[Tutorial] PS3 CFW to Vita Game Download Guide!

[Dr Eggman]

Hello Everyone, after spending a day trying to figure out how to get my PS+ games onto my Vita without updating it, and jumping through many many hoops, I wanted to share the information hoping that it's useful to at least one person. Save them some time

What You Need:

• PS3 with 4.50 or higher (tested with Rebug 4.65.2) CFW
• PS Vita on 3.18 or Lower
• Internet Connection
• Mobile Device / PC / Some way to access PS Store
• PC / Mac to run QCMA

I cannot be held responsible for your PS3 getting banned - nothing is foolproof, so do so at your own risk. You run this risk by running CFW. It's your choice, not mine.

This guide will be basically 2 in 1 - how to get the game onto the PS3 and then onto the Vita. It walks through getting online, getting the game, then putting that onto the vita. If you're already comfortable and know how to get online, you can skip to Step 1.4.

Why is this all necessary? The reason is that the Playstation Store isn't accessible, even if you can go online, on most CFW's. This guide presents the necessary workaround.

This guide is up to date as of: January 16, 2014

Part 0 - Account

Step 0.1: Ensure your game is purchased. You can do this via the Playstation App (my preferred way of shopping) or via the Playstation Store on your computer. Make sure it shows up in your account as purchased. I won't go through how to purchase games here. You should be able to figure this one out.

Part 1 - PS3

Step 1.0: Ensure your PS3 is on a compatible 4.xx CFW (Anything over 4.50 should work fine). If not, update to your desired CFW. I will be using REBUG 4.65.2 for this guide.

Step 1.1: Download and install Evilnat's SEN Enabler onto your PS3. (the newest version is 5.7.3 at the time of writing). I am unsure of whether I can link to anywhere hosting this package, so please google "SEN Enabler 5.7.3" and download the PKG. Install via your preferred method (either place it on the root of your USB or FTP it into /dev_hdd0/packages for REBUG) and install from XMB.

Step 1.2: Run SEN Enabler. At the main menu, press SQUARE. It should enable SEN access. The PS3 will then need to restart, press X to do so. Do not run any homebrew (except for SEN Enabler) after this point!

Step 1.3: After your PS3 has restarted, Run SEN Enabler again.

• Press R2 to Delete History Files.
• Next, press R1 to hide CFW, and press R2 to select OFW mode. You can ensure everything is correct by pressing L1 to display PS3 info and make sure there is no red text.
• Press the D-Pad to exit.

You are now ready to connect to the SEN.

Step 1.4: Head over to the right side of the XMB. Underneath Playstation Network, Sign in. Make sure Auto Sign-In is disabled. You should then be signed in and able to check messages, see online statuses, etc.

Step 1.5: Under Playstation Network, Select Account Management. Next, select Transaction Management. Select Download List.

Step 1.6: A new window should open which contains all your purchases! Simply highlight the one you want to download, and press X to download them.

Hint: You can select Download in Background, then return to the XMB, head over to Users (leftmost column), Select Power Off, and check the box to have the PS3 shut down when all downloads finish if you've got other things to do.

Step 1.7: After this is done, sign out of PSN if your PS3 is still on and reboot, or simply start the PS3 if it's off.

Note: Your Package Manager will be missing, and the PS Vita bubble may or may not be in Games. Do not worry, this is normal (it's a bug of some sort, if someone knows a workaround please feel free to let me know.)

Step 1.8: Start SEN Enabler.

• Press R2 to Delete History Files
• Press R1, then select CFW Mode [Packages Only] with R1.
• Press the D-Pad to exit SEN Enabler.

Part 2 - Preparing the Vita

Step 2.0: Put your Vita into Airplane Mode (Long hold the PS Button and tap the Airplane button) and then restart it. This is done to prevent issues with QCMA later.

Step 2.1 Open QCMA on your computer (I am using a Mac). Click the Icon, click Settings, and select the Other tab. Ensure Offline Mode is checked and that CMA Protocol Version is set to FW 3.10 - 1800010.

Step 2.2 Open Content Manager on the PS Vita. Tap Copy Content, then plug the Vita into the computer. It should connect to QCMA. Tap PC->Vita to verify it's connected, then return to the previous screen. Remain on the PC<->Vita connection screen.

Step 2.3 Unplug the Vita USB from the PC and directly into the PS3 USB. It may glitch a bit, this is ok. If necessary, close the error message, tap Connect to PS3, then USB. It should connect and you should be able to transfer the game over!
Note: if the Vita hangs on "Please Wait..." and the PS3 quits the copy app, just restart from Step 2.1. It should work.

Part 3 - Wrap-Up

Step 3.0 - Once done everything on your PS3, reboot it, and reopen SEN Enabler.

• Press R1, then select CFW Mode [Full CFW] with L2.
• Press Square to disable SEN.

This is fully optional and I like to do it to be safe (I don't play online.)

I hope this guide was helpful to some people wandering around in my situation, not wanting to update their Vita, hopefully it can same some time! This is my first guide, so I've tried to make it comprehensive. Constructive feedback is very welcome, and if anything is missing, please let me know!.

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[Bonovox400]

This is EXACTLY what I was looking for! I'm using Rebug cex (I think 4.4x or something) and never connect to the PSN before or after CFW was installed. Only thing I read was that the SEN enabler 5.7.3 will only spoof DEX setups and not CEX. (I could be wrong)

Anyways....just to confirm something. So once I connect to the store and download the purchased vita games to the PS3, i technically don't need SEN up and running to do the remaining Vita portion correct? And the Vita does or doesn't need to have a psn account activated on it in order to load/install the games from the PS3 to the Vita's memory card??

I wanted to test this with either a free or cheap game, but i've read that even this pretty safe method that banning happens often. (people recommend that PSN Patch tool also instead of SEN but I have no exp in either) I figured if I bought everything I wanted in one swoop,I could get it transfered to the PS3 and not have to worry about live PSN access again, at least for a long time.

Let me know if I got your instructions right or not. Thanks for the guide!

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[bodega]

If you want to use a ps3 that have a cfw installed for download psvita games don't follow this guide (it's dangerous)

just install an CFW-OFW Dual boot. The only feature of these firmware is that allow the installation of any CFW, no other changes are made, so no Install package files and app_home, no patch on lv2, ecc..

Before install an OFW CFW Dual boot, made a backup of the hdd inside an external HDD fat32, using the option in Setting > System Settings > Backup utility.
Then format the hdd to delete all CFW files (fake license, homebrew, Webman/mm stealth files ecc..)

After you have copy the game from ps3 to ps vita, just reinstall the CFW then restore the hdd backup

[Bonovox400]

I don't have extra hw HDD to do the steps you mention bodega. I know it's still a risk but is this any worse than PSN patch, vs SEN? I thought SEN enabler has some "History cache/security trace blocker' things that help bypass PSN CFW checks.

And I'm not going to launch/play any games. I just need access to the store to transfer PS store purchased Vita games to my ps3.

[Dr Eggman]

It seems like a lot of work to do that Dual Boot and yes, I too have very little space. Also, that's a crapton of work to download one game (making and restoring HDD Backup)

@Bonovox400 You do need to be signed into PSN to transfer them to the vita.. It's very odd yes, but that's the way it is. Do note: You need to be on 4.5x or higher for this to work. It seems the Vita protocol changed in those versions, and anything lower, the Vita says the PS3 needs an update.

About SEN Enabler - there's now 2 copies of it, one is for DEX only, one is CEX-DEX. This one works for everyone

[ss4gogeta069]

You have to be signed in on the PS3 bc the Vita/PS3 has to know they're on the same account. Otherwise you could put any game from any account on any Vita. I'm surprised no one has come up with a program to make the PS3 think it's sign into PSN to transfer games to the Vita.

[Bonovox400]

So what do I need to do to the Vita prior to this? I thought I read somewhere that the vita doesn't have to be "activated" on PSN, and once the game is downloaded from your purchase queue, you do the Open CMA trick and swap the Vita from being plugged into your PC, over to the PS3 and you're all set.

You're saying that if my Vita has NOT on the PSN (Never has and it's on 3.10 fw) It has to, and I have to login with my PSN account name on it? (I skipped the initiall Vita PSN user setup screen at startup when I bought it)

I also found a "Playstation Store [Full] [4.xx by LM]" package that is supposed to let you get on using lower PS3 FW's, but i'm not sure the benefit of that vs. plain ol SEN enabler.

I realize it's risky going on the PSN with a CFW ps3, but I won't be running games/apps/anything, save for trying to connect to the PSN to get Vita digital games in a position where I can send them to my Vita.

Thanks for the info so far!

[ss4gogeta069]

I think you're safe as far as the Vita activating when you transfer a game. iirc it will activate it with a game transfer.

[Bonovox400]

Sorry to keep rehashing what to do, but in my case what do I actually need to do? (considering I have a non-PSN connected CFW PS3, and a non-psn connected older fw Vita)

Do all I need is to use SEN enabler to 'stealth' into the PSN store, transfer purchased Vita games, sign off and connect my Vita using Open CMA/QCMA trick and that should work?
In regards to my Vita, is there anything I need to do with it prior? Do I have to factory restore it in order to tie in my PSN username that I purchased the games under?

Sorry if i'm missing something obvious, but i've never been online with my ps3 or Vita ever so I don't want to screw anything up if eggman's instructions don't apply to systems with my current setup!

[Dr Eggman]

Sorry to keep rehashing what to do, but in my case what do I actually need to do? (considering I have a non-PSN connected CFW PS3, and a non-psn connected older fw Vita)

Do all I need is to use SEN enabler to 'stealth' into the PSN store, transfer purchased Vita games, sign off and connect my Vita using Open CMA/QCMA trick and that should work?
In regards to my Vita, is there anything I need to do with it prior? Do I have to factory restore it in order to tie in my PSN username that I purchased the games under?

Sorry if i'm missing something obvious, but i've never been online with my ps3 or Vita ever so I don't want to screw anything up if eggman's instructions don't apply to systems with my current setup!

1) Make sure your PS3 is running the most current Rebug firmware (4.65.2 atm)

2) You need to be signed in to PSN for the Vita content to transfer. Also, the store is kinda broken (might be working now). That's why i recommend using the download list. It's just easier.

3) The vita should have the same PSN account (only one can be tied to it). You'll need to use the OpenCMA / QCMA trick, otherwise it'll say it needs to be updated.

PS. If you're worried about your PSN account or want to know the hidden status about your PS3, just open SEN Enabler and press L1. If you don't see any red text, you're good to go Do make sure you're not launching any homebrew while signed into PSN.