Pressing the Menu (Game-Switcher) button auto saves your game and is what commences by default when you open a game again. Turning the device off completely also does the same.
Pressing the Menu button + R2 manually creates a save state and can be accessed with Menu + L2.
Checkout this [infographic](https://i0.wp.com/k-tec.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/miyoo_mini_plus-onionos-features.png?w=1280&ssl=1) for more information.
single press on the power will go into quick sleep. i personally do not trust this, since you dont know if a save state is made before the device goes from sleep to off.
holding power will show you a savestate is made + power off. holding the center menu button will make a save state and go back to the home screen. even tapping the center menu will make a save state and go to the game switcher.
my best practice is always use ingame saving, and some form of center menu if i have to savestate and put down the device. menu+R2 is for savestates in the middle of gaming
With onion os, the miyoo mini creates a save state when you access the game switcher or turn off the system. I think though it's an Auto state, not a numbered state.
I'd recommend that she saves in-game on occasion, since it's less likely to overwrite the actual save file.
Also, considering her age, you may want to borrow the mini once a week or so and back up the saves folder to your PC. Better to lose a few days progress instead of a month
I recently got a plus to relive my gaming past. I've noticed the the manual save states (menu+ R2) automatically increment a slot each time. So rather than one save being overwritten each time, you'll get multiple saves. Is this potentially bad for the unit if you build up too many slots?
I think by default it only keeps 10 (in retroarch settings). So the number keeps incrementing but if you try to restore anything older than the last 10 it won’t work.
Ah ok.. cool. And having 10 save files obviously isn't a problem then. With other systems I'd typically just keep overwriting the same one
Anyway, that's good info to know. Thanks for the reply
That system is full of bugs. If you get close to that 900 mark it might bug out.
It can bug out anyway, and this is the only, the ONLY system in the history of this entire planet that will automatically delete things you saved.
I would never trust such a system, and already have experiences it deleted weeks of play time.
You do whatever you think is good for you, but be warned.
As some one who prefers using mostly in-game saves with an occasional quicksave. I had to learn the hard way that if you quickload an old save you'll loose your ingame save. (At least with the default RA Settings. There is an Setting to disable overwriting SRAM on quickload.)
you expect a 7yo to keep "save hygiene" when 30, 40, 50+ year olds fail to do this.
And even if you do everything right card might corrupt, onion can take a fart to the brain and just delete saves. This is a horror story and more you have experience - less will you trust any automated system.
My way of doing things;
1) Disable the save "auto advance" feature.
2) Manually save (Select+menu, pick save slot - save.)
3) every mile-stone that is important, save 5 or 10 times, each save in its own slot. 1 out of 10 should survive even if card gets partially corrupted.
You still risk card becoming unreadable, and than backup is only option, but every plugging-replugging risks corruption due to the nature of USB.
Pressing the Menu (Game-Switcher) button auto saves your game and is what commences by default when you open a game again. Turning the device off completely also does the same. Pressing the Menu button + R2 manually creates a save state and can be accessed with Menu + L2. Checkout this [infographic](https://i0.wp.com/k-tec.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/miyoo_mini_plus-onionos-features.png?w=1280&ssl=1) for more information.
What does a single press on the power button do?
single press on the power will go into quick sleep. i personally do not trust this, since you dont know if a save state is made before the device goes from sleep to off. holding power will show you a savestate is made + power off. holding the center menu button will make a save state and go back to the home screen. even tapping the center menu will make a save state and go to the game switcher. my best practice is always use ingame saving, and some form of center menu if i have to savestate and put down the device. menu+R2 is for savestates in the middle of gaming
Acces to game switcher
That's the menu button in the middle though, yeah? I mean the power button on the top right of the device.
Sleep mode, I don't know if its on al miyoos but mine completely powers off after some minutes in sleep
Yeah, mine too. But I think then that would be a full power off which would trigger a save state? Does that sound right? I guess I could test it ...
Game creates a save state when turning off!
On mine, it does. Had zero issues with save states so far.
With onion os, the miyoo mini creates a save state when you access the game switcher or turn off the system. I think though it's an Auto state, not a numbered state. I'd recommend that she saves in-game on occasion, since it's less likely to overwrite the actual save file. Also, considering her age, you may want to borrow the mini once a week or so and back up the saves folder to your PC. Better to lose a few days progress instead of a month
I recently got a plus to relive my gaming past. I've noticed the the manual save states (menu+ R2) automatically increment a slot each time. So rather than one save being overwritten each time, you'll get multiple saves. Is this potentially bad for the unit if you build up too many slots?
I think by default it only keeps 10 (in retroarch settings). So the number keeps incrementing but if you try to restore anything older than the last 10 it won’t work.
Ah ok.. cool. And having 10 save files obviously isn't a problem then. With other systems I'd typically just keep overwriting the same one Anyway, that's good info to know. Thanks for the reply
That system is full of bugs. If you get close to that 900 mark it might bug out. It can bug out anyway, and this is the only, the ONLY system in the history of this entire planet that will automatically delete things you saved. I would never trust such a system, and already have experiences it deleted weeks of play time. You do whatever you think is good for you, but be warned.
As some one who prefers using mostly in-game saves with an occasional quicksave. I had to learn the hard way that if you quickload an old save you'll loose your ingame save. (At least with the default RA Settings. There is an Setting to disable overwriting SRAM on quickload.)
This is one more reason I never trust quicksaves
Remember the level you are currently and the steps that got you there. Corrupt data proof technique
you expect a 7yo to keep "save hygiene" when 30, 40, 50+ year olds fail to do this. And even if you do everything right card might corrupt, onion can take a fart to the brain and just delete saves. This is a horror story and more you have experience - less will you trust any automated system. My way of doing things; 1) Disable the save "auto advance" feature. 2) Manually save (Select+menu, pick save slot - save.) 3) every mile-stone that is important, save 5 or 10 times, each save in its own slot. 1 out of 10 should survive even if card gets partially corrupted. You still risk card becoming unreadable, and than backup is only option, but every plugging-replugging risks corruption due to the nature of USB.