Tutorial: Installing Qwikrazor’s Firmware 3.52 Custom Bubbles without an exploitable PSP game!
While the last article was specific to the firmware 3.5x exploit games, this following one will be independent of your base game being exploitable or not.
To successfully use Qwikrazor’s easier Custom Bubbles we need a random PSP game as a base game & around 10-15 minutes of reading/watching comprehension.
Qwikrazor’s Custom Bubbles for Firmwares 3.5x
Qwikrazor has decided to release his own Custom Bubbles for the PS Vita firmwares 3.5x, which may be easier to install than the ones of Major_Tom & Mr.gas.
While Qwikrazor’s Bubbles have less possibilites in terms of customisation, they do have the advantage of simplicity. Qwikrazor’s Bubbles are very easy to install.
Before I start with the tutorial, let me tell you that your PS Vita must not run Firmware 3.55 (or above) to follow this. If it already runs 3.55+ then you can’t follow this!
Requirements & Restrictions
At first you have to know what you need to successfully follow this tutorial, right? right!
We need a Playstation Vita (Fat/Slim/TV) that is running a firmware between 3.00 and 3.52. If you are on a lower firmware (such as 3.18, 3.36 or even 3.50) then there is no need to update to 3.52.
I would even say that updating from a lower Firmware to 3.52 is a bad idea. Keep in mind that you need to run at least system software 3.00, though.
We also need to have an Email account, the QCMA PC programm, a random PSP game as a base game, WinRAR/WinZIP/7-Zip and preferable the Thunderbird PC programm.
Before you can follow this tutorial, be sure that you have properly set up your Email application to enable you to write to the system partition.
If you didn’t do that yet, check out parts of this Article on how to do it. You only need to successfully set up the writer.eml for your Email account. No “dumping” required.
I assume that your Email application is properly set up, that you’ve have properly installed QCMA, Thunderbird, a ZIP opening programm and everything else you might had to install, so let me continue.
Always have a backup handy!
Before we start with the real deal, I would like you guys to connect your PS Vita to your PC and create a backup of your random base game. Just copy your base PSP game from your PS Vita to your PC and that’s pretty much it.
On the PC you should check the directory of your PS Vita related files (for me it would be Documents/PS Vita/PGAME/Letters&Digits/), in which you will find your game backup. In my example I am going to use UNO™ PSP (EU), which has a TitleID of NPEG00020.
It is important that you know your base game’s TitleID, since we are going to need it at a later time in this tutorial.
One Email and we’re done
As the header already tells you, we only have to send ourselves one Email and we are pretty much done with the whole PC part. But what should this email contain?
At first we should download one of Qwikrazor’s ARK-2 Files (For firmware 3.50 – for firmwares 3.51/3.52). It does not matter which one we choose (it still has to fit the firmware, though). We could, for example, just use the Puzzle Scape files.
In this ZIP file we have a readme.txt and 2 folders. The first folder, ARK_01234, has to be copied to our other PS Vita savedata files (mine are located in Documents/PS Vita/PSAVEDATA/Letters&Digits/). The second folder contains a PBOOT.PBP file, which is the file we want to extract.
Now we should have this lone PBOOT.PBP file on our Computer and the ARK_01234 folder next to our other savedata files. Click on the QCMA icon in your tray (bottom right of your windows statusbar) and refresh the QCMA database.
Next we have to open Thunderbird. We open a new compose sheet and send ourselves an email. This email should contain no message at all, it should have the subject ux0:pspemu/PSP/GAME/*YourTitleID*/PBOOT.PBP (in my example it would be: ux0:pspemu/PSP/GAME/NPEG00020/PBOOT.PBP) & the email needs an attachment.
We choose our PBOOT.PBP as an attachment for the email and then, after the PBOOT.PBP file has been attached, we right-click the email’s attachment & rename the attachment from PBOOT.PBP to #0.
Everything done right? Subject is ux0:pspemu/PSP/GAME/*YourTitleID*/PBOOT.PBP and the attachment, our PBOOT.PBP file, is now called #0? Great!
Now send the email. – Some email providers will flag the just sent email as “suspected spam”, because it contains GAME in its subject.
This “suspected spam” detection might change the subject from ux0:pspemu/PSP/GAME/*YourTitleID*/PBOOT.PBP to *spam* ux0:pspemu/PSP/GAME/*YourTitleID*/PBOOT.PBP, which prevents us from installing the Custom Bubble!
Temporarily disable your email providers’ spam detected to get an email that has the proper subject: ux0:pspemu/PSP/GAME/*YourTitleID*/PBOOT.PBP.
Final steps – The Custom Bubble
If we have done everything right, we should now only have to use our PS Vita to get our own ARK-2 Custom Bubble.
Open the PS Vita’s Email application and search for your just sent email. Remember, as I said at the beginning, this only works if you have used the writer.eml trick before!
This said email should have an attachment called #0. This #0 attachment should have a photo icon, not a ?-icon! If it is not a photo icon then you’ve done something wrong.
If we click on this photo icon we should get an “Cannot display this image” error message. Any other error message is not what we want to happen.
It is important to say that if you get an error message you must not click on the OK button. Just use the PS-Button & close the email application after you got the desired error message.
Now disable your PS Vita’s Wifi & enable its Airplane mode. The next thing to do is to reboot the PS Vita.
After the PS Vita has turned off and on; we continue with the last step: Copying some files via the Content Manager.
Simply open the Content Manager and select “PS Vita -> Computer”, since we want to copy something from our Vita to our PC.
Now select PSP/other (Applications, at the top – Not savedata at the bottom!) and copy your base game from your PS Vita to your Computer. In my example I would copy my UNO game from my PS Vita to my PC.
If this was done successfully proceed with simply closing the Content Manager Application.
Now we re-open the Content Manager App and copy some files from our PC to our PS Vita. At first we go to our PSP savedata files and copy the ARK_01234 folder (called ARK or ARK-2) from our PC to our PS Vita.
Now we go back and select PSP/other (Applications, at the top) once again. We search for our base game (In my case the UNO game) and copy our base game from our PC to our PS Vita. We want to do this twice!
After we have copied the ARK savedata & dealt with the base game stuff we should now see an ARK-2 eCFW Custom Bubble on our PS Vita homescreen. On the position your base game was should now be the ARK-2 Bubble, assuming you’ve successfully followed this tutorial.
The man behind these Custom Bubbles
While the article from a few days ago was talking about Major_Tom’s & Mr.gas’ Custom Bubbles, todays 2 articles are talking about Qwikrazor’s Custom Bubbles.
Depending on your game – it being an exploit game or not – You may or may not have to use the EML writer trick of Major_Tom & Mr.gas to get a successful Qwikrazor Custom Bubble. I would like to thank Major_Tom & Mr.gas for their EML trick once again.
Nonetheless this articles Custom Bubble is Qwikrazor’s own creation and he decided to release it for you guys, as promised some weeks ago. This ARK-2 Custom Bubble will even work on firmware 3.55, but only if you have created a successful ARK-2 Custom Bubble prior to updating to firmware 3.55. It is still not recommended to install any of the 3.5x firmwares, though.
In the end I would like to thank Qwikrazor for his awesome Custom Bubble trick. Not only because it is so simple, but also because his ones are the easiest Custom Bubbles so far.
If you, like I do, want to show your appreciation to Qwikrazor, why not treat him to some cold drink, or even a hot meal? Just donate him a few bucks via Paypal, he really deserves it.

















hey there finally after 3 months there is a hack for 3.51 fw
but when i connect my vita to pc:
with cma when wifi is on: update your system
with cma on airplane : cannot connect to pc
with QCMA when wifi is on: update your system
with qcma on airplane : c3-14978-9 this son of a bi*ch error
my qcma vesion is 3.9
my cma version is 3.55
my windows version 10
pls help me
error c1-2737-9.
why it happening?
Is it still possible to get this to work without a base game, coz I dont own a single base game AT ALL!!!
Can anybody tellme with GBA emulator would work with this tutorial? I got ARK2 installed already but none of the GPSP emulator work, i have tried the ones for VHBL and some other torrent sites.
having EXACTLY the same problem. SNES9XTYL works on some/most games. Masterboy works on …. some games. gPSP any version doesn’t load anything ever. (Even with the proper gba_bios.bin)
Would love to get this working somehow if anyone has gotten it working or has any ideas.
PSVITA on Firmware3.50. Everything works great but when I click on ARK bubble I get the same error you get in your videotutorial with your PSVITA 3.3x. Any idea?? I’m using Lemmings as a Base Game.
They have a new software update that is 3.55 and I can’t do this exploit because i was too late to get them, should i just update anyway?
Hi guys. When I try to open the email created with the file writer.eml and sent from Thunderbird, the screen just get stuck on “Please wait…”, I dont even have the oportunity to click on the camera image (the attachment). Any suggestions? (I waited more than 6 hours).
I have a PSTV on fw 3.52
Thanks a lot
Working like a charm! Im on 3.51 and used Puzzle Scape exploit and Ape Escape Demo.
Everything working. Great, but… stupid question: how to put psp games to vita now?
go to psavedata folder, find a save folder that is not the one you used for the ark. this folder is named with letters and numbers right? then inside it, create folders where you will put isos, csos and homebrews aswell. then open qcma refresh ur database, open the contet manager in ur vita, and transfer the pc files u just modified and put it into ps vita. now just open ark buble find the game and start it.
Mmm… it’s mandatory that you put the games in another folder? i ask because i have my isos in the ark folder and nothing bad hapens until now
Thx. I found an other solution. You can put games to ark save folder, but the game name has to be written in large letters.
Hablas español? Oye bro dime como pusiste tus isos en la carpeta porque ya intente de muchas formas y siempre los borra, ya no se que hacer :/
Can i send you my ps vita to install these modules. Ill pay you handsomelly for the time
Por tu nombre sospecho que eres latino, que problema tienes? no creo que nadie pueda hacerte el trabajo (o quiera hacerlo… es una gran responsabilidad tener una vita ajena, ademas no sabes si te la devolveran cuando terminen) pero si tienes dudas contactame a traves del foro (mismo nick) y yo te ayudo paso por paso para realizar todo el proceso, no es dificil y en menos de 30 minutos tendras tu burbuja.
Setzer Gabianni
Can someone help me how to setup the thubder brid cause every time i’ve sent the message it failed and gave me an error
In the email part, say ‘done’ not ‘#0’ can’t open the image. Help me Please 🙁
Write.eml
Can someone help me setup thunder bird. Cause everytime i send the message it gave me an error
this is the error i got when i try to send it “An error occurred while sending mail. The mail server responded: 5.5.1 Authentication Required. Learn more at
5.5.1 https://support.google.com/mail/answer/14257 be3sm43276246pbc.88 – gsmtp. Please verify that your email address is correct in your account settings and try again."
Got it in the first try. Thanks Z, thank you so much for your work.
Do i need only the writer email trick or do i have to do the database, pbp, etc.. too?.
The problem with all these kind of hacks is that they need at least a PSP game already installed. I have a psvita mounting Fw 3.18 and I have games I can download from the PSN, but I cannot activate my psvita because it wants me to update. So, I cannot take advantage of any of these hacks since I don’t have a PSP game and I don’t want to update…
PS3 is the only way to get the game on outdated/your Vita, go buy/rent/find a PS3 that can connect to PSN, download your game to PS3 and transfer to your Vita using QCMA to skip the firmware update requirement..
How come I have no bubble at all? I followed instructions thoroughly
So I had this working just fine for about a week now. Then all of a sudden, I start up my vita and my ARK bubble was replaced with the game I used as a Base (Sonic Rivals 2). At first I though maybe the image had accidentally been changed back, but upon starting it, it launched the base game. Im reinstalling ARK now, but does anyone know what might have caused this?
Ok, this sounds great! I already have an ARK Bubble, but wouldnt it be possible to install TN-V with the E-Mail and Custom Bubble Trick, too? I would like to play all my PS1 games with sound! Does anybody have an Idea?
Someone plz help me!
1. Plz give me a screenshot of folder save and ark folder. ” Now we re-open the Content Manager App and copy some files from our PC to our PS Vita. At first we go to our PSP savedata files and copy the ARK_01234 folder (called ARK or ARK-2) from our PC to our PS Vita.” i cant understand this.
2. How to copy iso to vita after we done? give me a screenshot too plz.
3. How can i delete ark and take back my game? i want to do it again because i dont know why my ark keep saying error and cant open
Thanks!
how do I go isos for vita? managed to install the ARK bubble, I began to iso by qcma but do not appear in the menu of the ARK.
DEAR WOLOLO,
how do i maker a backup of psvita cartridge to then run with eml trick ?
what do i do if opening the writer active eml again returns in cannot open display image but
opening the newly made mail returns in a C error ?
what about more eml clarifications for 3.20 3.18 etc
when it works and when not is not nearly clear o0
and a qcma that autodetecst fw and is internally updatable to latest ?
thanks in advance
Hi,
In email app I got photo icon but instead of “#0” I have “done”.
FW 3.50
What’s the problem?
How to make this work on Vita TV? Since it does not have airplane mode and still needs Wifi to connect to content manager, so possible to do this?
Never mind, just tested this with TN V and it works. lol.
I use Piyotama by the way since it’s the free psp game I got and it’s very small size.
Do i need an installed psp game?
how many bubbles can create with a single base game?
I have tried this with World of Pool. Everything goes fine but after I copy across World of Pool for the second time the bubble doesn’t change? Any help? Thanks
Did you get this working with world of pool?
When I try to copy all file to computer, it tells me I have to update. Im in 3.52. Can someone tell me how to avoid the update message. I don’t have any pop game on the console
Since your vita has already “seen” the metadata for the update, unless you have “download system updates automatically” disabled, you’ll need to rebuild the database, and use the psvita update blocker.
its giving me error c1-2737-9
Thank you so much for this fantastic tutorial! I don’t consider myself a dummy, but many Vita hacks are poorly described and hard to follow in my opinion. This was VERY well done. Thanks!
@wololo can i used any other games, like ragnarok which also from PSN. And when i sent the attachment to my email and open it up, its not in the photo icon. COuld you help me please on these matters?
Is there a way i can download the package of the psp/vita game i purchase? It’s always go to my apps. folder in my vita. I don’t have a ps3
Dear Walolo. Can i used the PS vita games as based? I dont have any ps games.
can someone please tell me how to bring the ark/ tnv file onto my vita
Worked fine for me.
If I can input something helful, I say to follow to the instructions carefully double checking every step.
Use the reccommended programs if possible.
I have a PSVita with FW 3.51 and I have both TN-V and Ark bubbles.
Thanks to all the coders and the Z for this tutorial.
Hallo Zusammen, ich komme immer bis zu dem Punkt an dem ich die Mail versende. Auf der PSV wird immer (egal mit welchem Provider, über welchen Client auch immer!) ein “?” und kein Kamerasymbol angezeigt.
Ich habe wirklich schon alles ausprobiert! (habe OFW 3.52)
Working great on 3.50. As the bubble was created and it was working I decided to update to 3.55, according to your tutorial it should be working yet on 3.55 but it doesn’t. It says exploided failed. Any idea why it stop working?
whenever try to connect my vita to my PC via the content manager it tells me to update.
OFC 3.52
can anyone help?
You have to use QCMA.
-Uninstall content manager and download QMCA: https://codestation.github.io/qcma/
-Enable ‘Óffline Mode’ in QCMA’s settings.
-[Important]Turn off your Vita’s Wifi and restart the system
-Connect your Vita to PC.
Hope this helps.
i am finding it difficult to send the mail via thunderbird. it always say “sending of the message failed” please what should i do?
It works like a charm on my 3.52.
On my 3.18 (I used both the 3.50 en the 3.52 – files) it always says: ‘exploit failed’ ..
Are there seperate ARK2-files for 3.18? (or at least a seperate PBOOT.PBP ?)