Manually Offline Updating PS Vita Firmware
This will show you how to safely update your PS Vita firmware without an internet connection, this is useful for updating 3.61+ devices directly to 3.65 which is compatible with h-encore + Ensō custom firmware hack. Qcma will be used to transfer the update files to your PS Vita. Qcma is an alternative to Sony’s Content Manager Assistant and does not require you to sign in to PSN or register your console to transfer files.
Users on 3.69+ can use the h-encore² exploit to gain access to homebrew. It is then advised to use Modoru 2.0 to downgrade to 3.60 or 3.65 for a permanent custom firmware solution.
Required Downloads
- PSP2UPDAT.PUP (Full List of Firmwares)
- Qcma
PlayStation Vita on Firmware 3.61 or Higher
- A PS Vita between firmware 3.61 and 3.63 is recommended to offline update to 3.65
- Consoles lower than 3.60 should update over Wi-Fi using the DNS Settings trick
PS Vita Firmware File (PSP2UPDAT.PUP)
- You require the specific update file for the firmware that you would like to update to
- The update file must be named
PSP2UPDAT.PUP - 3.65 is the recommended firmware if updating from 3.61 or higher because it is compatible with h-encore + Ensō for permanent custom firmware
PS Vita USB Connection
- You will need the USB cable to connect your PS Vita to a PC for the offline update
SD2Vita Adapter (Recommended)
- Greatly expand your storage options with the MicroSD to PSVita (SD2Vita) adapter
- Convert the PS Vita game slot into a MicroSD slot
- 128GB or larger MicroSD recommeded for storing games
- Follow this guide on setting up the SD2Vita
Preparing for Update
- On your PS Vita, Block Updates via DNS Settings
- On your PC, Install Qcma with the linusb0 driver
- Once installed, open Qcma to see the main window
- Copy the PSP2UPDAT.PUP to the path shown under [Updates / Web Content]
You may need to create the/PSV Updates/folder if it doesn’t already exist - Open the other tab in the Qcma window
- Set [Use this version for updates] to [Custom]
- Set [Custom PS Vita Version] to
03.650.000 - Right click the small Qcma icon in your system tray and select [Refresh database]
Updating PS Vita Firmware
- Connect your PS Vita to your PC via USB
- On your PS Vita, open [Settings] -> [System Update] -> [Update by Connecting to a PC]
- Ensure that the confirmation displays the firmware version that you intend to update to
- Confirm and update your firmware
- After the update has installed, check [Settings] -> [System] -> [System Information] to verify that you have updated to the correct firmware
Congratulations on manually offline updating your PS Vita firmware to 3.65, you can now proceed to installing the 3.65 exploit using h-encore.