#Setting up an 8bitdo Bluetooth controller

This guide will show how to use an 8bitdo controller with RetroPie. Please make sure you are using at least RetroPie v4.0, and the controller firmware versions listed below (newer versions shouldn't cause an issue). It is not recommended to use beta firmware versions.

Please see the 8bitdo support page for details on how to upgrade the firmware. Before you upgrade your firmware or attempt to register your controller, please make sure your controller is fully charged.

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Guide to add your controller

1) Run the RetroPie setup script, either through the Emulation Station menu option, or via the command line.

2) Choose the "Configuration / Tools" menu choice

3) Choose the "bluetooth - Configure Bluetooth Devices" menu choice

4) Make sure the hack option is turned "off"

5) Make sure your controller is powered on and searching for a connection. With the FC30 Pro, this is done by holding the power button (left hand side of base of controller) on until the side blue lights illuminate. With the SFC30 this is done by holding the Start button until the blue LED lights up.

6) Choose the "Register and Connect to Bluetooth Device"

7) You will then see the "Searching" screen. If you have issues with the detection of the controller, you may find it helps to press some buttons on the controller when this screen is showing.

8) It may be the case that the first time the results are returned, the name of the controller doesnt show, or that the MAC address doesnt show at all. If thats the case, you can either select the device if you know the MAC, or simply search again.

9) Here it has successfully detected the name of the controller, select OK here.

10) Choose the "DisplayYesNo" optin to complete the registration process.

11) Registration of the 8bitdo controller is complete and your blue LED lights should now be solid on (the FC30 Pro will glow).

12) You must now setup the udev rule in order for Emulation Station to "see" the controller when you restart your Raspberry Pi.

13) Select your controller from the list.

14) This then adds the rule to the file specified, you dont need to manually take any extra steps here. As indicated, you will need to reboot after completing these steps to make sure all the changes have taken effect.

15) The menu "Configure bluetooth connect mode" is optional, but using this can be very useful.

16) If your controller wont connect (LED change from flashing to solid) when restarting, change the mode to "boot". In most cases this should also enable the "background" option automatically, so you dont have to select this. If you have issues with the controller not auto connecting after waking from sleep/off mode, then try "background".

17) When this has been set, please reboot the Raspberry Pi. Either during boot up, or once in Emulation Station, when you turn the controller on it should connect without issue.

18) Configure the controller for Emulation Station and the emulators. Press Start in Emulation Station using your non-8bitdo controller and choose the "Configure Input" option.

19) You should see that Emulation Station can now see your 8bitdo controller

20) When you hold a button on your controller you should see its name appear at the bottom of the screen.

21) Follow the instructions as given here. If you make a mistake, just run the "Configure Input" process again.

22) When that is complete your 8bitdo controller is ready to use!

The process will have written various controller configuration files for you. The main RetroArch controller file will now be in: /opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch-joypads/

Here are some examples of the file that should be written.
FC30 Pro RetroArch config file (Firmware 1.69 - 8BitdoFC30Pro.cfg)
SFC30 RetroArch config file (Firmware 2.68 - 8BitdoSFC30GamePad.cfg)

Video Guide:

Firmware Versions for 8bitdo controllers

SNES30 (Firmware version 2.68 - 6th August 2016)
SFC30 (Firmware version 2.68 - 6th August 2016)

NES30 Pro (Firmware version 1.69 - 21st March 2016)
FC30 Pro (Firmware version 1.69 - 21st March 2016)

NES30 (Firmware version 2.68 - 6th August 2016)
FC30 (Firmware version 2.68 - 6th August 2016)

You can download new firmware here.

Troubleshooting

Please confirm your firmware version before raising a support ticket

Some useful links

http://8bitdo.com/Support.html
https://github.com/libretro/retroarch-joypad-autoconfig/tree/master/udev