Need help with NeoBox?

Drop us an email. We read every message and reply within one or two business days, usually faster.

Common questions

I bought NeoBox for Mac. Do I have to pay again for iPhone or iPad?

No. NeoBox is one purchase across Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Sign in to the App Store with the same Apple Account and download it on each device — it shows as already purchased.

Where do I put my ROMs?

On a Mac: anywhere. On first launch NeoBox asks you to pick a folder — that folder is then watched for new .zip files. You can add more folders from the File menu or by dragging a folder onto the library window.

On iPhone and iPad: tap + in the library and choose a folder in the Files browser — iCloud Drive, On My iPhone / On My iPad, or any other location Files can reach. The easiest home is On My iPhone › NeoBox, which you can also fill from a Mac by dragging files onto NeoBox in Finder with the device connected.

Either way, originals stay where you put them; NeoBox doesn't move them.

What ROM formats are supported?

• MAME-format romsets (zips named like kof98.zip, containing the raw ROM chunks).
• Geolith and FBNeo pre-built sets (zips containing a single .neo file).

Both work side-by-side on every device. NeoBox identifies them automatically; no config needed.

I need the Neo Geo BIOS.

Put neogeo.zip in the same folder as your ROMs and NeoBox finds it automatically. If it lives somewhere else, point NeoBox at it: Preferences → MAME on a Mac, or Storage → Neo Geo BIOS → Choose… on iPhone and iPad.

A game crashes or shows a black screen.

Some games need a specific system or BIOS region (AES / MVS, Japan / USA / Europe) — change it per game in the game’s Game Settings on iPhone and iPad, or the launch popover on a Mac. On a Mac you can also try switching the emulator backend in Preferences → General (Geolith ↔ MAME). If a game still won’t run, email us the game title and we'll investigate.

How do I control games?

Controllers: any MFi-compatible controller works out of the box on every device (Xbox, PlayStation, Switch Pro). Connect it and NeoBox detects it automatically; two connected pads give you two players.

On iPhone and iPad, on-screen controls — a stick, the A B C D buttons, Coin and Start — appear whenever no controller is connected, and step aside when one is.

On a Mac, the keyboard works alongside any pad: the WASD + ZXCV layout maps to the Neo Geo's stick + ABCD buttons, and you can rebind anything in Preferences → Controls.

How do save states and memory cards work?

Save states capture the exact moment you’re at. On iPhone and iPad, pause with the button at the top of the screen and choose Save State or Load State; there are three slots per game, plus an automatic save when you exit, which Continue picks up. On a Mac, press F5 to save and F7 to load.

Memory cards work like the real hardware: games that use one save to it on their own, and each game gets its own card. You can see it or reset it from the game’s detail screen.

Everything is stored inside NeoBox’s own app storage — on a Mac, ~/Library/Containers/com.harisamin.NeoBox/Data/Library/Application Support/NeoBox/. The Storage screen on iPhone and iPad shows how much space each kind of data uses.

What does Game Center do, and can I turn it off?

If you opt in, NeoBox posts play stats — hours played, credits inserted, titles explored — to Game Center leaderboards and achievements. It asks once and does nothing if you say Not Now. Change your mind anytime with Share Play Stats in Settings (iPhone, iPad) or Preferences → Game Center (Mac).

Can I get a refund?

Refunds for App Store purchases go through Apple, not us — they handle billing. Visit reportaproblem.apple.com within 90 days of purchase. If NeoBox isn't working as advertised and you've already emailed support, mention that to Apple when you request the refund.

Bug reports + feature requests

Email support@neo-box.app with as much detail as you can spare:

• NeoBox version, and your macOS, iOS, or iPadOS version.
• Which device (Mac model, iPhone, or iPad).
• Steps to reproduce (or "happens every time" / "only sometimes").
• For game-specific issues: which game, which system and region (AES / MVS, Japan / USA / Europe), and on a Mac which backend (Geolith / MAME).

Privacy

Quick version: your games, saves, and ROMs never leave your device, and Game Center play stats are shared only if you opt in. Full policy at neo-box.app/privacy.