The PS5 modding scene is advancing at breakneck speed, to the point that backups can now be executed with astonishing ease. The secret, as always, lies in a specific version of the operating system, since a security vulnerability is what allows the necessary exploit to be performed to inject the magic code. If you have a fully updated PS5, forget about trying anything.
One-click hacking
Those days when you had to completely disassemble a console and solder complicated chips to run homebrew code are long gone. Today's methods are software-based, and so sophisticated have they become that anyone can now inject code into a PS5.
This is currently the case with the Sony console and certain firmware versions , as it's possible to install homebrew by following a series of numerous, but simple, steps. Once the process is complete, you can do the following:
- Run PS5 backups
- Run PS4 backups
- Apply custom tricks and settings
- Install homemade applications
- Install a web browser
Can you play any game?
This is where the key to the whole process lies, because unlike other platforms, in the case of the PS5, simply running unsigned code isn't enough . The games also need to be decrypted and have access to certain Sony libraries, so it's not just a matter of making a standard disc copy.
For that reason, not all games can be run today, and for this reason the scene maintains an updated spreadsheet with all the games that have been run today, with details such as whether they run from a USB external or from the console's main memory.
How to hack a PS5
Currently, only consoles with firmware 4.51 or lower are vulnerable, so if you have a console with a higher firmware version, it will be impossible to remove the vulnerability. The console must be disconnected from the internet and have automatic updates disabled (make sure you also don't have any pending update downloads).
To know exactly what version of firmware the console has, you just have to open the system settings, enter System, Console Information, and check the System Software section, where we will see some numbers. It will be enough to review the figure after the first dash to check the exact version. For example, in number 21.02-04.03.00.00-00.00.00.0.1, the installed firmware version would be 04.03.
The versions compatible with the exploit are the following:
- 04.51
- 04.50
- 04.03
- 04.02
- 04.00
- 03.21
- 03.20
- 03.10
- 03.00
After all these checks, you'll be able to connect the console to the internet. You'll need to access the User Guide to activate the console's built-in browser. Once the guide is open, you'll need to find a way to access the Google search page. This can be done by locating any Google login button. The Modded Warfare video provides several examples starting at 3:15.
The goal is simply to visit the website es7in1.site, a portal from which the idlesauce exploit will be installed directly on the console without any further action required. Once installed, you will obtain a list of available payloads, which will be responsible for loading unsigned code onto the console. etaHEN is the most complete and widely used payload to date, as it activates Debug mode and other very useful features.
From here all that remains is to install things like the homebrew store, the browser and other utilities that must be copied to an external drive to be installed on the console.
The problem will be that every time you restart the console the jailbreak will disappear, so you will have to run the jailbreak again every time you turn on the console. It is the limitation that exists today.
As you can see, the process does not entail too many complications, and the level of access and possibility of execution that has been achieved on the console after a few years on the market is quite surprising.