How to Fix Citra MMJ No Sound or Black Screen Issues
One of the most frustrating issues in Citra MMJ is the black screen problem. Sometimes you can hear the game audio, but nothing appears on the screen, which usually means the emulator is unable to render the graphics properly. In other cases, the graphics load correctly, but there is no sound.
There can be several reasons for this issue. Incorrect graphics settings, an incompatible or corrupted ROM, missing system files, corrupted cache data, or emulator bugs can all cause black screen or no sound problems.
There are multiple troubleshooting methods to resolve these issues. To fix black screen or no sound problems in Citra MMJ, follow the troubleshooting steps below in the order they are listed.
- Try the simple fixes first.
- If that doesn’t work, check the graphics settings.
- If the problem still persists, verify the game files and system data.
Switch to Another App and Return to Citra MMJ
If your game launches with audio, but nothing appears on the screen, then before changing any settings, simply switch to another app for a few seconds from the recent apps menu and then return to the game. In many cases, the game will start displaying properly.
The reason is that sometimes the emulator does not load the game graphics correctly during startup. When you switch to another app and return to the emulator, it forces the emulator to refresh the screen, which restores the visuals.
Lower the CPU Clock Speed
If, while playing, your screen goes black but the game keeps running in the background and you can still hear the game sound, and switching to another app has not worked, then try lowering the CPU Clock Speed to fix the issue.
This fix has resolved the black screen issue for many games.
At first glance, the CPU Clock Speed does not seem related to graphics rendering. However, the emulation quality of any emulator depends on how effectively the different system components are synchronized. In many cases, the black screen issue is caused by emulation timing instability.
So, when we reduce the emulated CPU Clock Speed, it can improve compatibility. This is not a universal fix, but it mostly works when the game freezes during loading screens while you can still hear the game sound normally.
If your Citra MMJ version includes the CPU Clock Speed option, you can reduce it by opening the emulator settings. Lower the speed gradually, and test the game after each adjustment until the game starts running properly.
Switch Between Vulkan and OpenGL ES
If you launch a game and can hear the sound but the screen is black, then this issue is most likely related to the Graphics API. Different Android processors handle graphics settings differently. Citra MMJ supports both OpenGL ES and Vulkan. Depending on your device, one Graphics API may work better than the other.
On many Snapdragon devices, Vulkan generally performs better. However, on some older devices or certain MediaTek Dimensity chipsets, it can cause black screen issues.
So, if you are experiencing black screen issues on your Android device, you should try switching between these Graphics APIs.
- Open Citra MMJ, but do not start a game.
- Open the Settings menu by tapping the gear icon.
- Go to Graphics, then scroll down to the Graphics API option.
- If it is set to OpenGL ES, switch it to Vulkan (or vice versa).
- Force-close Citra MMJ completely, then reopen it and try your game again.
Clear Shader Cache
When we enable Hardware Shaders, Citra MMJ creates small shader cache files to remember the graphics shader data for a specific game. The benefit of these cache files is that the game loading time is reduced because the emulator doesn’t have to do the work again every time you open the game.
However, sometimes the cache files become corrupted or damaged and result in:
- Black screen
- Missing graphics
- Visual glitches
- The game not loading properly
After deleting the cache, when you load the game again, it will take a little longer on the first launch because the emulator has to recompile the shaders. However, this often fixes graphics-related issues.
Disable Hardware Shaders
With Hardware Shaders enabled, the phone’s GPU handles graphics effects more efficiently to run games better. In most cases, this improves performance. However, on some Android devices, especially older phones or devices with outdated drivers, shaders do not work as expected.
When Hardware Shaders do not work correctly, it is possible that the game runs in the background while the screen stays black. That is why some users can hear the game sound but do not see anything on the screen.
It is also mentioned in the release notes that some games have display problems because of Hardware Shaders. For example, while playing Shovel Knight, you may need to turn off Hardware Shaders to fix the graphics.
If you experience this issue, disable Hardware Shaders and check whether it fixes the problem. To do this:
- Go to Graphics settings in Citra MMJ and turn off Hardware Shaders.
- Then restart the game and check whether it displays properly.
Since the developer shared this fix, it is one of the most reliable solutions you can try to resolve black screen issues.
Aggressive Shader Compilation
If you start a game and the screen turns black but returns to normal after 10 to 30 seconds, it usually means the emulator is taking a bit longer than usual to compile shaders. This mostly happens the first time you launch a game or when you enter a new area.
During the shader compilation process, the emulator converts the game’s graphics into a format that your Android phone’s GPU can understand. This process usually takes a few seconds. The game keeps running in the background, but because this process takes a few seconds, the screen appears black for a short time. However, when it takes longer than usual, it looks like the emulator is stuck on a black screen.
How to Fix It
- Open Citra MMJ, go to Settings, and then Graphics.
- Enable Async Shader Compilation (also called Asynchronous Custom Shader Compiler).
- Turn on Use Disk Shader Cache.
With these settings, Citra MMJ will compile shaders in the background instead of pausing the entire game. A few textures or visual effects may appear a little later than usual, but the game will continue running instead of staying on a black screen.
Turn Off Separate Shader
Separate Shader is another graphics setting in Citra MMJ that can sometimes cause display problems. It is suggested to turn off this setting to fix some display issues.
With the Separate Shader setting enabled, you can enjoy different types of visual effects in your games. However, if this setting conflicts with your phone’s GPU driver or the shaders are not processed correctly, then it can cause visual glitches or, in worse cases, the whole screen can turn black.
Like the above Hardware Shaders fix, this fix is also shared by the developer, so it is worth trying if you are facing this black screen issue. For this:
- Simply go into the Citra MMJ Settings and turn off Separate Shader if you have already enabled it.
- After that, restart the game.
This may help fix black screen or graphics problems. If it is already turned off, then the issue could be caused by another reason.
Enable Accurate Multiplication
Accurate Multiplication is another graphics-related setting that can affect how games are rendered. In some Pokémon games, characters may appear white due to a rendering issue that can be resolved by turning on Accurate Multiplication.
Although this issue seems different from the black screen issue, both issues are related to graphics rendering. If none of the above fixes resolve the issue, then try this fix as well. It may solve the problem.
If your device is not powerful enough, then after turning on this option, performance may be reduced, but the graphics will be rendered more accurately.
Open Graphics Settings, enable Accurate Multiplication, and restart the game to see whether the issue has been resolved.
If the screen remains black, then turn this setting off again to restore your device’s performance.
Verify That Your ROM Is Decrypted
A surprising number of black screen issues are actually caused by incompatible game files rather than emulator settings.
Citra MMJ requires decrypted Nintendo 3DS ROMs. If a ROM is encrypted, incomplete, or corrupted, the emulator cannot load the game resources properly. This can result in startup crashes, endless loading screens, black screens, or missing audio.
If you are facing a black screen issue while playing only one game, and other games run fine, then the game file (ROM) is likely the main cause.
So, before spending hours changing graphics settings, try using another decrypted copy of the game and see whether this solves the issue.
How Do You Know If Your ROM Is Decrypted?
Many ROMs include it in the file name.
For example:
Pokemon Sun (Decrypted).3ds is a decrypted ROM.
Pokemon Sun (Encrypted).3ds is an encrypted ROM.
Moreover, you can also find out by checking the file size. A real 3DS game is usually 500 MB to 4 GB. If a game like Pokémon Sun is only 12 MB, the file is probably incomplete or corrupted.
How to Fix It If You Find Out That the ROM File Is Encrypted
The best way to get a decrypted ROM is to dump your own game cartridge using GodMode9. Depending on the dump method you use, the dumped file may be encrypted.
If the dumped ROM is encrypted:
- Open GodMode9 on your Nintendo 3DS.
- Navigate to and select the encrypted ROM file.
- Press the A button.
- Select NCSD image options.
- Choose Decrypt file.
- Wait for the decryption process to finish.
This will create a decrypted ROM that is ready to use with Citra MMJ and other Nintendo 3DS emulators.
Install the Required System Files
If replacing the ROM doesn’t solve the problem, then try this fix.
Some games require additional Nintendo 3DS system files that are not included with Citra MMJ. These files include:
- Shared Fonts – Used to display in-game text.
- Mii Data – Used in games that include Mii characters, such as Mario Kart 7, Super Smash Bros., and Tomodachi Life.
Without these required files, those games may get stuck on a black screen because they are waiting for files that the emulator cannot find.
So, if only one specific game keeps showing a black screen, then missing system files could be the cause. Installing the required system archives can help the game boot and run normally.
Citra MMJ normally doesn’t tell you exactly which files are missing, so instead of finding that one missing file name, it is better to install the complete set of required 3DS system archives and fonts, which you can find in the game’s documentation or compatibility resources.
You need to copy these system files from your own Nintendo 3DS console. This is only possible if your 3DS has custom firmware (CFW) installed. These files cannot be shared because they are copyrighted by Nintendo.
After copying them, place the sysdata folder inside the citra-emu folder on your Android phone. Once the files are in the correct location, games that require them will start loading normally instead of getting stuck on a black screen.
Wrapping Up!
There is no single fix for the Citra MMJ black screen issue. Start by switching to another app while the game is running, and after a few seconds, return to the game. This can solve a temporary display issue.
If only one specific game shows a black screen and you can still hear the sound, then check that you have all the required game files installed, and make sure that the ROM is decrypted, not encrypted.
You can also disable Hardware Shaders, clear the shader cache files, or disable the Separate Shader option. To resolve graphics-related issues, another general fix is to enable Accurate Multiplication or adjust the CPU Clock Speed to improve game stability.
