SEGA Genesis Flashback Troubleshooting

The console does not turn on when connected to a power source.

If your console does not turn on when plugged in, the power adapter may not be functioning. Replacing the power adapter should solve this problem.

If you believed that water got in your console, do not try to turn the console on. Unplug the power adapter as soon as possible and follow our guide to replace the motherboard here.

The screen is blank when the console is turned on.

Tip: To tell if the device is on, a red LED light should illuminate on the front panel.

Test the console with another HDMI cable. Absence of connection can be due to a faulty HDMI cable.

Ensure that the HDMI cable included with your console is fully plugged into the HDMI port on the back of the console. If the console still does not display anything, and you’re positive the device is turned on, you may have to open the device. Poor manufacturing tolerances in the development of the console led to the HDMI port being “squished” because of the case screws being tightened too tightly.

The controller does not turn on or does turn on but does not function.

If you turn on the controller but the LED in the front of it does not illuminate, try replacing the batteries. See here for our guide on how to replace the batteries here.

If the LED does turn on but the controller still does not work, ensure that the LED on the front of the controller is not blocked and that nothing is blocking the direct path from your console to your controller.

If you believed that water got in your controller, do not try to turn the controller on. Take out the batteries as soon as possible and follow our guide to replace the board inside the controller.

Your cartridge game is not shown on the menu when the cartridge is inserted.

Ensure that you put your cartridge in while the console is off and that you push the cartridge all the way in. If the console still does not read the cartridge, pull the cartridge out and repeat the steps above a few times.

Make sure that the cartridge is a SEGA Genesis cartridge by looking at the sticker on the cartridge. If it is a Genesis cartridge but the game is not shown on the menu, it might not be compatible with the Flashback system. Even though not all original Genesis cartridges are compatible with the new system, the manufacturer has not released a full list of compatible games. If you have other cartridges, try them with the console.

There are frame drops, freezes, and delays between when you press buttons and when corresponding actions are displayed.

Try playing a few different games to see if the issue continues. If you're noticing that it only happens with one particular game, the game can be inherently not optimized for the console. There is not anything you can do about this.

Follow the instructions here to make sure that your HDMI cable is functioning and is plugged in properly.

Try to "power cycle" the system by turning it off and on again before resuming play. If the console has been on for several hours, you might want to turn it off and let it cool down for an hour.

As the last resort, you can follow our motherboard replacement guide here to see how to replace your motherboard if these issues still persist.

The audio is not clear or is distorted.

Early copies of the SEGA Genesis Flashback were shipped with buggy firmware that did not work correctly. It caused audio distortion, display issues, and generally glitchy graphics during gameplay. If all of our solutions posted above have not worked for you, then your console is most likely running old firmware. Luckily, AtGames, the manufacturer of the SEGA Genesis Flashback, is offering to update the firmware for you if you get in contact with them.

Tip: AtGames’ website features a full FAQ related to troubleshooting their devices and ensuring that you get the best experience possible. However, to contact them for getting your system firmware updated, we would recommend emailing them at their support email: info@atgames.net