Game updates do more than add new content. They fix bugs, smooth out performance issues, and sometimes make the difference between a game running poorly and running well. Yuzu handles Switch updates without any special workarounds, but how you install them depends entirely on the update file you’re starting with.
This guide explains the different ways updates can be installed, how Yuzu recognizes and applies them once they’re in place, and what to expect in less common setups like games stored as loose directories rather than single files.
How to Install Game Updates in Yuzu
Yuzu can install updates provided as NCA or NSP files. Before doing anything, double-check that your prod.keys and title.keys are in place and up to date. Most update failures trace back to missing or outdated keys rather than a problem with the update file itself.
Method 1: Installing Updates in NCA Format
- When you’re dealing with an update in NCA form, the process is straightforward:
Launch Yuzu - Go to File → Install File to NAND
- Select the update NCA
- Yuzu will ask what kind of content you’re installing.
- Pick Game Update, then confirm and let it finish.
If Yuzu throws an error:
Check that your encryption keys are valid and up to date, make sure the update was dumped properly, and confirm that it actually matches the base game’s title ID.
Method 2: Installing Updates Already on NAND or SD Card
If the update already exists on your actual Switch, you don’t need to reinstall it manually. You can just copy it over. Move the full NAND dump into %YUZU_DIR%/nand/user, or copy the entire SD card to %YUZU_DIR%/sdmc.
Because this keeps the original layout intact, Yuzu usually picks it up immediately and shows the correct game version without any extra steps.
Method 3: Installing Updates in NSP Format (Recommended)
NSP updates are the easiest to install:
- Open File → Install File to NAND
- Select the update NSP, and confirm.
You won’t be asked to choose “Game Update,” and nothing is wrong if that option never appears. Yuzu reads the metadata inside the NSP and figures out on its own that it’s an update.
Adding or Modifying the Version Number of an Update (Advanced Users Only)
Yuzu stores update metadata internally. You can manually edit the displayed version number:
- Navigate to:
%YUZU_DIR%/nand/user/yuzu_meta - Find the file named:
Patch_<TitleID>.cnmt - Open it in a hex editor
- Locate offset 0x8
- Edit the next 4 bytes (Little Endian u32) to your desired version
- Save the file
To remove the custom version, set the value to 0.
Final Notes
Once an update is installed properly, Yuzu treats it the same way a real Switch would. Problems usually show up only when the update doesn’t match the game, the keys are outdated, or the base game has been altered. Stick to the steps above and the game should run with the latest fixes in place, without crashes or odd behavior.