Change Arcade1Up Simpsons Startup App using MacroDroid
Already SoftModded your Arcade1Up Simpsons machine and looking for a way to change the default startup app whenever you power on your arcade? Want instant access to your library of 1,000s of games in the stunning Dig emulator front-end with countless themes and attract mode customizations?
In this guide we’ll walk you through setting up MacroDroid to create a new Macro that will Launch Dig Emulator Front-End using a Trigger that is fired whenever it detects Device Boot. Keep your Arcade1Up machine factory without having to replace the PCB with a RaspberryPi or PC!
Disclaimer and Warnings
This site is for educational purposes only. Proceed at your own risk. There’s a chance this SoftMod approach will void your Arcade1Up machine warranty and may prevent you from getting any future Arcade1Up software updates. There is also the possibility you could brick your machine if the original Android system files or Arcade1Up settings are altered beyond repair. Future Arcade1Up software updates could also lock down the system preventing your machine or this method from working.
Current Limitations
This approach worked on a 2022 Arcade1Up Simpsons arcade machine running Android 10 with a PCB that includes a USB and micro SD slot. Other specifications for this PCB include: model P71, ARMv7 CPU with 4 cores, 1GB Ram, 4GB internal storage, and Wi-Fi. This approach may work for other newer Arcade1Up machines but has only been tested on this particular machine. The easiest way to check if this method will work on your system is to plug in a USB keyboard and hold Windows key + N and verify the Android Notifications Menu pops up on the screen and you should be good.
Tools Needed
- Arcade1Up Simpsons machine (PCB should have a USB and Micro SD Card slot and running Android 10)
- Micro SD Card
- MacroDroid APK (google is your friend)
- Dig Emulator Front-End for Android and RetroArch APK (or another app you want to auto launch on startup)
- USB Hub (optional but needed to connect both a keyboard + mouse for easier Android menu navigation)
- USB microSD Card Reader (optional but will make life a lot easier when you copy over your APK files)
- USB Keyboard
- USB Mouse (optional but will make Android menu navigation a lot easier)
- Nova Launcher apk (optional if you want to make it easier to launch additional apps)
- Primitive FTPd apk (optional FTP Server that will make is easier to beam files over to your arcade machine)
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Step 1: Access the Android Notifications Exploit
With the arcade machine ON and at the Simpsons main screen, plug in your USB keyboard to the PCB USB slot (or USB hub + USB keyboard + USB mouse). Next hold the Windows key + N on your keyboard to launch the Android notifications screen and accept all permissions. When the notification screen pops up, expand the menu and click on the COG/gear icon to access Android Settings then click Storage.
Step 2: Format the Micro SD Card for Android
Insert your micro SD card into the PCB micro SD slot and access Storage settings (Windows key + N -> Settings -> Storage). Click the micro SD card and format the drive (the Portable format option is more convenient so other devices can still read the card).
Step 3: Copy Dig and MacroDroid APK to SD Card
Safely eject the micro SD card from the arcade machine then insert the card into another computer so you can copy over your downloaded Dig and MacroDroid APK files (you can copy it to the Download folder). Safely eject the card and re-insert into your arcade machine.
Step 4: Install Dig and MacroDroid APK
If you haven’t already, install Dig by navigating to your external drive and double clicking the Dig APK file accepting all permissions.
Next install MacroDroid accepting all permissions. After the application installs, navigate to the Apps section to launch MacroDroid where we will begin to create a new macro.
Step 5: Create New Macro
Next we will create a new macro that will automatically launch Dig whenever you power on the Arcade1Up machine. You can substitute Dig for any other app that you want to launch on startup.
- Add Macro and enter a name for the new macro: ‘Launch Dig on Startup’
- Add Trigger > click Device Events > select Device Boot
- Add Actions > click Applications > Launch Application > Selection Application > Dig
Lastly, click the Save Macro button on the bottom right. When back at the main MacroDroid menu, click Macros and verify your new macro is Enabled.
Step 6: Test Macro
After exiting MacroDroid, power Off the machine then power back On. Dig should automatically launch upon successful boot up!
Step 7: Install and Configure Optional Apps
Use the same approach above to copy and install additional APKs on your arcade machine.
- Install Nova Launcher if you want to make it easier to launch additional apps on start up.
- Install and configure Primitive FTPd so you can transfer files wirelessly via FTP rather than popping out the SD card each time you want to add more roms, configs, apps.
Step 8: Revert to Factory Arcade1Up Simpsons Start Up
Open MacroDroid > click Macros > and Disable the startup macro you created.
Exit MacroDroid and navigate to the Android Apps section and open the Arcade1Up app. Done. The Simpsons game should start loading and a pop up will ask if you’d like to set Arcade1Up to be the default startup app.
Enjoy!
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Looking to get all 4 player joysticks/buttons working for 1,000s of multiplayer arcade and console games? Check out our next guide on replacing the control panel and adding more buttons!