includes the desmume-cli command-line binary without desktop integration files.

You have two options:

• Launch games from the terminal using desmume-cli /path/to/game.nds
• Switch to the Flatpak installation, which includes the full graphical interface with menu-based ROM loading

Command Not Found Error

If running desmume or desmume-cli returns “command not found,” the /usr/games/ directory may not be in your PATH. Use the full path instead:

/usr/games/desmume-cli /path/to/game.nds

Alternatively, add /usr/games to your PATH by appending this line to your ~/.bashrc file:

export PATH="$PATH:/usr/games"

Then reload your shell configuration:

source ~/.bashrc

Performance Issues or Slow Emulation

If games run slowly or encounter stuttering, DeSmuME provides several settings to improve performance:

• Disable filters: Rendering filters like HQ2x or 2xSaI improve visuals but increase CPU usage. Try the “None” filter for better performance.
• Frameskip: Enable frameskip to reduce rendering load. Start with a value of 1 and increase if needed.
• CPU emulation mode: If available, try switching between interpreter and dynarec (dynamic recompilation) modes.

Access these settings through the emulator’s Config menu (Flatpak and APT GUI versions) or via command-line flags for desmume-cli. Run /usr/games/desmume-cli --help to see available options.

ROM Fails to Load

If a ROM file fails to load, verify that the file is a valid Nintendo DS ROM with a .nds extension. Corrupted or incomplete downloads are a common cause of loading failures. Additionally, ensure the ROM file path contains no special characters or spaces that might confuse the command-line parser.

For the CLI version, wrap paths containing spaces in quotes:

desmume-cli "/path/to/My Game.nds"

Conclusion

You now have DeSmuME installed and configured on Ubuntu using either APT or Flatpak. The Flatpak method provides the full graphical interface on all Ubuntu versions, making it the best choice if you want menu-based ROM loading on Ubuntu 24.04 or 26.04. For broader emulation needs, consider installing RetroArch on Ubuntu, which supports multiple systems including Nintendo DS through its DeSmuME core.