For Citra to recognize the keys, the file must be placed in a specific system folder depending on your operating system: Operating System Directory Path C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Roaming\Citra\sysdata\ Linux / Steam Deck ~/.local/share/citra-emu/sysdata/ macOS ~/Library/Application Support/Citra/sysdata/ Android Internal Storage/citra-emu/sysdata/
The most reliable method is to generate them yourself using a Python script, ensuring the keys are authentic. 3ds_aes_keys.py
slot0x18KeyX = 00000000000000000000000000000000 slot0x1BKeyX = 00000000000000000000000000000000 slot0x25KeyX = 00000000000000000000000000000000 common0 = 00000000000000000000000000000000 common1 = 00000000000000000000000000000000 Use code with caution.
| Setting | Value for Best Quality | Impact | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | 4x - 6x | High | | Texture Filtering | Anisotropic 16x | Medium | | Anti-Aliasing (MSAA) | 4x | High | | Hardware Shader | Enabled | Medium | | Shader Cache | Enabled | Low | citra aes keystxt high quality
A Nintendo 3DS console with custom firmware (CFW) installed (such as Luma3DS). An SD card reader for your computer.
: Boot into GodMode9, press HOME , select Scripts , and run the dump script.
The keys must precisely match the cryptographic standards required by Citra. For Citra to recognize the keys, the file
Navigate to the directory where Citra stores its data. This is typically located at: Android/data/org.citra.citra_emu/files/citra-emu/sysdata/ (Note: Depending on your Android version, you may need a scoped-storage file manager like 'Files by Google' or 'ZArchiver' to access the Android/data folder). Copy and paste your keys.txt file into the sysdata folder. Relaunch Citra and enjoy your games. Troubleshooting Common Errors 1. "Your ROM is encrypted" error persists after adding keys
This is the single most impactful setting. The original 3DS renders games at a low 240p resolution. By increasing this factor, you can make the games look crisp and modern on large monitors.
Note: The strings 0123456789ABCDEF... in the example above are all placeholders and should be replaced with the actual correct 32-digit hex values of the keys. An SD card reader for your computer
When you encounter an encrypted .3ds or .cia file, Citra requires AES keys to decrypt the game data on the fly. Without a properly configured keys.txt , your games will fail to load—making this file essential for many users.
Once you have obtained or created your aes_keys.txt file, placing it in the correct directory is essential. If it's in the wrong spot, Citra will not be able to find it. The file must be placed in the sysdata folder within your Citra "User Directory".
: Your 3DS must be on firmware 11.16.0 or 11.17.0 and have custom firmware (CFW). GodMode9 script (often called dumpkeys.gm9 ) to generate the file.