Download AetherSX2: APK, IPA, Windows, Linux & macOS
AetherSX2 is one of the most capable PlayStation 2 emulators available for Android, and it also runs on iOS, Windows, macOS and Linux. It is free, it needs no account, and with the right settings it plays a large part of the PS2 library at full speed on modern phones. Every build below is hosted for direct download — pick your platform and start there.
Download AetherSX2 for your platform
Choose the build that matches your device. Android and iOS users install the APK or IPA directly, while the desktop builds are distributed as an archive or an AppImage. Both a stable and a beta line are listed where one exists — see which version to download if you are unsure.
Android
Android guideNetherSX2 (Android MOD)
NetherSX2 guideNetherSX2 is a separate, community-maintained patch of AetherSX2 — not an official build from the original developer. It is listed on its own here because it keeps receiving updates while AetherSX2 itself does not: v2.2b is the current release, and it is built on the same 4248 core as AetherSX2 v1.5. Install it instead of AetherSX2, not alongside a version you are already happy with.
iOS
iOS guidemacOS
macOS guideWindows
Windows guideLinux
Linux guideWhich AetherSX2 version should you download?
Two release lines are listed above, and neither is strictly better than the other. Development of AetherSX2 stopped in 2023, so v1.5 never graduated out of beta — it is simply the newest build that was published, not a finished successor to v1.4.
| Build | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| v1.4 — Stable | Most people, and anyone setting up an emulator for the first time | Misses the newest renderer and settings work from the 1.5 line |
| v1.5 — Beta | Newer devices, and users who want the latest fixes and options | Beta behaviour: a game that works on 1.4 may regress here |
| NetherSX2 v2.2b — MOD | Anyone who wants the 1.5 core to keep improving — it is the only line still updated | Community build, not an official release, so it is unsupported |
The practical advice is simple: start with v1.4. If a specific game runs badly, install the other line and compare — the two versions can coexist, so testing costs you nothing but storage.
What you need before you start
Downloading the emulator is only the first of three pieces. AetherSX2 on its own cannot boot anything, so gather these before you launch it for the first time:
- A PS2 BIOS file Download the BIOS
- A game image (ISO, CHD or 7z) Browse games
- An ARM64 device with enough free storage See requirements
The BIOS is the part people most often miss. AetherSX2 does not bundle one, and it will refuse to start a game until you import it — this is a licensing restriction, not an oversight. The legal route is to dump the BIOS from a PlayStation 2 console you own.
How to install AetherSX2
Prefer pictures? The step-by-step install walkthrough shows every screen.
Installation differs by platform because none of these builds come from an official app store. The steps below get the app onto your device; the full walkthrough with screenshots, including importing the BIOS and adding your game folder, is on the installation guide.
Android (APK)
Open the downloaded .apk from your notification shade or file manager. Android
will ask for permission to install apps from that source the first time — grant it, then
confirm the install. If your browser blocks the file, allow the download explicitly.
iOS (IPA)
AetherSX2 is not on the App Store, so the .ipa has to be sideloaded with a tool
such as AltStore or Sideloadly. Note that apps signed with a free Apple developer account
expire after seven days and need re-signing, while a paid developer account lasts a year.
Windows (ARM64)
Extract the archive and run the executable inside. This build targets ARM64 devices such as Snapdragon-powered Windows laptops — it will not run on a conventional Intel or AMD machine. On a normal x86 PC, use PCSX2 instead.
macOS
Unzip the archive and move the app into your Applications folder. Because the build is not notarised by Apple, Gatekeeper will block the first launch: right-click the app, choose Open, and confirm.
Linux (AppImage)
Mark the file executable and run it — no installation required:
chmod +x AetherSX2-v1.4-3058.AppImage
./AetherSX2-v1.4-3058.AppImageIs AetherSX2 safe and legal?
The emulator itself is legal. Emulation software is lawful to write, share and use — an emulator only reimplements how the hardware behaved. AetherSX2 was removed from the Play Store over Google's advertising policies, not because of any legal issue with emulation, which is why installing it manually is now normal.
What matters legally is the content you load into it. The PS2 BIOS is copyrighted by Sony, and the sanctioned way to obtain it is to dump it from a console you own. The same applies to games: ripping a disc you own is very different from downloading one you do not. Please see our disclaimer for the full position.
On safety: install builds only from sources you trust, and be sceptical of any site offering a "premium", "pro" or "unlocked" AetherSX2 that asks for payment or an account. AetherSX2 is free and has no paid tier, so any such offer is a warning sign.
Frequently asked questions
Next steps
With the emulator installed, the remaining setup takes a few minutes. These pages cover the rest:
Want to compare emulators first? Read AetherSX2 vs PCSX2, or see our Poco X3 NFC tuning guide for an example of per-device configuration.