Citra doesn't have built-in microphone support, so you'll need to use a workaround

Citra is a Nintendo 3DS emulator that runs most 3DS games on your computer, but it doesn't natively recognize microphone input the way a real 3DS does. If you're playing a game that requires voice commands or microphone features — like certain Pokémon games or voice-recognition titles — you have two main options: use a virtual audio cable to route your microphone through software, or use Citra's experimental audio input feature if you're running a recent development build.

The most reliable method involves creating a virtual audio device that Citra can read from. This requires free software like VB-Audio Virtual Cable (Windows) or BlackHole (Mac), which creates a fake microphone that applications can use. You'll route your real microphone into this virtual device, then tell Citra to listen to it.

Key Takeaways

  • Citra's standard releases don't support microphone input, but development builds have experimental audio input you can enable in settings.
  • If experimental audio input isn't available or doesn't work, you can use virtual audio cable software to create a fake microphone device that Citra recognizes.
  • On Windows, VB-Audio Virtual Cable is the most common choice; on Mac, use BlackHole or Loopback.
  • After installing virtual audio software, you'll need to route your real microphone into the virtual device using a mixer application, then select it in Citra's audio settings.

Check if your Citra build supports microphone input

First, find out which version of Citra you're running. Open Citra and go to Help > About. Look at the version number — if it says "Nightly" or includes a date like "2023-11-15", you're running a development build that may have experimental microphone support.

If you have a nightly build, open Emulation > Configure, then click the Audio tab on the left. Look for a checkbox labeled "Enable microphone input" or similar wording. If you see it and it's unchecked, enable it and restart the game. This is the simplest path if it works for your build.

If you don't see a microphone option in Audio settings, or if you're running the standard release version of Citra, you'll need to set up a virtual audio cable instead. The standard releases (numbered like 1.3.1) don't include microphone features at all.

Set up a virtual audio cable on Windows

Download and install VB-Audio Virtual Cable from vb-audio.com. The basic version is free. Run the installer and restart your computer when it finishes — Windows needs to reload its audio drivers.

After restart, right-click the speaker icon in your system tray and select Open Sound settings. Scroll down to Advanced and click Volume mixer. You should see "CABLE Input" listed as a device. This is your virtual microphone.

Now you need to route your real microphone into this virtual cable. Download and install VB-Audio Voicemeeter, also free from the same website. Open Voicemeeter and you'll see two columns: the left side is for inputs (your real microphone), the right side is for outputs (where the sound goes).

In the left column under "Hardware Input 1", click the dropdown and select your actual microphone. In the right column, make sure "CABLE Output" is selected. Speak into your microphone — you should see the level meters move. This means your voice is flowing into the virtual cable that Citra will use.

Set up a virtual audio cable on Mac

Mac users should download BlackHole from existential.audio, which is free and open-source. Download the version for your Mac (Intel or Apple Silicon), then run the installer and restart your computer.

After restart, open System Preferences > Sound > Input. You should see "BlackHole 16ch" in the list — this is your virtual microphone device.

To route your real microphone into BlackHole, download Loopback from rogueamoeba.com (this one costs money but has a free trial), or use the free alternative SoundFlower. Open your audio routing app, set your real microphone as the input, and set BlackHole as the output. Test by speaking — the app should show audio levels moving.

Configure Citra to use the virtual microphone

Open Citra and go to Emulation > Configure. Click the Audio tab. Look for a dropdown menu that says "Microphone" or "Input Device" — the exact label varies by Citra version.

Click the dropdown and select your virtual audio device. On Windows, this will be "CABLE Input" or "VB-Audio Virtual Cable". On Mac, it will be "BlackHole 16ch". If you don't see it in the list, close Citra completely, make sure your virtual audio software is running, then reopen Citra and check again.

Click OK to save the setting. Load your game and test the microphone feature. Speak into your real microphone — the game should hear it through the virtual cable.

Troubleshoot if the microphone still isn't working

If the game doesn't respond to your voice, first check that your real microphone is actually working. Open your operating system's sound settings and speak into your microphone — the input level meter should move. If it doesn't, your microphone isn't being detected by your computer.

If your microphone works in system settings but not in Citra, make sure the virtual audio software is still running. Voicemeeter on Windows and Loopback on Mac both need to stay open in the background. If you closed them, reopen them and check that your real microphone is routed to the virtual output.

Some games require you to hold a button or press a menu option to activate microphone listening. Check the game's manual or in-game help to see if there's a voice input mode you need to turn on first. The emulator can only pass audio through — the game itself controls when it listens.

If you're using an older version of Citra and the microphone option doesn't appear in Audio settings, consider updating to a nightly build. Visit citra-emu.org and download the latest nightly release for your operating system. Nightly builds are updated frequently and are generally stable for everyday use.

When to use each method

Use Citra's built-in microphone support (if available in your version) first — it's the simplest option and requires no extra software. Just enable it in Audio settings and test.

If that option doesn't exist or doesn't work, use a virtual audio cable. This method is more complex but works reliably across different games and Citra versions. It's worth the setup time if you plan to play multiple games that use voice input.

If you only need microphone support occasionally, you could also try updating to the latest nightly build of Citra before setting up virtual audio. Nightly builds add features regularly, and microphone support may already be included.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a special microphone for Citra?

No. Any microphone that works on your computer will work with Citra once you set up the virtual audio cable. Built-in laptop microphones, USB headsets, and external microphones all work the same way.

Will this method work for all 3DS games that use voice input?

Most games will work, but some may have issues if they expect very specific microphone behavior from a real 3DS. The vast majority of voice-input games function normally through a virtual audio cable. If a particular game doesn't respond, try enabling Citra's experimental microphone feature instead if you're on a nightly build.

Can I use this setup with other emulators or applications?

Yes. Once you set up a virtual audio cable, any application can use it as a microphone input. This is useful if you want to use the same virtual microphone for Discord, streaming software, or other emulators.

Is VB-Audio Virtual Cable safe to install?

Yes. VB-Audio is a legitimate, widely-used audio software company. Download only from their official website (vb-audio.com) to avoid fake versions.

What if I don't want to keep the virtual audio cable running all the time?

You don't have to. Close Voicemeeter, Loopback, or your audio routing software when you're done using Citra. The virtual audio device stays installed, but it won't process audio until you open the routing software again.