Where Does Citra Store Save Files?
Citra keeps 3DS saves inside its user folder under sdmc, arranged the way a real 3DS arranges its SD card.
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Everything Citra persists lives in one user directory: NAND data, config, and an sdmc folder that plays the role of the 3DS SD card. Game saves sit under sdmc/Nintendo 3DS inside folders named with zeros where a real console would show its own ID.
Open it from inside the emulator with File > Open Citra Folder instead of typing paths. Placing a folder named user next to the Citra exe switches it to portable mode, which overrides every path below. Flatpak installs move the tree under the Flatpak sandbox.
Where Citra stores this, by platform
%APPDATA%\Citra\sdmc
The full user folder is %APPDATA%\Citra. Saves live under sdmc\Nintendo 3DS in the title subfolders.
~/Library/Application Support/Citra/sdmc
Older Mac builds used the Linux style path instead. If this folder is empty, check ~/.local/share/citra-emu as a fallback.
~/.local/share/citra-emu/sdmc
Config sits separately at ~/.config/citra-emu. Flatpak installs use ~/.var/app/org.citra_emu.citra/data/citra-emu instead.
Frequently asked questions
Can I move a save from my real 3DS into Citra?
Yes. Dump the save with homebrew such as Checkpoint, then place the files into the matching title folder under sdmc. Citra accepts the layout because it copies the console structure.
Where are Citra save states kept?
Save states are separate from cartridge style saves and live under a states folder in the user directory. Copy those too if you rely on them rather than in game saving.
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