Tutorial: Installing a VHBL Custom Bubble via HENkaku on Firmware 3.60!
While this is going to be redundant in the coming weeks, I would still like to show you how to install a good old VHBL Custom Bubble on your Playstation Vita running system software 3.60.
You only need the new PS Vita HEN (HENkaku) and a(ny) PSP game for this. A computer is required as well.
A few months ago we have shown you how to install Custom Bubbles on your Playstation Vita. Some of these bubbles were created with Major_Tom’s and mr.gas’ method, while some other bubbles were created with Qwikrazor87’s method.
While the most recent firmware patched the EML hack and the PSPemulator kernel mode exploits, it did not patch being able to run the VHBL on the PS Vita. This is still possible via undisclosed exploit games or simply via a Qwikrazor VHBL Custom Bubble.
HENkaku allows us to access the PS Vita’s memory card directly, which means that we can substitute the EML hack with HENkaku to set up a usermode Custom Bubble, such as the VHBL or PSPFiler.
I have created a tutorial in the past, which utilized the EML hack to let you install an ARK Custom Bubble. We can pretty much reuse this tutorial to install a VHBL Custom Bubble on our PS Vita.
The only difference will be that we do not use the EML hack to place a specific file onto our PS Vita, but HENkaku + FTP.
The required files for the VHBL Custom Bubble are available over here.
Either watch the video, or simply take a look at this short summary of things you have to do to get a VHBL Custom Bubble on your PS Vita (for advanced users!).
We need a random PSP game and use CMA to copy it onto our PC. Next we create a local copy of that PSP game just in case we mess up.
Next we run HENkaku on our PS Vita and start the FTP connection. Back on the PC we use FTP to connect to the Vita & copy the PBOOT.PBP file into the specific directory of our random PSP game (for example: /ux0:/pspemu/PSP/GAME/NPEH00020/).
Then we copy our random PSP game from our PS Vita to our PC. Next we copy our random PSP game from our PC to our PS Vita (we do this twice!).
The last step is to copy the VHBL savedata file from the PC to our PS Vita. This is it, the VHBL Bubble should be fully working.
Like I said, this is only a very short summary for people that know what they have to do.
If you do not know what you have to do, check out the video or take a look at the old tutorial that I’ve written a few months ago (substitute the obsolete EML/Email part with the HENkaku FTP transfer part).
It should be pretty easy to set up this Bubble, if you know what you are doing.
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.







Can this be used to set up ark or other custom bubbles?
Technically yes, but ARK will not work without a kernel exploit, nor will TN-V.
Gotcha, makes sense…what about psp iso’s?
Wont work either, because PSP ISOs (and PS1 games) will require kernel mode access as well.
so why i can open ark correctly?
Nice, but like you said if we’re patient we’ll get a much better alternative in the coming weeks? Thanks for this though.
Can we install “the flow” psone loader bubbles? or we need kexploit for this?
PSP & PS1 game playback requires a PSPemulator kernel mode exploit.
So I suppose it can’t be done. Thank you for the response! Can I stick to 3.36 and update to 3.60 later? Even if Sony release a newer firmware?
No, you’d have to update it now if anything, you won’t be able to pick and choose what firmware you update to.
Uh no…you can manually update to 3.60 at any time by downloading the firmware from a PC.
If i install a custom bubble with sne9x, i dont need to activate HENkaku after a restart of my psv anymore right?
You do
If I have PS Vita FW 3.30 then I must wait for this Hen (wait for support) ? Or if I update my PS Vita to 3.60 then I have eCFW back to work in 3.60 ? NUMBLAST is my exploit game and I have big troubles with rejuvenate (very rare working). I wish PSP isos and homebrew with Hen in my PS Vita but how?
ARK/TN-V will run PSP isos, up to 3.57 FW
Well… One question. HENkaku can make a PSP emu? But not load backups, like a eCFW?
Will this substitute pkg installer? Can we install pkg files this. This can access ux0 right?
I could install the vhbl bubble without trouble, but when I’m launching my homebrew (gpsp kai v3.4) via the vhbl folder like I would do on PSP, it returns to vita’s menu. Any tip about this Z ?
Try a different version of gpsp kai, not all of them are VHBL compatible.
Worked, thanks for your answer.
I have QCMA installed and it doesn’t work after updating to 3.60, should I uninstall it? (and how should I go about doing that?)
NVM, it was just USB mode that wasn’t working, Wifi mode is fine.
Your random psp game is UNO 😉 Very nice in the 2.02 days 😀
how do you install homebrews into the app? sorry, this is my first time using VHLB on the vita 🙁
Open Henkaku, enter to /ux0 directory, createa folder there for your apps, press select to enter FTP and transfer VPKs packets to that folder via FileZilla or another FTP clients in your PC, close the FTP in Henkaku and navigate to your homebrew folder, install your VPKs, each of them will appear in your screen as a custom Bubble.
If you need additional files for your homebrew like roms or wads transfer them via FTP to the corresponding folder in /ux0
If it has no kernel access to play psx and psp iso its like an ordinary vhbl. which is useless.
Not at all. Just a matter of time until someone makes one.
Has vhbl already installed it before? I have never install vhbl before. I am only Henkaku user. Does it work on me?
Is there any way to get pass the ftp connection process to upload the vhbl files on the vita, having trouble with a uni proxy to connect to the vita -_-‘
Where is ms0:/PSP/VHBL located in PS Vita?
/ux0:/pspemu/PSP/VHBL
wait so what does vhbl actually do ?
With VHBL you can run PSP homebrews
since this is a native exploit, does anything think there will possibly be a way to custom bubbles without the use of PSP game cloning.
just be i guess signed through the liveshell
i know there has been a lot of info dumped from the vita so maybe we could get native bubbles for our homebrew in the future
hmm
can this be done without cma ftp only ?
do i use apache for removing eboot and adding pboot
or i only add pboot and save in savesdir ?
You dont remove the EBOOT.
You have to keep both, EBOOT & PBOOT.
Instead of CMA you can “rebuild database” via the PS Vita’s recovery menu.
do i reconstruct database and re- henkaku ?
Only reconstruct data base, Once you have VHBL installed, there is no need to use Henkaku to make it work
what does this actually do…? I’m not understand this, it sounds like this is to boot PSP games directly on the desktop but PSP ISO’s don’t work…so what does?
It’s VHBL, it is used to load HOMEBREWS —> apps made by people (not companies), get some emulators running (n64, nes, etc).. To get a psp game running you would need a kernel exploit… We don’t have one yet
ok i installed vhbl and im trying to run ddr that i have from old psp days but i tried just ftp over and it didnt work so i zip it into INSTALL.ZIP and it didnt work so im not sure what to do i know i can add more songs once it installs but al but i cant get it to work and this is all i want to do
PSP and PS1 games supposedly don’t work with this
its homebrew i know it should be able to run it i got the anime style v4 i can link it but it should run it its the style where it has 2 folder the same just on has % but when you click ethier folder it freezes
Someone can load a rom in gPSP (gba emulator), because i tried 2 gpsp eboot and it freeze vhbl when i try to load a rom. But no problem with picodrive
Is it possible now to use cwcheats on vita games?
Thanks for this usefull tutorial Z.
Great thing about the VHBL bubble is, that it still works after rebbot, without having to reinstall HENKAKU
somebody got a usefull whitelist thats not lower as what i allready had ? from 7.500 to 50 and still no reistance burning skies psvitatv
Ill stay with 3.52… until something new (maybe PSP iso support)
I’m with you on that one only I’m at 3.51 lol
Should I upgrade my vita from 3.53 to do this? Or there is a better option in this fw?
I updated from 3.51. Really easy to do and now have VHBL working too. Just a matter of time until PSP kernel exploit is done for it. I have 3 PSPs on CFW already so no big deal to wait.
Having native vita homebrew is great, so I recommend people to update to 3.60
I have been waiting this for years now, finally i can rock some SNES games on my vita, i missed every exploit since my vita has been collecting dust for so long. Awesome and yes definitely gonna donate.
after install vhbl , can you open ps store? pls ans me.
the question is : how do you have AR-k on 3.60??!!! :///
I created (★Package Installer) icon bubble, but don´t start!
Bro I am sorry if its too basic, but how do you setup that ftp thing to see all those vita folers on pc?
Any hope of doing anything with HENkaku that doesn’t require the ftp connection ?
why i cant see vhbl save file from my vita to copy it?
I am sure it is in my pssavedata folder!!!
I stucked on this last step
I’m in the same position. Can someone please help?
are you using qcma thats what went wrong with me and you have to refresh database
I got no PSP games, so i have to buy a random one?
Use Ape quest demo on EU or LocoRoco Midnight Carnival demo on US psn stores.
thanks for the tip
Well i tried this with a PSP Minis game that i got for 1.99, so i think it works with any psp game. or thats what is said in the video.
hola ise todo al pie de y letra pero al momento de cargar me dice (error couldn”t find any homebrew in ms0: / PSP / VHBL) revise y todo esta como lo dice el tuto pero nada.
I did the installation, but it doesn’t show the vhbl bubble (only the tittle but it still shows my psp game image (pool hall pro)) and when i click to start it, it closes back.