Table of Contents
What is this?
AetherSX2 was sort of the only option for PS2 emulation on Android, and it was just recently removed from the Google Play Store, although that version wasn’t entirely recommended anyway.
NetherSX2 is the replacement, and what will be getting updates and development going forward. That’s what we’ll be installing in this guide.
Clear up the confusion
This can get confusing, so let’s go with a good old picture.
First, there’s AetherSX2 version 3668, and this was the last known good version before the developer added advertisem*nts into it and removed front end functionality.
AetherSX2 version 4248 was the next and last version, this was the one on the Google Play Store, with advertisem*nts, and it also broke front end functionality, so it won’t work with Daijisho and others.
And then NetherSX2 comes in with two versions that match each of these. There’s NetherSX2 Classic, which is basically just version 3668.
And then there’s NetherSX2 Current, which is a continuation of 4248 with small fixes and other additions as well as the removal of ads and it works with frontends.
But here’s the thing, there is no one good version out of all four of these for every situation. There’s even differences between AetherSX2 3668 and NetherSX Classic. It’s all game dependent, and that’s where things get a bit frustrating because on top of all of that, you can’t install all four of these and just swap between them. You have to choose one and even I don’t have the right answer for that.
Gut feeling is just to go with NetherSX2 Current, and whatever works, works, but personally I’ve only ever used AetherSX2 3668 and that’s been my choice. But, obviously this post is about installing Nether, so let’s do that.
Warnings & Preparation
First and foremost, if you currently do not have AetherSX2 installed on your device at all, and never did, you can skip this next section to the next section as I’m going to go over how to backup data for those that do. If you’ve ever had AetherSX2 installed, continue listening as there is something we have to check to make sure the NetherSX2 install doesn’t fail.
And now, a warning. Save states will most likely not carry over here, especially if you’re going from AetherSX2 3668 to NetherSX2 Current, I didn’t test AetherSX2 3668 to NetherSX2 Classic. Meaning, make sure you do actual in-game saves for the games you care about to avoid losing any of your progress. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Backing up & Uninstalling AetherSX2
Open AetherSX2 and head to the Settings top left, then Transfer Data and you want to click Export. This is going to export all of your AetherSX2 data. We have to choose a folder, and the easiest is just to make a folder called AetherSX2 in your Downloads folder. Choose that folder and now you’ll see exactly what will be exported. Go ahead with it and let it do its thing.
So we now have all of our AetherSX2 data ready to import into NetherSX2 when we get there, but first, we have to uninstall AetherSX2. Push and hold on AetherSX2, then go to App Info, and select Uninstall. Do not select keeping any data and okay. You can also uninstall AetherSX2 through Android’s settings, Apps section.
With AetherSX2 gone, there might be some traces still, and this is the part applicable to people who had AetherSX2 previously as well. You’re going to need Solid Explorer File Manager for this, so install that from the Google Play Store.
In Solid Explorer, head to Internal Storage, Android, Data and scroll all the way down and make sure there’s no folder starting with xyz.aethersx2. If there is, delete that folder, and you might have to grant permissions to do so, but all you need to do is delete that folder.
Deciding which version
We now have a clean slate for you to install NetherSX2, and you’ll also have to decide which version. At this point, just go ahead with NetherSX2 Current, that would be the best bet, although once again, there really is no right answer.
NetherSX2 – Classic – Android
I’m still going to show NetherSX2 Classic for those that want it, so let’s start there first. Let’s start with the Android method first, then I’ll share the Windows method. You only have to do one of these methods.
Let’s go ahead and download AetherSX2 version 3668. Head to the NetherSX2 Classic Github by Trixarian here, scroll to Resources, expand the Assets and download the first option, 13930-v1.5-3668.apk.
Then scroll up, and download the nethersx2-classic.xdelta file from the first post.
Head to the Google Play Store and install UniPatcher then open it. For patch file, select the nethersx2-classic.xdelta file we downloaded, for ROM file, select the 13930-v1.5-3668.apk and then for Output file, select a folder, you can just choose the same Downloads folder. Click save on the right and you’ll get a patching complete message. If you get some sort of error, double check all your steps, and if you still get the error, you can use the Windows method instead.
Head to Solid Explorer, and into your Downloads folder or wherever you saved the patched APK, and then open it. Should say NetherSX2 and you can install it and open it. You can now skip to the Importing Data timestamp.
NetherSX2 – Classic – Windows
For everyone else where that didn’t work, let’s do it on a Windows PC instead. Head to the NetherSX2 Classic Github by Trixarian here. This time, download the zip file under the xdelta file called NetherSX2-classic.zip. Now, you do need to have Java installed for this, you can go here to install it.
Once you do, extract the NetherSX2-classic.zip file we downloaded, and then head inside and just open the patch-apk.bat file. Let it do it’s thing, and you’ll now see a file called 13930-v1.5-3668-mod[patched].apk. That’s the NetherSX2 APK, we’re all set. Connect your device to your PC using a USB cable, move that file onto your device and install it, you can now move to the Importing Data section.
NetherSX2 – Current – Android
For people that want to install NetherSX2 Current, let’s go ahead. It’s very much the same steps. Let’s start with the Android steps first then we’ll do Windows. You only have to do one of these methods.
Head to the NetherSX2 Patches Github by Trixarian here, and you want to download the nethersx2.xdelta file in the first post, then scroll down and download the 15210-v1.5-4248.apk, which is the AetherSX2 APK in the Resources post.
Head to the Google Play Store and install UniPatcher then open it. For patch file, select the nethersx2.xdelta file we downloaded, for ROM file, select the 15210-v1.5-4248.apk file and then for Output file, select a folder, you can just choose the Downloads folder. CLick save on the right and you’ll get a patching complete message. If you get some sort of error, double check all your steps, and if you still get the error, you can use the Windows method.
Head to Solid Explorer, and into your Downloads folder or wherever you saved the patched APK, and then open it. Should say NetherSX2 and you can install it and open it. You can now skip to the Importing Data section.
NetherSX2 – Current – Windows
For everyone else where that didn’t work, let’s do it on a Windows PC instead. Head to the NetherSX2 Patches Github by Trixarian here. This time, download the NetherSX2-builder.zip file. Now, you do need to have Java installed for this, you can go here to install it.
Once you do, extract the NetherSX2-builder.zip file we downloaded, and then head inside and just open the build-nethersx2.bat file. Let it do it’s thing, and you’ll now see a 15210-v1.5-4248-noads.apk file in the PatchedAPK folder. That’s the NetherSX2 APK, we’re all set. Connect your device to your PC using a USB cable, move that file onto your device and install it, you can now move to the Importing Data section.
Importing Data
If you have no existing data to import, then you’re done. Here’s a guide that can help you setup NetherSX2. Even users who are importing data will need to reconfigure things, so it’s good to use if you’ve forgotten.
For those that need to import their existing data. Open NetherSX2 and head to the Settings top left, then Transfer Data and you want to click Import. This is going to import all of your existing AetherSX2 data. Choose the folder we created when we exported the data, so for me it was just called AetherSX2 in the Downloads folder. It’s going to ask what you want to import, go ahead and leave them all selected, then click okay and let it do it’s thing.
Now, you just need to reconfigure a few things in NetherSX2, like your controls, add your game directory back and so on. But you’re done and set up with NetherSX2.
Daijisho Issue
If you run into an issue where your games will not load from Daijisho through NetherSX2, you’ll need to make a quick change.
Here’s the steps to fix it: Daijisho Settings, Library, Inspect Players, PS2 – AetherSX2, change file.uri to file.path in the text.
