For legal reasons, emulators do not include these keys. Users are expected to dump them from their own physical 3DS hardware using tools like . General Setup Steps:
The existence and widespread distribution of 3ds aes-keys.txt reveal structural weaknesses in the 3DS’s reliance on fixed, unchangeable AES keys. While enabling valuable research and preservation, it also facilitates unintended uses. Future console designs must decouple security from hidden keys and adopt robust, revocable key hierarchies. 3ds aes-keys.txt
The strongest legal and ethical defense for using aes_keys.txt is the argument. This principle suggests that a user who legally owns a physical copy of a game has the right to format-shift that game to a different medium for their own personal use. For legal reasons, emulators do not include these keys