Chdman Android ★ Popular & Proven
ls *.bin > temp.txt # Manually edit the CUE or use an online CUE creator. Easier fix: Just use .bin files that came with a .cue .
But what if you don't want to boot up your Windows PC or Mac just to compress a ROM?
chdman-android-guide
chdman createcd -i "Game.cue" -o "/path/to/ExternalSD/Game.chd" Do not compress PSP ( .iso to .cso ) or Nintendo DS ( .nds ) files with CHDMAN. Those use different algorithms. Stick to PS1, Saturn, Dreamcast, Sega CD, PCE CD, and MAME Hard Drive images. Final Verdict: Is it worth it on Android? Yes. While CHDMAN is slower on an Android phone than a gaming PC, it is incredibly convenient. You can drop a folder of loose BINs on your tablet before bed, run the batch command, and wake up to a perfectly compressed library ready for DuckStation or RetroArch. chdman android
By default, the new .chd saves to the same folder as the original. This takes double space during conversion. To save space:
Emulation / Android Tips If you are deep into arcade emulation (MAME), PlayStation 1, Sega CD, or Dreamcast gaming, you know the struggle of massive file sizes. A single PS1 game can take up 700MB, and a 3DO game isn't much better.
for i in *.cue; do chdman createcd -i "$i" -o "${i%.cue}.chd"; done For Dreamcast ( .gdi ), change *.cue to *.gdi and createcd to createdvd . 1. The "Multiple BIN" Trap If your game has Game.cue + Game (Track 1).bin , Game (Track 2).bin ... This is perfect. CHDMAN loves that. However , if you have a single BIN file (e.g., Game.bin only), you need a CUE sheet. You can generate a CUE sheet inside Termux: chdman-android-guide chdman createcd -i "Game
termux-setup-storage (Grant the permission popup).
Now navigate to your ROM folder:
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Enter . This official MAME tool compresses those bulky .bin/.cue or .gdi files into .chd (Compressed Hunks of Data) files, often shrinking them by 30–50% without losing any gameplay data or speed .
After confirming the CHD works in your emulator, delete the original .bin and .cue files to reclaim your space. Have you successfully compressed a tricky game? Let us know in the comments below!