How to Downgrade PSP

Upgrading is considered to be a good thing. And with PSP, there are available firmware updates available in the internet that will be able to upgrade your PSP's firmware. By upgrading your PSP firmware, it will mean that you will be able to play the latest PSP games released by Sony.

Upgrading PSP

However, a lot of people found that upgrading their PSP firmware version can provide more disadvantage than benefits. Although it is a fact that upgrading your PSP's firmware version will allow you to play the latest games and movies released by Sony, it will also disable your PSP's ability to play games, movies and install software that are not released by Sony, which is commonly known as homegrown games, movies and software.

This can be rather inconvenient as Sony UMD games and movies are quite expensive. Besides, why purchase their games, movies and software programs when you can easily download your favorite game titles, movies and great PSP software over the internet legally and for free or at least cheaper?

Because of this fact, a lot of people began searching for PSP downgraders that will be able to restore their PSP back to its original firmware version, which is 1.50. Although you may not be able to play the latest games released by Sony if you stick to the original PSP firmware version, you will be able to take advantage of the great benefits that your good old firmware version can provide, such as:

Why downgrade your PSP's firmware?

Downgrading can add to the multimedia and entertainment functionality of your PSP. Aside from using a UMD to play certain games, you can store and play games directly on your PSP after a successful downgrade.

Adding wallpapers, playing movies, installing applications, adding and playing music (mp3), and playing converted games from original Playstation consoles can now be used on a downgraded PSP.

Note that downgrading your PSP is a form of Hacking the original firmware from Sony, which will void any warranties that you may have on it. Remember that downgrading is very risky, and might scrap your PSP for good.

During the time when the original 1.5 and 1.6 versions were released to the market, Sony PSP units had the choice to run games through either UMD games that users bought for their devices, or to store games to a large-capacity memory stick.

The advantages of this firmware version are that gamers can actually bring a number of games with them, and not only that, they could do it without bringing multiple UMD games along. This makes it easier for the gamer on the go because one wouldn't worry any more about losing games while in transit. And for enterprising souls, it also means you can download and share games with other PSP owners without actually buying discs from retail stores. It made it easier on the pocket to own a PSP.

Later PSP units released by Sony had higher versions of the firmware embedded into their systems, beginning from release 2.0 of the company's firmware. Currently higher versions of the firmware come with the newer models of the PSP, but basically all later firmware versions lack the same thing that the 1.5 software had: the ability to run games stored on the owner's Memory Stick. This is a big problem to those that like to run games right from the MS, because not only does this mean that owners had no choice but to bring along all their UMDs with them, they had to borrow or buy UMDs from other owners to play their favorite games as well.

What you need

Obviously, you need to have a PSP to do a downgrade. There are also some exceptions to the rule, so check first if the downgrading process covers your PSP version. What you also need to have on hand is a spare battery because you will be sacrificing one to downgrade, as well as the stock memory stick, since you're probably using a larger-cap MS anyway, this probably won't matter much to you.

The two final items that you need to have is the Pandora's battery program which you can get online for free, hacking software designed to use your spare battery and MS to downgrade firmware, and someone else who has 1.5 PSP software so he or she can copy files from the other PSP onto yours.

The first step to downgrade your PSP is to find out its current firmware version. For those using firmware versions below 3.0, it is quite easy to downgrade it to 1.5 to enable all these functions; but may be quite risky and complication if you are using 3.0 and above.

Since the release of the 3.50 firmware for newer PSPs, it is impossible to downgrade it to 1.5 so that you can play "homebrew" games stored in your memory card.

After you have determined the firmware version, you need a USB cable to connect your PSP and PC, an internet connection to download the necessary files, your PSP, and a computer.

With the firmware version written somewhere, you can search the compatible firmware downgrade version available for it. You can search it using Google or Yahoo, or you can resort to Torrent sites and forums for links, and download from there.

Now that you have all the files and instructions necessary to downgrade your PSP, here are the instructions on how to proceed:

1. You need to disable any anti-virus programs, or any security application in your PC before you proceed with downgrading
2. Follow carefully the instructions in copying the files for downgrade in the ROOT and PHOTO directory of your PSP. (note that the instruction are included in the files that you downloaded)
3. Plug in the AC Adaptor and connect it with your PSP
4. Scroll over to the "Photos" menu, press X, and scroll down.
5. If the console of your PSP hits a blank screen with letters and numbers on it, or freeze, restart your PSP. If it happens again, try doing a hard reset the holding up the power switch until the unit turns off.
6. When the PSP boots up, scroll over to your memory stick under "Game" and run the 1.5 US update which you copied earlier. The update will load but will inadvertently fail at 99%. Never fear since this is supposed to happen.
7. Restart the PSP when it does until the screen turns blue. Press O, and you are done!

If you see a 1.50 firmware logo after your PSP reboots, then you have successfully downgraded your PSP, and access its amazing features.

In case you still experience problems downgradign your PSP or you tried downgrading your PSP and it is "broken" now, I highly recommend the PSP Downgradign Guide below. It comes with easy to follow instructions  + audio / videos. With this guide you will be able to  downgrade, upgrade, downgrade, upgrade, downgrade... do as you wish and need!

 

 

PSP Downgrading Guide Downgrade your (any) PSP Now. Make it compatible. Stop all those "corrupted" file. This guide will take you through the step by step process of how to downgrade any PSP firmware and you will be done within 10 minutes from now.  By following the steps you will be enjoying your PSP again without compatibility problems! Download the Manual + easy to follow audio/video instructions Download the PSP Downgrading Guide