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this is important
go here / do this
name of a program
hover for explanation
authors note
link to external source

Click on my Vita for the index!

Lolo's

for tech-bimbo's and beginner hackers

<-- part 0 - Part 1 - part 2 -->

- installing custom firmware -

Ingredients for one (1) serving of Hacked PS Vita:

  • A PS Vita
  • A PS Vita power cable
  • An SD2Vita V5(!!!) MicroSD adapter
  • A MicroSD card of your preferred size
  • A PS Vita memory card*

*This is required since it's impossible to download any custom software without a place to put that software on. And for 2000 users, the 1GB of internal storage is not enough room, sadly.

Important precautionary measures a.k.a making sure our Vita doesn't DIE on us <3

When you're hacking, any type of interruption can cause issues.
To avoid this at all costs, make sure to:

  1. Load your Vita up on juice fully before starting and keep the power cable connected at all times.
  2. Make sure your Vita is connected to a stable WiFi network, since we'll be downloading and installing stuff from the internet.
  3. Change the timer for standby mode by going into settings, scrolling all the way down to power save settings and setting the enter standby mode automatically to after 30 minutes.
  4. Make sure your memory card is inserted.

NOT FOLLOWING THESE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES MAY CAUSE YOUR DEVICE TO GET BRICKED IN CASE OF AN INTERRUPTION <33 SO DO THEM

Step 1: making sure we're on the right firmware version

Before you can start hacking, check which system software (aka firmware) version you are on by going into settings, scrolling down and selecting system, then select system information. Note the system software version number.

We want to be on system software version 3.74. Is your Vita already running on 3.74? Great! You can skip this next part and go directly to Step 2.

If your Vita is running on an older system software version you will need to update it. In settings, select system update, then update using Wi-Fi. The screen will say:

A new version of the system software is available.
Version 3.74

Note: Version 3.74 was released on 05/10/22 and is as of writing this the latest system software update that was released. A future update is unlikely, but if the screen says any other number than 3.74, do not follow this tutorial, it will be outdated. Check the internet for newer tutorials.

Click next, accept all of the prompts, and update your Vita. Once your Vita is done rebooting, go into settings and check the system information once more. Your system software version should now be on 3.74.

Congrats! Your Vita is up to date. Now starts the scary shit. Don't worry, I'll walk you through it step by step.

Step 2: Downloading custom firmware

We're going to be installing a piece of software called HENkaku. What is HENkaku? HENkaku is custom firmware.

Since we are now leaving the safe and comfortable world of Sony approved software behind, here's an important reminder:

Hacking anything involves using custom software developed by third parties. These programs were not tested and approved by Lord Sony, meaning there is always the possibility for error and recovery might not be easy, if possible at all. ALWAYS proceed with caution when engaging in hacking activities, since the well-being of your precious Vita is in your own hands.

With that out of the way, let's install some cunty firmware.

From the Live-Area, open the browser app and type the following address into your address bar:

https://jailbreak.psp2.dev

You will be taken to a friendly welcome message. This is HENlo, the exploit chain that will enable us to download HENkaku and VitaDeploy.

VitaDeploy is a “toolbox” for hacking your Vita, it is gonna act as the main hub from where you can do a bunch of hacker stuff.

Proceed by selecting unlock my Vita then select unlock.

Some cool stuff will happen. Your Vita will automatically exit the browser and enter a custom menu. This is the HENlo bootstrap menu.

Using the arrow buttons, navigate to the option called install henkaku and press to confirm.

Next, navigate to the install VitaDeploy option and press to confirm again.

Wait until the words “all done” appear in green, then select the exit option to exit out of the bootstrap menu. This will bring you back to the Live-Area.

From here, go to your settings and you will notice there's now a new section available called HENkaku settings. Open it.

For now, the only thing you need to do in here is make sure the option "enable unsafe homebrew" is checked.

Exit HENkaku settings and scroll down to system to once more check your system software version. This time, it should say 3.74 変革-2. Those kanji just mean "henkaku" :-)

Note: Apparently "henkaku" is Japanese for "transformation", or more accurately: "a radical change or renewal". Nifty!

Step 3: Downgrading back to 3.65 and installing Ensō

Everything you've done up until this point is temporary, meaning if you reboot your system now, every change you've made will be reset. So let's make sure to install some permanent custom firmware so that that doesn't happen.

Return to the Live-Area and scroll down to find a brand new app called VitaDeploy.

When opening the app, make sure you don't accidentally select the “install 変革” option. We already installed 変革, we don't need to install 変革 again.

Select the option Install a different OS, then select Quick 3.65 install. This will bring you to another one of those scary looking black hacker screens.

It will tell you that it's “downloading the updater”, so wait until the green bar at the bottom of the screen fills up and you are brought to a new screen.

You are now in Modoru, a firmware downgrader. Guess what it does. Ding ding ding! It downgrades your firmware version.

Notice that underneath “Target firmware: 3.65” it will say “install enso: yes”. That's what we want!

HENkaku Ensō is the permanent version of the HENkaku custom firmware. Once you install this, your Vita is permanently hacked, meaning you won't have to apply HENkaku after each reboot.

It will ask: "Do you want to downgrade from firmware 3.74 to firmware 3.65?” Press to confirm.

Modoru will flash a warning at you, it's good to read it but don't let it scare you too much. After 20 seconds, press to accept the terms of service and the downgrade and subsequent installation will commence.

It will bring you to the System Update setting and tell you to “please wait”. Don't freak out, this takes a while. It will install the system software as normal and reboot once finished.

Once more, go to settings, select system and check your system information. It should now say “system software 3.65 変革-2”.

CONGRATULATIONS!! You are now on permanent custom firmware which means you have successfully hacked your PS Vita!

Step 4: Disabling auto-update and spoofing

There's one more step to finish up this process and make sure we won't run into issues later.

While you're in system settings, select Auto-Start Settings and ensure the check box next to “Download Update File for System Software” is unchecked. In the unlikely event Sony puts out a new firmware update sometime in the future, we don't want our Vita automatically updating to this newer version, that can mess a bunch of things up.

Now, you want to go into HENkaku settings and select spoofed version.

Whatever firmware version number you type in here is the firmware version that your Vita will present to be running on whenever you're connecting to any online services. Go ahead and change that 3.73 into 3.74.

Note: In order to access PSN, your Vita should present to be running on the newest firmware version. In the unlikely scenario Sony releases a new firmware update in the future, change the spoofed version into whatever the newest version number is to access PSN.

And there you go! You may now officially call yourself a hacker. But you're not done yet!