NirvanaLink - Install & Use Guide

NirvanaLink: Install & Use Guide

NirvanaLink is a free app for the R36S handheld. Add games over WiFi and back up your saves to the cloud, with no more pulling the SD card. It sits in the PORTS menu and doesn't replace EmulationStation or ArkOS.

Download NirvanaLink
Add games over WiFiBrowse by system and download straight into the right folder.
Cloud save backupSaves and save states, with your last 10 backups kept in your account.
Safe restoresA restore never overwrites a save that is newer than the backup.
Sign in from your phoneScan a QR code. No typing on the handheld.

What you need

Item Details
R36S handheld Running ArkOS (the system that ships on Hobbyist Nirvana consoles)
WiFi Built in on the HN-R36S-WiFi. On a regular R36S, plug a USB WiFi dongle into the OTG USB-C port. Dongles with an RTL8188 chip work most reliably.
A phone Used to sign in. You never type on the handheld.
A computer + SD card reader Needed once, to copy the app onto the card
Free space on the card For the games you download
A free account Created during sign-in at hub.hobbyistnirvana.com

Install NirvanaLink

You only do this once. It takes about 5 minutes.

  1. On your computer, download NirvanaLink.zip from hub.hobbyistnirvana.com/download.
  2. Power off the R36S and take out its SD card.
  3. Put the card in your computer's card reader.
  4. Open the drive named EASYROMS.
  5. Unzip NirvanaLink.zip. Copy the ports folder from it onto EASYROMS. If your computer asks, choose merge and replace. Your other ports and games are not touched.
  6. Safely eject the card and put it back in the R36S.
  7. Power on and go to PORTS → Nirvana Link.
Don't see it in PORTS? Go to Options → Quit → Restart EmulationStation.
Updating later: download the new zip and repeat the same steps over the old copy. You stay signed in.

First-time setup

Connect to WiFi first, then sign in with your phone. You only sign in once.

Connect to WiFi

  1. On a regular R36S, plug in the WiFi dongle.
  2. Go to Options → WiFi and join your network.

Sign in with your phone

  1. Open PORTS → Nirvana Link.
  2. Choose Sign in with phone. The screen shows a QR code and a 5-digit code.
  3. On your phone, scan the QR code. No camera? Open hub.hobbyistnirvana.com/link and type the 5-digit code.
  4. Log in, or tap Register to create a free account (email + password of at least 6 characters).
  5. The phone shows Connected! The handheld signs in by itself, and you can close the page.
Codes expire after a while. If yours stops working, choose Sign in with phone again for a new one.

Using NirvanaLink

Everything starts from the main menu: Sign in with phone, Browse and download games, Status and free space, Backup and restore saves, Logout and Exit.

Add games

  1. Choose Browse and download games.
  2. Pick a system, then pick a game.
  3. NirvanaLink checks your free space, then downloads the game into the matching system folder.
  4. Exit NirvanaLink. The game appears under its system. If it doesn't, restart EmulationStation (see Troubleshooting).

It covers 30+ systems, including NES, SNES, Game Boy / GBC / GBA, Nintendo DS, N64, PlayStation, PSP, Genesis / Mega Drive, Dreamcast, Neo Geo, Arcade / MAME and more.

Back up your saves

  1. Choose Backup and restore saves → Backup saves now.
  2. NirvanaLink scans your saves, packs them and uploads them. You'll see Backup uploaded when it's done, usually in seconds.

Only save files and save states are backed up, never games. Your account keeps the last 10 backups.

Turn on automatic backups

Choose Backup and restore saves → Enable automatic backups. Backups then run on their own while the handheld is idle, and pause while you play.

Restore saves

Open Backup and restore saves and pick a backup to restore. A restore never overwrites a save on the card that is newer than the backup. You can also download any backup from your account page.

Check status

Status and free space shows your connection and how much room is left on the card.

Troubleshooting

Problem Fix
Nirvana Link isn't in PORTS Go to Options → Quit → Restart EmulationStation. Still missing? Check that the ports folder was copied onto EASYROMS, not into a subfolder.
A downloaded game doesn't show up Restart EmulationStation the same way.
"Can't reach the server" Check Options → Network Info. Unplug and replug the WiFi dongle, then reconnect to WiFi.
The sign-in code doesn't work It has expired. Choose Sign in with phone again for a new code.
Download stops for lack of space Delete games you no longer play, or use a bigger SD card. Check Status and free space first.

FAQ

Is NirvanaLink free?

Yes, for R36S owners.

Will it change my system or delete my games?

No. It only adds an entry to PORTS. EmulationStation, ArkOS and your existing games stay as they are.

Does it back up my games?

No. Only save files and save states. Games can be downloaded again at any time.

I lost or broke my SD card. How do I get my saves back?

Set up a new card, install NirvanaLink, sign in with the same account and restore your latest backup.

How do I sign out?

Choose Logout from the NirvanaLink main menu.

Need help? Message Hobbyist Nirvana on WhatsApp from hobbyistnirvana.com. Tell us your console model and what you see on screen. A photo of the screen helps.