MacOS - Citra | 3DS Emulator

This guide explains how to set up Citra on macOS by either downloading a pre-compiled version or building it yourself from source.

MacOS

Download Latest Citra for MacOS

File Name	Citra MacOS Universal
File Size	59.6MB
Version	r608383e
Developer	Citra Team
Release Date	29 September 2024

MacOS

Download Old Citra for MacOS

File Name	Citra MacOS Universal
File Size	59.7MB
Version	2104 Nightly
Developer	Citra Team
Release Date	4 March 2024

Installing Citra on MacOS

Download and Extract

Obtain the pre-compiled release for macOS from the official source.
Extract the downloaded file to a convenient location.

Bypass macOS Security Block

On your first attempt to launch Citra, macOS may block the application.
To resolve this, locate the app in Finder, control-click it, and select Open.
This will allow Citra to run successfully on your system.

Building Citra from Source

If you prefer to compile the emulator yourself, follow these steps:

Prerequisites

Install the necessary tools and dependencies:

Homebrew: Install Homebrew if you haven’t already.
CMake: Use Homebrew to install CMake:

				
					brew install cmake

Xcode: Download the latest version of Xcode along with its Command Line Tools.
Citra Source Code: Download either the older or newer version of the source code.

Steps to Build Citra:

Set Up the Build Environment

Create a directory for the build files:

				
					mkdir build  
cd build

Generate Build Files with CMake

Run the following command to generate the necessary files:

				
					cmake ..

Compile the Emulator

Build Citra using:

				
					make -j4

After the process is complete, the citra-qt.app file will be located in the build/bin/ directory. This version is non-portable and will only work on your machine.

Create a Portable Build (Optional)

If you need a portable version, run the following command:

				
					make bundle

The distributable version will be available in the build/bundle/ folder.

Building on Apple Silicon (ARM)

If you’re working on an Apple Silicon Mac or need to cross-compile, here are the key adjustments:

Ensure ARM-Compatible Homebrew
- Install the ARM version of Homebrew if using an Apple Silicon Mac.
Cross-Compiling Commands
- To target ARM from x86_64, use:

				
					cmake .. -DCMAKE_OSX_ARCHITECTURES="arm64"

To target x86_64 from ARM, use:

				
					cmake .. -DCMAKE_OSX_ARCHITECTURES="x86_64"

By following these instructions, you can successfully install or build Citra on macOS, whether you’re using a pre-compiled version or compiling it yourself!