If your games were not showing up or were throwing "Encrypted" errors, they should now load successfully. Troubleshooting
As Citra development progressed, the emulator moved toward a more streamlined system. The aes_keys.txt standard was eventually deprecated in favor of a single keys.txt file located in the sysdata folder.
How do you know your aes_keys.txt is finally working? There is no "keys loaded" pop-up in Citra, but there are three signs:
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slot0x2CKeyX=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX slot0x25KeyX=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX slot0x18KeyX=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX slot0x1BKeyX=XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Use code with caution.
Certain keys are required for advanced features like Miis, amiibo support, and shared system fonts.
Citra parses data through a plain text structure. If the internal layout or naming convention is incorrect, the emulator will log parsing errors and fail to load game headers. Rules for Creation: If your games were not showing up or
(Note: Actual keys consist of unique 32-character hexadecimal strings instead of zeros). 2. Correct Directory Placement
If you’re using Citra as a core within RetroArch, the aes_keys.txt file needs to be placed in:
: If you use "decrypted" ROMs, you typically do not need this file, as the encryption has already been stripped away by a separate tool. Installation & Placement How do you know your aes_keys
By dumping your own keys, you are respecting the intellectual property of game developers while enjoying the benefits of emulation.
Nearly all commercial 3DS software—whether on physical cartridges or digital eShop titles—was encrypted. This meant that if you ripped a game file (a ROM) from a cartridge you owned, the resulting file was scrambled. Without the specific decryption keys, the file was useless binary garbage to an emulator. The 3DS hardware had these keys burned into its processor; Citra, being software running on a PC, did not.