How to Play Homebrew on your PSP - READ THIS FIRST

[Clay]

Want to play homebrew games on your PSP?

Want to play Nintendo, Super Nintendo, GameBoy, Turbo Grafx 16, and Sega games on your PSP? Look no further, this article will guide even the most inept PSP user to be running homebrew in no time. To run homebrew on your PSP you will need to know which "firmware" version installed to your PSP. If you don't know which version you have, go to Settings > System Settings > System Information and you will see: your firmware version. If you have anywhere from 1.00 to 4.01, you will be able to play homebrew / downgrade. We will update this article with new info as it comes out.

Note: All "Fat" (First Generation) PSPs can be downgraded to 1.5 firmware by either a Downgrader (2.00 - 3.50 Only) or by using Pandora's Battery (All Firmware on a "Fat" PSP). All "Slim" PSPs can be downgraded to 3.60 firmware using Pandora's Battery ("Slim" cannot run firmware lower than 3.60 due to hardware).

Example of Fat and Slim PSP's

IF YOU HAVE:

Firmware 3.51 - 4.01 - You currently can't run Homebrew or Downgrade Unless you have a Pandora Memory stick/Battery. If you have access to these or need help making one.
(Cannot be made with Slim PSPs ). Look Here

Firmware 3.10 - 3.50 - If you have a PSP with version 3.10 through 3.50 firmware, you have the option of downgrading to 1.5 link.

Firmware 2.81 -3.03 - If you have a PSP with version 2.81 or higher firmware, you have the option of using Homebrew by upgrading to 3.03 and using 3.03 Hen. Or downgrade to 1.5 Link.

Firmware 2.80 - If you have version 2.80, you can have these options. You may use the 2.80 Downgrader: TA-079 to TA-086. Or, you can run many homebrew applications, using the newest eLoader (0.995). You can also run some limited TIFF apps and games, located here.

Firmware 2.71 - If you have version 2.71, you have three options. You may use the Generic Downgrader or TA-082 Downgrader. Or, you can use the newest eLoader, Märzenbier. Or, you may install and use the Homebrew Enabler (HEN C)

Firmware 2.70 - If you have version 2.70, you have three options. You may upgrade to 2.71 and use the Generic Downgrader. Or, you can use the newest eLoader, Märzenbier. Or, you may install and use the Homebrew Enabler (HEN C)

Firmware 2.50 or 2.60 - If you have a PSP with version 2.50/2.60 firmware, you have the option of using a growing number of homebrew through the eLoader or you can upgrade to 2.50/2.60 and downgrade to 1.5.


Firmware 2.01 - If you have a PSP with version 2.01 firmware, you have the option of using a growing number of homebrew through the eLoader or you can upgrade to 2.50/2.60 and downgrade to 1.5.

Firmware 2.00 - If you have a PSP with version 2.00 firmware and you want to play homebrew:
1) The first thing you need to do is downgrade your PSP's firmware to version 1.50. A tutorial for how to do downgrade can be found [here].
2) After you have downgraded, you can find detailed instructions on how to load homebrew emulators, games, applications, demos, and more on your PSP [here]. You can also find pre-made files for easy installation of homebrew on your 1.50 PSP [here].

Alternatively, you can play SOME homebrew on a 2.00 PSP using the eLoader.

Firmware 1.51 or 1.52 - If you have a PSP with version 1.51 or 1.52 firmware and you want to play homebrew:
1) You will first need to upgrade your PSP to version 2.00 so that you can use the 2.0 -> 1.5 downgrader. To do this, first download the 2.00 eboot file [here]. This file will be used in the next step.
2) Next, upgrade your PSP to version 2.00 using the 2.00 eboot you just downloaded with the upgrade tutorial found on Sony's site [here]. *NOTE: DO NOT use the PSP's network update feature as it will upgrade you to 2.50 (or later) making it impossible to downgrade back to 1.50!
3) After you have upgraded to 2.00, the next step is to downgrade to version 1.50. A tutorial for how to downgrade can be found [here].
4) After you have downgraded, you can find detailed instructions on how to load homebrew emulators, games, applications, demos, and more on your PSP [here]. You can also find pre-made files for easy installation of homebrew on your 1.50 PSP [here].

Firmware 1.50 - If you have a PSP with firmware version 1.50 and you want to play homebrew:
1) You can find detailed instructions on how to load homebrew emulators, games, applications, demos, and more on your PSP [here]. You can also find pre-made files for easy installation of homebrew on your 1.50 PSP [here].

Firmware 1.00 - If you have a PSP with firmware version 1.00 and you want to play homebrew, just drag and drop the eboot file in your PSP/GAME/ folder and boot them up, no hacks required.

Dark_AleX's Custom Firmware (2.71 SE, 3.x OE and M33) - Read this

If you have read this and are still confused, you might want to check out the newbie guide to PSP [here]. If you have any other questions, there is a wealth of information in the posts in our forums. Check out http://forums.qj.net and click on PSPupdates forums. Then click on the "FAQs, Guides, and Tutorials" forum. Or get there directly by clicking [here].

TIPS:

I downgraded, Can I play games that require 1.51+ firmware? YES:
After you have downgraded to version 1.50, you can use PSPset to "set" your firmware version back up to 1.51, 1.52 o 2.00 (without actually upgrading) so you can play games that require a higher firmware version. This program does not actually change your firmware version, just the number displayed. This older method was made obsolete with the inclusion of firmware emulation and later still by custom firmware which bridges the homebrew capability of 1.5 firmware and the newest features found with the latest firmwares.

I have dead/stuck pixels, can I fix them? YES:
Well, not always, but about half the time. Dead pixels can not be fixed, but stuck pixels can. Use Single Pixel Fixer to pick out stuck pixels and stimulate them back to life. I fixed 3/5 broken pixels on my PSP with this.