Citra Emulator for Android - Play 3DS Games Without Lag

Citra emulator is a popular emulator designed to run Nintendo 3DS games on various platforms, including Android. Its development began as a PC emulator, but over time, it has expanded to support other operating systems and devices. Originally developed for PC, the Android version of Citra allows gamers to experience a wide array of 3DS titles with enhanced graphics and customizable controls. Whether revisiting classic favorites or discovering new adventures, the Citra emulator for Android offers a versatile and immersive gaming experience to play your favorite 3DS games on mobile devices, offering a range of features and customization options to enhance your gaming experience.

With its multiple features, the Citra emulator enables you to enjoy high-resolution graphics, save states, and even multiplayer functionality, all while providing support for external controllers. Its user-friendly interface and extensive compatibility make setting up and playing your favorite games quite easy. As you go through the emulator’s settings and options, you’ll find a wide range of customization tools that are designed to optimize performance and make your gaming experience to your preferences.

How to download the Citra Emulator for Android?

To download the Citra emulator for Android, just click the download button and the download will start. After the download is complete, you can install the Citra emulator on your Android.

File Name	Citra Android Universal
File Size	59.6MB
Version	r518f723
Developer	PabloMK7
Release Date	18 July 2024
Download	Download

Download Citra Emulator For Android

Download Emulator

How to install Citra Emulator apk for Android?

After downloading the Citra Emulator APK file, you can install it on your Android device by the method given below.

In your device settings, allow permission to install apps from unknown sources.
Open the download folder.
Tap on the Citra Emulator APK file.
Tap install.
The Citra emulator will be installed on your Android.

How to use Citra Emulator for Android?

After downloading and installing the Citra Android, you need to follow the step-by-step guide given below to play your favorite Nintendo games.

Step 1: Launch The App

Launch the Citra Android app on your device.

Configure Settings

As you are playing 3DS games on Android, you must customize your settings to your liking. To customize controls, you must do the following things:

Go to Configure Settings > Edit Layout. You can then drag any button anywhere you prefer. Tap “Done” when you have placed the controls in preferred positions.
Tap “Toggle Controls” to remove the buttons you don’t want on the screen.
Tap “Adjust Scale” to increase or decrease the size of a button.

Add Games to the Emulator

After you have configured the settings of the Citra emulator, you need to add games to the emulator. To add games to the emulator, you must do the following things:

First, you need to get the ROMS of the that you want to play.
Save the ROMS in your Android.
Click on the folder icon on the top right corner of the Citra App.
Then select the folder where the game ROMS are saved or downloaded.
Select this folder and Citra will list all the games in that folder.

Adjust Settings

After you have added the games to the emulator, you need to adjust the settings of your Citra Android to ensure smooth gameplay on your device. The different settings of Citra Emulator for Android and how to change them are given below:

Improve Video Quality

The Citra Android’s default setting allows you to let you to play the games in 60 FPS. So you don’t have to worry about changing the video settings on your emulator.

Improve Audio Quality

If you notice that the audio is not original and something is missing, it is because the default Citra setting has Audio Stretching enabled. You have to turn it off to enable the original audio. To do this:

Open Citra settings and tap on “Audio”
Tap the “Enable Audio Stretching” This will disable the audio stretching and you will be able to enjoy the original audio.

Improve Graphics

When first installed, Citra Android’s default setting is set to the lowest graphics possible. However, you can change it by the following method:

Open Settings > Graphics > Internal resolution and here you can see default settings are set as 1x.
You can change it to 2x, 3x, or 4x according to your liking. 2x is medium, 3x is high, and 4x is ultra.
Choose graphics that suit better for your phone, if the graphics lag, you can always change it back to 1x or 2x.

Citra Emulator Compatibility For Android

You need to have an Android 9 or higher version to run Citra Emulator on your Android. Citra Emulator’s Android version has impressive compatibility that allows a wide range of Nintendo 3DS games to be played on mobile devices. While it originally focused on PC, the Citra Android brings many of the same high-quality features and support to smartphones and tablets.

Compatibility varies depending on the game and device, but the emulator is able to run many popular titles with enhanced graphics and smooth performance. Users with high-end Android devices typically experience better results because of faster processing and higher resolution upscaling.

Citra Emulator for Android: Best Settings

As a Citra user, you should keep in mind that the settings vary for each game. You should test with certain combinations for each game. You can perform the following setting changes to optimize your Citra experience:

Change the internal resolution to a level that balances quality and performance. For most of the android devices, a setting of 1x or 2x is ideal. Higher resolutions will improve visual quality but will reduce performance on less powerful devices.
Enable Linear Filtering to improve the texture quality. If you encounter any performance issues, consider turning it off.
Set the frame limit to Auto or match the original game’s frame rate. Lowering the frame rate will reduce the load on your device, but this may impact the smoothness of gameplay.
Enable V-Sync to prevent screen tearing and ensure smoother graphics. If you experience video lag, disable it to see if performance improves.
Enable Audio Emulation for accurate sound reproduction. If you face audio glitches, you can try adjusting the Audio Stretch setting or lowering the volume.
Customize the on-screen touch controls to fit your play style. Also, you can adjust their size and position for better accessibility.
For an external gamepad, configure the controls in the emulator’s settings to match your preferences.
Use cheats and mods. They will enhance gameplay, but they might affect performance or cause instability.
Enable Multithreading. This will improve performance by allowing the emulator to use multiple CPU cores.

However, the most common working combination for Citra Android is given below. It might lower the FPS for some games but it will keep the speed smooth and sound clear.

CPU Usage Limit, enabled.
New 3DS mode, disabled.
FMV Hack enabled.

Citra Emulator Multiplayer

To use the Citra emulator for multiplayer, you need to make some extra changes so that you can connect with other players successfully. The complete guide on how to use the Citra emulator multiplayer service is given below:

Local Multiplayer

Make sure that you have the latest version of Citra Android installed and the game you want to play is compatible with the multiplayer feature of the emulator. Also, make sure that all the players have the same version of the Citra emulator and game ROM installed. All devices should be connected to the same Wi-Fi network to ensure they can communicate with each other. After that:

Open the Citra Emulator on all devices.
Start the game on each device.
On the device, you want to use as the host, navigate to the multiplayer or local network settings in the game and select the option to host or create a game.
On the other devices, select the option to join a local game. The devices should detect the host device if they are on the same network.
Follow the in-game prompts to connect to the host device and start playing.

Online Multiplayer

To play the citra emulator game as an online multiplayer, you need to install the latest version of the Citra emulator. Also, make sure that the game you are playing supports the online multiplayer and all the game ROMs are up-to-date. After that:

Create and log into your Citra account.
Launch the Citra Emulator on your Android device.
Tap the online multiplayer section. This is typically found in the emulator’s menu under “Multiplayer” or “Online”.
To start a new game, select “Create Room”. Follow the prompts to set up the game and wait for other players to join.
To join an existing game, select “Join Room” and look for the available rooms. Choose a room and connect to start playing.
Follow the in-game instructions to connect with other players and start the multiplayer game.

Citra Emulator Cheats Android

Here’s how you can use cheats with Citra Emulator for Android

Open your game from the game library.
Tap on the Home button. In portrait mode, the home button is on the lower right corner of the screen while in landscape mode, the home button is on the top right.
On the home button menu, you will see a list of options, tap on “Cheat Codes”
Then tap on “Edit Cheat” to add a cheat. You can get the cheats for your game from various online sources, but you can only use cheats that are compatible with your game.
Copy the entire cheat code together with the name, and paste it as plain text on the cheats list on Citra’s “Edit Cheat” section. Be sure to paste it as plain text so Citra can properly read the code.
After pasting the code, press done and select Cheat List. You can add as many cheats as you want as long as you copy and paste them properly on the Edit Cheat section.
After you have added the cheats to the cheat list, you can use the cheat you want to use.

Citra Emulator Lag fix Android

Sometimes, even when you are using a high-end Android device, your game still lags. This can be due to various reasons. No matter the reason, here are a few changes that you can make that can help you to have a smooth gaming experience.

Open settings > go to Graphics > Disable Linear Filtering.
Open Settings > tap Audio > Disable Audio Stretching.
Open Settings > tap Debug > enable all the options.

Citra Alternative Emulator for Android

Apart from the original Citra Emulator for Android, there are a number of emulators available online that serve as good alternatives to Citra. The Citra alternatives that work on Android are given below:

RetroArch
Antstream Arcade
Lime
Mikage
Mandarine
Citra MK7’s fork
Citra MMJ

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you can download the Citra emulator on your Android device. The complete process of downloading and installing the Citra Emulator on your Android is explained in the above-given guide.

Citra runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android.

If you have a device with Android 9.0 or higher, plus a Snapdragon 750 processor or better, you can play games without any trouble.

No, Citra is not the only 3DS emulator. There are several emulators that are good alternatives to Citra including RetroArch, Antstream Arcade, Lime, Mikage, Mandarine, etc.

In March 2024 the official Citra website citra-emu.org website was taken down following a lawsuit.

Yes, 3DS games can be run on Android by using 3DS emulators like Citra or its alternatives.

Yes, Citra Android supports game mods to allow its users to have an enjoyable gaming experience.

Conclusion

Citra represents an advancement in the world of emulation by providing gamers with the opportunity to experience Nintendo 3DS games gameplay on the platforms of their choice with enhanced visuals, graphics, and performance. Its development by an open-source community ensures continuous improvements and support for a growing library of titles.

However, it’s crucial to understand the importance of respecting property rights and avoiding piracy. Using Citra responsibly means only playing games that you legally own and have the right to use. Thus making sure that the emulator serves as a tool for preserving and enjoying your personal game collection rather than facilitating illegal distribution. By adhering to these principles, you can contribute to a fair and respectful gaming environment while making the most of what Citra has to offer.