If you are stuck with the USB Loader GX not showing gamesissue, don’t worry, this guide will walk you through the steps to fix the issue.
If you’ve ever fired up your Nintendo Wii, launched USB Loader GX, and been greeted by an empty game list, you know how frustrating it feels. Your games are there. Your USB drive is plugged in. Everything should work… yet nothing shows up. So what went wrong?
Don’t worry. This is one of the most common USB Loader GX problems, and the good news is—it’s usually easy to fix once you understand the cause. In this guide, I’ll walk you through every possible reason USB Loader GX is not showing games, plus step-by-step solutions that actually work.
Think of this article as a troubleshooting map. We’ll start with the most common mistakes, then move into deeper technical fixes. Ready? Let’s dive in.
Here are the common reasons why USB Loader GX is not showing games on your Wii or Wii U (vWii). Understanding these causes will help you quickly pinpoint what’s going wrong.
1. Incorrect USB port used: USB Loader GX only detects drives connected to the correct USB port (usually USB port 0, the one closest to the edge when the Wii is horizontal). Using the wrong port will prevent games from appearing.
2. Unsupported or incorrect file system: USB Loader GX works best with FAT32. If your USB drive is formatted as NTFS, exFAT, or WBFS, the loader may fail to detect games or ignore the drive entirely.
3. Missing or corrupted game files: If WBFS or ISO files are incomplete, corrupted, or improperly converted, USB Loader GX may skip them during scanning.
4. Game partition not selected: If your USB drive has multiple partitions, USB Loader GX may be set to scan the wrong one. Games won’t appear unless the correct partition is selected in loader settings.
5. Loader settings filtering games: USB Loader GX includes filters for game types (Wii, GameCube, channels). If Wii games are hidden by filters, the game list may appear empty.
6. Incompatible USB drive or power issues: Some USB flash drives and external hard drives are not fully compatible with the Wii. Insufficient power or unstable connections can also cause detection failures.
When USB Loader GX fails to display your games, it can quickly ruin the experience. Fortunately, several practical solutions can resolve this problem. The following methods address the most common causes and are easy to apply. Work through them step by step until USB Loader GX begins loading and showing your games correctly again.
One common reason USB Loader GX fails to display games is an incompatible USB file system. In most cases, USB drives are formatted as FAT32 or NTFS—both of which are supported by USB Loader GX. However, FAT32 has a key limitation: it splits large game files, which can prevent titles from loading correctly.
If the USB drive is currently formatted as FAT32 and games are not appearing, converting it to NTFS often solves the issue. NTFS handles large files more efficiently and avoids unnecessary file fragmentation.
For a safe and straightforward conversion, AOMEI Partition Assistant is a reliable option. This professional-grade yet free partition manager includes a Convert FAT to NTFS feature that allows format conversion without data loss. Beyond that, it also functions as a USB formatter, FAT32 formatter, disk cloning tool, and more.
Below are the steps to convert a USB drive from FAT32 to NTFS using AOMEI Partition Assistant.
Step 1. Install and run AOMEI Partition Assistant. Right-click the drive you need to convert. Select “Advanced”> “Convert to NTFS”.
Step 2. In the pop-up window, NTFS is selected by default. Click “OK”.
Step 3. Now the USB drive is with NTFS file system. Click “Apply” to execute it.
USB Loader GX relies on a custom IOS, commonly known as cIOS, to function correctly. Without it—or if the installed version is outdated—the loader may fail to detect or display any games.
To fix this, download the d2x cIOS Installer from its official source. Launch it through the Homebrew Channel and follow the on-screen prompts to install the recommended cIOS versions. Once the installation is complete, restart USB Loader GX and check whether your games are now visible.
Incorrect source settings in USB Loader GX can prevent games from appearing, including Wii and GameCube titles. If the proper sources are not enabled in the Select title sources menu, the loader may seem empty even when games are present.
Step 1: Launch USB Loader GX and locate the Select title sources banner at the top of the screen. Select it to open the settings.
Step 2: In the menu that appears, enable all applicable sources, such as Wii Games, GC Games, NAND Channels, and EmuNAND Channels.
Step 3: Select OK to save the changes.
Step 4: Restart the device, then reopen USB Loader GX to see if the games are now displayed correctly.
In some cases, misconfigured Homebrew Channel settings can block USB Loader GX from accessing your USB drive, resulting in games not appearing. A quick settings review can often resolve this.
Start your Wii and open the Homebrew Channel. Navigate to the settings menu and look for any options that could restrict USB access or device permissions. Make adjustments as needed, save the changes, and then relaunch USB Loader GX to see if the games load correctly.
Incorrect file names or directory paths can also prevent USB Loader GX from detecting games. If this is suspected, review how your game files are organized on the USB drive.
Use the following formats as a reference to ensure everything is named and placed correctly:
Wii games:
/wbfs/Game Name [TitleID]/TitleID.wbfs
GameCube games:
/games/Game Name [TitleID]/game.iso
Once the files follow the proper naming conventions and folder structure, reconnect the USB drive and relaunch USB Loader GX to see if the games appear.
A WBFS (Wii Backup File System) file is a disc image used to store and run Nintendo Wii games. When Wii ISO or WBFS files are not located in the proper folder, USB Loader GX cannot detect them, which leads to games failing to appear in the library.
To fix this, make sure all Wii game files are correctly transferred and organized on the USB drive. The easiest way to do this is with Wii Backup Manager.
Step 1. First, install and launch Wii Backup Manager on your computer.
Step 2. Select Drive 1 and choose your USB device.
Step 3. Open the File tab, then click Add > Files.
Step 4. Browse to your Wii ISO or WBFS file, select it, and click Open.
Step 5. Next, choose Transfer and select Drive 1 to begin the process.
Step 6. Wait until the transfer completes.
Afterward, safely remove the USB drive from your computer and connect it to the Wii console. Start the Wii, open the Homebrew Channel, and launch USB Loader GX. The game list will refresh automatically, and your games should now be visible.
Running an outdated version of USB Loader GX can trigger compatibility problems, including games failing to appear. Updating the application often restores proper functionality.
Step 1: Open a web browser on your computer and visit the official USB Loader GX website.
Step 2: Download the most recent release available.
Step 3: Copy the new files and replace the existing USB Loader GX files on your SD card.
Step 4: Restart the application. Once updated, USB Loader GX should reload correctly and display your games as expected.
To fix the “USB Loader GX not showing games” issue, follow these steps: check your USB port, ensure the file system is compatible, verify the game files are intact, adjust loader settings, or update USB Loader GX. In most cases, these simple fixes will get your games back in action. If problems persist, consider converting your USB drive to NTFS or reinstalling the necessary cIOS for proper functionality.