Download
Pick your OS.
Each shortcut opens the project’s GitHub releases—we don’t host files or mirrors here.
Download nowStable builds for daily play · nightlies when you need a specific fix.
Trusted source. Grab PCSX2 from the project’s GitHub releases (or follow the checklist on this page). Avoid “PCSX2 + emulator pack” sites that wrap the binary in installers with unrelated software.
Checksums. When the release notes publish hashes, verify them after download—especially if you fetched the file through a VPN, corporate proxy, or mirror.
Stable vs nightly. Stable tracks tested releases. Nightly (or PR) builds can fix a game you care about but may also introduce regressions; keep a known-good stable installer handy.
Linux
AppImage & packages.
Download nowmacOS
Intel (x86); check AS notes.
Download now CommonWindows
Installer or portable. Stable + nightly.
Download nowAfter you download
You’ll need a legal BIOS dump from your own console for most retail games, then a clean folder or ISO for each title. Our Setup page orders those steps the same way forum helpers expect.
- Check requirements before chasing 4K internal resolution.
- FAQ for BIOS and build questions.
Linux notes
AppImage is a common zero-install path; distro packages may lag behind upstream. If you use Flatpak or similar, confirm you’re pulling from a maintainer you trust and that updates track security fixes.
Windows: installer vs portable
The installer registers shortcuts and is familiar to most users. A portable folder is handy when you want the emulator, memcards, and settings on one drive—just back up the whole directory before major upgrades.
Install or extract to a path you control (not a random temp folder) so antivirus quarantine does not silently delete DLLs.
Verifying what you downloaded
When release notes publish SHA-256 or other hashes, compare after download—especially on laptops that sleep mid-download or on metered connections that retry partial files.
File names should match the asset list on the official releases page; unexpected double extensions (.exe.exe) are a red flag.
Stable, nightly, and PR builds—what people mean
- Stable — tagged releases the project expects most players to run; best match for guides and screenshots.
- Nightly / CI — fresher code; great when release notes or issues mention your exact bug, but expect occasional regressions.
- Pull-request artifacts — experimental; only grab these when a developer links them for a specific test matrix.
macOS notes
Apple Silicon vs Intel matters for which build you pick. Gatekeeper may prompt the first launch—if you did not sideload from a sketchy mirror, approving the official binary is normal. See upstream docs for the current Metal-focused guidance.
Linux notes
AppImage keeps dependencies predictable; distro packages can lag. Ensure 64-bit userspace, working Vulkan drivers for your GPU vendor, and that your user can access /dev/input devices for pads.
After download (reminder)
You still need a legal BIOS for most retail games, clean game dumps, and a few minutes in settings—walk through Setup in order so you do not skip the memcard format step or point the game list at an empty folder.