Retroarch on Android not Downloading Cores or Info Files.

[sonners-89]

Is there an existing issue for this?

• [X] This is a bug in RetroArch frontend
• [X] I have searched the existing issues

Description

Nothing is downloading in the app when trying to set cores up. I set it up months ago and everything was a breeze for example. Now it says:

Downloading info.zip error Fetching core list... (not working)

I have deleted the cache and data, uninstalled the app many times over including different builds of stable and nightly. Tried to download cores manually onto my Odin 2. Does not work either for me when loading them inside Retroarch.

I'm completely stuck not been able to do anything in the app.

Does anyone have any help they could recommend? I'm genuinely at the end of ideas to get it working.

Expected behavior

No response

Steps to reproduce the bug

Online Updater Tab. Nothing works

Version/Commit

1.19.1

Bisect Results

No

Check in the nightly version

Yes, this is reproduced in the nightly build

Platform & operating system

Android 13

Affected Cores

Everything

Environment information

Odin 2

Relevant log output

No response

[sonninnos]

No problem with my phone.

[gouchi]

@sonners-89 You should try to provide some log.

Also which path is set for cores and cores info files in Settings > Directory ?

Thank you.

[sonners-89]

I had changed the download paths to: https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/android/latest/arm64-v8a/ https://buildbot.libretro.com/assets/

Adding the 's' after http makes the file download but again error occurs extracting from zip I think.

I'm going to reset my Odin 2 to factory settings and install Retroarch again first.

[sonners-89]

I reset the device completely, reset my internet router and Retroarch will still not download assets or anything. Zero idea how to even bother going forward with this app now.

[hizzlekizzle]

@sonners-89 we need to see a log of it failing to do more than guess blindly.

[sonners-89]

Thanks for replying how do I create a log file? I've been researching it and quite honestly I'm stuck after finding out how to enable developer mode on my Odin 2.

Do you use a certain app to do this easily or are the Logs created in Retroarch automatically and can be exported?

I tried logcat and AdB. Can't get either working so to be honest. Seems very developer focused when the app should just work.

I'm a newbie to Android so be gentle.

Any folders I can place so. files in for the emulators so I don't have to do this workaround for example?

I have the nightly emulator files ready.

[hizzlekizzle]

there are a few ways to get a log, but the easiest is to go to settings > log and set both logging verbosities to DEBUG and 'log to file' to ON. Do whatever it takes to reproduce the offending behavior and then close RetroArch (if needed). It will then create a log file in your 'log' directory, which you can open in a text editor. If you want us to take a look at it, copy/paste the log contents somewhere like pastebin.com and then post a link to it here (this is more convenient for people than having to download it and open it in our own text editors)

[sonners-89]

Big thanks for that info :D This should be the link, hopefully someone can see the issue.

https://pastebin.com/QE32GrPA

[hizzlekizzle]

Hmm, not much info in there, sadly. However, we do know that it fails on the download itself (i.e., rather than during the unzip stage).

Have you tried moving/renaming your retroarch.cfg to see if that makes any difference? it will make a new copy with all default settings, in case something is wonky with your installation (which may not have gotten completely cleared out when you reset things before).

[sonners-89]

I renamed the 'retroarch.cfg' in the Android folder but unfortunately nothing works at all in terms of the download completing even after a new one is created. I have zero clue but looks like Retroarch doesn't work on my device at all.

Any way to install cores without the dumb downloader? I have all the cores in so. files but they didn't seem to work either when I tried it before.

[viachaslavic]

@sonners-89 Please specify the model of your device

[sonners-89]

AYN Odin 2 Pro, 12GB RAM, 256GB storage

[hizzlekizzle]

Any way to install cores without the dumb downloader?

Sure. In the 'load core' menu, down at the bottom there's a "install or restore a core" function that will copy the core lib into the correct location. You'll still need to figure out a way to get your info files recognized, but you should be able to point your info directory (in settings > directory) to wherever you have them (on local storage). The 'cores' directory can't be changed AFAIK.

[sonners-89]

I have made a new log this time showing the error using the so. files I placed on my Odin 2.

https://pastebin.com/Wyx5WNpm

It says:

Error(s): dlopen failed: "/data/user/0/com.retroarch/cores/genesis_plus_gx_libretro_android.so" is 32-bit instead of 64-bit

If this is the case does anyone have the link to the place to download the 64 bit versions? Plus I'm still unsure about the info directory. I'm guessing I just leave that in the info folder or will I change this directory too?

[viachaslavic]

AYN Odin 2 Pro, 12GB RAM, 256GB storage

I'm not sure exactly, but probably the cores is currently unavailable via updater for your architecture. Could you please try to install the core manually from https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/android/latest/arm64-v8a/ ?

[gouchi]

@sonners-89 Can you check also that in your configuration file, you have

grep buildbot /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.retroarch/files/retroarch.cfg                                                                                                                       
core_updater_buildbot_assets_url = "http://buildbot.libretro.com/assets/"
core_updater_buildbot_cores_url = "http://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/android/latest/arm64-v8a/"

Thank you.

[sonners-89]

Sorted this out in the end so thanks for everyones help with the logs especially.

Fixed it by just downloading the 64 bit so. file cores and placing them in the correct folder. I was using 32 bit before so didn't work at first. You don't need to use the downloader so glad everything works now with that easy work around :)

[viachaslavic]

@sonners-89 Did you download it manually? Could you please specify the value of core_updater_buildbot_cores_url in the retroarch.cfg (or in Settings → Core → Updater Settings → Buildbot Cores URL ) ?

[sonners-89]

Download the "so." files manually from: http://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/android/latest/arm64-v8a/ (if you are using a 64 bit device) if it's 32 bit download the 32 bit cores instead.

Place so. files in the "cores" folder in your Retroarch directory.

This worked instantly for me.

[viachaslavic]

Did you download it manually? Could you please specify the value of core_updater_buildbot_cores_url in the retroarch.cfg (or in Settings → Core → Updater Settings → Buildbot Cores URL ) ?

You can help improve app by sharing your configuration setting. You will also probably have an updater working when you change the URL to this one.

[sonners-89]

I downloaded it manually then transferred via a microSD card to my Odin 2. I gave up on the updater failing each time.

Doesn't work for me but you don't need it if you get the files from the website manually :)