Vita Custom Firmware for dummies

You just got yourself a new Playstation Vita, and are looking for a Custom Firmware solution? Then bookmark this page, as it will be kept up to date with the latest, greatest, and simplest solutions available.

Although there is currently no “native” CFW solution for the Vita, solutions exist inside the PSP emulator of the Vita, which give you various levels of homebrew/backup access.



If you are lucky enough to own the right game and be on the right firmware (currently 2.02 or less), then Total_Noob’s “CEF TN” or Pro Team’s “ARK” are for you. You can download CEF here, and ARK here. CEF and ARK are basically Custom Firmwares for PSP running in the PSP emulator on the Vita. They offer optimal homebrew compatbility, as well as iso support.

If you can’t run any of those (either because you don’t have the right game, or because you have a recent firmware), an alternative to Custom firmwares is VHBL, assuming you are lucky enough to grab the exploited games when they get announced. VHBL is only a partial solution, as it only allows you to play a subset of PSP homebrews on the Vita.

One drawback is that all these solutions require you to purchase an “exploitable” game on the PSN when it gets announced. We regularly announce names of new exploitable games on this blog, so stay tuned if you didn’t get the games in time. In 2012 alone, 8 such game exploits were released.

  1. anderson’s avatar

    si ma gia pollapse e stato tolto quindi non si puo fare piu il bhl quindi come si puo fare grazie per la risposta

    Reply

  2. anderson’s avatar

    collaose 3 XD

    Reply

  3. mirko8054’s avatar

    anderson, non è detto che nn si puo fare, sullo store della ps vita, dai sul menu dei giochi della PSP non PS Vita e trovi motorstorm artic edge a 8 euro mi pare, cmq sto escogitando un trucco per averli gratis, addami un skype: m_i_r_k_o_s

    Reply

    1. anderson’s avatar

      si ma non su 1.67 pero XD ho si puo fare anche con quello

      Reply

  4. anderson’s avatar

    azz grande magari se ci la fai fami sapere ho grande forza della natura ave a te

    Reply

  5. anderson’s avatar

    mio skepy e anderson6240 ma sono italiano non so quanto ti posso aiutare ma ho un amico che puo tradurmi se la cosa non ti da fastidio

    Reply

  6. Michael’s avatar

    Hey i was thinking and you should make cydia or something like that for the playstaion vita.And installous with a different name.Start hacking the vita like a ipod…I think this is a very good idea and would like a reply if possible.All playstaion vita tittles would be so easy to download and install with no problems…not having to worry about pluging into computer when you can just use wifi.

    Reply

    1. Volrath68’s avatar

      Would be nice but in order to do any of that we need to figure out how to gain root access for the vita itself so until someone finds an expoilt to grant super permissions thats a no go

      Reply

    2. garrei’s avatar

      what… an… idiot. a vita is not an iPod. dont expect a hack with full iso game compatibility any time soon bro.

      Reply

      1. youssef8308’s avatar

        There is a CFW for iso support

        Reply

        1. garrei’s avatar

          1, look how long ago I said that, way before TN-A CFE was released.

          2, I was talking about Vita ISO’s, not PSP ISO’s on the Vita -_-

          Reply

    3. oreo’s avatar

      Okay think a little, Sony knows what they have been doing wrong with the psp (minus the expolits) They made it pretty damn well coded….. Either hack your PS3 and play free games or wait for CFW or VHBL. Other wise your screwed.

      Reply

  7. anderson’s avatar

    aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh voglio la modifica che azzz :’(

    Reply

  8. anderson’s avatar

    ma come si fa a trovare i giocchi ai qualli se possano metere hbl mi dite come fare cosi li cerco anchio grazie mille in anticipo

    Reply

  9. anderson’s avatar

    come si trovano i expoilt mi dici come si fa cosi li cerco anchio per favore grzie
    ps: nn cancellare sto messaglio ok grazie cmq sono un vostro piu accanito seguitore

    Reply

  10. anderson’s avatar

    How can I search exloit in ps vita,
    I want make something too
    give me please some link…

    Reply

  11. anderson’s avatar

    thx for your help..
    I’m looking all game european, for some crash exploit, but for now nothing, btw I need link for some apps like psplink in ps vita cuz that old for psp its not working

    Reply

  12. mrSoczi’s avatar

    Any news on some new Vita hacks? It has been a while and it has been really quiet. Frankly I’m starting to run out of hope for this Sony brick…

    Reply

  13. wes’s avatar

    People either need to be patient or learn how to exploit and program instead of complaining about not have a full hack yet, IMO if all you want a hack for is to pirate games then you should’ve have it if you want homebrew or even emulation just go get a PSP I bought on of Craigslist for 50

    Reply

  14. killersmod’s avatar

    hey i wondering if attempts are being made at vfw for ps vita or is it all at half byte loader right now,not saying half byte loader is bad just yea a full on hacked vita would be nice :D

    Reply

  15. jake galea’s avatar

    hey wololo, has there been any progress on vita cfw?

    or 1.69 HBL or is everyone waiting for 1.80?

    Reply

  16. Josue’s avatar

    Is going to allow to run iso games

    Reply

    1. Inali’s avatar

      No. Low life pirate…

      Reply

      1. Angraecum’s avatar

        Well hello there mister Hypocrite ^_~

        Reply

  17. tony’s avatar

    Is it going to allow iso games???

    Reply

    1. Inali’s avatar

      Nope. Pirate scum.

      Reply

      1. Anonymous’s avatar

        Pirate scum? are you fucking kidding me?
        What the hell has hacking come to…

        Fuck off. If we had a full vita hack YES there would be some pirating, but honestly, there never would be enough pirates to kill the system… If the vita goes unhacked, there is no reason IMO, to buy one. I purchased it with the hope of getting something up to a ps2 emulator or maybe higher because the system has the power. But instead we have a million close minded 12 year olds saying “awmaigawd dun get a full vita hax kause it’ll like ruin the system herp a derp derp”.

        Reply

      2. GirlyGirl’s avatar

        Pirate scum? don’t be so f***ing prejudice!
        its not pirating if said person bought the game ages ago and decided to turned it into an iso so they can emulate on another device :S
        they’ve spent their money on it and want to make use out of on another system, at least they’d be getting their frigging moneys worth out of it. instead of moaning like a little b**ch.

        Reply

  18. kikershadow’s avatar

    ¡no xploit on demo games?

    Reply

  19. Anthony’s avatar

    Everyone really needs to support the developers and just buy retail games. There are plenty of deals that popup making some $10-20. We have a Vita specifically because of the developers, they need money to make great games. I really truly hope a full CFW NEVER exists; playing homebrew and stuff is fine but to any worthless “non-contributing to the world” pirates need to have some morals. Give Vita the support it needs!

    Reply

  20. fancyfano’s avatar

    True enough, i do admit that even the fact of getting an iso of an actual ps vita game might not be good for the future of gaming within the vita system yet your not thinking outside the box with games that are not really meant for the vita, like it was with the psp, thanks to CFW one was able to play GBA ans shit like that that was not even from sony, might be we will be able to play full FPS ocarina of time with the vita. :)

    Reply

    1. Sarij’s avatar

      I just got done playing some Ocarina of Time on my vita with great fps. 1.80 ofw using the monster hunter exploit to load VHBL. Also works great when playing old pokemon games with the gba emulator! :)

      Reply

  21. DarkZenRitual’s avatar

    The PSV has online gameplay with trophies and that’s its biggest strength in my opinion against idiots that wanna play Nintendo Sega 64, go do it on a PSP but then again, i’ve never had a PS3 and so many games are new to me for all you “port whiners”. :)

    Reply

  22. STINGPOISON’s avatar

    How do you install CFE TN in VITA?

    Reply

  23. NakedFaerie’s avatar

    This is what I’ve been talking about. This is what the public want.
    If you want to run homebrew than you can. If you want to run backups then you can. It’s up to the individual to do what he/she wants to do with it NOT the devs which is the way it should be.
    IF it can be used for piracy then thats a perk the enduser gets. WHY are the devs so against it? IF they dont want to play backups then DON’T. Just don’t stop others from doing it as its THEIR choice.

    Reply

  24. NakedFaerie’s avatar

    BTW, AWESOME job Total_Noob. Always loved your work. :D

    Reply

  25. KingOfPower’s avatar

    PLEASE MONSTER HUNTER COMPATIBL WITH 1.81 and 1.80 THAT WILL BE VERY GOOD

    Reply

  26. narutosamac’s avatar

    GOOD

    Reply

  27. SuperVita2TheRescue’s avatar

    MH3(jpn)ecfw6.60 Tn-A +Ps Vita = limitless possibilities. I just need an off day to install.I have a retarded way of reading the instructions and it always takes me the whole day. Necesito PSN POR Fa FOR!B-)

    Reply

  28. NakedFaerie’s avatar

    The new TN-B works great but it still locks up when you press and hold START to try and return to the TN-MENU in some games under some situations. 1 time I was loading the level, another game I was doing nothing in the main menu.
    Sometimes if its doing nothing it works and does return.

    Reply

  29. EloyBonilla’s avatar

    hello wololo looks just a little thing that I mean most people have the psp game easter island jewel keppers then came a cfw as it is today 09/10/12 CFW 6.60 TN-B which is the alpha of the mad … I suggest you do this as a suggestion only 1 beam that most people keppers Download the jewel easter islan wait a day or two after publicaas a CFW 6.60 TN-C which is the jewel keppers game easter island. SAVEDATA

    Reply

  30. EloyBonilla’s avatar

    hello wololo looks just a little thing that I mean most people have the psp game easter island jewel keppers then came a cfw as it is today 09/10/12 CFW 6.60 TN-B which is the alpha of the mad … I suggest you do this as a suggestion only 1 beam that most people keppers Download the jewel easter islan wait a day or two after you post a CFW 6.60 TN-C which is the jewel keppers game easter island. SAVEDATA

    Reply

  31. powerking230’s avatar

    hi wololo, i have urbanix on my ps3, but i can’t find any way to copy it to my ps vita, i think this is my only possible way to get urbanix, so it would be awesome if you know any way, thanks

    Reply

    1. blahh blahh 123’s avatar

      re-download urbanix to your ps3 but leave it in bubble form i re-peat leave it in bubble form do not install it on your ps3 and transfer it to your vita it is posible i do it all the time reply if this proccess does not work

      Reply

  32. Seta24’s avatar

    I dint get Urbanix before sony remove it from psn :(

    Reply

  33. Kay’s avatar

    Fingers crossed. I very unfortunately bought my vita a few hours after the last one was pulled from the uk store. Guess i’ll hang on to my psp for a while longer.

    Reply

  34. darkauron’s avatar

    I need another xploit for psvita pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

    Reply

  35. Angraecum’s avatar

    I had my PSVITA Pre ordered, but a week after it broke “i accidentally drop it on the ground” There goes my fucking 250$…

    i’ve bought a new one yesterday, but fuck, i wish i had know about this a few weeks earlier…

    Reply

  36. blah blah 123’s avatar

    i found a very interesting demo that you could probably use for the half byte loader its called escape plan it has a save and load feature in the demo i think you can work off that

    Reply

  37. vwownsu’s avatar

    Since no release is seen I am off to rooting my tablets hahaha. Flashing kernels is kinda fun unless you get a pixelated screen then you know you have a problem haha. It does make a difference when you have super permissions on a device. More than porting iOS to the Vita my guess is that an Android port would be much more efficient. Exploits are loved nonetheless

    Reply

  38. Rashidsonic’s avatar

    Hey wololo. Isn’t it possible to atleast form a crash using a PNG or TIFF image.? Please reply.

    Reply

  39. FruityPebbles’s avatar

    I am 1 of the millions that didn’t get mad blocker / urbanix, what can I do to make sure I don’t miss the next 1

    Reply

  40. FruityPebbles’s avatar

    can i do anything with MHFU?

    Reply

    1. Darton Staker’s avatar

      Only on fw 1.80

      Reply

  41. Ethereal King’s avatar

    Total_Noob, you are a saint and a scholar…and an amazing person.

    Reply

  42. tglforwololo’s avatar

    Thanks for sharing….

    Reply

  43. haha507075’s avatar

    Good job !
    Thank you very much !

    Reply

  44. yellowfly’s avatar

    Is really a good job, hope to continue to improve.

    Reply

  45. fanwei0’s avatar

    Good job !
    Thank you very much!!!

    Reply

  46. Newbie12’s avatar

    Hi, I’m an extremely newbie for PS vita. I just want know 4 things. Please be nice I am a newbie. I am thinking to buy a vita depending on if I can get free games. I live in a really poor background. I’ve worked 2 months just to get enough money for a vita. And now that i got the Money i want to know these stuff. Please be nice. I was endless entertainment from my PS vita. I want to be able to play any games out there without the need to change consoles. Because I don’t have any other consoles. This will be my first. Thank you. <3
    1. Will there be CFW like PSP one.
    2. Which website is a good update resource for me. I mean where can I keep track on what going on.
    3. Is there a way to play PSP games on PS vita right now?
    4. Is there a website where I can download PSP games + vita games?

    Reply

    1. oreo’s avatar

      Well first off this site is great for tracking what’s going on at the fourms (wololo.com/talk)
      Second there is a eCFW which is more or less the same.
      Third, If you are able to catch a release of eCFW then yeah you can play homebrews and emulators (older console games including psp) and this site has most of the emulators and homebrews.

      Reply

  47. Jason’s avatar

    I have downloaded urbanix. How do I get it onto my vita so that i can run the hack?

    Reply

  48. stfb1055’s avatar

    would there anyone willing to make cwcheat or tempar or any cheat programs to cheat ps vita games? i am looking forward for one soon or later.. :)

    Reply

    1. wololo’s avatar

      You can’t have such things until there is an actual Vita hack…

      Reply

  49. stfb1055’s avatar

    ah i see wololo… well i hope u hackers can do your best to make it dreams comes true! :)

    Reply

1 · 2 · 3 ·

Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>