emulator: Azahar
type: standalone + libretro
core_classification: official_port
source: "https://github.com/azahar-emu/azahar"
upstream: "https://github.com/azahar-emu/azahar"
profiled_date: "2026-10-22"
source_commit: "219d743a1e698101fe1ab8bef43e6563126c3c27"
core_version: "2126.2"
display_name: "Nintendo - 3DS (Azahar)"
library_name: "Azahar"
cores:
  - azahar
  - azahar-sa
systems:
  - nintendo-3ds

# path: is where the libretro core reads a file below the save directory the
# frontend hands it (load_from), standalone_path: where the standalone app
# reads it under its user directory.
notes: |
  Successor to Citra (via Lime3DS). The libretro core lives in the same
  repository (src/citra_libretro) and is built with ENABLE_LIBRETRO, which
  forces the SDL2, Qt and web service frontends off.
  ref: CMakeLists.txt:40, CMakeLists.txt:109-111, CMakeLists.txt:165-187

  The libretro core moves the user directory to <save_dir>/Azahar/, or to
  <system_dir>/Azahar/ when the frontend gives no save directory. The core
  option "Azahar Default" keeps the standalone data directory instead.
  ref: src/citra_libretro/core_settings.cpp:592-603, src/citra_libretro/core_settings.cpp:1048-1080,
  src/citra_libretro/environment.cpp:191-208

  The core reports library_name "Azahar".
  ref: src/citra_libretro/environment.cpp:269

  Standalone data dir: azahar-emu under XDG_DATA_HOME (Azahar on Windows and
  macOS), with citra-emu and lime3ds-emu kept as legacy locations. A user/
  directory beside the executable (Windows) or in the working directory takes
  precedence. sysdata/, nand/ and sdmc/ sit under the user directory.
  ref: src/common/common_paths.h:19-49, src/common/file_util.cpp:943-972,
  src/common/file_util.cpp:1023-1025

  keys.txt has an AES-encrypted key blob compiled in, used when the file is
  absent. ENABLE_BUILTIN_KEYBLOB defaults to ON and is not among the options a
  libretro build forces off.
  ref: src/core/hw/aes/key.cpp:292-314, CMakeLists.txt:154, src/core/CMakeLists.txt:501-503

  System archives (shared font, Mii data, country list, bad word list) are read
  from installed NAND titles. Open-source replacements embedded in the binary
  answer when the title is absent.
  ref: src/core/file_sys/archive_ncch.cpp:150-214, src/core/hle/service/apt/apt.cpp:211-276

  boot9.bin and sector0x96.bin are defined but read by no code path.
  ref: src/common/common_paths.h:84-85

  The .info declares no firmware.

files:
  - name: keys.txt
    path: Azahar/sysdata/keys.txt
    standalone_path: sysdata/keys.txt
    load_from: {libretro: save_dir}
    system: nintendo-3ds
    required: false
    hle_fallback: true
    sha1: "5288772be438b86978a801e6dcb14228ad3a20af"
    md5: "4812e96097b7fc1bdd7b40366208b7a7"
    note: "AES key slots, common keys and NFC secrets. Embedded encrypted blob used if missing: default_keys_enc, AES-CBC with a zero key and IV, the hashes are those of the decrypted text"
    source_ref: "src/core/hw/aes/key.cpp:151-288, src/core/hw/aes/key.cpp:292-314, src/common/common_paths.h:83, src/core/hw/default_keys.h:11"

  - name: shared_font.bin
    path: Azahar/sysdata/shared_font.bin
    standalone_path: sysdata/shared_font.bin
    load_from: {libretro: save_dir}
    system: nintendo-3ds
    required: false
    hle_fallback: true
    note: "legacy path, tried when the shared font system archive fails to load"
    source_ref: "src/core/hle/service/apt/apt.cpp:278-293, src/core/hle/service/apt/apt.cpp:300-305, src/common/common_paths.h:82"

  - name: seeddb.bin
    path: Azahar/sysdata/seeddb.bin
    standalone_path: sysdata/seeddb.bin
    load_from: {libretro: save_dir}
    system: nintendo-3ds
    required: false
    note: "game seed database for 9.6+ titles, an empty one is written if absent"
    source_ref: "src/core/file_sys/seed_db.cpp:12-58"

  - name: otp.bin
    path: Azahar/sysdata/otp.bin
    standalone_path: sysdata/otp.bin
    load_from: {libretro: save_dir}
    system: nintendo-3ds
    required: false
    size: 256
    validation: [size, crypto]
    note: "console-unique OTP, AES-CBC decrypted with the keys.txt OTP key, then checked against the OTP magic and its SHA-256"
    source_ref: "src/core/file_sys/otp.cpp:14-55, src/core/hw/unique_data.cpp:143-192, src/core/hw/unique_data.cpp:243-245"

  - name: movable.sed
    path: Azahar/nand/private/movable.sed
    standalone_path: nand/private/movable.sed
    load_from: {libretro: save_dir}
    system: nintendo-3ds
    required: false
    size: [288, 320]
    validation: [size, signature]
    on_mismatch: {signature: warn}
    note: "console-unique key seed, 288 bytes without the AES MAC block, 320 with it"
    source_ref: "src/core/hw/unique_data.cpp:194-233, src/core/hw/unique_data.cpp:247-249, src/core/hw/unique_data.h:103-133"

  - name: SecureInfo_A
    path: Azahar/nand/rw/sys/SecureInfo_A
    standalone_path: nand/rw/sys/SecureInfo_A
    load_from: {libretro: save_dir}
    system: nintendo-3ds
    required: false
    size: 273
    validation: [size, signature]
    on_mismatch: {signature: warn}
    note: "console serial and region. A failed signature is retried against every region"
    source_ref: "src/core/hw/unique_data.cpp:48-103, src/core/hw/unique_data.cpp:235-237, src/core/hw/unique_data.h:57"

  - name: LocalFriendCodeSeed_B
    path: Azahar/nand/rw/sys/LocalFriendCodeSeed_B
    standalone_path: nand/rw/sys/LocalFriendCodeSeed_B
    load_from: {libretro: save_dir}
    system: nintendo-3ds
    required: false
    size: 272
    validation: [size, signature]
    on_mismatch: {signature: warn}
    note: "friend code generation seed"
    source_ref: "src/core/hw/unique_data.cpp:105-141, src/core/hw/unique_data.cpp:239-241, src/core/hw/unique_data.h:76"