How to Convert DeSmuME Save Files to Drastic DS Emulator

Hey there 👋

First off, big thanks for trying out Drastic DS Emulator! If you’re here, you’ve probably been playing your favorite Nintendo DS game on DeSmuME on your PC, and now you’re wondering:

“Can I transfer my save to Drastic and pick up right where I left off… but on my phone?”

Short answer? Yes, absolutely! 🎮

Let me walk you through the whole process—step by step, no tech jargon, no fuss. Ready? Let’s go!

🧠 Quick Overview: What’s Going On Here?

DeSmuME (your PC emulator) and Drastic (your Android emulator) both save game data, but sometimes in slightly different formats. Drastic uses .dsv save files (not to be confused with save states like .ds1, .ds2, etc.).

To make your DeSmuME save work in Drastic, we just need to:

Use a proper in-game save in DeSmuME.
Rename the file correctly.
Copy it to your Android phone in the right folder.

That’s it! 🧼 Clean and simple.

🧩 Step 1: Save Properly in DeSmuME

🖥️ (This part is done on your PC)

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Only in-game saves work with Drastic. Save states won’t transfer!

🔹 Do This:

Launch your game in DeSmuME.
Open the game’s menu (not the emulator’s menu).
Use the game’s built-in save feature (just like on a real DS).
Exit the game.

Once that’s done, DeSmuME will generate a .dsv file for that game.

💡 Where is the save file?

Usually somewhere like:

C:\Users\YourName\AppData\Local\DeSmuME\

Look for a .dsv file with the same name as your ROM:

pokemon_white.dsv

🏷️ Step 2: Rename the Save File for Drastic

This is super important so Drastic recognizes your save!

✅ Here’s what to do:

Let’s say your game ROM on Android is called: Pokemon_White_Version.nds
Your save file from DeSmuME is: pokemon_white.dsv

👉 Rename the save file to match the ROM’s name exactly:

Pokemon_White_Version.dsv

✅ Same name, same capitalization, just a different extension!

📲 Step 3: Move the Save File to Your Android Phone

Alright, time to bring your save to Drastic!

🔹 Steps:

Connect your Android phone to your PC via USB (or use Google Drive/Dropbox if that’s easier).
Navigate to this folder on your Android:

/Android/data/com.dsemu.drastic/files/backup/

Paste your renamed .dsv save file into that folder.

That’s where Drastic looks for save files!

🚀 Step 4: Load Your Game in Drastic and Play!

Fire up Drastic DS Emulator on your Android phone. 📱

Launch the same ROM you used in DeSmuME.
If everything went right, your game should load from the in-game save automatically.
BOOM 💥 You’re back in action—just where you left off on PC!

🎉 Feels like magic, right?

🛠️ Troubleshooting (Just In Case…)

Uh-oh, something didn’t work? 😕 No worries, let’s fix it:

❌ Game starts from the beginning?

Double check: did you save in-game, not using a save state?
Is the .dsv file named exactly like your .nds ROM?
Make sure the file is in the /backup/ folder, not somewhere else.

❌ Still not working?

Try creating a new save in Drastic, then replace that file with your PC save.
Try using a .sav file if .dsv doesn’t show up (rename it to .dsv).

🧪 Pro Tips (For the Nerdy Few 😅)

Want to dive deeper?

Some users use tools like No$GBA Save Converter or HxD (hex editor) to check or convert save file formats—but honestly, for most people, just using in-game saves works perfectly.

That’s it, buddy!

You just went from DeSmuME to Drastic—save file and all—without breaking a sweat 💦

Here’s a quick recap:

Save in-game on DeSmuME.
Rename the .dsv file to match your Android ROM.
Drop it in /Android/data/com.dsemu.drastic/files/backup/
Load it up and voilà, game on! 🎮💥

💬 Got Stuck?

If you’re still scratching your head or something’s not working right, don’t hesitate to reach out in the comments (if enabled) or message us via the Drastic community forums. I’m always happy to help the community—after all, you’re playing with something I helped build, and that means the world to me 🙏💚

Now go catch that legendary Pokémon—or rescue that princess—whatever your mission is 🐉👸

See ya in-game!