PS3:Updating your Firmware

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Exclamation-triangle-fill.svgCustom firmware can only be installed/updated from OFW 3.55 or lower, over CFW, or after running PS3Xploit.


Installing CFW or HFW is exactly like installing OFW with a USB drive. It's recommended that you download the firmware from the developer's website, but if the source is unavailable, you can find most of them here. Use the simplified process below to install it.

A video demonstration of this process can be found on MrMario2011's channel.

Keep the following things in mind:

  • Read everything on screen and make sure you are installing the correct update.
  • Installing a firmware update over the internet through the System Settings will install OFW! This means that if you use this setting on a CFW console, it will remove the CFW and you will need to exploit the console through the web browser or a hardware flasher.
  • Disable any spoofers before beginning. These can prevent you from installing updates.
  • If you're updating from OFW, you can directly install any 4.XX CFW. If you need to install a <=3.55 firmware, you will need to first install Rogero 9.99 Downgrader Firmware (or Rebug 9.99 Downgrader Firmware if Rogero doesn't work), and then Rogero v3.7 CFW before installing your destination firmware. If you have QA Flags turned on, spoofed downgrader firmware won't be necessary and you can use any 3.55 firmware before downgrading to a firmware older than 3.55.
  • If you plan on playing offline exclusively, check out this page to disable PSN to prevent getting banned and OFW updates via the Internet.
  • If your PS3's language is set to English [UK], Brazilian Portuguese, or Turkish; you may receive an error message when updating your CFW. Try changing the language to English [US].

Updating the Firmware

Exclamation-triangle-fill.svgIf your console's Bluetooth or Wi-Fi is non-functional, you will need to use No-BT firmware to avoid an update loop. It's advised to test Bluetooth by connecting a wireless controller, and Wi-Fi functionality by navigating to a webpage before updating.
If your console's Blu-Ray drive is non-functional, you will need to use no-BD firmware to avoid an update loop. It's advised to test the Blu-Ray drive by playing a Blu-Ray disc before updating.
If you are stuck in an update loop, please see the Update Loop section on this page.


Safe Mode (Recommended)

  1. Download your desired firmware update and verify its MD5 hash.
  2. Create a folder called "PS3" on the root of your USB storage device.
  3. Create a folder within the PS3 folder called "UPDATE".
  4. Place the desired firmware within the UPDATE folder and rename it "PS3UPDAT.PUP".
    • If you are on Windows and have file extensions hidden, name it "PS3UPDAT" instead.
    • Some firmware developers release their firmwares as ZIP files which set up the directories and rename the .PUP to "PS3UPDAT.PUP" for you. A firmware update should have the extension .PUP.
  5. Remove any disc in the Blu-Ray drive.
  6. Plug your USB storage device into your PS3.
  7. Boot your console into safe mode by powering it on, holding the power button until it turns off, then holding it again until it does it a quick double-beep.
  8. It may appear to hang while it checks for an update; so long as the loading icon is spinning, it is searching and it may take hours depending on your storage device.
    • If it reports the data as corrupt, double check the file and folder names, and make sure you chose the correct update for your system (CEX/DEX).
  9. Select the listed update, proceed through the prompts, and allow update to install and reboot.
  • You will most likely need to update your apps, such as Multiman or Rebug Toolbox, to fully use them.
  • If your USB ports are broken, you can update in safe mode by placing the PUP file in /dev_hdd0/vsh/ on your hard drive or in /NOT/UPDATE/ on a DVD.

XMB System Settings

  1. Download your desired firmware update and verify its MD5 hash.
  2. Create a folder called "PS3" on the root of your USB storage device.
  3. Create a folder within the PS3 folder called "UPDATE".
  4. Place the desired firmware within the UPDATE folder and rename it "PS3UPDAT.PUP".
    • If you are on Windows and have file extensions hidden be sure to unhide them.
    • Some custom firmware developers release their firmwares as ZIP files which set up the directories and rename the .PUP to "PS3UPDAT.PUP" for you. A firmware update should have the extension .PUP.
  5. Remove any disc in the Blu-Ray drive.
  6. Plug your USB storage device into your PS3.
  7. Navigate to Settings > System Update > Update via Storage Media
  8. It may appear to hang while it checks for an update; so long as the loading icon is spinning, it is searching and it may take hours depending on your storage device.
    • If it reports the data as corrupt, double check the file and folder names, and make sure you chose the correct update for your system (CEX/DEX).
  9. Select the listed update, proceed through the prompts, and allow update to install and reboot.
  • You will most likely need to update your apps, such as Multiman or Rebug Toolbox, to fully use them.
  • If your USB ports are broken, you can update in safe mode by placing the PUP file in /dev_hdd0/vsh/ on your hard drive or in /NOT/UPDATE/ on a DVD.

Update Manager (CFW Only)

If you have a QA Flagged console, you can take advantage of the PS3's update manager, and easily switch between firmwares, even if it's a downgrade.

If the PS3 is a TEST/TOOL/CEX2DEX system, this feature will already be enabled.

Place pups on your HDD in the following fashion, and they will show up in the System Update menu.

/dev_hdd0/updater/01/Rebug_4.46.pup
/dev_hdd0/updater/02/Habib_4.65.pup
/dev_hdd0/updater/03/Rebug_3.55.pup

Update via Internet (OFW Only)

This is only useful if you are updating a system that is on OFW between 3.56 to 4.75, which are incompatible with BGToolSet. Do not use this setting to update a CFW/HFW console, because it will install OFW! You will need to either reinstall HFW to use HEN again, or perform a CFW patch with PS3Xploit or a hardware flasher to reinstall CFW.

To perform an update with the internet, scroll to the settings column, select System Update, and select Update via Internet. Your PS3 will automatically check over the internet whether you have the latest version of the system software. If there is an update file for a later version, it is downloaded to the system. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update.

Once finished, you can continue to Getting Started if you wish to install custom firmware.

Update Loop

Regardless if you are updating from OFW or CFW, installing a firmware update when the Bluetooth/Wi-Fi chip or Blu-Ray drive is non-functional may result in an update loop where it fails to update, reboots, and then keeps trying. To get out of this, either repair the broken part — which is necessary if you are on OFW/HFW — or you can try the below process which has been reported to work for some people.

Please note that this may carry a risk of bricking your console's NAND/NOR/eMMC flash memory.

  1. Note the percentage that the update fails at.
  2. Allow it to start updating again, and when it reaches about 3-4% before the noted percentage, look at the HDD activity light on the front of the console. When it stops blinking, unplug the HDD for three seconds. With some luck, this will fail the update and exit the update loop.
    • If your Blu-Ray is broken, update using a no-BD firmware.
    • If your Bluetooth/Wi-Fi is broken, update using a no-BT firmware.
    • If both are broken, update to a no-BD/no-BT firmware.
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