Navigate to [0:] SDCARD or press the button to bring up the action menu. Select Scripts... and then choose GM9Megascript . Navigate to Dump Options and select Dump SysNAND files .
The location of the sysdata folder varies depending on your operating system: Operating System C:\Users\ \AppData\Roaming\Citra\sysdata Linux ~/.local/share/citra-emu/sysdata macOS ~/Library/Application Support/Citra/sysdata Android Internal Storage/citra-emu/sysdata Steam Deck
: C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Citra\sysdata citra aes keystxt updated
Typically in the citra-emu/sysdata folder on your internal storage. 4. Pro-Tips for 2026
Open the folder. If it does not exist, create a new folder named sysdata . Paste your aes_keys.txt file inside this folder. Open your file manager and enable hidden files. Navigate to ~/.local/share/citra-emu/sysdata/ . Place the file inside the folder. On Android Navigate to [0:] SDCARD or press the button
To emulate a console, a program must replicate the original's hardware functions, including its security decryption. The Nintendo 3DS uses the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) to protect its software. Before it can load and run an original, encrypted game file (like a .3ds or .CIA ), Citra needs the correct cryptographic keys to "unlock" the data in real-time.
If you have a legitimate file, it is typically placed in the Citra "sysdata" folder: Open Citra. Go to > Open Citra Folder . Navigate to the sysdata folder. Place the aes_keys.txt file here. Navigate to Dump Options and select Dump SysNAND files
Citra can read these game formats natively without referencing external cryptographic databases. This represents the most streamlined approach for setups on isolated devices like the Steam Deck via EmuDeck where internal file paths can sometimes be difficult to navigate.