Yuzu Emulator is now available for Android, bringing the Nintendo Switch gaming experience to your phone. While Yuzu for Android is still in development for mobile platforms, it provides solid performance on supported devices and continues to improve stability and compatibility. This guide will teach you everything you need to know about downloading and running your favorite titles on your Android smartphone or tablet.

1. Requirements

Before you begin, make sure your device meets the following minimum hardware and software requirements:

• Android Version: Android 11 or higher
  
• Processor: Snapdragon 865 or newer (the Snapdragon 8 series is recommended).
  
• RAM: Minimum of 6GB (8GB+ for smoother gameplay).
  
• Storage: At least 2GB free space for installation and game files.
  
• File Manager App: To manage and move files.
  
• Internet Access: Required to download APK and setup files
  

These requirements ensure that your device can run the emulator and games without experiencing significant lag or crashes.

2. Download the Setup

To get started, navigate to our Download Page and click the Download for Android button. Taping this will start the download of Yuzu’s most recent official.apk build for Android. To avoid receiving modified or harmful files, only download from trusted sources.

Once downloaded, the file will appear in your Downloads folder or your browser’s default download location.

3. Installing Yuzu on Android

1. Open your file manager and navigate to the.apk file.
   
2. Tap on it to begin the installation process.
   
3. If this is your first time installing an app outside of the Play Store, your device may prompt you to allow unknown sources.
   
   • Navigate to Settings > Security > Install Unknown Apps, then turn it on for your browser or file manager.
     
4. Tap Install, then wait for the installation to finish.
   

After installation, you will see the Yuzu app icon in your app drawer.

4. First Launch & Initial Setup

When you first launch Yuzu, it may request permission to access storage. Grant all necessary permissions so that the emulator can function properly.

You will then be prompted to include the prod.keys and title.keys files. These are required for decrypting Nintendo Switch game files. These keys must be legally obtained through your Switch console.

1. Place these keys in the directory listed below on your device.
   Android/data/org.yuzu/files/keys/
   
2. To apply the changes, restart the Yuzu application.
   

5. Adding Games to Yuzu

To load the game backups:

1. Tap the folder icon in the Yuzu app’s interface.
   
2. Navigate to the folder containing your game files (.NSP,.XCI, or.NCA).
   
3. Select the directory and allow Yuzu to scan it.
   

Your games will now appear in the Yuzu library, ready for launch.

6. Adjusting CPU & GPU Settings

To enhance performance on Android:

• Use Vulkan as the graphics backend to improve performance.
  
• Reduce resolution scaling if your device struggles with demanding titles.
  
• Shader cache can be enabled or disabled depending on the game’s behavior.
  
• To achieve the best results, test settings game by game.
  

7. Configure Controllers on Android

Follow these steps to set up Yuzu controllers on your smartphone:

1. Ensure that Yuzu is installed on your smartphone.
   
2. Start the Yuzu emulator application.
   
3. Navigate to the Settings icon on the left menu bar.
   
4. Select the small controller icon labeled Controls.
   
5. Yuzu supports up to 8 players, and you can see them all here.
   
6. Make sure the “Connected” toggle is set to On.
   
7. Choose Input Device and select the Bluetooth-enabled controller that is connected to your smartphone.
   
8. You can also configure the Profile and map your controller’s buttons here.
   
9. Adjust other settings, such as the controller’s vibration sensitivity.
   
10. Once completed, your controller is now ready to work with Yuzu on Android.