Citra

Citra is a Nintendo 3DS Emulator.

Website: https://citra-emu.org/

Github: https://github.com/citra-emu/citra

Compatibility List: https://citra-emu.org/game/

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Table of Contents

1. Getting Started with Citra

   • Configuration
   • Updating and Launching Citra
   • File Formats
   • Hotkeys
   • Help, I can only see one screen and the back paddles no longer work!

2. Citra Tips and Tricks

   • How to Configure Gyro
   • How to Optimize Performance (Power Tools)
   • How to Install Custom Textures

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Getting Started with Citra

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Citra Checklist

• Learn how to open Citra in Desktop Mode: https://github.com/dragoonDorise/EmuDeck/wiki/citra#updating-and-launching-citra
• Place your 3DS ROMs in Emulation/roms/3ds or Emulation/roms/n3ds
  • Encrypted ROMs require an aes_keys.txt file
  • aes_keys.txt location: /home/deck/.var/app/org.citra_emu.citra/data/citra-emu/sysdata/
  • Encrypted ROMs can be decrypted. Decryption methods cannot be discussed here or on the EmuDeck Discord
• Learn the Citra hotkeys: https://github.com/dragoonDorise/EmuDeck/wiki/citra#hotkeys
• (Optional) Learn how to optimize performance: https://github.com/dragoonDorise/EmuDeck/wiki/citra#how-to-optimize-performance-power-tools
• (Optional) Learn how to configure Gyro: https://github.com/dragoonDorise/EmuDeck/wiki/citra#how-to-configure-gyro

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Configuration

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• Config Location: /home/deck/.var/app/org.citra_emu.citra
• ROM location: Emulation/roms/3ds or Emulation/roms/n3ds
• aes_keys.txt location: /home/deck/.var/app/org.citra_emu.citra/data/citra-emu/sysdata/
  • Only necessary if the 3DS ROM is encrypted
  • If the sysdata folder does not exist, create it.

Note: ~/.var is an invisible folder by default. In Dolphin (file manager), click the hamburger menu in the top right, click "view hidden files" to see these folders.

Works With

• Steam ROM Manager
• EmulationStation-DE

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Updating and Launching Citra

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Updating Citra

• Update through Discover (Shopping bag icon)
• Run Update Emulators & Tools in EmuDeck

Launching Citra in Desktop Mode

• Launch Citra from the Applications Launcher (Steam Deck icon in the bottom left of the taskbar)
• Launch the script from Emulation/tools/launchers, citra.sh
• Launch the emulator from Steam after adding it via the Emulators parser in Steam ROM Manager

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File Formats

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• .3ds
• .3dsx
• .app
• .axf
• .cci
• .cxi
• .elf

IMPORTANT:

• .cia can only be used if you install it through Citra. Do not place your .cia ROMs in either the Emulation/roms/3ds or the Emulation/roms/n3ds folders. The .cia file format is not compatible with Steam ROM Manager and EmulationStation-DE.

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Hotkeys

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Hotkeys

Citra comes with a Steam Input profile for Hotkeys. Activate the Steam Input profile by clicking the Game Controller icon in Game Mode, change the template to Emudeck - Citra 3DS. The hotkeys below can only be used if you have the Steam Input profile active.

Hotkey	Citra
Full Screen Toggle	L4
Layout Toggle	L5
Swap Screens	R4
Quit	Long Press R5
Save State	Left Trackpad Touch Menu
Load State	Left Trackpad Touch Menu
Fast Forward	Left Trackpad Touch Menu
Pause	Left Trackpad Touch Menu
Exit	Double Tap Left Trackpad Touch Menu
Full Screen	Left Trackpad Touch Menu
Swap Screens	Left Trackpad Touch Menu
Change Screen Layout	Left Trackpad Touch Menu

For a tutorial on how to select Steam Input Profiles, refer to: https://github.com/dragoonDorise/EmuDeck/wiki/hotkeys#how-to-select-a-steam-input-profile.

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Help, I can only see one screen and the back paddles no longer work!

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Note: You can use Citra hotkeys by applying the Steam input profile: EmuDeck - Citra 3DS.

Citra recently released an update that adjusted how the Layout Toggle hotkey works. Pressing L5 (the bottom left back bumper button) toggles Citra's layout between: Top/Bottom Screen, Hybrid Big/Small Screen, Left/Right Screen, Split Top/Bottom Screen.

Split Top/Bottom Screen splits your Citra window into two tabs.

If you find yourself stuck on the bottom screen (top tab), here's how to fix it:

1. Press the Steam button
2. Select the Bottom Tab
   1. Visual Reference:
3. Press L5 again to merge the two tabs
4. After merging the tabs, toggling through L5 again will prioritize the bottom tab (top screen) when Split Top/Bottom Screen mode is selected

GIF:

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Citra Tips and Tricks

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How to Configure Gyro

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Gyro for Citra requires SteamDeckGyroDSU. SteamDeckGyroDSU can be installed via EmuDeck in the Tools & Stuff menu, or it can be installed manually.

Visual Reference:

How to Install SteamDeckGyroDSU: https://github.com/dragoonDorise/EmuDeck/wiki/frequently-asked-questions#how-do-i-install-steamdeckgyrodsu

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How to Optimize Performance (Power Tools)

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Prerequisites

• Decky Loader and Power Tools
  • Power Tools can be installed via EmuDeck in the Tools & Stuff menu, or it can be installed manually
    • Visual Reference:
    • Although this screen does not explicitly state Decky Loader, Decky Loader is included in this installation
  • Step by Step Instructions on How to Install Power Tools: https://github.com/dragoonDorise/EmuDeck/wiki/frequently-asked-questions#how-do-i-install-power-tools-and-deckyloader

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Recommended Settings

• Power Tools: Turn SMT off
  • Open the QAM ("..." button), select the Socket icon, select POWERTOOLS, turn off SMT
    • Visual Reference:
  • (Optional) Use the Persistent toggle to set these settings on a per-game basis
    • Visual Reference:
• Steam Deck Performance Menu: Set Manual GPU Clock Control to 1200 frequency
  • Open the QAM ("..." button), select the Battery icon, enable Advance View, scroll down, enable Manual GPU Clock Control, and set it to 1200
    • Visual Reference:
  • Toggle per game profiles
    • Visual Reference:
• IMPORTANT: Some 3DS games will not perform well regardless and will require the Citra team to improve compatibility
  • In some cases, these games may have workarounds through modifying settings or applying patches or mods. Search on Google for your respective game, and see if these workarounds exist
  • Check the Citra Compatibility List: https://citra-emu.org/game/

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How to Install Custom Textures

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Here's how to install custom textures for Citra:

1. Open the Citra emulator. Click Emulation in the top left. Click Configuration, Graphics, and check Use Custom Textures
   1. Preload Custom Textures is generally recommended as well but in the current version of Citra, it crashes the emulator. Read the explanation below the tutorial for additional detail.
   2. Visual Reference:
2. Open https://3ds.jdbye.com/?details=USA&split=0&display=0 in a browser, and note down the Title ID for the game you would like to install custom textures for.
3. Open /home/deck/.var/app/org.citra_emu.citra/data/citra-emu/load/textures
   1. ~/.var is an invisible folder by default. In Dolphin (file manager), click the ☰ (hamburger menu) in the top right, click "view hidden files" to see these folders.
   2. If the load and textures folder do not exist, create them.
4. In the textures folder from Step 3, create a folder matching the TitleID from Step 2.
5. Put your texture files directly into this folder.
6. Your texture pack should now be installed.

IMPORTANT: There is a current bug where turning on Preload Textures will crash the game if it is being launched from a shortcut made by Steam ROM Manager or EmulationStation-DE.

There are two workarounds:

• Turn off Preload Textures. Turning off Preload Textures may negatively impact performance.
• Turn on Preload Textures and launch your game directly from Citra instead of through a shortcut made by Steam ROM Manager or EmulationStation-DE.

For a visual on how to install custom textures, watch the following GIF:

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