The Atari VCS uses a version of the Debian Linux OS and supports games and apps developed using standard 64-bit Linux code, APIs and tools. You can expect a large majority of Linux-compatible content to be fully compatible with the Atari VCS.
System Updates
Check and see if an update is available by navigating to SYSTEMS > GENERAL SETTINGS > SYSTEM UPDATES.
If an update is available, you can continue to use your VCS while the update downloads. The update will be applied when you next power cycle the VCS. If you do not remember your PIN code, you can reset it by following these steps:
- After starting up, select your Atari account
- On the ENTER PIN screen, select Reset PIN in the lower right corner of the screen
- You will receive an email with a confirmation link that will enable you to create a new PIN
- Your PIN must be comprised of six (6) numbers
WiFi Settings
Please see the Network Setup article for additional information.
Bluetooth Pairing
Please see the Bluetooth Pairing article for additional information.
System Storage
To see the storage capacity of internal and external hard drives attached to the Atari VCS, go to Storage under SYSTEM.
Each connected drive will indicate available space, in both percentage and gigabytes.
The Atari VCS has an open M.2 slot on the motherboard, which allows you to add an M.2 SSD for additional storage. Please see the SSD and RAM Upgrade article for additional information.
Display Settings
The VCS offers two screen resolutions, HD and UHD. To check and change settings, go to SYSTEM > GENERAL SETTINGS > DISPLAY.
The resolution you are currently using will be indicated by the black circle.
- Full HD (1920 x 1080)
- Ultra HD (3840 x 2180)
To select a resolution, navigate to the resolution you want to set and press the "A" button (the red button on the joystick).
Sleep Mode
To set the amount of time before your VCS enters sleep mode by going to SYSTEM > GENERAL SETTINGS > PREFERENCES.
You may select from:
- 15 Minutes
- 20 Minutes
- 30 Minutes
- 1 Hour
- Never
Factory Reset
To return the VCS software to its original state, you can perform a Factory Reset.
Access Factory Reset by going to SYSTEM > GENERAL SETTINGS > FACTORY RESET.
You will be presented with two options when resetting the software:
- Remove all the profiles and settings, but keeps your downloaded content.
- Remove all the downloaded games and apps.
In both cases, your account profile remains active, and you will be able to log in to the VCS using you email address and PIN.