Quick answers to the most common questions about owning, modding, and maintaining your Pip-Boy, as well as using Pip-Boy.com, the community forum, and the Pip-Boy UX inspired simulators. Tap a question to expand its answer. Still stuck? Reach out to official support or ask the community.
FAQ
Answers about the Pip-Boys, the simulators, the forum, and Pip-Boy.com
Support
Where can I get official support for the Pip-Boy 3000 Mk V or Pip-Boy 3000 physical models?
Official product support is available through The Wand Company: thewandcompany.zendesk.com.
How do I get help from the community?
Join the community Discord to ask questions, share projects, and get hands-on help from fellow vault dwellers and developers.
Pip-Boy.com & Forum
What is Pip-Boy.com?
Pip-Boy.com is a community hub for Pip-Boy fans. It brings together tools, companion apps, holotapes, games, and browser based simulators in one place. You can read more on the About page.
Is Pip-Boy.com an official product?
No. Pip-Boy.com is an unofficial, community driven fan project. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by Bethesda Softworks, ZeniMax, or The Wand Company.
What is the forum for?
The community forum is where vault dwellers ask questions, share projects and screenshots, report bugs, and help each other troubleshoot. It is the best place to get hands-on help from other fans and developers.
Does it cost anything to use the site?
No. The tools, simulators, and forum on Pip-Boy.com are free to use.
Can I install Pip-Boy.com for offline use?
Yes. Pip-Boy.com is a progressive web app (PWA), so you can install it like a regular app. Use the Install For Offline Use button on the home page, or your browser's install / Add to Home Screen option. Once installed, the simulators and core pages work offline, which is great for phones at conventions or anywhere without a connection.
Simulators
What are the Pip-Boy simulators?
They are Pip-Boy UX inspired apps that run right in your browser, such as the 3000 Simulator and the 3000A Simulator. They let you explore a Pip-Boy style interface without owning a physical device.
Why were the simulators created?
They started as a way to keep a Pip-Boy inspired experience available offline on phones at conventions after the official app was removed from the app stores. Building them from scratch kept that experience alive for fans and helped keep interest in the Pip-Boy going.
Are the simulators copies of the games?
No. Every simulator is hand-built from scratch and inspired by the look and feel of the Pip-Boy, but it is not a copy. The interface, interactions, and code are original work that recreate the experience rather than extracting or reusing assets from the games.
Do I need a physical Pip-Boy to use the simulators?
No. The simulators run entirely in the browser, which makes them handy on a phone at conventions or anywhere you want the Pip-Boy experience without the hardware.
Can I use the simulators for role play?
Yes. The simulators are built for it. Nearly every option can be customized, you can add your own custom items, and stats can be set to whatever you like. That makes it easy to build a character, match a tabletop campaign, or bring a cosplay to life with a Pip-Boy that reflects your story rather than a fixed save file.
Installing Mods
How do I install mods on the Pip-Boy 3000 Mk V?
Open the Pip-Boy 3000 Mk V Companion, select either Applications or Games, connect your Pip-Boy, and install the apps you want by clicking the download icon.
How do I install mods on the Pip-Boy 3000?
Open the Pip-Boy 3000 Holotapes page, connect your Pip-Boy, and install the apps you want by clicking the download icon.
Do I need to buy anything to install mods?
No. You do not need to buy anything extra just to install mods.
Do I need to expand my Pip-Boy storage to install mods?
Usually, no. The included SD card has more than enough storage for a large number of mods.
When would I need more storage?
You may want more storage if you plan to upload larger files, such as music or videos.
Converting Music, Videos & Images
How do I get music onto my Pip-Boy?
Use the Audio Converter to convert your tracks into a Pip-Boy friendly format, then copy the converted files onto your Pip-Boy's SD card.
What is the difference between PCM and ADPCM audio?
PCM (Pulse-Code Modulation) stores the full, uncompressed waveform, so files are larger but lossless. ADPCM (Adaptive Differential PCM) compresses the audio by storing the change between samples instead of each full sample, which makes the files roughly a quarter of the size with only a barely recognizable drop in quality.
Which audio format should I use, PCM or ADPCM?
Use ADPCM. On a small Pip-Boy speaker the quality difference is barely noticeable, and the much smaller files let you fit far more music on the SD card. Just pick ADPCM in the Audio Converter before exporting. Stick with PCM only if you specifically need lossless, archival quality audio.
How do I get videos onto my Pip-Boy?
Use the Video Converter to convert your clips into a format the Pip-Boy can play, then copy the converted files onto your Pip-Boy's SD card.
How do I get images onto my Pip-Boy?
Use the Image Converter to convert your pictures into a Pip-Boy friendly format, then copy the converted files onto your Pip-Boy's SD card.
Why do my files need to be converted first?
The Pip-Boy expects media in specific formats and sizes. The converters handle that for you so your music, videos, and images display and play correctly on the device.
Custom Firmware (CFW)
What is CFW?
CFW stands for custom firmware. It allows developers to add features that are not easily or efficiently handled by normal apps.
Why would someone use CFW instead of a normal app?
CFW patches can be much more memory efficient, which makes them useful for certain advanced features.
Where can I find CFW for the Pip-Boy 3000 Mk V?
You can find it under CFW Builder on the Pip-Boy 3000 Mk V Companion page.
Storage
How much storage comes with the Pip-Boy?
Both Pip-Boy models (Mk V and 3000) come with a 256 MB micro SD card.
Can I upgrade the Pip-Boy SD card?
Yes. The Pip-Boy can be upgraded to a 32 GB micro SD card.
Can I use a micro SD card larger than 32 GB?
Larger cards may be possible, but they are not recommended because issues such as data corruption can occur.
Can I store more than 4 GB of files on the Pip-Boy?
Not currently. Even though the system can handle up to 32 GB or larger micro SD cards, storing more than 4 GB of files on the card is not currently supported.
Firmware & Recovery
How do I upgrade the software/firmware?
Connect your Pip-Boy to your computer via a data-capable USB-C cable and visit the upgrade page using a modern browser (Chrome, Edge, or Opera).
What does a factory reset do?
The upgrade page's "Factory Reset" feature formats the internal SD card and restores the original files and settings. You can do that on the upgrade page.
How do I reset an unresponsive unit?
Press STATS and DATA for a second, then hold the power button for ten seconds, or use a paperclip to press the hidden reset button under the cuff.
What is DFU mode?
DFU (Device Firmware Update) is a last-resort recovery process. For the TV-series model, hold the Flashlight and Power buttons for 15 seconds (if needed, continue holding them while pressing the hidden reset button). For the Fallout 3/New Vegas model, hold ITEMS and Power buttons instead. Follow the full DFU instructions on the DFU page.
Do I need to upgrade it out of the box?
No. The Pip-Boy arrives fully functional. Check the upgrade page occasionally for new features.
Display & Battery
Is it safe to leave it plugged in?
Yes. The battery stops charging when full, cycles slowly, and has a thermal cut-out.
Will the screen burn in?
The manufacturer has observed no burn-in after months of continuous display.
Still Need Help?
If your question is not answered here, official product support for the physical Pip-Boy models is available through The Wand Company. For modding help and friendly advice from fellow vault dwellers, stop by the community forum.