RetroPie forum home
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Home
    • Docs
    • Register
    • Login
    Please do not post a support request without first reading and following the advice in https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first

    How to run RetroPie without controllers?

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Help and Support
    configurationcontroller
    8 Posts 3 Posters 6.8k Views
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • J
      johnklos
      last edited by johnklos

      Hi,

      I'd like to use RetroPie, but I can't figure out how to get past the controller configuration screen with just a keyboard and mouse. How do I use my keyboard as my primary controller?

      Thanks!

      N 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • N
        n2185x @johnklos
        last edited by

        @johnklos It turns out that you can press a key on the keyboard when you're on that screen and it'll recognize the keyboard as a "controller". You then just have to press the key you want for each controller button that it shows (hold a key for a while to get it to assign no key to the button).

        For getting around the EmulationStation menu, you'll need to do assignments for the D-pad directions, A, B, X, Y, Start, and Select.

        J 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • J
          johnklos @n2185x
          last edited by johnklos

          @n2185x Thank you. Although the interface is poor and there's no way to navigate or correct errors, I can get through the whole thing.

          I then get to where every button is configured. The "OK" button is selected, but I can't proceed after that unless I read the docs which say to press whatever is configured as the "A" key.

          The on-screen message really should say how to proceed...

          AshpoolA 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • AshpoolA
            Ashpool @johnklos
            last edited by Ashpool

            @johnklos said in How to run RetroPie without controllers?:

            I then get to where every button is configured. The "OK" button is selected, but I can't proceed after that unless I read the docs which say to press whatever is configured as the "A" key.
            The on-screen message really should say how to proceed...

            In a way it is telling you "how to proceed": You acknowledge the OK by pressing the button/key you configured as the A-Button. ...

            J 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
            • J
              johnklos @Ashpool
              last edited by

              @ashpool No, it's actually not telling me how to proceed. If, on the screen, it said, "Press the button configured to "A" to proceed", that would be telling me how to proceed.

              AshpoolA 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • AshpoolA
                Ashpool @johnklos
                last edited by Ashpool

                @johnklos I've said "in a way": It is a regular API/UI requester asking for confirmation/cancelation... part of the RTFM and learning procedure we all went through, and in time you will see and understand that, in Computer(OS/API/UI) context, there are certain patterns which do not need any further explanation, as they are simply and frankly put self explaining through context/environment (of course it helps if one had previous experiences on game consoles and computers and assembled the knowledge of concepts over time and systems to understand the context) ...

                Edit: Ok, this addition to my post may make it sound like even more patronizing (which isn't my intend).... but I think it may make my previous message more understandable (for some users):

                RetroPie 1st Setup:

                • We have a clean system with an unidentified method of input/user feedback
                • System asking for a device/how input should be handled
                  (remark: we are still considering no keyboard no input besides 2beConfigured Controller)
                • We are setting up the Axes/Buttons/Key for the recognized controller
                  *In the End System is aksing to Accept/Reject...

                So What? We have here a System that previously had no information about our input device, so it is IMHO most logical that the keys now needed are taken from the configuration we just went through.... And A/B Button whatsoever (Tab/Return/etc.) is intuitive for most people with background knowledge, for others... well, in previous times we had manuals of book size coming with computer systems and at least dime novel size for consoles, so @johnklos you did made it right in reading the docs and learning about the A-Key ;), but the reading should have been before the using ]:>

                J 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • J
                  johnklos @Ashpool
                  last edited by

                  @ashpool There's the issue - if one has prior experience with RetroPie, it'd make sense, but it one doesn't, then it's not exactly intuitive.

                  The controller configuration really should say, "Press (A) to continue".

                  AshpoolA 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • AshpoolA
                    Ashpool @johnklos
                    last edited by Ashpool

                    @johnklos Sorry, my Edits of my previous Message collided with your answer...
                    But saying press (A) to continue would be IMHO missunderstandable in the same way by others [edit: by/of/from different background]... The only essential change for the initial configuration I see is in the line of adding the information that: if no gamepad is detected, the keyboard may substitute for one...

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • First post
                      Last post

                    Contributions to the project are always appreciated, so if you would like to support us with a donation you can do so here.

                    Hosting provided by Mythic-Beasts. See the Hosting Information page for more information.