PCSX2 command-line guide: batch mode, hidden windows, and data paths

Start with the command syntax

pcsx2-qt.exe [parameters] [--] [boot filename]

Run pcsx2-qt.exe -help to display command-line help and exit. Run pcsx2-qt.exe -version to display version information and exit.

Choose launch and shutdown behavior

Use -batch when you want PCSX2 to exit after shutdown. To hide the main window while running, use -nogui; that option also implies batch mode.

pcsx2-qt.exe -batch -- [boot filename]
pcsx2-qt.exe -nogui -- [boot filename]

Replace [boot filename] in these templates with your intended boot filename.

Choose an application data location

• - Use -datapath <path> to specify the directory for all application data.
• - Use -portable to store data in the local PCSX2 path rather than the default configuration path.

Other documented overrides

• - -gamecfg <file>: Replace game settings with those from the specified INI file.
• - -elf <file>: Override the boot ELF with the specified file.
• - -gameargs <string>: Pass launch arguments as a quoted, space-delimited string.
• - -disc <path>: Use the specified host DVD drive as the source.
• - -logfile <path>: Write the application log to the specified path instead of emulog.txt.