How to Add Games to Provenance

Step-by-step guide to adding ROM files to Provenance, the free iOS and tvOS retro game emulator, on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV.

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  • how-to

Provenance supports games from 38+ retro systems, but you need to provide your own ROM files. This guide explains several methods for getting games into Provenance on iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV.

What You Need

You will need ROM files for the games you want to play. You are responsible for ensuring you have the legal right to use any ROM files. A common legal approach is to dump ROMs from physical cartridges you own.

Method 1: Import from the Files App (Easiest)

This is the most straightforward method on iOS 17+.

  1. Transfer your ROM files to your iPhone or iPad. You can do this via AirDrop, iCloud Drive, a USB cable and the Files app on Mac, or any cloud storage app like Google Drive or Dropbox.

  2. Open the Files app and locate your ROM file.

  3. Long-press the ROM file and tap Share.

  4. Select Provenance from the share sheet. Provenance will open and automatically import the game into your library.

  5. Wait for the import to complete. Provenance will scan the file, identify the system, and add the game to your library with artwork if available.

Provenance includes a built-in WebDAV server that lets you transfer multiple ROMs at once from a computer on the same network.

  1. Open Provenance on your iPhone or iPad.

  2. Go to Settings > Import/Export > WebDAV Server and tap Start WebDAV Server. Provenance will show you an IP address and port number.

  3. On your Mac or PC, open Finder (Mac) or Windows Explorer (Windows). On Mac, press Cmd+K in Finder and enter http://[IP address shown in Provenance]:[port shown in Provenance]/. On Windows, map a network drive to the same address, including the port.

  4. Copy your ROM files into the appropriate system folder in the WebDAV share.

  5. Stop the WebDAV server in Provenance and return to the library. Provenance will scan and import the new files.

Method 3: iTunes File Sharing

If you prefer a wired connection to a Mac or PC:

  1. Connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer with a USB cable.

  2. Open Finder on Mac (or iTunes on Windows) and select your device.

  3. Go to the Files tab and find Provenance in the app list.

  4. Drag your ROM files into the Provenance documents folder.

  5. Disconnect and open Provenance. The app will detect and import the new files.

Method 4: Adding Games to Apple TV

Apple TV has a more restricted filesystem, so game management works differently.

  1. Add games using one of the methods above on your iPhone or iPad first.

  2. Use the Provenance WebDAV server on iPhone/iPad and access it from Apple TV via the Provenance tvOS app, if you have a shared library configured.

  3. Alternatively, check the Provenance wiki for the latest recommended approach for Apple TV, as options may expand with new app versions.

Tips

  • Provenance automatically identifies most ROMs and downloads artwork from an online database. If a game is not recognized, try renaming the file to match the official game title.
  • BIOS files for certain systems (PlayStation, Sega Saturn, etc.) must be added separately. See the Provenance wiki for the full list of required BIOS files and where to place them.
  • If a game does not appear after import, check that the file extension matches the expected format for that system.

Download Provenance

Provenance is free on the App Store and supports 38+ retro systems out of the box. Get Provenance on the App Store. For advanced features, explore Provenance Plus.

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