To use encrypted 3DS games in Citra, place an aes_keys.txt file into the emulator's sysdata folder, located in AppData/Roaming/Citra/ on Windows or equivalent directories on other platforms. These keys can be generated from your own hardware using GodMode9 on a 3DS with custom firmware. For detailed installation steps, visit Reddit/r/Citra .
Once you have obtained the AES keys, you need to configure Citra to use them. This involves creating a file called aes_keys.txt and placing it in the Citra configuration directory. The aes_keys.txt file contains the AES keyset, which Citra uses to decrypt and run games. citra aes keystxt top
: Move this file to your computer or mobile device. Where to Put the File To use encrypted 3DS games in Citra, place an aes_keys
file must be placed in a specific "sysdata" folder to be recognized by the emulator: Windows / Desktop : Open Citra, click Open Citra Folder , and place the file inside a subfolder named (create it if it doesn't exist). RetroArch (Citra Core) : Navigate to retroarch/saves/Citra/sysdata/ and place the file there. Steam Deck (EmuDeck) : The path is typically Home/.var/app/org.citra_emu.citra/data/citra-emu/sysdata iOS (Folium Emulator) Folium app , and locate your file via the Files app. Key Setup Steps Dump Keys from 3DS : Use a hacked 3DS with . Run the "Dump Keys" script to generate aes_keys.txt on your SD card. Transfer to PC/Device file must be placed in a specific "sysdata"
Citra supports using a keys.txt file to load your AES keys. This file contains all the necessary keys for decrypting games, including the AES key.