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Troubleshooting

Running into issues? Don't worry—we've got you covered. This guide walks through common problems and how to fix them. Most issues have simple solutions, and we'll help you get back to gaming quickly.

Before You Start​

When something isn't working, these quick checks solve most problems:

Restart HyperHQ and HyperSpin Many issues resolve with a simple restart. Close everything, reopen, and try again.

Check the Logs HyperHQ keeps detailed logs that explain what's happening. Go to Settings > View Logs to see error messages and warnings.

Verify File Paths Most issues come down to paths. Double-check that folders exist and files are where HyperHQ expects them.

Test Outside HyperSpin If a game won't launch, try running the emulator directly. This tells you if it's an emulator issue or a HyperHQ configuration issue.

Installation Problems​

HyperHQ Won't Install​

Antivirus Blocking Installation Some antivirus software flags installers as suspicious:

  1. Temporarily disable your antivirus
  2. Run the HyperHQ installer
  3. Re-enable antivirus after installation
  4. Add HyperHQ to your antivirus exclusions

Windows SmartScreen Warning If Windows SmartScreen blocks the installer:

  1. Click "More info" on the warning
  2. Click "Run anyway"
  3. HyperHQ is safe—this happens with new software releases

Installation Fails Midway If the installer crashes or errors:

  1. Download the installer again (file might be corrupted)
  2. Run the installer as Administrator (right-click > Run as administrator)
  3. Check you have enough disk space
  4. Disable antivirus temporarily during install

Missing .NET Framework HyperHQ requires .NET Framework:

  1. Download .NET Framework 4.8 from Microsoft
  2. Install it
  3. Restart your computer
  4. Run HyperHQ installer again

Can't Find HyperHQ After Installation​

Check Start Menu Look for "HyperHQ" in your Windows Start menu. It should be there.

Desktop Shortcut Missing During installation, you can choose whether to create a desktop shortcut. If you didn't:

  1. Find HyperHQ in Start menu
  2. Right-click it
  3. Select "Pin to Start" or "Create Shortcut"

Installation Path By default, HyperHQ installs to C:\Program Files\HyperHQ\. Check there if you can't find it.

Setup Wizard Issues​

Can't Sign In to HyperSpin Account​

Invalid Credentials Make sure you're using the right email and password:

  1. Verify your caps lock isn't on
  2. Try resetting your password at HyperSpin-fe.com
  3. Make sure you've created an account (it's free!)

Network Connection Error If you can't connect at all:

  1. Check your internet connection
  2. Try disabling VPN temporarily
  3. Check your firewall isn't blocking HyperHQ
  4. Verify HyperSpin-fe.com is accessible in your browser

Account Not Activated New accounts need email verification:

  1. Check your email for activation link
  2. Look in spam/junk folders
  3. Request a new activation email if needed

EmuMovies Login Fails​

Subscription Status EmuMovies is a separate paid service:

  1. Verify you have an active EmuMovies subscription
  2. Check at emumovies.com
  3. Make sure your subscription hasn't expired

Wrong Credentials EmuMovies credentials are separate from HyperSpin:

  • Use your EmuMovies username (not email)
  • Use your EmuMovies password (different from HyperSpin)

Connection Issues If the login keeps failing:

  1. Skip it for now—you can add it later in Settings
  2. Try again after setup completes
  3. Verify EmuMovies website is accessible

Plugin Installation Fails During Setup​

Network Timeout If plugin downloads time out:

  1. Check your internet speed
  2. Try again—the installer resumes where it left off
  3. Temporarily disable any download throttling software

Disk Space Make sure you have enough space:

  • Plugins need ~500MB
  • Check the drive where you're installing HyperSpin

Corrupted Download If specific plugins fail repeatedly:

  1. Complete setup without them
  2. Install them manually later from Settings > Plugins
  3. Check Settings > View Logs for specific error messages

Can't Choose HyperSpin Folder​

Permission Denied If HyperHQ can't create folders:

  1. Run HyperHQ as Administrator
  2. Choose a location where you have write permissions
  3. Avoid system folders like C:\Windows or C:\Program Files
  4. Try C:\HyperSpin or a location on another drive

Path Too Long Windows has path length limits:

  • Keep your HyperSpin folder path short
  • Use C:\HyperSpin instead of deep nested folders
  • Avoid special characters in folder names

Drive Doesn't Exist If you're selecting a custom drive:

  1. Make sure the drive is connected
  2. Verify it shows up in Windows Explorer
  3. Check it's not a network drive that's offline

Systems Not Showing Games​

This is one of the most common issues. Here's how to fix it:

No Games Appear After Adding System​

ROM Path Not Set

  1. Go to your system's settings
  2. Check the ROMs tab
  3. Verify you've added at least one ROM path
  4. Click "Add Path" and browse to your ROM folder

Wrong File Extensions Make sure extensions match your files:

  1. Check what extensions your ROMs use
  2. Go to System Settings > Extensions
  3. Add the correct extensions (e.g., .zip, .bin, .md, .gen)
  4. Multiple extensions? Separate with commas: .bin, .cue, .iso

Scan Subfolders Disabled If your ROMs are in subfolders:

  1. Go to System Settings
  2. Enable "Scan Subfolders"
  3. Click "Rescan ROMs"

Files in Wrong Location Double-check your ROM folder:

  1. Open Windows Explorer
  2. Navigate to the path you entered in HyperHQ
  3. Verify ROM files are actually there
  4. Make sure they're not in a subfolder (unless you enabled subfolder scanning)

Games Imported But Don't Show in HyperSpin​

System Not Visible

  1. Edit the system in HyperHQ
  2. Check that "Show in HyperSpin" is enabled
  3. Save changes
  4. Restart HyperSpin

No Games Visible Maybe they're all hidden:

  1. Go to the system's ROMs tab
  2. Check the visibility toggle on games
  3. Unhide the ones you want to show

HyperSpin Not Refreshing Force HyperSpin to reload:

  1. Close HyperSpin completely
  2. Reopen it
  3. Your system should appear now

Wrong Number of Games Showing​

Hidden Games Some games might be hidden:

  • Toggle the "Show Hidden" filter in HyperHQ
  • Unhide games you want visible

Extension Mismatch HyperHQ only imports files matching your extensions:

  • Review your ROM folder
  • See what file types you have
  • Add missing extensions to system settings
  • Rescan ROMs

Duplicate Files If you see doubles:

  • Different versions (regions, revisions)
  • Parent and clone ROMs (MAME)
  • Hide duplicates you don't need

Emulators Not Launching​

Game Launches But Emulator Crashes​

Emulator Path Wrong

  1. Go to System > Manage Emulators
  2. Verify the path points to the actual .exe file
  3. Test by clicking the path—it should open Windows Explorer there
  4. Browse and reselect the correct .exe if needed

Command-Line Parameters Wrong Different emulators need different parameters:

MAME:

%ROM%

RetroArch:

-L "cores\[systemname]_libretro.dll" "%ROM_RAW%"

Standalone Emulators:

  • Check the emulator's documentation
  • Often just "%ROM%" works
  • Some need full paths, others need just filename

ROM Format Not Supported Make sure your emulator supports the ROM format:

  1. Test the ROM directly in the emulator (outside HyperSpin)
  2. If it doesn't work there, the ROM might be corrupted
  3. Try a different ROM file
  4. Verify you have the right BIOS files (if needed)

Missing BIOS Files Many emulators need BIOS files:

  • PlayStation needs BIOS files in the emulator folder
  • Dreamcast needs boot ROMs
  • Check your emulator's documentation for requirements
  • Place BIOS files in the correct folders

Nothing Happens When Launching​

Emulator Not Configured

  1. Check that you've selected an emulator for this system
  2. Go to System Settings > Default Emulator
  3. Choose an emulator from the dropdown
  4. If list is empty, add an emulator first

Scripts Blocking Launch If you have pre-launch scripts:

  1. Disable them temporarily
  2. Try launching again
  3. If it works, the script has an issue
  4. Check the script for errors

Permission Issues Run HyperSpin as Administrator:

  1. Right-click HyperSpin shortcut
  2. Select "Run as administrator"
  3. Try launching game again

Check the Logs​

Settings > View Logs shows exactly what's failing:

  • Look for error messages when you try to launch
  • Common errors explain missing files or wrong paths
  • Copy error messages when asking for help

Media Not Displaying​

Wheels Not Showing in HyperSpin​

Files in Wrong Folder Wheels go in specific locations:

HyperSpin/Media/[System Name]/Wheel/

Check that:

  1. The folder exists
  2. Files are actually there
  3. Folder name matches system name exactly (case-sensitive!)

File Names Don't Match Wheel files must match ROM names exactly:

  • ROM: street_fighter.zip
  • Wheel: street_fighter.png
  • Even spacing and capitalization must match

Wrong File Format HyperSpin prefers PNG for wheels:

  • Convert JPG/BMP files to PNG
  • Make sure transparency is preserved
  • Check file isn't corrupted (open it in image viewer)

HyperSpin Needs Restart Media doesn't always hot-reload:

  1. Close HyperSpin
  2. Reopen it
  3. Media should appear now

Backgrounds Not Loading​

Same Naming Rules Apply Background files must match ROM names:

HyperSpin/Media/[System Name]/Images/[game name].png

File Size Too Large Huge images can fail to load:

  • Keep backgrounds under 5MB
  • Resize if needed (match your screen resolution)
  • Convert to JPG if PNG is too large

Theme Override Some themes use custom backgrounds:

  • Your images might be there but theme isn't showing them
  • Try a different theme
  • Check theme settings in HyperSpin

Videos Won't Play​

Codec Issues HyperSpin needs proper video codecs:

  1. Install K-Lite Codec Pack (basic version)
  2. Restart computer
  3. Try videos again

Video Format Use MP4 with H.264 encoding:

  • AVI sometimes works but can be problematic
  • Convert videos to MP4 if they won't play
  • Keep resolution reasonable (720p or 1080p max)

File Path Too Long Windows path limits can break video loading:

  • Move HyperSpin folder closer to root (e.g., C:\HyperSpin)
  • Shorten system names
  • Rename video files to be shorter

Missing Video Plugin Make sure video playback is enabled in HyperSpin settings.

Downloads Failing​

Check Login Status For HyperTheme/EmuMovies downloads:

  1. Go to Settings > Accounts
  2. Verify you're signed in
  3. Re-authenticate if needed

Network Issues If downloads keep failing:

  1. Check internet connection
  2. Try downloading individual items instead of batch
  3. Pause and resume download queue
  4. Check Settings > View Logs for specific errors

Disk Space Make sure you have enough space:

  • Videos use lots of space
  • Check available disk space
  • Clean up if needed

Server Issues Sometimes media servers are busy:

  • Try again later
  • Check HyperSpin forums for service status
  • Download smaller batches instead of everything at once

Controller Configuration Problems​

Controllers Not Detected​

Windows Doesn't See Controller First, verify Windows recognizes it:

  1. Open Windows Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices
  2. Check if controller appears
  3. Test in "Set up USB game controllers" (search Windows for it)
  4. Install controller drivers if needed

HyperHQ Not Detecting If Windows sees it but HyperHQ doesn't:

  1. Restart HyperHQ
  2. Go to Settings > Controllers
  3. Click "Refresh Devices"
  4. Try unplugging and replugging

USB Hub Issues Some USB hubs cause problems:

  • Connect controller directly to computer
  • Try different USB ports
  • Avoid unpowered USB hubs

Button Mapping Not Working​

Wrong Profile Selected

  1. Check active controller profile
  2. Make sure you're editing the right profile
  3. Save after making changes

Conflicts With Keyboard If both keyboard and controller work:

  • This is normal
  • You can disable keyboard input if needed
  • Or just ignore it

Arcade Controls Specific For arcade encoders (IPAC, etc.):

  • They appear as keyboards, not game controllers
  • Map them in keyboard section instead
  • Each button is a keyboard key

Controls Not Working in Games​

Emulator Has Own Mapping Many emulators have their own controller settings:

  1. Configure controller in the emulator itself
  2. HyperSpin controls the menu, emulator controls the game
  3. Check emulator documentation for controller setup

RetroArch Special Case RetroArch needs configuration:

  1. Open RetroArch
  2. Go to Settings > Input
  3. Configure controller for each core
  4. Save configuration

LED Lighting Not Working​

LEDBlinky Not Connecting​

LEDBlinky Installed? HyperHQ needs LEDBlinky to control lights:

  1. Install LEDBlinky separately
  2. Configure it for your LED setup
  3. Then connect it in HyperHQ Settings

Wrong Port/Settings

  1. Verify LEDBlinky works on its own
  2. Test it outside HyperHQ first
  3. Then connect HyperHQ to LEDBlinky

LED Hardware Not Responding Check the hardware:

  • Verify LED controller is connected
  • Check power supply
  • Test with LEDBlinky directly
  • Check wiring if DIY setup

Lights Don't Change With Games​

Animation Not Configured

  1. Set up LED animations in LEDBlinky
  2. Map games to animation profiles
  3. Enable game-specific lighting

HyperSpin Not Triggering Make sure HyperSpin integration is enabled:

  • Check HyperHQ Settings > LED
  • Verify "Enable LED integration" is on
  • Restart HyperSpin after changes

Plugin Errors​

Plugin Won't Install​

Download Failed

  1. Check internet connection
  2. Try downloading again
  3. Download plugin manually and install from file

Compatibility Issues Make sure plugin is compatible:

  • Check plugin documentation
  • Verify it works with your HyperHQ version
  • Some plugins need specific dependencies

Permission Denied

  1. Run HyperHQ as Administrator
  2. Try installing plugin again
  3. Check plugin folder permissions

Plugin Not Working After Install​

Restart Required Many plugins need a restart:

  1. Close HyperHQ completely
  2. Reopen it
  3. Plugin should load now

Configuration Needed Some plugins need setup:

  • Check Settings > Plugins
  • Look for plugin-specific settings
  • Follow plugin documentation

Check Plugin Logs Settings > View Logs > Plugin Logs shows plugin-specific errors.

Plugin Crashes HyperHQ​

Disable Plugin

  1. Start HyperHQ in Safe Mode (hold Shift while opening)
  2. Go to Settings > Plugins
  3. Disable the problematic plugin
  4. Restart normally

Update or Reinstall

  • Check for plugin updates
  • Uninstall and reinstall the plugin
  • Report bug to plugin developer

Performance Issues​

HyperHQ Runs Slowly​

Large Game Libraries With thousands of games:

  • Use search instead of scrolling
  • Hide games you don't play
  • Performance is normal with 10,000+ games, but UI may be slower

Low System Resources Check computer performance:

  1. Open Task Manager
  2. Check CPU and RAM usage
  3. Close other programs
  4. Restart computer if it's been running for days

Database Issues If HyperHQ gets slower over time:

  1. Go to Settings > Database
  2. Click "Optimize Database"
  3. This rebuilds indexes and speeds things up

HyperSpin Laggy With Lots of Wheels​

Video Causing Lag Videos use lots of resources:

  • Lower video quality in settings
  • Disable videos if they're too much
  • Reduce video resolution (720p instead of 1080p)

Too Many Visible Games Hide games you don't play:

  • Keep wheel to 100-200 games
  • Hide duplicates and clones
  • Use collections to organize

Texture Memory HyperSpin loads wheel images into memory:

  • Reduce wheel image sizes
  • Use consistent image sizes
  • Restart HyperSpin periodically

Slow Media Downloads​

Server Load Media servers can be busy:

  • Download during off-peak hours
  • Be patient with large downloads
  • Download systems one at a time

Bandwidth Throttling Check if your connection is throttled:

  • Close other downloads/streaming
  • Pause cloud sync services
  • Check with your ISP

Database Issues​

Database Corruption​

Symptoms

  • Games disappear randomly
  • Systems won't load
  • HyperHQ crashes on startup
  • Error messages about database

Recovery Steps

  1. Close HyperHQ
  2. Go to Settings > Database > Backup & Restore
  3. Restore from latest backup
  4. If no backup exists, click "Repair Database"

Prevent Corruption

  • Don't force-close HyperHQ (let it exit properly)
  • Regular backups (Settings > Database > Create Backup)
  • Keep backups on different drive

Lost Game Data​

Restore From Backup If you have backups:

  1. Settings > Database > Backup & Restore
  2. Select backup date
  3. Click Restore
  4. Confirm (this overwrites current database)

No Backup Available If you don't have backups:

  • Rescan ROM folders to reimport games
  • Metadata will be lost (you'll need to re-enter it)
  • Media should still be in folders
  • Set up automatic backups going forward

Import/Export Issues​

Export Fails If database export crashes:

  • Try exporting one system at a time
  • Check disk space
  • Use XML format (smaller files)

Import Doesn't Work When importing databases:

  • Verify file isn't corrupted
  • Check it's the right format (XML or JSON)
  • Try smaller imports
  • Check logs for specific error

Log Files and Debugging​

Finding Logs​

Location Logs are stored in:

C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Local\HyperHQ\Logs\

Or access via Settings > View Logs in HyperHQ.

Types of Logs

  • Application Log: General HyperHQ errors and info
  • System Log: System and emulator launch info
  • Plugin Log: Plugin-specific messages
  • Download Log: Media download status

Reading Log Files​

Understanding Errors Look for lines with "ERROR" or "EXCEPTION":

ERROR: Could not find emulator at path: C:\Emulators\mame.exe

This tells you exactly what's wrong (missing emulator).

Common Log Messages

"File not found"

  • A path is wrong somewhere
  • Check the file path in the error
  • Verify the file exists

"Access denied"

  • Permission issue
  • Run as Administrator
  • Check file/folder permissions

"Could not connect"

  • Network issue
  • Check internet connection
  • Verify login credentials

"Database error"

  • Database might be corrupted
  • Try repair or restore from backup

Using Logs for Support​

When asking for help:

  1. Reproduce the problem
  2. Check logs for error messages
  3. Copy the relevant error lines
  4. Include them when asking for help
  5. Be specific about what you were doing when it happened

Reset Procedures​

Resetting HyperHQ Settings​

Soft Reset (Keep your data)

  1. Settings > General
  2. Click "Reset to Defaults"
  3. Confirms—this only resets settings, not data

Fresh Start (Nuclear option)

  1. Uninstall HyperHQ
  2. Delete C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Local\HyperHQ\
  3. Reinstall HyperHQ
  4. Run setup wizard again
  5. Import backup if you have one

Resetting a System​

Remove and Re-add

  1. Back up your media first (it won't be deleted but just in case)
  2. Delete the system in HyperHQ
  3. Add it again
  4. Rescan ROMs
  5. Media should still be there

Rescan ROMs If games are wrong but system is OK:

  1. System Settings > ROMs tab
  2. Click "Clear All Games"
  3. Click "Rescan ROMs"
  4. Fresh import from your ROM folder

Resetting Database​

Clear Everything

  1. Settings > Database
  2. Click "Clear Database"
  3. Confirm (this deletes EVERYTHING)
  4. You'll need to set up systems again

Start Over Clean If nothing else works:

  1. Export any systems you want to keep
  2. Clear database
  3. Run setup wizard again
  4. Import exported systems
  5. Rebuild from there

Getting Help​

Community Forums​

HyperSpin-fe.com The official community is super helpful:

  • Search for your issue first (probably solved already)
  • Post in the appropriate section
  • Provide details (HyperHQ version, what you tried, error logs)
  • Be patient—volunteers help when they can

What to Include When Asking

  • What you're trying to do
  • What's happening instead
  • What you've already tried
  • Error messages from logs
  • Your system specs (Windows version, etc.)

Documentation​

Check Other Guides Often your answer is in another section:

Search the Docs Use your browser's Find feature (Ctrl+F) to search for keywords across all guides.

Support Resources​

Official Website HyperSpin-fe.com has:

  • Downloads
  • Forums
  • Wiki
  • Official announcements

Discord Real-time help from community members:

  • Faster than forums
  • Share screenshots easily
  • Get help from experienced users

YouTube Video tutorials for visual learners:

  • Setup walkthroughs
  • Configuration guides
  • Common issue fixes

Reporting Bugs​

Is It Actually a Bug?​

Before reporting, make sure:

  • You've tried the troubleshooting steps above
  • It happens consistently (can you reproduce it?)
  • It's not user error (we've all been there)
  • Logs show it's a real error, not a configuration issue

How to Report​

Gather Information

  1. What version of HyperHQ are you using?
  2. What were you doing when it happened?
  3. Can you reproduce it reliably?
  4. What error messages appear?
  5. Relevant log excerpts

Where to Report

  • GitHub Issues (if HyperHQ has a public repo)
  • Official forums in Bug Reports section
  • Support email (check official site)

Good Bug Reports Include

  • Clear title describing the issue
  • Steps to reproduce
  • Expected behavior vs actual behavior
  • Screenshots or videos
  • Log files
  • System specs (Windows version, hardware)

Example Good Report

Title: Games fail to import when path contains special characters

Steps to reproduce:
1. Create system with ROM path: C:\ROMs\Genesis (Japan)
2. Add .bin, .md, .gen extensions
3. Click Save
4. No games imported

Expected: Games in folder should import
Actual: Zero games show in list

Logs show: Error parsing path with parentheses
HyperHQ version: 2.0.3
Windows: 11 Pro 64-bit

Feature Requests​

Have an idea to make HyperHQ better?

  • Post in Feature Requests forum section
  • Explain the use case (why it's useful)
  • Describe how it would work
  • Check if someone already suggested it (upvote instead!)

Still Stuck?​

If you've tried everything and it's still not working:

  1. Take a Break - Fresh eyes help
  2. Start Over - Sometimes a clean slate is fastest
  3. Ask for Help - The community wants you to succeed
  4. Be Patient - Complex setups take time to dial in

Remember: Everyone struggles with setup at first. You're not alone, and it WILL work. The HyperSpin community has helped thousands of people get their arcade running, and they'll help you too.

Quick Reference​

Common File Locations​

HyperHQ Data

C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Local\HyperHQ\

HyperSpin Installation (Default)

C:\ProgramData\HyperSpin\

Logs

C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Local\HyperHQ\Logs\

Database Backups

C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Local\HyperHQ\Backups\

Key Settings Locations​

  • View Logs: Settings > View Logs
  • Database: Settings > Database
  • Accounts: Settings > Accounts
  • Plugins: Settings > Plugins
  • Controllers: Settings > Controllers
  • Media Settings: Settings > Media

Emergency Commands​

Safe Mode Hold Shift while launching HyperHQ (disables plugins)

Reset Settings Settings > General > Reset to Defaults

Repair Database Settings > Database > Repair Database

Force Rescan System > ROMs tab > Rescan ROMs

Final Thoughts​

Most issues are simple misconfigurations, not broken software. Check paths, verify files exist, read the logs, and you'll usually find the answer.

The HyperSpin community is incredibly helpful. Don't hesitate to ask questions—chances are someone has already solved your exact issue.

And remember: Building the perfect arcade setup is a journey. Take it one step at a time, celebrate small wins, and before you know it, you'll have an amazing setup that makes you smile every time you turn it on.

Happy gaming!