Common Tasks

Not sure which page you need? Find what you want to do below. Each link goes to the page that explains it.

Launching games

• Launch a game from a card. Write it in the Zaparoo App: pick the game, tap a blank NFC card, done.
• Launch a random game from a system. Use the launch.random command on a card.
• Put a whole folder or a list of games on one card. Create a playlist and scan the card again to move through it.
• Use an Amiibo, Skylander, or other toy. Map each figure to a game with NFC toys.
• Use the barcode on a game box or a printed QR code. See barcodes and QR codes.
• Launch from your phone without a reader. Zaparoo App Pro turns your phone into the reader.
• Browse and launch from the TV on MiSTer. Install Zaparoo Frontend.
• Boot an alternate MiSTer core without a game. Use launch.system with ?launcher=.
• Launch emulators on a Linux desktop or handheld. Core registers the standalone emulators it finds installed, plus EmuDeck and RetroDECK.

Households and arcades

• Limit playtime. Set limits and warnings with play controls.
• Give each person their own settings, limits, and saves. Create device profiles.
• Stop an accidental scan from killing the current game. Turn on the launch guard.
• Keep music playing while a game runs. Use the background music slot.

Protecting your setup

• Back up saves and settings. Create a local backup or turn on cloud backup with Warp in device backups.
• Make one card work on two devices. Write a portable title on the card; see using tokens on multiple devices.
• Restore a setup onto a replacement device. Follow restore a backup.
• Keep Core up to date. Core checks on its own; turn on automatic installs or install by hand with Core updates.

Automation

• Run a script or automation when a card is tapped. Use hooks, or send scans from Home Assistant with the MQTT reader.
• Send events to lights, marquees, or other software. Set up publishers.
• Control Zaparoo from your own code. Use the Core API.

Cards and labels

• Design and print card labels. Start with the labels guide, which covers Zaparoo Designer, printing, and cutting.
• Choose which NFC cards to buy. Read NFC cards and tags.
• Store and display a collection. See token storage.
• Burn a disc that runs a command. Put the ZapScript in a zaparoo.txt file on the disc.

When something is wrong

• A reader is not detected. Start with reader troubleshooting.
• A card scans but nothing launches. Check the platform's launcher page, for example MiSTer launchers, then mappings.
• Collect logs and get help. See the help page.

Still lost? The glossary defines the terms used across these docs, and the Discord is the fastest place to ask.