Provenance Emulator for iPhone (2026): Systems, Setup and Plus

ByScarlet iOS Team Updated on

Provenance is a free, open-source emulator for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Mac that plays games from more than 40 classic systems in one app, from the NES and Game Boy to the PlayStation, Saturn and Dreamcast. It has been on the App Store since January 2025, so most people do not need to sideload it at all. This guide covers how to get it, which systems it runs, what Provenance Plus adds, and when the sideloaded build makes sense. Last checked: 31 October 2026, against the project’s GitHub page, its wiki and its App Store listing.

The Short Version

  • Get Provenance from the App Store (search “Provenance App”, by Joseph Mattiello). It is free and needs iOS 16 or later.
  • The App Store download is large: about 2.5 GB, because every emulator core is inside the app.
  • Provenance Plus ($3.99 a month, $39.99 a year or $99.99 once) adds iCloud sync of games, saves and BIOS files across devices. Everything else is free.
  • The project says sideloading is only needed for development builds. Its wiki puts it plainly: “The App Store version is recommended for 90%+ of users.”
  • You bring your own games, and some systems also need BIOS files.

Provenance at a Glance

Provenance
Price Free; optional Provenance Plus subscription
Where to get it App Store (recommended), the project’s AltStore source, or IPA files from its GitHub releases
Minimum version iOS 16, iPadOS 16, tvOS 16
Systems 40+ (Nintendo, Sega, Sony, Atari, NEC, SNK and more)
License Open source, on GitHub since 2016
Latest versions 3.3.0 on the App Store (29 January 2026); 3.3.1 on GitHub (30 March 2026)

Which Systems Does It Run?

Provenance bundles many emulator “cores” and picks the right one for each game. The main systems, from the project’s own list:

  • Nintendo: NES, Famicom Disk System, SNES, Nintendo 64, GameCube and Wii (Dolphin), Game Boy and Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS (DeSmuME, melonDS), 3DS, Virtual Boy and Pokémon mini.
  • Sega: Master System, Genesis/Mega Drive, Sega CD, 32X, Game Gear, Saturn and Dreamcast (Flycast).
  • Sony: PlayStation (DuckStation, PCSX-ReARMed, Mednafen), PSP (PPSSPP) and PlayStation 2 (Play!, see below).
  • Atari: 2600, 5200, 7800, 8-bit computers, Lynx, Jaguar and ST.
  • Others: PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 and its CD add-on, Neo Geo Pocket, WonderSwan, 3DO, ColecoVision, Intellivision, Vectrex, MSX, ZX Spectrum and DOS, among others.

Two systems have limits. The project marks PlayStation 2 as only playable with JIT, which App Store apps do not get on current iOS versions; the sideloaded build can use JIT. Apple II is experimental and hidden in the App Store build. Heavier systems such as GameCube, 3DS and PS2 also run best on recent iPhones.

How to Install Provenance

From the App Store (recommended)

  1. Open the App Store and search for Provenance App. Check that the developer is Joseph Mattiello.
  2. Download it. Leave room for about 2.5 GB.
  3. Open Provenance and add your games (see below).

The App Store copy updates itself, is signed by Apple and is never revoked, which makes it the safer choice for almost everyone.

Sideloading (advanced)

The project also publishes IPA files on its GitHub releases page and offers an AltStore source on its own site, provenance-emu.com. Its wiki notes that these builds need an Apple ID and have to be re-signed every 7 days with a free account. Reasons to use them:

  • You want the newest development builds before they reach the App Store.
  • You want the PlayStation 2 core with JIT, turned on with a tool such as StikDebug.

To sideload with a free Apple ID, use SideStore or AltStore and add the project’s source, and see how to refresh an app after 7 days. Only download the IPA from the project’s GitHub page or its own source, and scan any IPA you got elsewhere. The wiki says saves and games carry over if you later move to the App Store version.

Adding Games and BIOS Files

Provenance imports games through the Files app, AirDrop, a built-in WebDAV server you reach from a computer on the same Wi-Fi, or downloads in the browser. Use copies of games you own.

Some systems need a BIOS file, a copy of the console’s own startup software, before they run. Provenance’s wiki has a BIOS requirements page listing which systems need one and the exact file names. As with games, the legal source is your own console.

Provenance Plus: Is It Worth It?

Provenance Plus is the project’s way of funding development. It costs $3.99 a month, $39.99 a year or $99.99 once, and adds:

  • iCloud sync of games, save states, BIOS files and artwork across iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV;
  • early access to new cores and features through TestFlight;
  • priority support.

On Apple TV, iCloud sync is free. If you only play on one iPhone, the free app has everything you need.

Controllers and Extras

Provenance works with touch controls and with MFi, PlayStation and Xbox controllers paired in Settings, Bluetooth. It also has custom controller skins, CRT and LCD screen filters, save states, cheats and fast-forward. On Apple TV it has its own TV interface, so it can act as a retro console; see how to build a retro gaming console with your iPhone for the iPhone side of that setup.

Provenance vs Other Emulators

Our emulators guide compares them all.

FAQ

Is Provenance free?

Yes. The app and all its systems are free. Provenance Plus is an optional subscription for iCloud sync and early access.

Do I need to sideload Provenance?

No. It has been on the App Store since January 2025. Sideload it only if you want development builds or the PS2 core with JIT.

Does Provenance need a jailbreak?

No. Both the App Store and the sideloaded versions run on a normal iPhone.

Which iPhone do I need?

Any iPhone on iOS 16 or later. Older systems run on any of them; GameCube, 3DS and PS2 need a recent model to run well.

Is Provenance legal?

The app is legal, open-source software that Apple allows on the App Store. Games and BIOS files are copyrighted: use copies from games and consoles you own.

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