If you ever played a Gameboy Advance emulator, then chances are you will need ROMs. The ROMs will act as the cartridges, which are basically the games.
A Gameboy Advance ROM will have a .GBA file format. This means that only a GBA emulator can run this type of file, or there are some NDS emulators that can run it as well.
It is like an MP3 player canโt play an MP4 file,or at least only the audio will play, but you canโt see the video.
That is the same forย Gameboy ROMs,ย but there are those that come in a .IPS or .UPS file format. However, regular GBA emulators cannot play these file formats.
What you need to do is to know how toย apply an IPS or UPS patchย to these ROMs. What happens is that you need to do a step-by-step procedure to transform a .IPS or .UPS into a .GBA file.
Note: Thereโs a new file format that some rom hackers are now adapting, it is a .bps file. Check this guide to learn How To Patch A BPS ROM Hack File.
Keep reading:
- How To Patch .IPS ROM Hacks with Lunar IPS Patcher
- How to Use Floating IPS to Patch a ROM Hack
- How to Patch IPS and UPS Files on Android Using UniPatcher
Editorโs Update (February 2026): Updated the guideโs formatting, double-checked the information, and linked this article to other guides to increase its relevance.
How IPS or UPS Patching Works
The outcome that we want is to change the .IPS or .UPS into a .GBA. You canโt play the .IPS or .UPS files; hence patching the file is needed.
The process of patching means that we change or update the original content of the .GBA file to have the contents of the .IPS or .UPS files will be keeping the .GBA format.
In order for that to happen, we need a couple of things.
Things Needed for Patching a ROM hack
- Patch file
- ROM base
- Patcher app
The first thing that you need would be the .IPS or .UPS patch file. Youโll need those because they are the games you want to play. With Pokemon games, the ROM hacks will change the gameโs content.
The next thing you need is the base ROM or the ROM on which the hack was based. For example, a ROM hack Pokemon Gaia uses FireRed as its base game.
The third thing youโll need is the patcher which is the app or program that you will use to apply an IPS or UPS patch. The gist of this is that we will patch an actual Pokemon ROM into a ROM hack or whatever the contents are inside the .IPS or .UPS file.
Finally, always make sure you have a separate copy of the original Pokemon game ROM because once the patch is finished, all the contents of that ROM will be changed and gone forever.
Why the Patch Would Fail
- Outdated or unreliable patch file โ There are several reasons, and the first one is that the .IPS or .UPS file from the start is unreliable. In short, it isnโt a good copy or it just wasnโt programmed correctly.
- Using wrong base rom โ Another possible reason is that youโre not using the right base game. Youโre probably using Pokemon FireRed as the base game but it actually needs Emerald.
- Corrupted or used base rom โ Your copy of the base game isnโt reliable. There are ROMs out there that may have been corrupted or isnโt suited for patching the .IPS or .UPS format.
- Unreliable or outdated patcher โ The patcher is not good and unreliable. Donโt worry, weโll be including reliable patchers in the step-by-step procedures.
- Wrong base ROM version โ Your ROM base might not be compatible with the rom hack game. Some ROM hacks require a specific base rom version. For example; Pokemon Scorched Silver v1.3 requires a clean Pokemon Emerald rom, Emerald (U) (TrashMan).
How to Patch a .IPS File Using Lunar IPS (Works for Windows)
In this procedure, we will guide you on how to apply a .IPS patch. The patcher we will use is Lunar IPS. This patcher will only work on .IPS formats.
We will also use the Rocket Edition Final v1 as our .IPS file which we will patch with FireRed as the base game.
Step 1: Download Lunar IPS patcher
Download Lunar IPS patcher. Be careful when downloading the file from other sources, romhacking is the official source of Lunar IPS Patcher.
Step 2: Launch
Launch the Lunar IPS and click on Apply IPS Patch.
Step 3: Browse Your IPS File
Choose the .IPS file you want to patch, which in this case is Rocket Edition Final v1.
Step 4: Select the Base Game
You will then click on the base game which is FireRed in this tutorial.
Step 5: Patching Starts
The patch will automatically begin, which usually takes a couple of seconds.
Step 6: Rename ROM Hack file
This step is optional, but itโs a good idea to rename your newly patched FireRed ROM to something like Rocket Edition Final v1 or any name you prefer.
Renaming it helps you easily identify your ROM hack, especially when you have multiple hacks in your collection.
Step 7: Launch the Game
Open your GBA emulator, and if the game loads and runs Rocket Edition properly, then everything was done correctly.
IPS Patching Video Guide
How to Apply a .UPS Patch Using NUPS Patcher (Works for Windows)
We already know how to apply an .IPS patch using Lunar IPS, but what about .UPS files? In this section, weโll show you how to apply a .UPS patch using the NUPS Patcher.
Just like LIPS works with .IPS files, NUPS is designed specifically for .UPS file formats.
Step 1: Download NUPS
Download the NUPS Patcher.
Step 2: Launch Patcher
Launch NUPS and click on โApply a UPS patch to fileโ.
Step 3: Browse Your Rom File
Click on โBrowseโ next to File to Patch.
Step 4: Select Your Base Game
Choose the base game that we will be patching, and for this example, we have FireRed once again.
Step 5: Click Browse
Click on โBrowseโ next to UPS patch.
Step 6: Select Your ROM Hack Patch File
Choose the UPS file you want to patch, and for this example, weโll be using Pokemon Gaia.
Step 7: Click โPatchโ Button
Click on โPatchโ and wait for the file to patch.
Step 8: Patching Successful
Now youโre done! You now have the GBA file version of your Pokemon Gaia.
Step 9: Rename ROM Hack
Once again, it is optional to change the name of the file and try launching it on a GBA emulator.
UPS Patching Video Guide
How to Patch .IPS or .UPS files using ROM Patcher JS (Works for Mobile, Windows, and Macs)
ROM Patcher JS is a handy online tool that lets you apply both IPS and UPS patches, no matter which format youโre using.
All you need is the base game, and youโre good to go. What makes it even more convenient is that everything happens online, you donโt need to download any apps or programs. This is the most preferred method by many users.
Just visit the site and follow these steps to start patching. This is ideal to use when youโre playing on mobile devices and want to patch a rom hack directly to your phone.
Step 1: Visit ROM Patcher JS Website
Head over to the website of ROM Patcher JS.
Step 2: Click โChoose Fileโ
Click the Choose File on the ROM File section.
Step 3: Browse and Select Base Game
Choose the base game for the patch, and in this case, weโll be using FireRed once again.
Step 4: Click Choose File
Now click on โChoose fileโ in the Patch File section.
Step 5: Pick the Patch File
Choose any .IPS or .UPS file you want to patch. If you take a look at the image, any of those two will do but weโll use Pokemon Gaia.UPS for now.
Step 6: File Compatibility Indicator
Youโll see a small green check mark, meaning that both files are compatible. All you need to do now is to click on โApply Patchโ to start patching.
Step 7: Downloading the GBA file
Once the patch is done, the gba file will automatically be downloaded to your device or computer.
Step 8: Renaming the File and Launch the Game
You can rename the downloaded gba file. Launch your GBA emulator and import the file and play the game.
Patching With ROM Patcher JS Video Guide
Conclusion
Now that you know how patch IPS and UPS files to play a Rom hack,you can use any of the three methods above based on what you need.
Remember that the patcher you use will only patch specific to the ROMโs file type whether it is a .IPS or .UPS one. In some cases, you donโt have to download a GBA ROM file with a .IPS or .UPS format.
If you look hard enough, you may find an actual ROM with a .GBA format of the ROM hack that you want. Most of the time, these files are available if the ROM hack is currently having an update or patch being made for it.
If you want to get ahead, then by all means try to patch the ROM files that you have so you can play them on your GBA emulator.
so why are we doing patch process when we can download gba versions from another site?
Hi Mizzy, sharing ROM files is actually illegal, which is why we donโt provide or host them here. I recommend using your own legally obtained game files and applying patches on your end.
hi, where can i get the ips file for pok. ash gray?
A simple search on the site can surely help. ๐
I managed to patch it, but now my emulator says invalid gba/game, how do I open the game?
Hey Brown, thanks for coming here. Check the your rom hack and see which base rom it requires. Most likely itโs your rom version that is causing the issue.
I try to apply the patch โ if it matters, i put a pokemon emerald rom in โfile to patchโ as instructed and put emerald thera ex ups file in ups patch but it says โthe patch doesnโt match the file, patching canceled.โ is this because the pokemon emerald rom file is a gba file and not also a ups file? what do i do?
The emerald ROM must be a .gba file format, better check the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSoMxIC9384
Hi, I am trying to apply the patch it is compatible and I click on โApply Patchโ only nothing happens my page gets refreshed doing this from an iPhone and I tried multiple different browsers to see if it works but with no luck.
Hi there, Appie. Make sure your ROM base version matches the patch file that your ROM hack needs. For example, if a ROM hack requires a Squirrels version ROM base, then you must use a Squirrels version to patch the game successfully.
What if itโs a .rar ?
There are plenty of free RAR extractors. Feel free to use any that you like.
Do I have to be on pc do download it?
You donโt have to, check the last guide to use ROM patcher JS. It can be done also on mobile.
For linux users, Floating IPS or Flips (https://github.com/Alcaro/Flips) works with the same instructions as Lunar IPS
Hi there Pingin. Yes, I heard a lot of good things also about Floating IPS and actually we created a guide about it here https://www.pokemoncoders.com/how-to-patch-bps-rom-hack-file/. Thank you for sharing the information.
I have a question. Is there an easier way to update the rom hacks to the newer versions of themselves without having to patch?
Hello Jared, each rom hack typically comes with its own set of instructions for updating, usually provided by the author. However, I havenโt come across any information on how to simplify these instructions.
What Verizon of fire red do I need ?
1.0
G** d***! It it required patching the worse part about downloading rom hacks
Thank you for dropping here Johnny. Sorry but thatโs the most ethical way to play rom hacks.
I am struggling to get the updated Nameless (4.12) and I am following the steps but when I try to open the game in MyBoy the screen flashes white then goes to black! I am irritated by this! What am I doing wrong here?
Hi Joshua, happy to see you again here. Use a Fire Red V1.0 in patching the game.
I am trying to patch pokemon unbound with firered in the js patcher but there was no green check can you help
Hello, I am trying to patch Yu-Gi-Oh PokeDuel ups with Pokemon FireRed gba. It initially worked. However, when I started the game, it came up on the screen: โWRONG SAVE TYPE!
Please Change to Flash 128k.โ
This message will not go away no matter what I try. I used the ROM Patcher JS. method. I am unsure what I should Do.
What is compatible for infinite fusion
Hi there Phoenix. Infinite fusion is made with RPG Maker or Essentials. Therefore patching is not required to play the game. Install the game directly on your Windows PC, almost like a normal software installation. If you wish to play it on Android, see our guide on How To Play RPG Maker XP Games On Android. Hope this helps.
hey i see that this reply i recent so i have a question what would the best gba emulator be like one that can also play ds gbc and gb games on for pc
I used the Js siteand The file is showing up as gba.txt
How to fix???
Iโve been struggling to patch emerald theta ex, Iโve been trying for 2 days even going to version 1.0 of emerald, but nothing is working, could you please help?
Struggling to patch radical red, the radical red rom is .ups so I have followed the steps provided and received a prompt saying โthe patch doesnโt match the file, patching cancelledโ am I just making a simple error? I am using the NUPS patcher provided from this site
Hey Ashley, thanks for coming here. First off, Radical red is a FireRed rom. So you need to find and use a clean FireRed rom for patching, preferably the older version, which is V1.0 that most rom hacks require for patching. You can also watch this video on how to patch rom hacks with NUPS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ch5EPf8z80. Hope this helps.
Thank you for making this guide! Took me under two minutes to patch Pokemon Emerald Rogue thanks to you!
Hi Phoebe, I appreciate your feedback, and Iโm glad the guide helped you out. If thereโs anything from that guide you think needs improvements or need to be fixed, just comment here. Thanks for coming here.
i love pokemon so munch
We all do Rodrigo, thanks for coming here pal.
Iโm trying to patch liquid crystal to fire red (its Rom base) and when I used patcher JS I put the base in rom base and it wouldnโt let me put anything in after that, what do I do? I tried restarting the website but it did it again.
Iโm having the same problem too.
Trying to play unbound on my gba emulator on my phone. Do not own a laptop can I still do it?
Sure, you can play rom hacks on your phone, just use Rom Patcher JS.
Hi, after patching the file became txt and not gba. What should I do? Thank you.
Just remove the .txt thats what i did and it work
Iโm trying to patch the latest Touhou Puppet Play Enhanced (Reloaded) version to FireRed and NUPS is giving me the โpatch doesnโt match the fileโ error despite working for previous versions of the hack.
I have download ups file of pokemon unbound so I did as told in the video but it says โthe patch doesnโt match the fileโ (the file I selected was fire red I am pretty sure thatโs the one the gameโs based on)
Which FireRed rom version do you have? Cuz most rom hacks require V1.0 and may not work for V1.1.
Where did you find the .gba format file for Firered? Ive been looking everywherw but cant find one.
Hi there, sorry but we donโt give out information related to roms here.
gameboy-advance/pokemon-fire-red-version
The patcher doesnโt look like the picture when I download it so I donโt know how to do it with the new interface.
When I patch it together and start the download it becomes a .txt file instead of gba. How would I fix this?
What would you recommend if Iโm using an HP laptop?
Either of the mentioned methods works with your HP laptop.
I downloaded the latest GS Chronicles and played it to the point where my guys are level 16 and evolving but as soon as any of them evolve it crashes my game. I have seen several people ask this question but with no response. How do you fix this problem?
Could be a bug in the game? Or try switching to another emulator. I recommend using VBA for Windows or MyBoy for Android.
When i tried to do FireRed.gba and FireRed Radical ups that came from ur website, It says the patch is corrupt. What do i do? Get another version of FireRed or get a new ups?
Hello! I wanted to ask what patcher I need if Iโm using a mac?
Thank you so much!
For Mac users, you can go with ROM Patcher JS which is the third tutorial in this guide. But you can also you the tool called Multipatch. Iโm updating this article to include a tutorial for Multipatch.
I was using VBA-M for fire red rocket edition and when I tried to load up the patched file on the emulator it was just a white screen.
What patches should I use if Iโm using android
Use ROM Patcher JS, see section How to Patch .IPS or .UPS files using ROM Patcher JS.
Can i do this in android phone?
Yup, please read on through the guide.
Trying to patch Pokemon XD to XG new gen an says the patch doesnt match the game file
how do i fix this problem
Hello. First, I want to say your articles are awesome. Iโve just recently gotten into pokemon ROMs and they have been a huge help. Iโve been going through this article in conjunction with your article about the best pokemon ROMs 2021 to get a good collection. So far, everything is working โ i just am wondering, normally with my emulator (VBA) the version of Fire Red i play is a .zip file. With these methods, the games arenโt .zip, but .gba. Do I have to be careful If i plan on using both .zip and .gba with my emulator, or is it ok to switch between them for different games as long as itโs all working?
Hey there Nick, thanks for coming here. There shouldnโt be a problem if youโll use .zip or .gba. But my suggestion is to put that file in a folder separate from other games you have.
hey, i imagine my issue is an easy fix and im just struggling because ive never been good with files and coding and the like. im trying to patch pokemon saiph to firered, however when i go to patch them nups says that theres an error opening the firered file. i can open the firered file fine on my emulator, so im not sure why its having issues opening if it can run as is. again, probably a really easy thing to fix, sorry if im asking the obvious or its a silly mistake, i really struggle with anything even remotely behind the scenes in computers and just patching them together period feels so out of my depth
I click on the fire red gba file, then go to try to patch it to pokemon gaia but it says file does not math. Any solution?
match*
Make sure the game is in .gba file format and not in .zip. Also, you might need a v1.0 FireRed rom version instead of v1.1.
I had the same problem as ZeroD and downloading v1.0 instead fixed it instantly. Thanks!
Iโm glad my suggestion helps and yes, cheats can work only on V1.0 and not on v1.1
Why i canโt save the game? I am saving the game and im closing the program.. once i open it it brings me back to new game..
Thanks in advance!
Which game are you trying to play?