How to Add Cheat Codes to Ryujinx: A Complete Guide
Ryujinx is an open-source Nintendo Switch emulator that supports a built-in cheat system, letting you apply game modifications like infinite lives, unlocked items, or speed adjustments directly through the emulator. Getting cheats working correctly involves a few specific steps — and some variables that can affect whether they show up or activate at all.
What Ryujinx's Cheat System Actually Does
Ryujinx supports cheat codes in the IPS and PCHTXT formats, which are the same patch formats used in other Switch modding tools like Atmosphere. These are memory-editing patches that the emulator applies at runtime, intercepting specific memory addresses to alter game behavior.
Unlike older emulators where you might enter a code directly into a menu, Ryujinx uses file-based cheats — meaning you place text files in a specific folder structure, and the emulator reads them when the game launches.
This system is powerful but requires some precision. File names, folder placement, and code compatibility all have to align with your specific game version.
Step-by-Step: Adding Cheat Codes to Ryujinx
1. Find Your Game's Title ID and Build ID
Every Switch game has a Title ID — a unique 16-character hexadecimal string that identifies the game. Ryujinx displays this in its game list. Right-click your game and look for options like "Copy Title ID" or check the game's properties panel.
You'll also need the Build ID, which identifies the specific version of the game. Cheats are often version-specific, so using a code written for v1.0 on a v1.3 installation may cause crashes or have no effect. You can find the Build ID through Ryujinx's game properties or log output.
2. Locate the Correct Cheats Folder
Ryujinx stores cheat files in a structured directory path. On most systems, the base path follows this pattern:
%APPDATA%Ryujinxmodscontents[TitleID]cheats On Linux or macOS, the equivalent path sits inside the Ryujinx config folder (typically ~/.config/Ryujinx/). The folder structure must match exactly — Ryujinx won't scan other locations.
If the cheats folder doesn't exist yet, you'll need to create it manually.
3. Get the Cheat File
Cheat files for Ryujinx use the .txt extension and contain PCHTXT-format patches. The most reliable sources for these are:
- GitHub repositories dedicated to Switch cheats (search for your game title alongside "Ryujinx cheats" or "PCHTXT")
- GBAtemp.net forums, where communities maintain cheat databases for popular Switch titles
- Cheat databases bundled with tools like EdiZon or Switch cheat aggregator projects
When you download a cheat file, verify it's labeled for your game version. The file itself often contains a header comment noting which Build ID it targets.
4. Name and Place the File Correctly
The cheat .txt file must be placed inside:
cheats[BuildID].txt The filename must be the Build ID of your specific game version — not the Title ID. This is one of the most common points of failure. If the filename doesn't match the Build ID Ryujinx detects, the cheats won't load.
5. Enable Cheats in Ryujinx
Once the file is in place:
- Launch Ryujinx
- Right-click the game in your library
- Select "Manage Cheats" (available in recent Ryujinx builds)
- A window will appear listing all detected cheats from your file
- Check the boxes next to the cheats you want active
- Launch the game
🎮 Cheats are toggled per-session. They don't save between launches unless you leave them checked in the Manage Cheats panel before starting.
Variables That Affect Whether Cheats Work
| Variable | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Game version | Cheats are version-locked. Mismatched Build IDs = no effect or crash |
| Ryujinx build version | Older Ryujinx builds may lack the Manage Cheats UI or handle PCHTXT differently |
| Cheat source quality | Community-written cheats vary in accuracy and testing rigor |
| DLC or updates installed | Some updates change memory addresses, breaking cheats written for earlier versions |
| OS / file system | Case sensitivity on Linux means folder names must match exactly |
Understanding the Format: PCHTXT vs IPS
Ryujinx primarily uses PCHTXT (Patch Text) format. This format uses human-readable syntax to describe memory patches — it's easier to read and verify than binary IPS patches. Some older cheat files circulating online use the raw IPS format, which Ryujinx may handle differently depending on the build.
If a cheat file isn't loading, the format may be the issue. PCHTXT files typically start with a @nsobid header line identifying the Build ID they target — you can open the file in any text editor to check.
When Cheats Don't Show Up
If the Manage Cheats panel is empty or the game launches without cheats:
- Double-check the folder path — one wrong subfolder breaks detection
- Verify the filename matches your game's Build ID exactly
- Confirm the cheat file format is PCHTXT and structured correctly
- Check Ryujinx logs (View > Open Logs Folder) for any error messages related to mod or cheat loading
🔍 The Ryujinx log is the fastest diagnostic tool — it will usually report if a cheat file was found but failed to parse, or if the directory wasn't read at all.
How Different Setups Experience This Differently
A user running the latest Ryujinx nightly build on Windows with a freshly updated game will have a different experience than someone running a stable release on Linux with an older game dump. The nightly builds often include fixes to cheat parsing, while stable releases may lag behind on certain format support.
Users with multiple game versions installed — or who update games frequently — will need to source new cheat files more often, since each update potentially changes the Build ID. Players keeping games at a fixed version specifically to maintain working cheats is a common approach in the emulation community.
Whether that tradeoff makes sense — staying on an older game version versus having access to patches and content updates — depends entirely on how you're using the emulator and which games you're modding.