Getting Started with The Vault

The Vault is a native macOS emulation frontend that brings your entire retro gaming collection into one beautiful, unified interface.

What is The Vault?

The Vault is designed to be the definitive retro gaming hub for macOS users. Unlike cross-platform solutions, The Vault is built from the ground up using native macOS technologies (SwiftUI, Metal, GameController framework) for maximum performance and seamless integration with your Mac.

Key Features

  • 50 Supported Platforms - From NES to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation to Xbox
  • Universal Controller Support - DualSense, Xbox, Nintendo Pro with 70+ button aliases
  • Two-Phase Import - Fast local ROM scanning + background metadata fetching
  • Security-Scoped Bookmarks - ROMs stay exactly where you keep them
  • ScreenScraper Integration - Automatic artwork and metadata from the best source
  • Running Scripts - LaunchBox-inspired custom actions during gameplay
  • Native macOS - Built with SwiftUI, not Electron or Catalyst

System Requirements

  • Operating System: macOS 14.0 (Sonoma) or later
  • Architecture: Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) or Intel
  • Storage: 1GB+ for application and artwork cache
  • Memory: 8GB RAM minimum, 16GB recommended for large libraries
  • Controllers: Sony DualSense, Xbox Series/One, Nintendo Switch Pro (USB or Bluetooth)

💡 First Time?

Continue to Installation to get The Vault running on your Mac, then follow the First Launch guide to set up your first platform.

What You'll Need

  1. Emulators - At least one emulator installed (RetroArch, Dolphin, ARMSX2, etc.)
  2. ROM Files - Your legally obtained game files
  3. BIOS Files - Required for some platforms (PlayStation, Dreamcast, etc.)
  4. (Optional) ScreenScraper Account - For metadata and artwork scraping

Philosophy: Your Files, Your Way

The Vault follows a fundamental principle: your ROM files stay exactly where you keep them. We use macOS security-scoped bookmarks to access your files without copying or moving them. This means:

  • No duplicate files wasting disk space
  • Your existing folder organization remains intact
  • External drives work seamlessly (portable storage support)
  • You maintain full control over your collection

🎯 For Power Users

The Vault supports advanced features like Running Scripts (custom actions during gameplay), Universal Controller Hotkeys and a 70+ button alias reference, and Portable Storage mode for external drives.