Alternatively, if the file isn’t listed, go to Tools > File Menu > Convert File… and browse to your RVZ file.
: While Dolphin can play RVZ files directly, you generally only need to convert back to ISO if you are using the file with other emulators, a real console (via homebrew), or specific backup managers that don't support the RVZ format.
Converting (Dolphin's modern compressed format) to (the standard uncompressed disc image) is a common task if you need to use your games with hardware like the GC Loader or certain older emulators. The Best Method: Using Dolphin Emulator
Conversely, the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) format represents the universal standard for disc images. An ISO file is essentially a sector-by-sector copy of the data on a disc, stored in a single file. It is the "plain text" of the disc imaging world: uncompressed, widely recognized, and compatible with almost every piece of burning software, virtual drive software, and emulator in existence. However, ISOs are notoriously large. For the Wii, which utilizes DVD-based media, an ISO can consume 4.37 GB of storage space even if the actual game data only occupies a fraction of that. This bloat is often filled with "padding data" that the console requires but serves no purpose for the game itself. convert rvz to iso
Leave the "Block Size" and "Compression" settings at their defaults (they will gray out automatically). Click the button in the bottom right corner.
Created by the Dolphin Emulator team in 2020, RVZ is a lossless compression format designed specifically for GameCube and Wii games. It strips away or compresses the dummy data while keeping the game data 100% intact. An RVZ file can be up to 70% smaller than an ISO, saving you terabytes of storage over a large library.
While Dolphin reads RVZ files natively with zero performance loss, you must convert them back to ISO if you want to play them on a homebrewed Wii/Wii U console or use older emulation frontends. The Best Way to Convert RVZ to ISO (Using Dolphin) Alternatively, if the file isn’t listed, go to
An ISO file is a complete, sector-by-sector copy of the data on an optical disc, such as a CD, DVD, or in this case, a GameCube or Wii disc. It is an uncompressed, exact replica of the original game data. ISO files are widely supported across virtually all emulators and hardware solutions, making them the most universally compatible format.
If RVZ saves so much disk space, why change it back to ISO? Here are the most common reasons:
You are using older versions of Dolphin that do not support the RVZ format. The Best Method: Using Dolphin Emulator Conversely, the
RVZ offers significantly better compression than WBFS, often reducing file sizes by 40-70% compared to ISO. While WBFS is specifically designed for real Wii hardware, RVZ is optimized for the Dolphin emulator, providing lossless compression and full preservation of all data partitions on the disc.
Dolphin does not have a dedicated "Conversion" tab in the main window. Instead, the conversion is built into the Right-Click Context Menu .