How to Play Wii Games on the Wii U

The Wii U has backwards compatibility with Wii games, so you can play your Wii games on the Wii U. There's a method you have to follow to play them.

Steps

  1. Image titled Play Wii Games on the Wii U Step 1
    1
    Synchronize a Wii Remote to the Wii U. You synchronize a Wii Remote to the Wii U the same way that you synchronize one to the Wii. The Sync button on the console is located to the right of the power button.
  2. Image titled Play Wii Games on the Wii U Step 2
    2
    Turn on your Wii U console with a Wii disc in the disc drive.
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  3. Image titled Play Wii Games on the Wii U Step 3
    3
    At the Wii U menu, select the "Wii Mode" option. You have to use a Wii Remote from here.
  4. Image titled Play Wii Games on the Wii U Step 4
    4
    Go to the Disc Channel, which is the channel at the top left of the screen. From there, load the game.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    What other controllers can I use with the Wii U?
    Milos Tosic
    Milos Tosic
    Community Answer
    You can use a Wii remote, Nunchuk, Wii Balance Board, Wii Zapper, Wii Wheel, and other Wii accessories.
  • Question
    Do I need a Wii to play Wii games on my Wii U?
    Milos Tosic
    Milos Tosic
    Community Answer
    No. You can play the Wii games on Wii U without Wii, but if you want to continue where you left off, you must do the Wii system transfer (this requires a Wii).
  • Question
    Can I use HDMI cable or RCA? When I use an HDMI cable, it loses signal.
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Wii U doesn't have an RCA jack. In fact, no 8th-generation consoles do. You'll have to use HDMI.
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About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 98,743 times.
51 votes - 82%
Co-authors: 7
Updated: February 15, 2022
Views: 98,743
Categories: Nintendo Video Game Consoles
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