Quickstart¶

This guide takes you from a fresh install to launching your first game. It assumes you already completed Installation.

1. Launch Xenia Manager¶

Run XeniaManager.exe. On the very first startup the app creates its Config/ folder - Games/, Logs/, Cache/, and Emulators/ appear as needed (library load, logging, artwork downloads, emulator installs) - and shows the main window with an empty Library.

If the window is blank, that is normal - you have not installed Xenia or added games yet.

2. Install Xenia (1-Click Setup)¶

1. Open the Manage page (sidebar → Manage).
2. Pick a variant to start with: Xenia Canary is the recommended default. Add Mousehook if you want keyboard-and-mouse support, Netplay if you want online multiplayer.
3. Click Install for that variant. The Manager downloads the build (Netplay offers stable or nightly channels, Mousehook offers Standard or Netplay channels - see Manage Xenia) into Emulators/<Variant>/.
4. Wait until the version label shows an installed version number instead of "Not Installed".

3. Add Games to the Library¶

1. Place your legally owned Xbox 360 dumps where you want them (the default Games/ folder next to the executable works, or any folder you prefer).
2. Open the Library page → Options (or Library settings) → Scan Directory and point it at your games folder.
3. The Manager parses each file (ISO, XEX, STFS/SVOD, ZAR, and similar Xbox/Xenia formats), looks up the title and artwork from the database (or embedded artwork in the file), and adds entries to Config/games.json.
4. If a multi-disc game is detected, you will be asked whether to merge the discs into one entry (you can auto-merge in the future via Auto-Merge Multi-Disc Games in settings - see Manager Settings).

Supported inputs include disc images and extracted formats handled by the built-in file parsers (ISO/XISO, XEX, STFS, SVOD, ZAR, and related Xbox 360 containers). If a game shows as "Unknown Game", see Library and Troubleshooting.

4. Check Compatibility (Optional but Recommended)¶

Each library tile/row can show a compatibility rating pulled from the compatibility database. Before launching an unfamiliar title, glance at the rating - it tells you whether the game is expected to boot, run with issues, or not start at all.

Ratings come from the Canary/Mousehook/Netplay compatibility databases and are cached locally. They are advisory, not guarantees.

5. Launch a Game¶

• Double-click a game tile (if double-click-to-launch is enabled) or use the tile's launch action, picking which disc to start for multi-disc games (the Manager remembers last_played_disc and pre-selects it next time).
• A loading screen shows while Xenia starts (configurable - see Manager Settings). Playtime tracking and last_played timestamps update automatically.
• Game output and exit codes are captured; if the game crashes, check the per-emulator xenia.log and the Manager Logs/ folder as described in Troubleshooting.

6. What to Do Next (Pick Your Path)¶

First-Run Checklist¶

• .NET 10 Desktop Runtime installed (Installation)
• At least one Xenia variant installed (Manage Xenia)
• Games folder scanned, titles and artwork look right (Library)
• One game launched successfully (playtime increments on the tile)
• (Optional) Content and patches installed for that game
• (Optional) Steam shortcut created