Running Nintendo Switch games on PC through the Yuzu can be a great experience, but things don’t always go smoothly. Crashes, pop-ups, and strange error messages are part of the deal. Knowing what those error codes actually mean saves a lot of time and frustration. This guide explains the most common Yuzu errors in plain language and points you toward practical fixes, whether the problem is missing keys, broken game files, or something happening behind the scenes.
What is an Error Code?
An error code is basically a short label the software uses to say something went wrong. It might be a number, a mix of letters and numbers, or both. In Yuzu’s case, these codes exist so you’re not left guessing. They narrow down what failed and why. When you share the exact code, it becomes much easier to track the problem and figure out a fix.
Instead of trying random solutions, the code tells you where to look. It’s the difference between guessing in the dark and knowing exactly what’s blocking the game from running.
Key Error Codes
Key-related errors usually show up when Yuzu can’t find the files it needs to unlock and start a game, or when those files don’t match what the game expects. If something is missing, outdated, or placed in the wrong spot, Yuzu will throw a key error. Below are the ones people run into most often:
| Error Code | Short Name | What’s Happening | How to Resolve |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0008-000C | Missing Production Key | Yuzu can’t find the main production key file | Place updated prod.keys in the correct keys folder |
| 0008-000D | Missing Header Key | Required header key is not available | Re-dump keys and restart Yuzu |
| 0008-000E | Invalid Header Key | Header key does not match expected format | Replace incorrect key with a valid one |
| 0008-0011 | Missing Title Key | Game-specific title key is absent | Regenerate title keys from console |
| 0008-0012 | Missing Title KEK | Title KEK required for decryption is missing | Update full key set |
| 0008-0014 | Missing KeyAreaKey | Core decryption key is unavailable | Use complete, updated keys |
| 0008-0015 | Incorrect Header Key | Header key is present but invalid | Replace header key |
| 0008-0016 | TitleKey / TitleKEK Missing | One or both title-related keys are absent | Re-add all required keys |
| 0008-0018 | NCA Not Found | Game content file cannot be located | Verify game dump and folder path |
Common Error Codes
These are the kinds of errors that tend to pop up during regular use, even when everything seems set up correctly. You’ll likely run into them at some point just from playing games normally.
| Error Code | Internal Name | Meaning | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0008-001C | ErrorNullFile | File is empty, corrupted, or invalid | Obtain a clean game dump |
| 0008-001D | ErrorMissingNPDM | main.npdm file is missing | Re-dump the game |
| 0008-001E | Error32BitISA | Game architecture not supported | Game cannot run on Yuzu |
| 0008-0029 | ErrorNAXInconvertibleToNCA | Unsupported format conversion | Verify correct game format |
| 0008-002A | ErrorBadNAXFilePath | Save file loaded as game | Load base game file only |
| 0008-0039 | ErrorMissingBKTRBaseRomFS | Update installed incorrectly | Install updates via File → Install |
General Error Codes
You don’t see these very often. When they show up, it’s usually because something in the emulator was changed, tweaked, or set up incorrectly.
| Error Code | Meaning | Why It Appears | Solution |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0008-000F | ErrorNCA2 | Invalid NCA format | Unsupported or corrupt file |
| 0008-0010 | ErrorNCA0 | Same as above | Replace invalid NCA |
Corruption Error Codes
Most of the time, these errors trace back to a faulty or unfinished dump. The game files themselves aren’t quite right. Doing a fresh dump from the source usually clears things up without much extra effort.
| Error Code | Error Name | Cause | Recommended Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0008-0004 | ErrorBadNPDMHeader | Corrupted NPDM header | Re-dump game |
| 0008-0005 | ErrorBadACIDHeader | ACID header damaged | Replace files |
| 0008-0006 | ErrorBadACIHeader | Invalid ACI header | Re-dump |
| 0008-0007 | ErrorBadFileAccessControl | Permission issue | Check folder permissions |
| 0008-0009 | ErrorBadPFSHeader | Broken PFS header | Clean game dump |
| 0008-0013 | ErrorInvalidRightsID | Rights ID mismatch | Replace Rights ID |
| 0008-001A | ErrorBadXCIHeader | Invalid XCI structure | Re-dump XCI |
| 0008-001F | ErrorNoRomFS | Missing ROM filesystem | Re-dump game |
| 0008-0020 | ErrorIncorrectELFFileSize | Wrong ELF file size | Replace corrupted file |
| 0008-0031 | ErrorNSPMissingProgramNCA | NSP missing program data | Obtain complete NSP |
Less Common Key Errors
Sometimes Yuzu will flag missing or incorrectly generated keys:
| Error Code | Meaning | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| 0008-002B | SDSeed is missing | Re-dump SD keys correctly |
| 0008-002C | SDKEKSource not found | Update key derivation files |
| 0008-002D | AES KEK generation source missing | Use correct key generation method |
| 0008-002E | AES key generation source missing | Add valid AES sources |
| 0008-002F | SDSaveKeySource missing | Re-dump save-related keys |
| 0008-0030 | SD NCA Key Source missing | Update SD-related keys |
Internal Error Codes
These are mostly for development purposes and rarely affect normal users:
| Error Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 0008-0000 | Operation completed successfully |
| 0008-0001 | File already loaded |
| 0008-0002 | Feature not implemented |
| 0008-0003 | System not initialized |
| 0008-0026 | NAX Key HMAC verification failed |
| 0008-0027 | NAX Validation HMAC failed |
| 0008-0028 | NAX Key derivation failed |
| 0008-0033 | BKTR subsection relocation error |
| 0008-0034 | BKTR subsection position error |
| 0008-0035 | Corrupt relocation block |
| 0008-0036 | Invalid subsection block |
| 0008-0037 | Relocation bucket error |
| 0008-0038 | Subsection bucket error |
Tips for Troubleshooting Yuzu Errors
- Start with the keys. A lot of problems come from missing or mismatched ones, so double-check that they’re in the right folder and actually being picked up by Yuzu.
- If a game keeps failing, the dump itself might be the issue. Bad or incomplete dumps are common, and grabbing a fresh copy often fixes things right away.
- It’s also worth confirming you’re loading the correct file. Save data or update files can’t be launched like games, and mixing them up leads to errors.
- Running an outdated version of Yuzu can cause its own set of problems. Stick to a recent stable build to avoid bugs that have already been fixed.
- Lastly, look at file permissions. If Yuzu doesn’t have proper access to your game folders, it can fail without much explanation.