PSP:Installing ARK-4 CFW

Installing custom firmware on a PSP is a very simple process, and this guide will cover the steps on how to install the most modern CFW available.

Updating the Firmware (if applicable)

In order to use the most up-to-date custom firmwares, your PSP will need to either be on 6.60 or 6.61 firmware.

Updating your Firmware (OFW) covers how to update a console's firmware.

Installing Temporary/Live CFW

When CFW is installed as temporary, it will act like a semi-teathered exploit where it has to be started every time the console is hard reset or shut down. Temporary CFW can also be installed as permanently with Infinity.

CFW Feature Comparison

Since ARK-4 is the most modern CFW available, this guide will focus on installing it instead of older custom firmwares.

When it comes to legacy CFWs, functionality is almost the same between ME and PRO, as each feature one comes with can be added to the other with plugins. You may want to use ME instead of PRO if you don't intend to use PRO Online, as it's a bit quicker to install (especially with cIPL) and supports PBOOTs on ISOs, though ARK-4 now has this functionality too.

ARK-4

• Compatible with PRO Online and XLink Kai, which are both methods of playing local Ad Hoc multiplayer over the internet.
• Compatible with 6.60 Test/Development Tool firmware for testkit and devkit units (including CEX2DEX conversion units).
• Comes with the Stargate NoDRM Engine, which can bypass the anti-piracy checks on some PSP games in ISO format.
• Comes with an optional fully featured custom launcher.
• Supports custom configuration files for PS1 games.
• Ability to boot a 1.50 OFW environment to have 100% compatability with any 1.50 homebrew if using a PSP-1000 model.
  • Newer PSP models can still use legacy homebrew on ARK-4 via eLoader and Leda (including the classic KXploit format).
• Ability for the content of UMD Video ISOs to show up in the XMB like if they were normal video vfiles.
• Ability to change the region of your UMD drive (including region-free playback support for all UMD movies).
• Ability for external configurations and PS1 games with anti-mod/LibCrypt protection using the Popcorn controller.
• Ability to have cIPL on any PSP model unlike legacy CFWs.

PRO

• Comes with NoDRM Engine, which can bypass the anti-piracy checks on some PSP games in ISO format.
• Comes with PRO Online and is compatible with XLink Kai, which are both methods of playing local Ad Hoc multiplayer over the internet.
• Open Source

(L)ME

• Comes with NoDRM Engine, which can bypass the anti-piracy checks on some PSP games in ISO format.
• Comes with LEDA, which allows legacy 1.50 kernel mode homebrew to work on modern firmware.
• Features the ability to use software manuals, and use PBOOT updates for ISOs from within the XMB, like with real UMDs or PSN EBOOTs.
• Compatible with PRO Online and XLink Kai, which are both methods of playing local Ad Hoc multiplayer over the internet.

Temporary Installation

1. Download the latest ARK-4 CFW for your PSP.
2. Plug your PSP into a computer. This will automatically enable USB Mode and mount the console's memory card to the computer. You can also plug the memory card directly into a computer if you have a Memory Stick compatible card reader.
   • If the console's USB mode doesn't automatically activate, it can be manually activated in the XMB settings.
3. Extract the contents of your CFW zip file into the root of your PSP's memory card.
   • If you're installing ARK-4, extract the ARK_01234 folder to PSP/SAVEDATA on the PSP's memory card or PSP Go's internal storage. Then, extract the ARK_Loader folder to PSP/GAME on the console's memory card.
     • You can also extract the ARK_Full_Installer and ARK_cIPL folders to the same PSP/GAME folder to do a full flash or installation of permanent CFW respectively.
4. Exit USB mode after transferring the files over. View your games list and there should be a new listing for the ARK Loader, along side its respective save file in the save data management.
5. To install custom firmware, select the ARK Loader application and launch it.
6. Once the PSP restarts, check in the system information page on your PSP and confirm you see the system software version along with the custom firmware version after it.
7. Your PSP is now running temporary custom firmware. If you would like to install it permanently, continue to the section for cIPL installation.

Installing CFW with cIPL (Optional, recommended)

This is the preferred method of installing CFW, as it can run during bootup and can give you brick protection.

1. Download the latest ARK-4 CFW for your PSP, if it's not downloaded already.
2. Plug your PSP into a computer. This will automatically enable USB Mode and mount the console's memory card to the computer. You can also plug the memory card directly into a computer if you have a Memory Stick compatible card reader.
   • If the console's USB mode doesn't automatically activate, it can be manually activated in the XMB settings.
3. Extract the ARK_cIPL folder into the root of your PSP's memory card if you haven't done so already.
4. Launch the ARK cIPL installer application, and select the option for New cIPL.
5. Your PSP will now have cIPL ARK-4 CFW. It can be seen in the system settings.

Full Flash Installation (Optional, recommended)

Normally, many functions of ARK-4 are kept in the ARK_01234 save data folder, such as the CFW settings or custom launcher. If this is undesirable for you, you can install these functions to the PSP's internal flash memory so ARK-4's save data file is no longer necessary. That being said, the ARK_01234 save file folder will still be prioritized for CFW settings if it's detected on the memory stick. It will also be re-created if you run an ARK-4 update from an OTA update or sideloading the ARK_Updater application.

Since the PSP's flash memory is also too small to store the custom launcher that comes with ARK-4's save data folder, PRO Shell will instead be used as the custom launcher with a seperate and more basic recovery menu if the save data folder is not detected.

1. Download the latest ARK-4 CFW for your PSP, if it's not downloaded already.
2. Plug your PSP into a computer. This will automatically enable USB Mode and mount the console's memory card to the computer. You can also plug the memory card directly into a computer if you have a Memory Stick compatible card reader.
   • If the console's USB mode doesn't automatically activate, it can be manually activated in the XMB settings.
3. Extract the ARK_Full_Installer folder into the root of your PSP's memory card.
4. Launch the application and follow the on-screen instructions.
5. Your PSP will now have ARK-4 fully installed on the console's internal flash memory, allowing the reliance on having an ARK-4 save file to be no longer necessary for operation.