PS2 BIOS for PCSX2
PCSX2 needs a PS2 BIOS to run any game, and it does not come with one. The USA BIOS works for most libraries. Put the file in Documents\PCSX2\bios, then select it in Settings > BIOS.
PCSX2 is the desktop standard for PS2 emulation, but it ships without a BIOS because the BIOS is Sony's property. You supply it once, and from then on PCSX2 boots games like a real console. This page covers which BIOS to use, where to get it, and how to add it.
Why PCSX2 needs a BIOS
The BIOS is the PS2's startup program. Without it, PCSX2 has nothing to boot from.
The BIOS is what makes the emulator behave like real hardware, so no BIOS means no games, only a "BIOS not found" message. PCSX2 leaves it out on purpose, because it cannot legally distribute Sony's firmware. That part is on you, and the clean way to get it is to dump it from a console you own.
What the BIOS does when a game boots
When you load a game, PCSX2 runs the BIOS first, exactly like a real PS2.
The BIOS starts up, checks the virtual memory card and controller, then hands control to the game. That is why the boot animation plays before the title screen. If you see that animation, your PCSX2 BIOS is working.
Which BIOS for PCSX2?
The USA BIOS for most players. Match the region only for Japanese or PAL games.
On desktop the safe default is the USA (NTSC-U) BIOS, either SCPH-39001 or SCPH-70012. It runs the large majority of the library. If your games are Japanese or European, pick the matching region instead. The full breakdown is on which PS2 BIOS to use.
Can one BIOS run every game in PCSX2?
For a single-region library, yes. One matching BIOS runs almost everything.
A USA BIOS covers the large majority of English games. Region-locked Japanese or PAL titles are the exception and need a matching regional file. You can keep several in the PCSX2 BIOS folder and switch between them in Settings > BIOS, with no reinstall.
Download the BIOS for PCSX2
Get the USA BIOS for most setups, or the full pack if you play across regions.
The PS2 BIOS for PCSX2 is the same file on Windows, macOS, and Linux, so one download covers every desktop build. Dump your own from a console you own, or use a verified file from the PS2 BIOS download hub. Every file we list is matched to a known-good checksum, so you can trust it.
Is a downloaded PCSX2 BIOS legal?
Dumping your own is the method that is legal everywhere. A downloaded file sits in a grayer area.
The clean path is to dump the BIOS from a console you own, which gives you a PCSX2 BIOS that is fully yours to use. Downloading one is common but less clear-cut in law, so we verify every file against a known-good checksum and never claim to be official. If you own a PS2, dumping is worth the small effort.
How to add the BIOS in PCSX2
Put the file in the bios folder, then refresh the list and select it. That is your whole PCSX2 BIOS setup.
- Extract the
.binfrom any archive. - On Windows, copy it into
Documents\PCSX2\bios. On macOS and Linux, open Settings > BIOS and use the folder button to reach thebiosfolder, then copy it in. - In PCSX2, open Settings > BIOS and click Refresh List.
- Select your BIOS from the list.
That is the whole setup. The install guide has the exact folder for every platform if you need it.
First launch: the setup wizard
The easiest time to add the BIOS is the first time you open PCSX2.
On first launch, PCSX2 runs a short setup wizard, and one step asks for the BIOS. Use its Open in Explorer button to reach the bios folder, drop your file in, click Refresh List, and finish. If you skipped the wizard, you do the same thing later from Settings > BIOS.
Fat, slim, or a version number?
Region is what matters. The chassis and the version label barely affect emulation.
A fat-console BIOS and a slim-console BIOS both run fine in PCSX2, and the firmware version attached to a model makes little practical difference. So choose by region and move on. If a specific game acts up, try another model from the same region before you think about versions.
Make sure the file is genuine
A correct BIOS matches a known-good checksum. Check it before you trust it.
Compare the file's SHA-256 or MD5 against a known-good value, which the PS2 BIOS files explained page walks through. A file dumped from your own console will match, and so will every file we host.
PCSX2 on Steam Deck and handhelds
Same BIOS, added through EmuDeck.
PCSX2 runs well on the Steam Deck, and it uses the exact same BIOS file. With EmuDeck, you place the file in the Emulation/bios folder and let its checker confirm it. The per-platform steps are in the install guide.
PCSX2 on other devices
The BIOS is the same on Android too.
PCSX2 has its own Android build, and it reads the same file as the desktop version. If you play on a phone as well, the PS2 BIOS for Android page covers the mobile setup.
If PCSX2 does not find the BIOS
Almost always the file is zipped, nested in a subfolder, or in the wrong place.
Extract it, put it directly in the bios folder, keep its name, and click Refresh List. If it still does not show, the BIOS not found fix page covers every cause.
Frequently asked questions
What BIOS does PCSX2 need?
SCPH-39001 or SCPH-70012, runs most games and is the safe default.
Where do I put the BIOS in PCSX2?
Documents\PCSX2\bios. Then open Settings > BIOS, click Refresh List, and select it. On macOS and Linux, use the folder button on that same screen.
Does PCSX2 come with a BIOS?
Which is the best BIOS for PCSX2?
Why is my BIOS not detected in PCSX2?
bios folder, and refresh the list.