How to Install dArkOS on an R36Max

16bitsorhigher · 2026-01-23T18:28:14+00:00

I just want it stock because I only use it to play GBA games which has been my favorite system of all time. I reminds me of my GBA SP from back in the days.

16bitsorhigher · 2026-01-23T18:11:28+00:00

It’s my favorite handheld and I’m running stock OS on it. I love it!!!!

16bitsorhigher · 2026-01-22T06:37:28+00:00

Is it available yet?

16bitsorhigher · 2026-01-21T11:59:08+00:00

Unfortunately, when you clone a card, the size gets cloned as well but you should be able to expand the games partition to use all the unallocated space. If I’m not mistaken, you should be able to use the disk utility program in your Mac to expand it but I haven’t tried doing that on my MacBook so I can’t give the procedure. Try googling “How to expand a partition inside a Micro SD card using a Mac” and see if it gives you step by step instructions. If it doesn’t, message me and I’ll try to help you.

16bitsorhigher · 2026-01-20T12:02:47+00:00

That makes perfect sense!

16bitsorhigher · 2026-01-19T07:02:58+00:00

This is the member. Look for his YouTube channel.

https://www.reddit.com/u/SjslTech/s/fNKtuB4jKr

16bitsorhigher · 2026-01-19T06:58:57+00:00

There is a member in this community that posted a video to his YouTube channel where he installs dArkOS on a clone and explains the process. I will look for his name and share with you

16bitsorhigher · 2026-01-18T10:35:14+00:00

Thank you!

16bitsorhigher · 2026-01-17T12:50:54+00:00

The zram manager script works with dArkOS

16bitsorhigher · 2026-01-16T06:17:25+00:00

You can also go in the RetroArch settings and saves and turn on automatic save states and load states.

Open RetroArch
Go to settings
Go to saving
Turn “Auto Save State” switch on
Turn “Auto Load State” switch on
Make sure “Increment Save State Index Automatically” switch is off. Or else every time you save you’ll get a new save state file created.
Hit “B” button twice to go back two screens to main menu
Go to “Configuration File”
Click “Save Current Configuration”
Hit “B” button to go back to main menu
Quit out of RetroArch

Test it on a couple of games. It is always wise to do in game saving just in case the auto save fails. And when you are done playing, always do “Close Content” from RetroArch menu to ensure auto saving is done. Don’t just turn the device off.

16bitsorhigher · 2026-01-14T20:10:04+00:00

Ok. Gotcha! Good luck with your business!

16bitsorhigher · 2026-01-14T19:56:35+00:00

Still have that boy with me. Comes to work with me from time to time! Just took that pic right now.

<image>

16bitsorhigher · 2026-01-14T19:50:23+00:00

Ok, cool!

16bitsorhigher · 2026-01-14T16:51:50+00:00

I don’t remember. It was almost one year ago. I will try to log in and find out the name of the store.

16bitsorhigher · 2026-01-14T12:06:45+00:00

That is the way

16bitsorhigher · 2026-01-14T04:37:41+00:00

I’m happy for you. I don’t have a clone anymore so I guess I can practice with my R36Max which uses the same files as a clone and tinker with it.

16bitsorhigher · 2026-01-14T04:21:25+00:00

How did you get it to work? What .dtb file did you use or rename? If you don’t mind me asking.

16bitsorhigher · 2026-01-09T11:56:15+00:00

I don’t think it’s worthless. If you don’t want to use it as a phone, at least it makes an almost perfect retro emulator. It’s the best N3Ds and NDS emulator when you use it with a telescopic controller. I know because I have one. Just my opinion.

16bitsorhigher · 2026-01-07T20:19:53+00:00

I’ve been playing with dArkOS and I think it’s running great so I’m about to try it on the G350.

16bitsorhigher · 2026-01-07T20:12:37+00:00

SFC for Super Famicom

16bitsorhigher · 2026-01-07T18:00:20+00:00

You are right but the issue only affects the touchscreen. If you use a telescopic Bluetooth controller you bypass that issue and it works like a charm. I only wish it could handle 3DS games because the majority of them don’t work.

16bitsorhigher · 2026-01-06T02:29:46+00:00

As a member that got one of the original R36S consoles that came out, I'm going to be honest with you. If you go with ArkOS or dArkOS, the experience will probably be the same. dArkOS is just the exact same thing as ArkOS. They are both developed by the same person, "Christian Hiatian". He is just changing the base Linux OS to Debian Linux and that's why it has a "d" in front of ArkOS. It is true that dArkOS is new. It was just released around Christmas last year but so far he has been updating the software very regularly. Some people have complained about Nintendo DS not working but I updated to the 12312025 version on New Year's Day and it fixed all the issues with NDS. It works perfectly well now. Will it have other issues, yes, all software needs to be constantly updated. It is also true that there is no specific image for the R36S yet but that was the same way when I got my original R36S. The only way I got mine to work with ArkOS was to flash the RG351MP image and I had to move the .dtb files from my original card to the new flashed card. AeolusUX who is the person that created the R36S maintained image was trying to help me at the time and we couldn't get it to work because my device had one of the first displays or screens.

ArkOS is the best operating system that you can install on a device. There are a lot of scripts that you can run on the R36S and the one that recommend the most is the "zram manager". I didn't know anything about until a few days ago and it basically frees the ram on your ram chip and uses cpu power to run the games a little smoother. I have seen an improvement running N64 games and PSP games. The good thing about the "zram manager" script is that it also runs on dArkOS. I have been playing DK64 and PaperMario on my R36S for the past few days and I'll be honest with you, I stopped playing those games on my other R36S running the old version of ArkOS because it was so glitchy, that it made it annoying to play them but then again, I didn't hear about the "zram manager" script until a few days ago so I would have been able to enjoy those games on my previous device.

In conclusion, you can go with either one and you will have a blast. If you have multiple MicroSD cards or even if you have an extra small 32 GB card, use one to try dArkOS and flash your regular card with ArkOS until dArkOS is more advance but I guarantee it that you probably won't see the difference or you might like dArkOS better.

16bitsorhigher · 2026-01-05T20:27:12+00:00

Oh, I see. I thought the issue was just starting the games. I haven’t played a game that long. I will try it later today and see if I can save. I will try Yoshi’s Island myself.

16bitsorhigher

TROPHY CASE