How to add prod.keys to Yuzu Emulator

Q: Which Switch emulator should I use now that Yuzu is shut down?

Sudachi and Citron are the most actively maintained forks as of 2025. Sudachi focuses on stability and game compatibility, while Citron targets performance improvements. Both use the same prod.keys setup as Yuzu. Suyu was an earlier fork but development has slowed significantly.

Quick answer: Place prod.keys (and optionally title.keys) in Yuzu’s keys folder, then restart the emulator. Windows (Yuzu / Suyu): %appdata%\yuzu\keys\ Windows (Sudachi): %appdata%\sudachi\keys\ Windows (Citron): %appdata%\citron\keys\ Linux / Steam Deck (Yuzu): ~/.local/share/yuzu/keys/ Linux / Steam Deck (Sudachi): ~/.local/share/sudachi/keys/

Yuzu — and the forks that replaced it after its shutdown in March 2024 (Suyu, Sudachi, Citron) — require a prod.keys file to decrypt Nintendo Switch games. Without it, the emulator will open but every game will fail to load. This guide covers exactly where to place the file for each emulator, how to dump it from your own Switch, and how to fix the most common errors.

Yuzu was shut down in March 2024 The official Yuzu emulator was discontinued following a legal settlement with Nintendo. If you are setting up Switch emulation from scratch, the recommended forks are Sudachi and Citron. The prod.keys setup process is identical across all forks — only the folder path changes.

Contents

1 What you need before you start
2 Step 1 — dump prod.keys from your Switch
3 Step 2 — find the keys folder for your emulator
4 Step 3 — place prod.keys and title.keys
5 Step 4 — verify keys are loaded
6 Common errors and fixes
7 Frequently asked questions

What you need before you start

A Nintendo Switch console — required to legally dump your own keys.
Atmosphere CFW installed and running on your Switch.
Lockpick_RCM — homebrew payload that extracts your keys. Download from its official GitHub repository.
Your emulator installed — Yuzu (if you have an existing install), Suyu, Sudachi, or Citron.

Note Only dump keys from your own hardware. Do not download prod.keys files from third-party websites.

Step 1 — dump prod.keys from your Switch

Lockpick_RCM reads your Switch’s encryption keys at boot and writes them to /switch/prod.keys on your SD card. The process is the same regardless of which emulator you are setting up.

Power off your Switch fully.
Enter RCM mode (jig method on unpatched V1 units; modchip shortcut on patched/OLED/Lite models).
Inject the Lockpick_RCM payload from your PC using TegraRcmGUI or fusee-launcher.
On the Lockpick_RCM menu, select Dump from SysNAND.
Both prod.keys and title.keys will be saved to /switch/ on your SD card.
Copy both files to your PC, Mac, or Steam Deck.

Step 2 — find the keys folder for your emulator

The location of the keys folder differs between Yuzu forks. Use the table below to find the correct path for your emulator and OS.

Fork	Windows keys path	Linux / Steam Deck keys path
Yuzu	%appdata%\yuzu\keys\	~/.local/share/yuzu/keys/
Suyu	%appdata%\suyu\keys\	~/.local/share/suyu/keys/
Sudachi	%appdata%\sudachi\keys\	~/.local/share/sudachi/keys/
Citron	%appdata%\citron\keys\	~/.local/share/citron/keys/

Shortcut (all forks): Inside the emulator, go to File > Open yuzu Folder (or the equivalent for your fork). This opens the app data directory in your file manager. Navigate into the keys folder from there.

Steam Deck note On Steam Deck, Yuzu forks are commonly installed via the Discover store or EmuDeck. The Linux paths in the table above apply. If your install is in a Flatpak, the path is inside the Flatpak sandbox: ~/.var/app/org.yuzu_emu.yuzu/data/yuzu/keys/ (adjust the app ID for Sudachi or Citron accordingly).

Keys folder may not exist yet On a fresh install, the keys folder is not always created automatically. If it is missing, create it manually inside the emulator’s app data directory.

Step 3 — place prod.keys and title.keys

Copy prod.keys (and title.keys) directly into the keys folder. Do not place them in a subfolder.

After copying, your keys folder should contain:

prod.keys — required for all games and firmware decryption
title.keys — required for encrypted NSP files and DLC (not needed for XCI games)

If you only play XCI format games, prod.keys alone is sufficient. title.keys becomes necessary when installing NSP files or their associated DLC and updates.

Step 4 — verify keys are loaded

Restart the emulator after placing your files — keys are read at startup. Open the emulator and check the game list. Games should now display their title artwork and metadata. If a game still fails to load, proceed to the troubleshooting section below.

In Yuzu and most forks, you can also go to Emulation > Configure > System > Filesystem to confirm the keys path is being read correctly.

Common errors and fixes

Error message	Fix
Keys not found / Missing keys	The prod.keys file is in the wrong location. Confirm it is inside the keys\ folder (not the root app data folder or a subfolder). Use the fork-specific paths in the table above.
Decryption keys are missing	prod.keys is present but incomplete or corrupted. Re-dump from your Switch using Lockpick_RCM and replace the existing file.
Keys are out of date	Your prod.keys was dumped from an older firmware than the version required by the game or firmware installed in the emulator. Update your Switch, re-run Lockpick_RCM, and replace the file.
Unable to load ROM / Decryption failed	Usually a keys version mismatch. Ensure your prod.keys version matches the firmware version installed in the emulator.
Title key not found	The NSP or DLC requires an entry in title.keys that is missing. Re-dump title.keys from your Switch and replace the file in the keys\ folder.
No such file or directory (keys\)	The keys folder does not exist. Create it manually at the path shown in the table for your emulator and OS.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use the same prod.keys file for all switch emulators?

Yes. prod.keys and title.keys are tied to your Switch console’s firmware, not to any specific emulator. The same files work across Yuzu, Suyu, Sudachi, Citron, and Ryujinx. Copy them into the keys folder of each emulator you install.

Do I need to update prod.keys after updating my Switch firmware?

Yes, if you update firmware inside the emulator to match. Each Nintendo firmware update introduces new key generations. If the emulator’s installed firmware is newer than your prod.keys dump, you will see a “keys out of date” error. Re-run Lockpick_RCM after updating your Switch to generate a fresh file.

Do I need title.keys for XCI files?

No. XCI files (cartridge dumps) are decrypted using prod.keys alone. title.keys is only required for NSP files (eShop format), DLC, and game updates distributed as NSP.

Which Switch emulator should I use now that Yuzu is shut down?

Sudachi and Citron are the most actively maintained forks as of 2025. Sudachi focuses on stability and game compatibility, while Citron targets performance improvements. Both use the same prod.keys setup as Yuzu. Suyu was an earlier fork but development has slowed significantly.

Where is the keys folder in EmuDeck?

EmuDeck installs Yuzu forks as Flatpak or AppImage applications. For the Flatpak version of Yuzu, the keys path is ~/.var/app/org.yuzu_emu.yuzu/data/yuzu/keys/. For EmuDeck-managed installs, you can also use the EmuDeck app’s “BIOS & Keys” section to place keys files in the correct location automatically.

What is the difference between the keys folder for Yuzu and Ryujinx?

Yuzu forks use a keys folder (e.g. %appdata%\yuzu\keys\). Ryujinx uses a system folder (e.g. %appdata%\Ryujinx\system\). The prod.keys file itself is identical — only the destination folder differs between the two emulators.