I know, I usually do not tell people to downgrade their PSP's firmware, but so many people have asked how to do so, I just had to make a guide for it. Downgrading your PSP's firmware can do very harmful things to your PSP, such as freezing (or "bricking") the PSP. Sony obviously does not support downgrading for the PSP so the programs that downgrade your PSP are made by a random guy on the Internet. Remember, any crazy online user can easily create a damaging program that will trash your PSP. To make things worse, the Sony warranty will not cover you if you damage your PSP when you downgrade it.

It's all about whether you want to take that risk or not. Downgrading your PSP will let you run homebrew on your PSP, which is actually illegal. 

A similar instance :

Should I download my music illegally , but for free, from Limewire?

OR

Should I purchase CD's or pay for my music from iTunes?

It's all up to you.

If you want to use homebrew on the PSP, there a few general steps of action to take. Your goal is for your PSP to have the magical 1.5 firmware so that you can use any homebrew that you want to!

The first thing that we want to do is find out your current firmware version. Turn on your PSP and go to the main menu. Go all the way to the left to the "Settings" toolox and from there go to"System Settings" and "System Information". Your "System Software" number will be displayed, which is the same thing as firmware.

Take note of that firmware and follow the chart and the downgrading directions that follow.

Firmware Version Plan of action
1.5 You don't have to do a thing, you're already as low as you can go, lucky!
1.51 Update to firmware 2.0, downgrade to 1.5
1.52 Update to firmware 2.0, downgrade to 1.5
2.0 Downgrade to 2.0
2.01 Update to 2.71, downgrade to 1.5
2.5 Update to 2.71, downgrade to 1.5
2.6 Update to 2.71, downgrade to 1.5
2.7 Update to 2.71, downgrade to 1.5
2.71 Use Dark_Alex's Generic Downgrader
2.8 Sorry, you currently cannot downgrade
3.0 Sorry, you currently cannot downgrade
3.01 Sorry, you currently cannot downgrade
3.03 Sorry, you currently cannot downgrade

Notes about downgrading:

  • Downgrading is usually a safe process, but there is still that 1% risk that something may go haywire.
  • Some PSP's have a type of motherboard that is not downgradeable. If you attempt to downgrade on a PSP with this motherboard, your PSP will be become useless. Here is a picture of a white PSP with that motherboard. This picture isn't the best but it's easy to spot whether you have this earlier circuit board or not: if you can't see "IC1003" printed backwards on your circuit board edge, you're good to go. Make sure you check before starting any downgrade!


PSP PCB Board Identification



The Sony PSP 2.0 Firmware Downgrade Process

This process is probably the easiest, quickest, and safest out of any of the methods.

  1. Disable any anti-virus software temporarily that you have on your computer. Make sure to do this, it's very important!
  2. Download this package: Downgrader

After the save is completed, locate the folder and "Unzip" the folder to a different location on your computer.

Unzipping a file:

To unzip a file, right-click the file and then click Extract on the shortcut menu, but newer versions of Windows XP/Vista can do this automatically, all you need to do is click on the folder. If that is not an option, you will need to download a program to decompress the file. WinZip is an excellent program to do this, and is free for download. Visit http://www.winzip.com/ to download the program to unzip files.

  1. Connect your PSP to your computer using either a memory card reader or a USB cable.

    Note: Make sure that both your computer and your PSP recognize that the PSP is connected to the computer.For your PSP to recognize your computer, Select (USB) under (Settings) in the home menu and press X.If your PSP is connected correctly, the screen should read “USB Connection”.

    Your computer will then indicate that it detects your PSP.Chances are, your computer will read your PSP as a "Removable Disk Drive".

  2. Copy the files "h.bin" and "index.dat" to the root of your PSP. The root is the topmost directory.

  1. Copy overflow.tif into the PSP -> PHOTO folder. If you don't have these folders, create them (In all caps)

  1. Make a new folder in PSP -> GAME called "UPDATE" . (No quotes, all caps)
  2. Download a PSP 1.5 Update file fromhere
  3. Drop that EBOOT file in the update folder

  1. Disconnect PSP

The hard work is finished now.

  1. Plug your PSP into the AC adapter charger.
  2. Turn on you PSP and go to the photo menu with the camera icon.
  3. Click X and try to scroll down. One of two things will happen: your PSP will hit a black screen with white letters and numbers, or your PSP will freeze. If the PSP freezes, just restart and try again.
  4. If you hit the black screen with white characters, perform a hard reset (hold power switch up 10 seconds) and restart.
  5. With the AC Adaptor plugged in, scroll to the right and access your memory stick under "GAME"

  1. Run the 1.5 US Update
  2. The update will run.

Note: This is something you may or may not see, do not panic just restart the PSP if this happens:


  1. Restart the PSP, and you will hit the PSP's blue screen of death. No problem- hit "O"
  2. Boom, you are done!

Sony PSP 2.5 / 2.6 / 2.71 Firmware Downgrade Process

The PSP homebrew scene is always reinventing itself. At one point there were several muddled process for downgrading each of these three firmwares. This article has been written for three different downgrade processes for each. However there is now a new sheriff in town in the world of PSP downgrading. This new method is much safer and easier than any other method yet.

Before we get to that, though, let's make it simple: if you are running PSP firmware higher than 2.0, you want to update to 2.71, before you go any further. This will make things very, very simple for you.

After you are updated to 2.71, (go no further) follow these steps for homebrew in no time flat:

  1. Download Homebrew Enabler C.

    After the save is completed, locate the folder and "Unzip" the folder to a different location on your computer.

    Unzipping a file:

    To unzip a file, right-click the file and then click Extract on the shortcut menu, but newer versions of Windows XP/Vista can do this automatically, all you need to do is click on the folder. If that is not an option, you will need to download a program to decompress the file. WinZip is an excellent program to do this, and is free for download. Visit http://www.winzip.com/ to download the program to unzip files.

  2. Follow the super easy install instructions included in the readme
  3. Run the process through the photo menu. (as dictated in the program's readme)
  4. Download the 2.71 Generic downgrader
  5. Connect your PSP to your computer using either a memory card reader or a USB cable.

    Note: Make sure that both your computer and your PSP recognize that the PSP is connected to the computer.For your PSP to recognize your computer, Select (USB) under (Settings) in the home menu and press X.If your PSP is connected correctly, the screen should read “USB Connection”.

    Your computer will then indicate that it detects your PSP.Chances are, your computer will read your PSP as a "Removable Disk Drive".

  6. Install that program by placing the UPDATE folder inside of the PSP -> GAME directory. Create directories, if necessary.
  7. Download a PSP 1.5 Update file fromhere
  8. Rename it to UPDATE.PBP and put it in the PSP -> GAME -> UPDATE folder
  9. Run the downgrader program from the memory stick on the game menu

Boom, you're downgraded.

Disclaimer: Please, please be careful with downgrades and think twice before you muck with the firmware on your Sony PSP. Iam not responsible for any adverse outcome from your following these directions, so you really are on your own if you try this process. Good luck.