PS Vita CFW Guide - Installing HENkaku + Ensō

ps vita jailbreak henkaku molecule
This guide will show you how to install the HENkaku exploit by Team molecule on your PS Vita. HENkaku is the first “jailbreak” for the PlayStation Vita. This will unlock your PS Vita’s potential, enabling you to install homebrew apps for many new features and capabilities. The HENkaku exploit itself will install the HENkaku Settings menu that allows you to install homebrew as well as other cool options. The HENkaku web exploit is compatible with firmware 3.60 only but has since been ported to higher firmwares using different methods; 3.60 is considered the ‘golden firmware’ for the PS Vita with the most compatibility with homebrew and plugins and it allows for the persistent custom firmware hack Ensō. Ensō by yifanlu is a plugin that allows the HENkaku exploit to stay active permanently, eliminating the need to run the exploit every time your PS Vita reboots. You will also install VitaShell by TheFlow, it is the primary filesystem explorer for PS Vita with various functions such as FTP and USB file transfer, a simple text editor and mounting your game card as a USB device for easy game dumping. Required Downloads:

PlayStation Vita on Firmware 3.60

Wi-Fi Internet Connection

  • You will be downloading and installing the HENkaku exploit using the Vita web browser
  • You will be using the PlayStation Vita’s Wi-Fi connection to transfer files via FTP

SD2Vita Adapter (Recommended)icon-amazon

Installing HENkaku

  1. On your PS Vita, launch the Browser app and visit http://henkaku.xyz/henkaku install
  2. Press the orange [Install] button confirm the disclaimer and press [Install] then wait for the process to complete
    vita henkaku install molecule
  3. You should now be automatically sent back to the LiveArea and find a new bubble called [molecularShell]vita henkaku molecularshell bubble
  4. Go to [Settings] -> [HENkaku Settings] and check [Enable Unsafe Homebrew]vita henkaku enable unsafe homebrew
  5. Return to the Settings menu and close the application

Congratulations, you’ve successfully hacked your PS Vita. With HENkaku Settings installed; you can enable the installation of homebrew applications so we can install the VitaShell file browser and the Ensō permanent custom firmware hack.

Installing Ensō

  1. On your PS Vita, launch [molecularShell]
  2. Press the [Select] button to activate FTP modemolecularshell vita ftp ip address
  3. Enter the address displayed on the PS Vita in your PC file browser e.g. ftp://xxx.xxx.x.x:1337ps vita vitashell ftp folder
  4. On your PC file browser, go to ux0: and create a folder called vpk if it doesn’t already existvita ux0 vpk folder
  5. Transfer enso.vpk and vitashell.vpk to the /vpk/ foldervita ftp vpk folder
  6. When the transfer is complete, press [Circle] to close FTP mode
  7. In molecularShell, go to ux0: -> /vpk/ then highlight enso.vpk and vitashell.vpk
  8. Press [Cross] to install them one at a time and confirm the extended permissions promptvitashell extended permissions install
  9. Close molecularShell when the installations are complete
  10. Go to your LiveArea and launch the new [Ensō] appvita henkaku enso bubble livearea
  11. Press [Circle] to accept the terms and press [Circle] again to install. Press any button to reboot when the installation is completevita enso install henkaku

Congratulations, you’ve successfully installed Ensō for persistent custom firmware. You will no longer have to run the HENkaku exploit every time you reboot your PS Vita.

PS Vita Homebrew

Vita Homebrew Browser

  • The Vita Homebrew Browser is a large repository for homebrew apps and plugins that can be conveniently installed directly to your Vita without a PC

NoNpDrm + ref00d

  • NoNpDrm allows you to play downloaded game backups, themes and DLC.
  • ref00d is a plugin that unlocks 3.61+ games to be played on any firmware, perfect for those who choose to stay on 3.60 but still want to play newer games

Adrenaline (ePSP)

  • Adrenaline is a homebrew that completely unlocks the built-in ePSP, allowing for flawless PlayStation Portable emulation that is also compatible with PSP homebrew.

Moonlight

  • Moonlight is a homebrew that uses Nvidia GameStream technology for Windows remote play on the PS Vita – requires an Nvidia GPU

Credits