Want to play Nintendo Switch games on your Android device? You’re in the right place! Since many Switch emulators have slowed down or stopped development, Citron Emulator is currently the best option with active updates. In this guide, I’ll show you how to install and set up Citron Emulator so you can start gaming right away!
Table of Contents
Steps to Set Up and Use Citron Emulator on Android
Follow this step-by-step guide to set up and use the Citron Emulator on your Android device to play Nintendo Switch games.
1. Setting Up the Citron Emulator
Before adding games, let’s set up the Citron Emulator by adding the encryption keys and selecting a games folder. Here’s how to do that:
Step 1: Download the latest Citron Emulator for Android from the button below and install it on your device.
Step 2: Open the Citron Emulator. You will see a screen with a ‘Get Started’ button. Click on it.
Step 3: It will ask you for notification permission. This is optional, so you can either allow or deny it. Then, click ‘Next.’
Step 4: The emulator will ask you to select the ‘prod.keys‘ file. If you don’t have it, click the button below to download it.
Note: After downloading the encryption keys, it will be a zip file. Extract it so that you can select the ‘prod.keys‘ file.
Step 5: Click on the ‘Select Keys’ button and choose the ‘prod.keys‘ file. A pop-up message saying “Keys successfully installed” will appear. Click ‘Next.’
Step 6: Now, you will be asked to select your Games folder. Click on the ‘Add Games‘ button.
Step 7: Choose any folder you prefer or create a new folder where your game ROMs (NSP/XCI files) will be stored. For this tutorial, I’ve created a new folder and named it ‘Games.‘ A confirmation message will appear: “Games directory selected.”
Step 8: Click ‘Next.’ You will see a message saying “You’re all set. Enjoy your games!” Click the ‘Continue’ button, and you’re ready to start playing!
2. Adding Games
After setting up Citron Emulator, place your game ROM (NSP or XCI) file in the folder you selected as the Games directory. For this tutorial, I’ll be using Donkey Kong Country Returns HD NSP file. You can download this and many other ROMs from the link below.
Note: Citron supports both NSP and XCI files. They work the same way, so you can use either format without any issues.
Here is how you can add games in the Citron emulator on Android:
Step 1: Download the NSP or XCI file of the game you want to play from the provided link above.
Step 2: Open your device’s file manager and paste the ROM file (NSP or XCI) into the folder you selected as the Games folder. In my case, it is the ‘Games‘ folder.
Step 3: That’s it! Now close the file manager.
3. Launch the Game
That’s it! You’re now ready to play! Follow these final steps to enjoy your favorite Nintendo Switch game on Android.
Step 1: Open the Citron Emulator again, and you will see the games you added in your games folder. In my case, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD will be displayed.
Tip: If you don’t see your games, try refreshing the screen by performing a downward swipe gesture.
Step 2: Finally, click on the game to launch it and enjoy playing!
Final Thoughts
This guide walks you through everything you need to set up and start playing Nintendo Switch games on Android using Citron Emulator. If you run into any issues, feel free to ask in the comment section below!