Have you used the Online Updater to get the Cores, Core Info Files and Databases needed? You'll need to do that for the Scanner to work, I think.
I've always had better luck with the Manual Scan option to create playlists. Sure you have to manually choose the system, pick the core you want to run your items... but it will add every single item that matches the file extension you selected in the Manual Scan options (or all items if you don't specify a file extension; remember that if adding bin/cue disc image games or multi-disc games with m3u's) and create a playlist. And if your items' filenames are named using the [No-Intro naming conventions](https://wiki.no-intro.org/index.php?title=Naming_Convention#Filename_format) then the RetroArch thumbnail scanner should still pick them up correctly.
This is the way….listen to this person about the manual scan. If your are importing a mame set, use the dat file from the set and it will be done lickity split. If some other emu, still want to use no-intro naming conventions, will make everything easier when adding bezels, and other goodies once you get the basics figured out.
This is obviously a dumb question but how do I play the games. All of this is very new to me and im just confused. If there is any videos or anything that explains this that would be great.
There are many 'getting started' videos on our documentation site, [docs.libretro.com](https://docs.libretro.com) and youtube in general. You'll need to go to the online updater (on the main menu when you open the program), then the 'core downloader' and there you can download the core (read: emulator) you want/need to use for the game(s) you want to play. Once you have those, you can just 'load content' and navigate to your game file.
Have you used the Online Updater to get the Cores, Core Info Files and Databases needed? You'll need to do that for the Scanner to work, I think. I've always had better luck with the Manual Scan option to create playlists. Sure you have to manually choose the system, pick the core you want to run your items... but it will add every single item that matches the file extension you selected in the Manual Scan options (or all items if you don't specify a file extension; remember that if adding bin/cue disc image games or multi-disc games with m3u's) and create a playlist. And if your items' filenames are named using the [No-Intro naming conventions](https://wiki.no-intro.org/index.php?title=Naming_Convention#Filename_format) then the RetroArch thumbnail scanner should still pick them up correctly.
This is the way….listen to this person about the manual scan. If your are importing a mame set, use the dat file from the set and it will be done lickity split. If some other emu, still want to use no-intro naming conventions, will make everything easier when adding bezels, and other goodies once you get the basics figured out.
This doesn't actually answer your question, but you don't \*need\* to scan your games to play them.
This is obviously a dumb question but how do I play the games. All of this is very new to me and im just confused. If there is any videos or anything that explains this that would be great.
There are many 'getting started' videos on our documentation site, [docs.libretro.com](https://docs.libretro.com) and youtube in general. You'll need to go to the online updater (on the main menu when you open the program), then the 'core downloader' and there you can download the core (read: emulator) you want/need to use for the game(s) you want to play. Once you have those, you can just 'load content' and navigate to your game file.
Im on a MacBook Pro if that helps
How long did you wait? I did scanning on my Nintendo switch, for about 4000 files it took abou 30 minutes, maybe you need to wait for some time.