Install and update Degauss

Install through Update All

1. Run Scripts → update_all on MiSTer.
2. Press up during the opening countdown to enter Settings.
3. Open Frontends.
4. Select Degauss so it shows On.
5. If Update All offers optional Game Artwork DBs, choose the ones wanted or select No.
6. Return to the main Settings screen, choose SAVE, then EXIT and RUN UPDATE ALL.

Update All downloads the Degauss files, sets main=degauss/MiSTer_Degauss in MiSTer.ini, and keeps the installation current on later runs. MiSTer can use only one main= frontend, so selecting Degauss switches any other frontend off.

To remove an installation managed by Update All, return to Settings → Frontends, highlight Degauss, and choose Uninstall.

Install through Downloader

Add this database to the bottom of /media/fat/downloader.ini, then run Downloader as usual:

[degauss]
db_url = 'https://github.com/giancarloerra/Degauss/releases/latest/download/degauss.json.zip'

Add this line to the [MiSTer] section of /media/fat/MiSTer.ini once:

main=degauss/MiSTer_Degauss

Install manually

Download the archive from the latest release and copy its contents onto the card so the files land here:

/media/fat/degauss/MiSTer_Degauss
/media/fat/Scripts/degauss.sh
/media/fat/Scripts/.config/degauss/degauss
/media/fat/Scripts/.config/degauss/degauss.toml
/media/fat/Scripts/.config/degauss/systems.toml
/media/fat/Scripts/.config/degauss/logos/
/media/fat/Scripts/.config/degauss/themes/

Add main=degauss/MiSTer_Degauss to the [MiSTer] section of /media/fat/MiSTer.ini, then reboot. Degauss starts in place of the stock menu, and leaving a game returns to it.

Upgrade or check an installation

Earlier releases used /media/fat/Scripts/.degauss/. On the next start, degauss.sh moves its contents into Scripts/.config/degauss. Settings, resume state, the index and edited configuration files carry over.

If an install or upgrade looks wrong, run:

/media/fat/Scripts/.config/degauss/degauss --check-install

The check reports what is present, missing, broken or still waiting in the old folder, and says ok when there is nothing to report.

Return to Degauss from a running core

With the recommended MiSTer_Degauss Main binary, open the OSD and select System → Frontend. Press A to close the current core and return to Degauss.

System → Frontend shortcut can capture an optional physical keyboard key. It defaults to Off. The shortcut works only while a non-menu core is running, the OSD is unlocked, and no other framebuffer script owns the screen.

Run Degauss on demand

To keep the stock MiSTer menu as the default, leave the main= line unchanged and select Scripts → degauss when wanted. This requires fb_terminal=1, which is enabled by default in the standard MiSTer configuration.

Degauss can browse and launch games this way, but leaving a core returns to the stock menu. Reopen Degauss from the Scripts menu when needed.

Slow exFAT folder scans after the September 7, 2026 MiSTer Linux update are separate from Degauss installation. See the optional kernel fix guide.