# How to install PICO-8 on GameShell
**URL:** https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/how-to-install-pico-8-on-gameshell/1012
**Category:** Tutorials
**Tags:** pico-8
**Created:** [July 29, 2018, 4:25pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/how-to-install-pico-8-on-gameshell/1012 "2018-07-29T16:25:17Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 4
### Author:  [@ThatTomHall](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/ThatTomHall)
#### Post date: [February 20, 2019, 1:16am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/how-to-install-pico-8-on-gameshell/1012/64 "2019-02-20T01:16:57Z")
I have the same problem – zip file right off Lexaloffle into that directory… doesn’t show up. Where should it appear? At the home menu? I rebooted, tried LauncherGo instead… reloaded UI… all nothing…
Also, maybe dumb question, but do you have to unzip it, or will the GameShell handle a zip like a directory?
---
### Author:  [@RaphaelTetreault](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/RaphaelTetreault)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2019, 7:30pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/how-to-install-pico-8-on-gameshell/1012/65 "2019-02-24T19:30:18Z")
I’m also having issues where the app can’t load (always crashes, goes to main menu). I followed parts of this walkthrough, then realized the zip inside PICO-8 should work, and now I’m uncertain what elements could be causing this issue from either operations.
I’ve been going through the SSH command line and have edited some of the common files that are being brought up in this thread. Below are the contents.
Files within the ‘launcher/Menu/GameShell’ directory
```
~/launcher/Menu/GameShell/50_PICO-8/pico-8/ ls
config.txt log.txt sdl_controllers.txt
```
~/launcher/Menu/GameShell/50\_PICO-8/pico-8/config.txt
```
// :: Video Settings
window_size = 320 240
screen_size = 320 240
```
~/launcher/Menu/GameShell/50\_PICO-8/PICO-8.sh
```
#!/bin/bash
cd /home/cpi/games/PICO-8/pico-8
SDL_VIDEODRIVER=xll DISPLAY=:0 ./pico8_dyn =splore -draw-rect 32,0,256,240
```
Within the PICO-8 folder in ‘games’
```
~/games/PICO-8/ ls
15133.p8.png pico-8 pico-8_0.1.11g_raspi.zip
~/games/PICO-8/pico-8/ ls
lexaloffle-pico8.png license.txt pico8 pico8.dat pico8_dyn pico8.txt
```
It would be helpful if the instructions could explain _why_ we do certain operations rather than only what since it makes troubleshooting much harder. For instance, no tutorial mentions _where exactly_ the pico-8 folder and contents are supposed to live.
EDIT: the user @hpcodecraft provided some information in another thread that resolved my issue:
> I had the same issue and solved it like this:
>
> The launcher script for pico-8 contains this line
> `cd /home/cpi/games/PICO-8/pico-8`
>
> From there it tries to launch the actual pico8 binary. So all I had to do was to unzip the pico-8 archive (again - I had it running before and have no idea why it vanished):
>
> `cd ~/games/PICO-8`
> `unzip pico-8_0.1.11g_raspi.zip`
>
> This created the pico-8 folder the launcher wants and voila, it runs again.
>
> Additional tip: If you link your carts folder to `~/games/PICO-8` , you can upload carts via WinSCP or the file browser. To do that, run this command: `ln -s ~/.lexaloffle/pico-8/carts/ ~/games/PICO-8/carts`
>
> Hope that helps!
---
### Author:  [@BillyKer](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/BillyKer)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2019, 8:28pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/how-to-install-pico-8-on-gameshell/1012/66 "2019-03-12T20:28:16Z")
> [@skywalker101](#):
>
> **Start PICO-8 for the first time**
>
> When GameShell has finished booting and you see the Launcher again, a “PICO-8” icon (a circle with a “Pi” in it) will be in the menu. Select it.
>
> One of two things will happen:
>
> PICO-8 starts with a chime sound, and it appears in a small square. You can use the cursor keys, but you can’t use the ABXY buttons yet.
> If this happens, press MENU, then press START to select “shutdown pico-8”.
> PICO-8 starts with a chime sound, but you only see the GameShell “Loading” screen.
> If this happens, connect to the command prompt via SSH and run this command:
Hi all, I don’t know what I’m doing wrong, but I followed this guide all the way till this step, and when I click on the PICO-8 icon, It still tells me that I have purchase the PICO-8 although I already did, it’s driving me crazy…
Someone pls help me… =(
---
### Author:  [@JJS8.Mind](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/JJS8.Mind)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2019, 6:57pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/how-to-install-pico-8-on-gameshell/1012/67 "2019-03-16T18:57:30Z")
Hi.
I’ve been trying to upload some carts onto my GameShell, and this directory doesn’t seem to exist in my device:
> [@dddaaannn](#):
>
> ~/.lexaloffle/pico-8/carts/ directory
I was wondering if you would have any idea of what other directory I would have to upload my carts to.
Thanks!
---
### Author:  [@detourne](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/detourne)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2019, 2:24pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/how-to-install-pico-8-on-gameshell/1012/68 "2019-04-02T14:24:30Z")
Did you put the raspberry pi zip file in the games/PICO-8 folder?
---
### Author:  [@lasvegas](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/lasvegas)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2019, 10:57pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/how-to-install-pico-8-on-gameshell/1012/69 "2019-04-02T22:57:31Z")
The directory exists. It’s just not normally visible since its name starts with a period. SSH into the GameShell and enter the following:
```auto
cd ~/.lexaloffle/pico-8/carts
ls
```
---
### Author:  [@Archanjel](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Archanjel)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2019, 6:58am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/how-to-install-pico-8-on-gameshell/1012/72 "2019-05-12T06:58:16Z")
---
### Author:  [@infernalmaster](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/infernalmaster)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2019, 7:31am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/how-to-install-pico-8-on-gameshell/1012/73 "2019-05-12T07:31:24Z")
You are trying to install the newest version of PICO8.
Try to update launcher and check If you have your versions of PICO8 inside this file [https://github.com/clockworkpi/launcher/blob/fb156214f96811d8afb9be01cd6944ef5ef1612d/Menu/GameShell/50\_PICO-8/compkginfo.json](https://github.com/clockworkpi/launcher/blob/fb156214f96811d8afb9be01cd6944ef5ef1612d/Menu/GameShell/50_PICO-8/compkginfo.json) or just replace that file with versions from GitHub
---
### Author:  [@infernalmaster](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/infernalmaster)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2019, 8:54pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/how-to-install-pico-8-on-gameshell/1012/77 "2019-05-12T20:54:25Z")
Open compkginfo.json in any text editor and replace content with that:
```auto
{
"GameDir":"/home/cpi/games/PICO-8/",
"InstallDir":"pico-8",
"NotFoundMsg":["Please purchase the PICO-8 \n|None|varela16",
"and copy it to the \"~/games/PICO-8\"|None|varela16"],
"MD5":{"pico-8_0.1.11g_raspi.zip":"a3f2995cf117499f880bd964d6a0e1f2","pico-8_0.1.11g_amd64.zip":"6726141c784afd4a41be6b7414c1b932","pico-8_0.1.12_raspi.zip":"08eda95570e63089a2b9f5531503431e","pico-8_0.1.12c_raspi.zip":"1a62b0d7d4e4be65f89f23ec9757cb66","pico-8.zip":"whatever it takes"},
"Post-Up":"bash Post-Up.sh"
}
```
The problem could be that your file doesn’t contain line with `pico-8_0.1.12c_raspi.zip`.
---
### Author:  [@Archanjel](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Archanjel)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2019, 9:15pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/how-to-install-pico-8-on-gameshell/1012/78 "2019-05-12T21:15:15Z")
Yes. I kinda figured it out by myself but thank you so much for replying.
---
### Author:  [@Scottbee](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Scottbee)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2019, 1:58am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/how-to-install-pico-8-on-gameshell/1012/79 "2019-05-17T01:58:53Z")
Thank you for the walk through! I got PICO8 up and running, start and select are working, but ABXY are not. Rebooting the Gameshell doesn’t seem to fix anything. Any thoughts?
---
### Author:  [@Archanjel](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Archanjel)
#### Post date: [May 25, 2019, 9:13am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/how-to-install-pico-8-on-gameshell/1012/80 "2019-05-25T09:13:28Z")
Hi,
Since I am totally new to this could you please explain this further in a detailed manner.
Maybe a video showing each step? I am unable to understand how to go about installing this.
I know how to SSH into the gameshell.
From there I copied and pasted
_sudo pip install pyxhook_
I received this message:
_Requirement already satisfied: pyxhook in /usr/local/lib/python2.7/dist-packages_
_Requirement already satisfied: python-xlib in /usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages (from pyxhook)_
How do I proceed from here?
Please help me as I find this code really useful when playing Pico8 games.
Thank you.
---
### Author:  [@Michel\_Jones](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Michel_Jones)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2019, 6:25am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/how-to-install-pico-8-on-gameshell/1012/81 "2019-06-02T06:25:53Z")
```auto
pico ~/.lexaloffle/pico-8/config.txt
```
“Pico” is a simple text file editor available on most Linux systems, including GameShell. It has nothing to do with PICO-8, it’s just called “Pico” by coincidence.
Use the cursor keys to scroll down to the line that says fullscreen\_method. Edit this value to 0:
`fullscreen_method 0`
Scroll down further to the line that says button\_keys. Edit this value as follows:
`button_keys 0 0 0 0 13 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0`
Press Control-O to save the file. Press Control-X to exit Pico.
---
### Author:  [@krystman](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/krystman)
#### Post date: [June 2, 2019, 11:57am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/how-to-install-pico-8-on-gameshell/1012/82 "2019-06-02T11:57:22Z")
Made an overview on how the installation procdure currently works. Along with an obvious pitfall associated with the recent PICO-8 update:
---
### Author:  [@dddaaannn](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/dddaaannn)
#### Post date: [June 9, 2019, 3:17am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/how-to-install-pico-8-on-gameshell/1012/83 "2019-06-09T03:17:17Z")
I have updated the original tutorial at the top of this thread to use the new built-in installer, including the file renaming workaround for Launcher v1.24. It’s much fewer steps now!
I also added links to krystman’s videos to the Resources section. Thanks Krystian!
I’m so excited that Launcher has this built in. Thank you ClockworkPi!
P.S. I believe the Launcher v1.24 “MD5 error” screen has the Continue and Cancel buttons swapped. I only tried it once but I believe I had to press B (right button) to Continue even though it says “A”.
---
### Author:  [@guu](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/guu)
#### Post date: [June 10, 2019, 6:01am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/how-to-install-pico-8-on-gameshell/1012/84 "2019-06-10T06:01:16Z")
Thanks for the issue
Has been fixed [#214](https://github.com/clockworkpi/launcher/pull/214)
---
### Author:  [@detourne](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/detourne)
#### Post date: [June 14, 2019, 9:34am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/how-to-install-pico-8-on-gameshell/1012/85 "2019-06-14T09:34:01Z")
I tried to update to the latest PICO-8, but now it won’t even open at all. Which files should I delete or restore in order to perform a clean install?
Can I clear out /launcher/Menu/GameShell/50\_PICO-8?
---
### Author:  [@guu](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/guu)
#### Post date: [June 15, 2019, 4:33am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/how-to-install-pico-8-on-gameshell/1012/86 "2019-06-15T04:33:15Z")
`~/launcher/Menu/GameShell/50_PICO-8/.done`
---
### Author:  [@detourne](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/detourne)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2019, 12:59pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/how-to-install-pico-8-on-gameshell/1012/87 "2019-06-18T12:59:37Z")
perfect! Thanks, Now I can play a lot of the newer games.
---
### Author:  [@Rebusmind](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Rebusmind)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2019, 7:51pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/how-to-install-pico-8-on-gameshell/1012/88 "2019-08-09T19:51:20Z")
I’ve been trying to get Pico-8 running all evening, but it always goes back to the launcher when I start it.
I’m on v0.3 with launcher version 1.24. I’ve installed Pico-8 with no problems (version pico-8\_0.1.12c2\_raspi), but still it won’t boot. I also made sure all the files had the correct permissions.
Do I maybe need an older version of Pico-8?
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