Settings
Settings is where you stop using HyperHQ like a generic install and start shaping it around your actual setup. Desktop build, full cabinet, living room box, test bench, it all gets dialed in here.
On this page
- Getting to settings
- Find a setting
- General list options
- Display and video
- Attract mode
- Audio
- Paths and database
- Startup apps and commands
- Wheel, overlay, and marquee options
- Logs and troubleshooting tools
- Controllers and keyboard
- A few good setup patterns
Getting to settings
Open Settings from the lower-left side of HyperHQ.
You'll usually spend the most time here when:
- setting up a machine for the first time
- moving a build to a new drive or PC
- tuning cabinet-specific features
- troubleshooting media, launch, plugin, or control issues
Find a setting
Use Search settings at the top of the settings menu. Search matches section names, setting names, and related terms. For example, wheel fade opens the route to the Wheel section.
Settings groups expand and collapse. Keep the groups you use open and close the rest when the menu gets crowded.
General list options
Open Settings > HyperHQ > General for list navigation options.
Systems List Alphabet Quick Jump shows a # / A-Z bar when the systems list uses name sorting without type groups.
Game List Alphabet Quick Jump shows the same bar in grid, banner, and table game lists when title sorting is active.
Select a character to move to the first matching row. # covers titles starting with numbers or symbols.
Display and video
Display
Open Settings > HyperSpin > Display to set HyperSpin output, window mode, aspect ratio, transitions, and rendering quality.
Window mode
Pick the mode that fits how you use the machine:
- Windowed is easiest when you're doing setup work and jumping between apps.
- Borderless fullscreen usually feels best on a desktop or TV build.
- Fullscreen makes the most sense on a dedicated cabinet or single-purpose box.
If you're trying a new screen, odd resolution, or cabinet monitor, do the first round in windowed mode. It's the easiest way to avoid getting stuck with a display you can't comfortably recover from.
Aspect ratio and readability
Match the app to the display you're actually using.
A 16:9 monitor, a 4:3 screen, and a stretched marquee-style setup all want different choices. If themes or UI elements look off, this is one of the first places worth checking.
If you play from a distance, pay attention to font size too. What looks fine at a desk can be annoying from a cabinet control panel.
Transparency and visual tweaks
HyperHQ also exposes some visual polish settings, including transparency-related options.
They are mostly preference choices. Good reasons to adjust them:
- you want popups less intrusive while you work
- you want disabled items to stand out more clearly
- you prefer a cleaner or more layered look
If you do not have a reason to change them, defaults are usually fine.
Transition quality
Quality Profile controls the transition workload in HyperSpin.
| Profile | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Basic | Uses the lighter transition set. |
| Auto | Starts with enhanced transitions and drops to Basic after sustained slow frames. |
| Enhanced | Keeps the full transition set active. |
Start with Auto. Use Basic on lower-end cabinet hardware. Use Enhanced when the system holds a steady frame rate.
Video
Video-related settings are mainly about startup and media playback behavior.
Intro and outro video behavior
If your build uses intro or outro videos, this is where you decide whether they help the experience or just slow you down.
A good rule of thumb:
- cabinet build: short intro can add polish
- desktop build: shorter is usually better
- test machine: turn them off while you're iterating
If skipping is supported in your setup, keep that timing practical. A stylish intro is fun once. A long unskippable one gets old fast.
Media video quality
HyperHQ supports multiple video quality tiers, including 1080p, 480p, and lower-bandwidth options. Your best choice depends on the machine and storage you actually have.
Use higher quality when:
- the machine has room for it
- the display makes the extra detail worth it
- you care about presentation more than storage
Use smaller formats when:
- the box is space-limited
- the setup is mostly for play, not showpiece browsing
- you're filling a lot of systems at once and want to keep downloads under control
If you're unsure, start in the middle. You can always refresh a favorite system at a higher quality later.
Startup media scanning
Scan Media on HyperHQ Startup controls routine background media checks that run after HyperHQ opens.
Leave it on when you want HyperHQ to quietly verify media cache folders and check for default theme updates during startup. Turn it off on very large libraries, slower cabinets, or test machines where you want startup to stay as quiet as possible.
This does not stop manual media downloads, per-system refreshes, or targeted scans you start yourself.
Game list view modes
Separate Game List View Modes controls how HyperHQ remembers the view used for system and collection game lists.
When this setting is off, HyperHQ uses one global game-list view everywhere. Changing the view in one system changes the default view used by other system and collection game lists.
When this setting is on, each system and collection detail page gets its own view choice:
- Inherit uses the global Default View Type.
- A specific preset, such as Hybrid Mode 2 or Boxes - 3D, stays attached to the current system or collection.
- Changing Default View Type updates lists set to Inherit.
- Explicit system and collection choices stay unchanged when the default changes.
Use Default View Type to pick the inherited view for game lists. The available presets are:
- Hybrid Mode 1
- Hybrid Mode 2
- List View
- Backgrounds - Game
- Boxes - 2.5D
- Boxes - 2D
- Boxes - 3D
- Boxes - Back
- Boxes - Spine
- Cabinets
- Control Panels
- Game Media - 2D
- Game Media - 3D
- Logos - Game
- Manuals - Game
- Marquees - Game
- Music - Game
- Overlays - Controller
- Snaps - Gameplay
- Snaps - Title
- Video Snaps - 1080p
- Video Snaps - 240p
- Video Snaps - 480p
Use the view-mode menu inside a system or collection game list to switch the list back to Inherit or save a specific preset for the list.
Attract mode
Open Settings > HyperSpin > Attract Mode to control automatic browsing after inactivity.
- Enable Attract Mode turns automatic system and game browsing on or off.
- Idle Timeout sets the wait before browsing starts. Presets range from 5 seconds to 10 minutes.
- Games Before Switch sets how many games HyperSpin shows before moving to another system.
- Advanced replaces the presets with direct number fields.
Any keyboard or controller input ends attract mode and returns control to you.
Startup apps and commands
Startup settings live in their own Settings section.
Apps
Use Startup > Apps to control what starts when Windows signs in.
- Start HyperHQ on Windows Startup launches HyperHQ after sign-in.
- HyperHQ Launch Delay waits a set number of seconds before HyperHQ starts.
- Start HyperSpin on Windows Startup launches HyperSpin after sign-in.
- HyperSpin Launch Delay waits a set number of seconds before HyperSpin starts.
Pre/Post Launch
Use Startup > Pre/Post Launch for companion scripts tied to HyperHQ or HyperSpin startup.
Each app has separate Pre-Launch Commands and Post-Launch Commands.
Pre-launch commands are checked when the app starts. Already-running companion apps are skipped by default.
Post-launch commands run when the app exits.
Startup command fields include:
- executable path
- arguments
- process name
- delay in milliseconds
- wait for completion
- skip if process is already running
- description
Startup command arguments support:
| Keyword | Value |
|---|---|
%app.name% | HyperHQ or HyperSpin |
%app.installDir% | Folder containing the app executable |
%app.executable% | Full path to the app executable |
%hyperhq.dataDir% | HyperHQ data directory |
%hyperspin.path% | HyperSpin install folder |
Audio
Audio settings are simple on paper, but they make a big difference in how polished the setup feels.
UI sounds
Some people want the classic frontend feel. Some want silence while they work. Both are reasonable.
If your build includes interface sounds or sound packs, tune them based on where the machine lives:
- louder, punchier cues for a cabinet in a game room
- quieter or subtler cues for a shared room or desktop setup
- muted altogether when you're doing long setup sessions
Volume balance
Keep your levels realistic.
A common mistake is making intro media much louder than everything else. It sounds fun until the machine boots at midnight.
If your build supports separate levels for interface audio and intro or outro media, try to keep them in the same ballpark unless you're intentionally going for that arcade attract-mode blast.
Paths and database
This is one of the most practical parts of Settings. If HyperHQ suddenly can't find your systems, media, or supporting files, path settings are the first thing to check.
HyperSpin and media paths
Make sure HyperHQ knows where your real files live.
That includes things like:
- your HyperSpin folder
- media folders
- emulator folders
- any custom storage locations you use for big media libraries
This is especially important if:
- you moved the setup to another drive
- you split ROMs and media across different disks
- you're restoring from backups
- you're reusing a build on new hardware
A moved folder can look like broken media, missing ROMs, or bad emulator config when it's really just one stale path. Check paths before you start deeper troubleshooting.
Database location and backups
HyperHQ keeps its main data in a local database file and stores backup copies separately.
That matters because your database is where the setup work lives:
- system entries
- game entries
- settings
- mappings
- preferences
Your ROMs and artwork are separate files on disk. Backing up the database protects the structure and the hours of curation.
When to make a backup
Make a manual backup before:
- a big import
- major cleanup on a large library
- testing new plugins
- changing lots of system settings
- moving the setup to another machine
If restore options are available in your build, use them carefully and give the setup a quick review afterward.
Wheel, overlay, and marquee options
These settings shape the frontend experience more than most people expect.
Wheel settings
Wheel settings control frontend wheel layout, media style, filtering, and timing.
Wheel Layout selects placement and motion path.
Current layout choices include:
- Right Curved
- Right Straight
- Left Curved
- Left Straight
- Center
- Center Horizontal
- Right Straight Angle
- Left Straight Angle
Wheel Media selects the artwork style used for wheel items.
Current media choices include:
- Wheel Images
- Box Art
- Card Rectangle
- Card Oval
- Box Spine Coverflow
- Coverflow
- Flat Coverflow
- Fan Coverflow
Coverflow media uses a horizontal center layout in HyperSpin. Use Wheel Images for the classic HyperSpin wheel. Use card or coverflow choices when your setup has strong box art.
Other wheel settings include:
- Hide Games With No Wheels
- Hide Games With No Themes
- Hide Missing Games
- Grayscale Wheel
- Disable Controls Inversion
- Skip Main Menu (Single System)
- Dynamic System Intro Videos
- Wheel Opacity
- Wheel Fade Delay
Dynamic System Intro Videos builds system browsing video from game video snaps. Turn the setting off to use only Video Snaps - System media.
Wheel entrance options
Return to Last Game opens a system on the last launched or selected game.
Start on Random Game opens a system on a random game. Turning one entrance option on turns the other off.
Set global defaults under Settings > HyperSpin > Wheel. Open a system's Wheel Settings to choose On, Off, or Inherit for each option.
A practical way to use wheel filters
Early in a build:
- keep filters loose
- confirm ROMs launch
- confirm media paths are correct
Later, once the setup is stable:
- hide missing games if you want a cleaner wheel
- hide media-poor entries if you're building a polished showcase setup
- leave filters looser if you care more about access than presentation
If you turn strict filters on too early, you can hide half your library and make troubleshooting harder.
HyperOverlay
HyperOverlay settings control how long overlay information stays visible when a game starts.
This is one of those features that feels minor until you use it on a cabinet with guests.
Shorter timing works well for:
- arcade regulars
- fast launch-and-play systems
- setups where you already know the library well
Longer timing works well for:
- party setups
- mixed-system builds with lots of guests
- games where a little context helps
Overlay settings can inherit from broader settings levels, so if a value looks different from what you expected, check whether the current game is following a higher-level setting.
Marquee settings
If you run a secondary marquee display, this section matters a lot.
HyperHQ supports marquee behavior such as:
- enabling marquee output
- choosing whether marquee media is used
- display fitting behavior
- fallback behavior when dedicated marquee art is missing
Good marquee setup habits
Start simple:
- enable the marquee
- pick the correct display
- try dedicated marquee art first
- only start stretching or heavily tweaking fit if the basics already work
If you do not have a complete marquee set, fallback behavior is your friend. A logo or background fallback is usually better than a blank second screen.
Logs and troubleshooting tools
When something feels off, logs save time.
HyperHQ includes log viewing and export tools for HyperHQ and HyperSpin.
Use the logs when:
- a system won't launch correctly
- media downloads fail
- a plugin refuses to start
- controller mappings do something odd
- HyperSpin behaves differently than HyperHQ
A simple troubleshooting flow
- open logs
- clear the noise if needed
- reproduce the problem once
- read the newest messages first
- export logs if you need outside help
That beats guessing every time.
HyperSpin logging
If your build exposes an option to enable HyperSpin logging, turn it on when you're troubleshooting launch or frontend issues, then leave it off again if you do not need the extra noise.
Controllers and keyboard
Controls are easy to underestimate until you hand the machine to someone else and nothing is mapped the way they expect.
Controller settings
HyperHQ supports controller detection and advanced mapping behavior, including modifier-button setups.
That makes controller settings useful for more than basic player-one mapping.
You can use them to:
- name controllers clearly
- keep mappings tied to a specific device
- build alternate actions behind a modifier button
- turn off HyperHQ input for one physical controller without disabling matching controllers
- keep cabinet controls and handheld pads from stepping on each other
If you use more than one similar controller, give them sensible names early. That saves a lot of confusion later.
Keyboard settings
HyperHQ supports advanced keyboard mapping, including reloadable player mappings and modifier-aware behavior.
For real-world use, that means keyboard setup is worth treating like a proper part of the build, not an afterthought.
A few good habits:
- keep player-one keys simple
- avoid clever layouts you'll forget in a month
- test the full set after saving changes
- write down unusual cabinet mappings somewhere outside the app
A few good setup patterns
Dedicated cabinet
A cabinet build usually wants:
- fullscreen or cabinet-friendly display mode
- practical intro media, not overly long
- clean wheel filters once the library is stable
- marquee behavior tuned early
- controller and keyboard mappings tested from the control panel itself
Desktop or living room setup
A desktop build usually benefits from:
- borderless or windowed mode
- lighter audio cues
- looser wheel filters
- shorter startup flow
- startup media scanning left on unless it makes startup feel noisy
- simpler control mapping
Test bench or work-in-progress machine
If the machine is still in setup mode, favor speed over polish:
- windowed mode
- muted audio
- no intro or outro media
- startup media scanning off if you are repeatedly opening and closing HyperHQ
- loose wheel filters
- lots of backups before major changes
What's next?
Once Settings feels right, the next useful pages are usually:
The best setup is usually the one that's easy to maintain six months later, not the one with the most boxes checked on day one.