Provenance Documentation

🆕 What's New — v3.3.0 Copy Chapter

☁️ iCloud Sync — ROMs, saves, BIOS, and artwork sync across all devices via CloudKit
📺 Redesigned tvOS UI — RetroWave side menu, save state browser, cheats UI, TopShelf v2
🎬 Unified Video Filters — Metal shaders across native and RetroArch cores
🎮 Core & Controller Fixes — Mupen64Plus, Dolphin, DuckStation, PicoDrive, FCEUmm, Mednafen
🐛 Stability — Fixed app hangs, crashes, artwork refresh, and game importer

→ Full release notes · → Changelog

✨ Features Copy Chapter

| 🎮 50+ Classic Systems
NES, SNES, N64, GameCube, Game Boy, GBA, DS, 3DS, PlayStation, PSP, Saturn, Dreamcast, Atari, Neo Geo, and many more

☁️ iCloud Sync (Provenance Plus)
Sync ROMs, save states, BIOS files, and artwork across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV

🎨 Custom Controller Skins
Hundreds of free community skins — provenance-emu.com/skins

🏆 RetroAchievements
Earn achievements in hundreds of classic games via retroachievements.org

📺 Native Apple TV App
Full tvOS UI with RetroWave side menu, TopShelf v2, save state browser — iCloud sync free on Apple TV

🎬 Metal Video Filters
Simple CRT · Complex CRT · Mega Tron · ulTron · LCD · Game Boy · VHS + RetroArch shader support | 🔒 Cheat Codes
Game Genie, Action Replay, GameShark on 12+ native cores and all RetroArch cores

💾 Save States
Save and restore progress anywhere with visual thumbnail previews; screenshot browser in pause menu

⏩ Fast Forward
Speed through slow sections with a pause menu toggle or controller shortcut

🖼️ Museum-Quality Library
Automatic box art, descriptions, and genre data via OpenVGDB

📥 Flexible Importing
WebDAV, AirDrop, Files app, Safari downloads, and more

🔓 100% Free & Open Source

No ads, no tracking, no required account — free forever when sideloaded or built from source |
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💜 Provenance is and always will be free. If it's brought you joy, support development — Provenance Plus ($3.99/mo) adds iCloud sync across all devices, TestFlight beta access, and priority support. GitHub Sponsors · Patreon · Buy Me a Coffee

🎮 Systems Supported Copy Chapter

Nintendo — 11 systems

Sega — 7 systems

Sony — 2 systems

Atari — 6 systems

NEC · SNK · Bandai · and more — 17 systems

📖 BIOS requirements, ROM formats, and full compatibility notes: wiki.provenance-emu.com

🚀 Getting Started Copy Chapter

1. Install

The easiest way is the App Store.
For sideloading (AltStore / SideStore) or building from source, see the Installation Guide.

2. Add your games

See Importing ROMs — WebDAV, AirDrop, Files, or browser downloads all work.

3. (Optional) Add BIOS files

Some systems require BIOS files. See BIOS Requirements.

🆘 Stuck? Check the FAQ or ask on Discord.

Why "Provenance"? Copy Section

Provenance is our origin story — the word shares its meaning with Genesis, where the project began: a Sega Genesis emulator on iOS in 2016.

^{prov·e·nance  /ˈprävənəns/   n.   ¹ place of origin   ² the beginning of something's existence}

⌨️ Keyboard Controls Copy Chapter

Show full keyboard mapping

📊 Repository Activity Copy Chapter

⭐ Star History Copy Chapter

🤝 Contributing Copy Chapter

We welcome bug fixes, features, documentation, and testing.

1. Check open issues for something to work on
2. Read Issues Usage before opening new ones
3. Fork → branch → PR against develop

💬 For discussion and community help: Discord · @provenanceapp · r/Provenance

❤️ Support Provenance Copy Chapter

Provenance has been free and open-source since 2016. If it's brought you joy, please consider supporting ongoing development — every contribution keeps the project alive and improving.

| ### 📱 Provenance Plus — In-App
The best way to support us while unlocking premium features:

Plan Price Perks

Monthly $3.99 / mo iCloud sync, priority support
Annual $39.99 / yr All above + savings
Lifetime $99.99 one-time All above, forever
Apple TV Free CloudKit sync always free on tvOS

Get Provenance Plus → | ### 💸 One-Time & Recurring Donations

Platform Link Notes

⭐ GitHub Sponsors github.com/sponsors/JoeMatt Listed in README
🎨 Patreon patreon.com/provenance TestFlight beta queue
☕ Buy Me a Coffee buymeacoffee.com/joemattiello Quick one-time support

🤝 Open Collective opencollective.com/provenanceemu Transparent org funding |
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🏆 GitHub Sponsors are automatically recognized in the Sponsors section of this README.
🎮 Patreon supporters get a dedicated TestFlight invitation queue — more slots, earlier access.
💜 Every dollar goes directly toward development, infrastructure, and keeping Provenance free.

🙏 Upstream Projects Copy Chapter

Provenance wouldn't exist without these incredible open-source projects. Please consider supporting them!

Show all cores & libraries

Collaborators Copy Section

Contributors Copy Section

Sponsors Copy Section

Bots Copy Section

License Attribution Copy Chapter

Provenance bundles 60+ open-source emulator cores and libraries under a variety of licenses (GPL, LGPL, MIT/Expat, BSD, and others). Each core's license and copyright holder are recorded in its Core.plist and displayed in the app's About > Licenses screen.

For the full machine-readable table of all bundled projects and their licenses, see LICENSES.md (auto-generated from Core.plist files by Scripts/generate_licenses.py).

See LICENSE.md for Provenance's own license terms.

_{Copyright © 2016–2026 Joseph Mattiello and the Provenance contributors. All rights reserved. Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met: (1) Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer. (2) Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution. (3) Neither the name Provenance nor the names of its contributors may be used to endorse products derived from this software without prior written permission. (4) The Provenance name, logo, and associated trademarks may NOT be used in any commercial redistribution. See LICENSE.md for the full terms.}