Yuzu Emulator Installation & Setup Guide For PC/Windows (2024)

Here is the Yuzu Emulator installation and setup guide for Windows users. You are in the right place if you have ever wanted to play Nintendo Switch games on your personal computer.

If you want to use the Yuzu emulator, just follow the simple instructions we have provided in this post.

What is Yuzu Emulator?

Yuzu is a C++ Nintendo Switch emulator that is available for free and open source. On January 14, 2018, the development of Yuzu started, just 10 months after the release of the Nintendo Switch.

Yuzu Emulator Minimum System Requirements For Windows:

Processor:	Minimum: Intel i3-6100 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 Recommended: Intel i5-8600K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600
Memory:	Minimum: 8GB RAM Recommended: 16GB RAM
Graphics:	Minimum: OpenGL 4.5 support or Vulkan 1.1, like Intel HD Graphics 530 or Nvidia GeForce GT 710 Recommended: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6GB or AMD Radeon RX 470 8GB

How To Download Yuzu Emulator For PC/Windows?

Step 1 – Open a ‘web browser‘ on your PC.

Step 2 – Visit ‘www.yuzu-emu.org‘ to get latest version Yuzu emulator.

Step 3 – Click on ‘Download‘ option.

Step 4 – Choose ‘Windows‘ option.

Step 5 – Start downloading the ‘yuzu_install.exe‘ installer setup file, click on the ‘Download for Windows x64‘ button.

How To Install Yuzu Emulator on PC/Windows?

Step 1 – If you want to begin the installation, open ‘yuzu_install.exe‘. If you have any trouble opening ‘yuzu_install.exe‘, try to open it as ‘run as administrative‘.

Step 2 – Tick the ‘yuzu for updates‘ and ‘Create shortcut‘ boxes before you click the ‘Install‘ button.

Step 3 – Yuzu will take a few moments to install on your PC.

Step 4 – Yuzu emulator has been installed successfully on your PC. You may now close all open tabs.

How To Setup Yuzu Emulator with Prod Keys and Title Keys?

Step 1 – Open ‘Yuzu emulator‘ from the shortcut.

Step 2 – if you encounter the ‘Derivation Components Missing‘ error, click on the ‘OK‘ option.

Step 3 – Go to the menu, select ‘File,’ and then click on ‘Open Yuzu Folder‘ option.

Step 4 – Open ‘keys‘ folder.

Step 5 – Download latest version Switch ‘prod.Keys and title.Keys‘, and then move them to Yuzu’s ‘keys‘ folder.

Version:	File Size:	Link:
Keys (Latest)	14KB	Download

Step 6 – Latest ‘prod.keys and title.keys‘ have been successfully added to the Yuzu emulator.

Step 7 – Open ‘nand‘ folder.

Step 8 – Open ‘system‘ folder.

Step 9 – Open ‘Contents‘ folder.

Step 10 – Open ‘registered‘ folder.

Step 11 – Download latest Switch ‘Firmware‘, extract the ‘Firmware.zip’ file, extract it and then move them to the Yuzu’s ‘registered’ folder.

Version:	File Size:	Link:
Firmware (Latest)	323MB	Download

Step 12 – Switch Firmware has been installed successfully on the Yuzu emulator.

Step 13 – Now, close the Yuzu emulator.

Step 14 – Open Yuzu emulator, again.

Step 15 – As you can see, Yuzu Emulator error has been resolved.

Step 16 – Go to ‘Emulation‘ and select the ‘Configure…‘ option.

Yuzu Emulator Configuration For Best Performance

• General Settings.

1. Confirm before stopping emulation: (Always ask Default)
2. Pause emulation when in background: ☐
3. Hide mouse on inactivity: ☑
4. Disable controller applet: ☐
5. Prompt for user on game boot: ☐

• Hotkeys Settings.

Action ▾Main Window	Hotkey	Controller Hotkey
Audio Mute/Unmute:	Ctrl+M	Home+Dpad_Right
Audio Volume Down:	–	Home+Dpad Down
Audio Volume Up:	=	Home+Dpad_Up
Capture Screenshot:	Ctrl+P	Screenshot
Change Adapting Filter:	F8	Home+L
Change Docked Mode:	F10	Home+X
Change GPU Accuracy:	F9	Home+R
Continue/Pause Emulation:	F4	Home+Plus
Exit Fullscreen:	Esc
Exit yuzu:	Ctrl+Q	Home+Minus
Fullscreen:	F11	Home+B
Load File:	Ctrl+O
Load/Remove Amiibo:	F2	Home+A
Restart Emulation:	F6	R+Plus+Minus
Stop Emulation:	F5	L+Plus+Minus
TAS Record:	Ctrl+F7
TAS Reset:	Ctrl+F6
TAS Start/Stop:	Ctrl+F5
Toggle Filter Bar:	Ctrl+F
Toggle Framerate Limit:	Ctrl+U	Home+Y
Toggle Mouse Panning:	Ctrl+F9
Toggle Renderdoc Capture:
Toggle Status Bar:	Ctrl+S

• UI Settings.

• -General-

1. Note: Changing language will apply your configuration.
2. Interface language: <System>
3. Theme: Dark Colorful

• -Game List-

1. Show Compatibility List: ☐
2. Show Add-Ons Column: ☑
3. Show Size Column: ☑
4. Show File Types Column: ☑
5. Show Play Time Column: ☑
6. Game Icon Size: Standard (64×64)
7. Folder Icon Size: Standard (48×48)
8. Row 1 Text: Title Name
9. Row 2 Text: Title ID

• -Screenshot-

1. Ask Where To Save Screenshots (Windows Only): ☑
2. Screenshots Path: (Keep it as the default)
3. Resolution: Auto(1280×720, 1920×1080) [Auto]

• Web Settings.

1. Share anonymous usage data with yuzu team: ☐
2. Show Current Game in your Discord Status: ☑

• Debug Settings.

• -Debug-

1. Debugger: Enable GDB Stub: ☐
2. Port: 6543

• -Logging-

Global Log Filter *:Info

1. Show Log in Console: ☐
2. Enable Extended Logging**: ☐

• Homebrew: Graphics Settings

1. Enable Graphics Debugging: ☐
2. Enable Renderdoc Hotkey: ☐
3. Enable Shader Feedback: ☐
4. Enable Nsight Aftermath: ☐
5. Disable Loop safety checks: ☐
6. Dump Game Shaders: ☐
7. Disable Macro JIT: ☐
8. Dump Maxwell Macros: ☐
9. Disable Macro HLE: ☐

• Homebrew: Advanced

1. Kiosk (Quest) Mode: ☐
2. Enable CPU Debugging: ☐
3. Enable Debug Asserts: ☐
4. Perform Startup Vulkan Check: ☑
5. Disable Web Applet: ☑
6. Enable All Controller Types: ☐
7. Enable Auto-Stub**: ☐

• Homebrew: Debugging

1. Enable FS Access Log: ☐
2. Enable Verbose Reporting Services**: ☐
3. Dump Audio Commands To Console**: ☐

• Debug: CPU

• -Toggle CPU Optimizations-

1. Enable inline page tables: ☑
2. Enable block linking: ☑
3. Enable return stack buffer: ☑
4. Enable fast dispatcher: ☑
5. Enable context elimination: ☑
6. Enable constant propagation: ☑
7. Enable miscellaneous optimizations: ☑
8. Enable misalignment check reduction: ☑
9. Enable Host MMU Emulation (general memory instructions): ☑
10. Enable Host MMU Emulation (exclusive memory instructions): ☑
11. Enable recompilation of exclusive memory instructions: ☑
12. Enable fallbacks for invalid memory accesses: ☑

Note: CPU settings are available only when game is not running.

• System Settings.

• -System-

1. Language: (You can choose your preferred language or keep it set to the default.)
2. Region: (You have the option to select a different region or you can leave it default )
3. Time Zone: (Choose and select your Time Zone location or You can select Auto option)
4. Custom RTC: ☐
5. RNG Seed: ☐
6. Device Name: Yuzu

• -Core-

1. Multi CPU EMulation: ☑
2. Memory Layout: 4GB DRAM (Default)
3. Limit Speed Percent: ☑ [100%]

• Profiles.

1. In this Yuzu emulator’s Profile Manager, you can Add and manage different profiles.

Note: Profile management is available ony when game is not running.

• Network Settings.

• -General-

1. Network Interface: None

• Filesystem settings.

1. It is best to keep Storage Directories, Gamecard Path, and Patch Manager Directories at their default settings. This helps avoid any potential issues or problems.

• CPU Settings.

• -General-

1. Accuracy: Auto

Auto setting is recommended for smooth performance.

• Graphics Settings.

• -API Settings-

1. API: Vulkan
2. Device: Select your Graphic Card.

• -Graphics Settings-

1. Use disk pipeline cache: ☑
2. Use asynchronous GPU emulation: ☑
3. ASTC Decoding Method: GPU
4. VSync Mode: FIFO (VSync On)
5. NVDEC emulation:GPU Video Decoding (Default)
6. Fullscreen Mode: Borderless Windowed
7. Aspect Ratio: Default (16:9)
8. Resolution: 1X (720p/1080p)
9. Window Adapting Filter: Bilinear
10. Anti-Aliasing Method: None
11. FSR Sharpness: 88%
12. Background Color: Black

• Audio Settings.

• -Audio-

1. Output Engine: auto
2. Output Device: auto
3. Input Device: auto
4. Sound Output Mode: stereo
5. Volume: 100%
6. Mute audio: ☐
7. Mute audio when in background: ☐

Important Note: Some settings are only available when a game is not running.

How To Setup Any Controller on Yuzu?

• Controls

Step 1 – If you want to connect your gamepad as a Yuzu emulator Controller, select ‘Pro Control‘ and then select your gamepad under ‘Input device.’

There is no need to configure anything after connecting your gamepad to Yuzu. The Yuzu emulator will automatically configure your controller.

Step 2 – Click on ‘New‘ option.

Step 3 – Give your connected controller profile a name and click the ‘OK‘ button.

Step 4 – Click on ‘Save‘ option.

Step 5 – Click on ‘OK‘.

Game Controller configuration for the Yuzu emulator has been completed successfully.

How To Add Games To Yuzu Emulator?

Step 1 – If you want to add Nintendo Switch games to your Yuzu emulator, simply click twice on the emulator screen.

Step 2 – Choose the Nintendo Switch game folder and click on the ‘Select‘ button.

Step 3 – Your Nintendo Switch video games have now been added to your Yuzu emulator.

How To Update Games on Yuzu Emulator?

Step 1 – Select the ‘Install Files to NAND…‘ option from the ‘File‘ menu.

Step 2 – Select your DLC/Game update file, then click on ‘Open‘ button.

Step 3 – Click on ‘Install‘ button.

Step 4 – Yuzu emulator is currently installing the game update file. You have to wait 20-30 seconds.

Step 5 – Yuzu has successfully installed the game update.

Step 6 – Congratulations! Yuzu has successfully updated your game.

How To Disable Game Update on Yuzu Emulator?

Step 1 – Click the right mouse button on your updated game and click on ‘Properties‘ option.

Step 2 – Uncheck the ‘Update‘ box, then click the ‘OK‘ button.

Step 3 – Game update has been disabled.

How To Play Games on Yuzu Emulator?

Step 1 – If you want to start playing Switch games on Yuzu, simply click twice on the game icon.

Step 2 – Please wait a few seconds while the game loads on the Yuzu emulator.

Step 3 – If you want to make the Yuzu game fullscreen, go to the ‘View‘ menu and select ‘Fullscreen,’ or simply press the F11 key on your keyboard.

Step 4 – Now you can play any Nintendo Switch game on Yuzu. Have fun!

How To Update Keys and Firmware on Yuzu Emulator?

Step 1 – Delete old ‘prod.keys and title.keys‘ files from the keys folder in Yuzu.

Step 2 – Copy and paste latest ‘prod.keys and title.keys‘ files on this ‘keys‘ folder.

Step 3 – Delete all outdated ‘firmware‘ files from Yuzu’s registered folder.

Step 4 – Paste latest ‘firmware‘ files on ‘registered‘ folder by pressing Ctrl+V.

Step 5 – Close the Yuzu emulator and then reopen it.

Step 6 – Yuzu keys and firmware have been updated successfully. Yuzu is the perfect emulator to play your Nintendo Switch games on PC!

Yuzu Docked vs. Handheld

If you want to play games on best quality, select 'docked' mode ('Docked' option allows you to play games in higher resolution, and it is best suited for high-end PCs.)

Resolution of 'Handheld' is lower, and 'GPU normal' displays less on the screen ('Handheld' mode is suitable for low-end PCs and allows you to play games at a lower resolution).

How To Install and Setup Yuzu Emulator on PC (Video Tutorial)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Final Words:

We have almost covered everything about the Yuzu Nintendo Switch emulator in this post, from installing and setting up to configuration and fixing errors of Yuzu emulator.

If you have any questions related to this post or anything you want to ask about the Yuzu emulator, or if you are facing any other issues with Yuzu, please comment down below. We all do our best to reply and help you resolve your Yuzu emulator issues.