BUFATECHNO - VirtuPad

Key Features

VirtuPad Capabilities

The core features of VirtuPad as a virtual controller for the Dolphin emulator

1

Two Controller Types

One app provides two layouts: Wiimote + Nunchuck (portrait) and GameCube/Wii Classic-style Wii Standard (landscape).

2

Full Wii Standard Buttons

L, ZL, R, ZR (shoulder) buttons, D-pad, X/Y/A/B buttons, plus two left and right analog sticks.

3

Full Wiimote + Nunchuck Buttons

D-pad, A, B, 1, 2 buttons on the Wiimote, plus a Nunchuk stick with C and Z buttons.

4

Precise Motion Sensor

A 3-axis accelerometer and gyroscope send your phone's tilt and rotation to Dolphin at 200 Hz.

5

Sensitivity & Axis Inversion

Adjust motion sensitivity from 0.1x to 3.0x and invert the X, Y, Z axis directions to match your preference.

6

RECENTER Button

Instantly reset the motion reference to a neutral position while playing motion control games.

7

Precise Analog Stick

The stick automatically returns to center when released, with owner-lock so other fingers can't steal it.

8

Vibration (Haptic)

Vibration feedback on your phone when you press buttons and move the analog stick.

9

Cable-Free Wi-Fi Connection

Connects to Dolphin over Wi-Fi using the DSU/CemuHook protocol on port 26760 — no cables, adapters, or root.

10

4-Slot Multiplayer

Supports up to 4 controllers at once for local multiplayer sessions, with each player using a phone that has VirtuPad installed.

11

Background Mode

Connection and sensors keep running when the phone screen is off, with three layers of protection to keep streaming stable.

12

Material You Look

Interface colors adapt to your phone's wallpaper (Android 12+) with light, dark, and automatic theme options.

Target Audience

Who Is VirtuPad For?

VirtuPad is designed for gamers and emulator enthusiasts who want a more authentic playing experience.

Dolphin Emulator Players

Use your phone as a functional Wii or GameCube controller. No need to buy extra controllers or USB adapters.

Local Multiplayer

Support for up to 4 controller slots enables multiplayer sessions with friends using multiple phones on one Wi-Fi network.

Motion Gaming Fans

Enjoy Wii games that need motion control with your phone's accelerometer and gyroscope streaming at 200 Hz.

Competitive Comparison

VirtuPad Feature Advantages

A comparison table of VirtuPad's capabilities versus physical Wii controllers

Feature	VirtuPad	Wiimote + Nunchuk	Wii Classic Controller
Two Controller Types	Wiimote + Nunchuck and Wii Standard in one app.	Only one type: Wiimote + Nunchuk.	Only one type: Wii Classic Controller.
Full Wii Standard Buttons	L, ZL, R, ZR, D-pad, X/Y/A/B, and two analog sticks.	Not Available	Fully available on the physical controller.
Full Wiimote + Nunchuck Buttons	A, B, 1, 2, D-pad, Nunchuk stick, plus C and Z buttons.	Fully available on the physical controller.	Not Available
Precise Motion Sensor	3-axis accelerometer + gyroscope at 200 Hz.	Accelerometer; gyroscope requires Wii MotionPlus.	Not Available
Sensitivity & Axis Inversion	Adjustable from 0.1x–3.0x and invert X/Y/Z axes.	Not Available	Not Available
RECENTER Button	Instant motion reference reset via an on-screen button.	Not Available	Not Available
Precise Analog Stick	Auto-recenter and owner-lock so other fingers can't steal it.	One stick on the Nunchuk.	Two analog sticks on the physical controller.
Vibration (Haptic)	Vibration feedback on the phone's touchscreen.	Rumble motor on the physical controller.	Rumble motor on the physical controller.
Cable-Free Wi-Fi Connection	Wi-Fi (DSU/CemuHook), no cables or adapters.	Bluetooth, requires an adapter on the PC.	Cable to the Wiimote.
4-Slot Multiplayer	Up to 4 slots, requires 4 phones with VirtuPad installed.	Requires 4 Wiimotes + 4 Nunchuks.	Requires 4 Classic Controllers + 4 Wiimotes.
Background Mode	Streaming keeps running when the phone screen is off.	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Material You Look	Interface colors adapt to your phone's wallpaper (Android 12+).	Not Applicable	Not Applicable

Support

Donate to VirtuPad

VirtuPad is 100% free for all users. Your support helps cover server costs and new feature development.

VOLUNTARY DONATION

Scan QRIS

Any amount, as you wish

For users in countries that support QRIS QRIS Donation VirtuPad

NMID : ID1024360783392

Works with all e-wallet & m-banking apps
Supports new feature development
Helps cover server and maintenance costs

Thank you for your support

VOLUNTARY DONATION

Bitcoin (BTC)

Any amount, as you wish

For users in countries that don't support QRIS QR Bitcoin Donation VirtuPad

13cfuHxtoouAVBaBC6tFVBR4mbiJfUjNUD

Scan the QR or send to the address above
Supports new feature development
Helps cover server and maintenance costs

Thank you for your support

VOLUNTARY DONATION

Dogecoin (DOGE)

Any amount, as you wish

For users in countries that don't support QRIS QR Dogecoin Donation VirtuPad

D96szT5G7Darc9y6JmPKKVYdt3Z7nvDAFq

Scan the QR or send to the address above
Supports new feature development
Helps cover server and maintenance costs

Thank you for your support

Donations are voluntary and not required. All VirtuPad features remain free to use.

Please download and install the app first.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Find quick answers about using VirtuPad.

What is VirtuPad?

VirtuPad is a free Android app that turns your phone into a virtual Wiimote + Nunchuck or Wii Standard (GameCube/Wii Classic style) controller for the Dolphin emulator on PC. Your phone acts as a DSU server (CemuHook protocol) that sends button input and motion data wirelessly over Wi-Fi.

Is VirtuPad free?

Yes, VirtuPad is a free (freeware) app. All features can be used at no cost. Donations are voluntary. Note that VirtuPad is not open source, and all source code copyrights are owned by BUFATECHNO.

What are VirtuPad's minimum requirements?

VirtuPad requires: Android 7.0 (API 24) or newer, a PC with Dolphin Emulator installed, an accelerometer and gyroscope (motion sensors), and the phone and PC must be on the same Wi-Fi network. Make sure your router doesn't have AP isolation (client isolation) enabled, which blocks communication between devices on the same network.

Does VirtuPad require root or a USB cable?

No. VirtuPad requires neither root nor any system modification. All communication between the phone and PC happens over Wi-Fi using the DSU/CemuHook protocol on port 26760. Just install the APK and connect your phone to your PC over the same Wi-Fi network.

How do I download and install VirtuPad?

Download the VirtuPad APK file from the download page on this website, then install it on your Android phone. If you get a "Play Protect" warning, choose "Install anyway" or "Keep installing". If you're upgrading from an older version with a different signature, uninstall the old version first before installing the new one.

How does VirtuPad work?

VirtuPad runs a DSU server (CemuHook protocol) on your phone on UDP port 26760. The Dolphin emulator on your PC will detect your phone as a Wii/GameCube controller. The buttons you press on the phone screen and motion sensor data are sent to the emulator in real time over Wi-Fi at 200 Hz.

How do I connect VirtuPad to Dolphin?

First, make sure the phone and PC are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Then open Settings in VirtuPad to see your phone's IP address. Next, open Dolphin and configure the controller as shown in the guide below. After that, while the VirtuPad app is open, the device "DSUClient/0/[description]" will appear in Dolphin's device list and you can select it as an input source.

How do I set up Dolphin for VirtuPad?

Follow these steps in the Dolphin emulator:

Open Controller Settings.
Open the Alternate Input Source settings and enable them.
Check the Enable option.
Click Add.
Add a new DSU server entry.
Enter your phone's IP address, port number 26760, and a description (any name).
With VirtuPad open, select "DSUClient/0/[your_description]" as the input device.

Where can I download the Dolphin emulator?

Download Dolphin only from its official website at dolphin-emu.org/download. Builds are available for Windows, Linux, and macOS. On that page you can choose either the Stable release or the Development build (daily releases with the newest features). Linux users can also install Dolphin from their distribution's package manager (for example flatpak install flathub org.DolphinEmu.dolphin-emu) or build it from source. Avoid downloading from third-party sites, as they risk malware and outdated versions.

How do I use the VirtuPad config files in Dolphin?

The config files available in the Download VirtuPad Config section are Wii Remote controller profiles for Dolphin. Copy the .ini file into the Profiles/Wiimote/ subfolder of your Dolphin user directory:

Windows — %APPDATA%\Dolphin Emulator\Config\Profiles\Wiimote\
Linux — ~/.local/share/dolphin-emu/Config/Profiles/Wiimote/

If you use portable mode (a portable.txt file exists in the Dolphin folder), the profiles folder lives inside the installation folder instead, at User\Config\Profiles\Wiimote\ (Windows) or User/Config/Profiles/Wiimote/ (Linux). Once the file is copied, open Dolphin and go to Controllers, click Configure on the Wii Remote slot you want to use, select that profile name under Profile, then click Load. The easiest way: click the Open Folder button next to the Profile list to open the correct folder automatically.

Where do I see the phone's IP address in VirtuPad?

Open Settings in the VirtuPad app. Your phone's Wi-Fi IP address will be shown automatically. This is the address you must enter into the DSU server configuration in Dolphin.

What port does VirtuPad use?

The port used is 26760. This port is hardcoded in the app and cannot be changed.

What's the difference between Wiimote + Nunchuck mode and Wii Standard?

Wiimote + Nunchuck (portrait mode) mimics a Wiimote with a Nunchuck attachment. Available buttons: D-pad, A, B, 1, 2, -, Home, +, Nunchuk analog stick, C, Z, and the RECENTER button. Ideal for Wii games with motion control. Wii Standard (landscape mode) mimics a GameCube/Wii Classic-style controller with two analog sticks, D-pad, X/Y/A/B buttons, L, ZL, R, ZR, and system buttons. You can switch modes via Settings > Device.

How do I use motion control?

VirtuPad supports an accelerometer and gyroscope streaming at 200 Hz. Sensor data is processed with orientation-aware remapping so your phone's movements feel natural in Wii games that require motion control. Sensitivity and the direction of each axis can also be adjusted in Settings > Sensors. Use the RECENTER button to return the motion reference to a neutral position.

What is Background Mode?

Background Mode lets VirtuPad stay connected and streaming when the phone screen is off or the app is in the background. This feature runs a foreground service with anti-kill, CPU lock, and Wi-Fi lock so the controller connection stays stable. It's very useful for playing motion-control games so you can turn off the screen and avoid accidentally pressing virtual buttons. You can enable it in Settings > Background.

Does VirtuPad support multiplayer?

Yes, VirtuPad supports up to 4 independent controller slots (0-3). For local multiplayer, each player needs a phone with VirtuPad installed, then each fills a different slot via Settings > Slot. Each phone will appear as a separate device in Dolphin.

How do I adjust sensitivity and axis inversion?

Open Settings > Sensors in VirtuPad. There you can enable/disable the accelerometer and gyroscope, set motion sensitivity from 0.1x to 3.0x, and invert the X, Y, and Z axes if movement feels reversed.

How do I set the device orientation?

Open Settings > Device Orientation. Choose the orientation that matches how you hold the phone: Portrait Up or Portrait Down for Wiimote + Nunchuck mode, or Landscape Left or Landscape Right for Wii Standard mode. The app will automatically adjust the motion sensor axis mapping to the selected orientation.

What is AP isolation and how do I work around it?

AP isolation (client isolation) is a router feature that blocks communication between devices on the same Wi-Fi network. If it's enabled, the PC and phone can't connect to each other. The fix: disable AP isolation in the router settings, use a guest network without isolation, or use a phone hotspot instead.

Can it be used when the phone screen is off?

Yes, by enabling Background Mode in Settings > Background. This feature runs a foreground service with anti-kill, CPU lock, and Wi-Fi lock so the controller connection stays stable even when the screen is off or the app is in the background.

What should I do if the motion sensor is unavailable?

VirtuPad detects the availability of the accelerometer and gyroscope when the app opens. If the sensors are unavailable, motion options are automatically disabled in Settings. Without motion sensors, the controller buttons still work, but motion control features (tilt, shake, pointing) won't be available.

What is the Material You feature?

Material You is an Android 12+ feature that makes VirtuPad's interface colors adapt to your phone's wallpaper automatically. You can enable or disable it in Settings > Material You, or manually choose a light/dark theme.

How do I donate?

Donations are entirely voluntary and not required. If you'd like to support VirtuPad's development, open the Donation section on this page, then scan the QRIS code with your e-wallet or m-banking app, or scan the Bitcoin / Dogecoin QR code (the BTC and DOGE addresses are also available to copy).

App Appearance

VirtuPad Screenshots

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Video

The Fun of Playing Wii Games on Dolphin

See how VirtuPad is used to play Wii games on the Dolphin emulator.

Download App

Get VirtuPad Now

Available for Android

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Config Files

Download VirtuPad Config

Ready-to-use controller profiles for the Dolphin emulator. Pick the one that matches your mode and motion sensor support.

VirtuPad Wiimote (Gyro Support) Wiimote mode, with gyroscope support

Download

VirtuPad Wiimote + Nunchuck (Gyro Support) Wiimote + Nunchuck mode, with gyroscope support

Download

VirtuPad Wiimote + Nunchuck (Without Gyro Support) Wiimote + Nunchuck mode, without gyroscope support

Download

VirtuPad Wiimote (Without Gyro Support) Wiimote mode, without gyroscope support

Download

How to Install the Config Files

These .ini files are Wii Remote controller profiles for Dolphin. Copy the file into the Profiles/Wiimote/ subfolder of your Dolphin user directory.

Profiles folder location

Windows%APPDATA%\Dolphin Emulator\Config\Profiles\Wiimote\
Linux~/.local/share/dolphin-emu/Config/Profiles/Wiimote/

Notes

Portable mode (a portable.txt file exists in the Dolphin folder): the profiles folder lives inside the installation folder instead, at User\Config\Profiles\Wiimote\ (Windows) or User/Config/Profiles/Wiimote/ (Linux).
Older Linux builds: the user directory may be located at ~/.dolphin-emu/Config/Profiles/Wiimote/.

Loading the profile in Dolphin

Open Dolphin and go to the Controllers menu.
Click Configure on the Wii Remote slot you want to use.
Under Profile, select the profile name you just copied.
Click Load to apply it.

The Open Folder button next to the Profile list opens the correct profiles folder automatically, so you don't have to find it manually.