Setting up Ryujinx isn't the simplest thing in the world, as there are several different things you need to get in order for it to work. All of which don't come packaged with the Ryujinx download. While that might seem stupid, there is a good reason for it! So follow along as this guide walks you through the entire Ryujinx setup process from start to finish. Keep in mind that your system hardware is going to determine how well games work, though, so don't expect a crappy laptop to work well.
Takeaways:
- Simple guide to setting up Ryujinx to play games
- How do you set up Ryujinx properly so that all games work and run smoothly?
Table of Contents
What You Need to Get Started with Ryujinx
Downloading Ryujinx is only the first part of using the emulator, you'll also need to get:
- Prod.keys
- Firmware files.
You can get these from your Switch console, or you can find them all over the Internet. None of these files comes with the Ryujinx download.
Ryujinx Setup Guide 2025 – How to Set Up the Ryujinx Switch Emulator
Below are all the steps you need to follow to get Ryujinx working on your system. Just make sure you work your way through the guide from top to bottom and don't skip anything....
1. The Ryujinx Emulator
Start by downloading the latest version of Ryujinx from the official website.
Choose the correct build for your operating system (Windows, Linux, or macOS), and extract the downloaded archive to a folder on your computer.
Once extracted, launch the emulator by running Ryujinx.exe (on Windows) or the corresponding executable on your OS.
Keep Ryujinx Updated
Ryujinx is updated frequently to improve performance, fix bugs, and expand game compatibility. Running an outdated build can lead to crashes or missing features.
To ensure you’re using the latest version:
- Open Ryujinx.
- Click Help in the top menu.
- Select Check for Updates.
- If an update is available, follow the prompts to install it.
- Restart Ryujinx (or your computer) after the update to make sure it’s applied correctly.
Alternatively, you can download the newest version manually from the official Ryujinx site. That's generally what I do.
2. Ryujinx Prod.keys
Ryujinx requires a set of system keys from a real Nintendo Switch console called prod.keys and title.keys.
These files allow the emulator to decrypt and run Nintendo Switch games. Once you have downloaded some prod.keys (get the latest ones) do the following to install them.
- Open Ryujinx
- Click Actions > Install Keys
- Then locate the folder where you have your prod.keys stored in. (Make sure they are unzipped)
Note: If you ever update your firmware, replace your existing keys with the new versions from your console to maintain compatibility.
3. RyujinxFirmware
Firmware files tell Ryujinx how to handle the Nintendo Switch’s system-level functions. Without the correct firmware, some games won’t boot or may crash immediately. You need to make sure that you have the latest firmware and prod.keys for new release games so if a new game comes out check for new prod.keys and firmware.
To install or update your firmware:
- Open Ryujinx
- Click Actions > Install Firmware
- Then locate the folder where you have your prod.keys stored in. (Make sure they are unzipped)
Your firmware version should match your prod.keys version for the best stability and compatibility. Most sites that you can get keys and firmware have them listed with the same version numbers to make life easy.
4. Adding Games to Ryujinx
Once your emulator, keys, and firmware are all set up, you can add games. After you download some games, you can add them to Ryujinx by doing the following.
- Open Ryujinx
- Go to Options > Settings
- Then click Add under the Game Directories section and choose the location where you have games saved. Click Apply to save the change.
- You can also do the same for DLC and Updates from the same screen.
