How to Fix Dolphin’s Error Opening Adapter: Access Denied Error

By
Nolan Ryan
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Dolphin is an emulator specifically suited for Nintendo’s GameCube and Wii consoles. With the Dolphin emulator, you will be able to play games for these consoles with some enhancements compatible with all PC controllers, multiplayer modes, turbo speed, and a lot more. To enjoy the game titles, you must install the latest version of this emulator. For good functionality, use a safe website to download the latest version of Dolphin Emulator.

The Dolphin emulator works almost perfectly but at times you may encounter some occasional errors. Here, we highlight how you can resolve the “Error Opening Adapter: Access Denied (Insufficient Permissions)” error.

How to Fix Dolphin's Error Opening Adapter Access Denied Error

For your emulator to run efficiently, these are some of the key requirements;

  • 64-bit OS
  • 2 GB RAM
  • 4-core processor (optimal)
  • Windows (performs best), macOS, Linux, or Android (may not be as smooth as the rest).
  • Newer and more powerful GPUs that are not six or more years and those that support DirectX 11.1 and OpenGL 4.4

Upon installation, Dolphin recognizes that an adapter is plugged in. There is no need for manual configuration.

For Dolphin’s functionality, the Gamecube controller is autoconfigured with full rumble support. The controller connection works with different adapters for Wii U. Mayflash and Nintendo adapters work. Bongos and wireless controllers are also supported.

Standard adapters for third parties come with a switch for one to choose between PC or Switch/WiiU modes. With an adapter that has this kind of switch, you must set it to Wii U mode.  Official adapters for Nintendo do not have a switch.

Contents

Method 1: Temporarily Disabling the System Integrity Protection (SIP)

This method will efficiently work when using macOS. It works by manipulating the IOKit’s behavior with a cordless.kext for the adapter to be ignored and to allow for the establishment of a lower-level connection – The one made by the Dolphin emulator.

  1. Start off by disabling your kextsigning (the SIP or Gatekeeper) and start your Mac through the Recoverymode. Select your hard drive, specify the user, and key in the password. Navigate to Utilities>Terminal.

To temporarily disable the SIP type, csrutil disable

  1. Now restart your Mac normally, login, and key in the texts below into Terminal. Your password must confirm the first line. Enter these provided texts one by one into the terminal for the adapter to be recognized.

sudocp -r ~/Downloads/SmashEnabler.kext /Library/Extensions/SmashEnabler.kext

sudochown -R root:wheel /Library/Extensions/SmashEnabler.kext

sudo touch /Library/Extensions

 sudo reboot

  1. Plug in the GameCube controller and now boot Dolphin.
  2. Reenable the SIP again. Instead of selecting “Disable” now you need to choose “Enable” in the Terminal in Recoverymode. This prevents occasional Mac malware issues. Note that, even after reenabling, the controllers will still function.

Method 2: Alternating the Switches

This method holds for an adapter that can be switched to PC or Wii U mode.

Plug the adapter with the controllers.

1. Navigate to the settings of your controller, choose GameCube Adapter for Wii U. Hit Configure. The error will now show. It will appear when the adapter’s switch is on Wii U mode. Here, the controller is recognizable, but the system cannot access it.

2. Now turn on the PC mode switch. Hit Configure. The controller is also unrecognizable and the error message is not displayed.

3. Again, turn on the adapter switch into Wii U mode. Hit Configure. At this point, the controller is recognizable with no display of an error.

Final Thoughts

A Wii U GameCube adapter can fail to be recognized as you use the Dolphin emulator. In case you are faced with this error, you can try the options above. Always use the correct guide for the installation of Dolphin and its compatible drivers.