PS2 BIOS for AetherSX2 — Complete Android Setup Guide 2026

Setting up PS2 BIOS for AetherSX2 on Android in 2026? This step-by-step guide covers everything  where to put the BIOS file, how to configure AetherSX2, and how to fix common setup errors fast.

AetherSX2 is the best PS2 emulator for Android. But it's useless without a proper BIOS file. Most setup guides skip the important details. This one doesn't.

Let's get it done.

What You Need Before Starting

Three things required:

• Android phone (Android 5.0 or above)

• AetherSX2 APK installed

• A valid PS2 BIOS file (.bin format, around 4MB)

If you don't have a BIOS file yet, get a verified one from AllPS2Bios.com before continuing.

Step 1 — Download AetherSX2 APK

AetherSX2 is no longer on the Play Store. You need to sideload it manually.

Download the APK from a trusted source. The file name should be something like AetherSX2-v1.5-xxxx.apk.

Before installing, enable unknown sources on your phone:

Settings → Security → Install unknown apps → Allow for your browser or file manager

Install the APK. Takes about 30 seconds.

If AetherSX2 doesn't work well on your device, try NetherSX2 instead. It's a patched version with extra fixes and works better on newer Android versions.

Step 2 — Create a BIOS Folder on Your Phone

Don't just dump the BIOS file anywhere. Create a proper folder so AetherSX2 finds it easily.

Open your phone's file manager. Go to internal storage. Create a new folder called PS2 or AetherSX2. Inside that folder, create another folder called bios.

Final path should look like this:

Internal Storage → PS2 → bios → SCPH-70012.bin

Keep it clean. One BIOS file in one folder. No subfolders inside bios.

Step 3 — Copy BIOS File to Your Phone

If BIOS file is on your PC:

Connect phone via USB cable. Select File Transfer mode on your phone. Copy the .bin file from PC to your bios folder on phone.

If BIOS file is downloaded directly on phone:

Open Downloads folder. Move the .bin file to Internal Storage → PS2 → bios.

Check the file size after copying. Should be around 4MB. If it's smaller, the file is corrupted — get a fresh one.

Step 4 — Open AetherSX2 and Run First Time Setup

Open AetherSX2. First launch shows a setup wizard.

You'll see these screens in order:

Welcome screen — tap Next

BIOS directory screen — this is where you point AetherSX2 to your BIOS folder

Tap the folder icon. Navigate to Internal Storage → PS2 → bios. Select the bios folder itself — not the .bin file inside it.

AetherSX2 will scan the folder and detect your BIOS automatically.

Game directory screen — point it to your PS2 ISO folder. Skip this for now if you don't have games yet.

Tap Finish.

Step 5 — Verify BIOS is Detected

Before launching any game, confirm the BIOS loaded correctly.

Go to Settings → BIOS. You should see your BIOS file listed — something like SCPH-70012 USA v1.60.

If it shows empty or says no BIOS found, go back to Step 4 and reselect the folder.

If BIOS is listed but greyed out, tap on it to select it as active. Some versions of AetherSX2 need manual selection.

Step 6 — Configure Basic Settings for Best Performance

BIOS is set up. Now tweak these settings for smooth gameplay:

Renderer: Vulkan (best for most phones), OpenGL (use if Vulkan crashes)

Upscaling: 2x for mid-range phones, 4x for flagship phones

Frame limit: Enable. Set to 60 FPS for NTSC games, 50 FPS for PAL games

Audio: Cubeb backend works best on most Android devices

Controller: Go to Controller settings. Map your buttons if using a Bluetooth gamepad. On-screen controls work fine for casual play.

These settings cover 90% of games. Individual games may need specific tweaks but start here.

Step 7 — Load a Game and Test

Add your PS2 ISO files to a folder on your phone. Go back to AetherSX2 home screen.

Tap the plus icon or Add Game. Navigate to your ISO folder. Select your game.

The game should boot through the PS2 BIOS screen and load normally.

If it boots but crashes — check your ISO file. If BIOS screen doesn't appear at all — your BIOS file has an issue. Get a fresh verified BIOS from Allps2bios.

Common PS2 BIOS Errors on AetherSX2 and Fixes

BIOS not found on AetherSX2

AetherSX2 is looking in the wrong folder. Go to Settings → BIOS → change directory. Reselect your bios folder manually.

BIOS detected but games won't boot

Your BIOS file might be region mismatched. USA games need USA BIOS (SCPH-70012 or SCPH-39001). PAL games need European BIOS.

AetherSX2 crashes on launch

Your Android version might have compatibility issues. Switch to NetherSX2 — same setup process, better stability on newer Android.

Game boots but shows black screen

This is usually a game compatibility issue, not a BIOS issue. Check if your specific game is compatible with AetherSX2.

BIOS file not showing in AetherSX2 scan

File might be in wrong format. Must be .bin — not .zip, not .rar. Extract if needed, then copy the .bin file to bios folder.

For more BIOS errors and fixes, check the full troubleshooting guide at AllPS2Bios.com

AetherSX2 vs NetherSX2 — Which One to Use in 2026

AetherSX2 development stopped in 2023. NetherSX2 is a community-patched version that keeps getting updates.

Both use the same BIOS setup process. Both run the same games.

If AetherSX2 works on your phone — stick with it. If you hit crashes or compatibility issues on newer Android — switch to NetherSX2. Same BIOS file works on both.

For a full comparison of all PS2 emulators including AetherSX2, read the PCSX2 vs AetherSX2 vs DamonPS2 guide

Best PS2 BIOS Version for AetherSX2

SCPH-70012 is the best PS2 BIOS for AetherSX2 in 2026. It's from a newer PS2 slim model and has the highest game compatibility.

SCPH-39001 works too but SCPH-70012 performs better on mobile hardware.

For a full breakdown of which BIOS version is better, check the SCPH-70012 vs SCPH-39001 comparison

FAQs

Where do I put the PS2 BIOS file for AetherSX2?

Create a bios folder in your phone's internal storage. Path: Internal Storage → PS2 → bios → SCPH-70012.bin. Point AetherSX2 to this folder in settings.

Which PS2 BIOS works best with AetherSX2?

SCPH-70012 (USA) works best for most games. Match the BIOS region to your game region for best results.

Can I use the same PS2 BIOS for AetherSX2 and PCSX2?

Yes. Same .bin file works on both. Copy it to your PC for PCSX2, keep it on phone for AetherSX2.

AetherSX2 says BIOS not found even after setup — why?

You selected the .bin file instead of the bios folder. Go back to Settings → BIOS and select the folder, not the file inside it.

Is AetherSX2 still safe to download in 2026?

Yes but download from trusted sources only. Official development stopped but the APK is safe. NetherSX2 is the actively maintained alternative.

Conclusion

PS2 BIOS setup on AetherSX2 takes under 5 minutes when you know the steps. Create the folder, drop the BIOS file in, point AetherSX2 to it, done.

SCPH-70012 is your best choice. One file, works with everything, zero issues on 97% of games.

If you need a verified PS2 BIOS file or hit any errors during setup, head to AllPS2Bios.com — everything you need is there.