[TUTORIAL] PSP: install ARK-4 on 6.61 (and upgrade to ARK-5)

Step-by-step PSP tutorials: install ARK-4 and ARK-5, a permanent custom firmware, plugins and homebrews on every PSP.
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[TUTORIAL] PSP: install ARK-4 on 6.61 (and upgrade to ARK-5)

Post by Tgames »

Automatically translated from French.

[TUTO] PSP : installer ARK-4 sur 6.61 (et passer à ARK-5)

ARK-4 is the reference custom firmware for the PSP. Its latest official version, 4.20.69 r206 (May 15, 2026), is also its last: the project has been archived since August 2, 2026 and continues under the nameARK-5, installed with FasterARK (still in preview).


What you need
  • A PSP on official firmware 6.61 (or 6.60). Otherwise, update it with Sony's official update.
  • A memory card and the ARK-4 release from its official GitHub page.

Steps
  1. Extract the release on your PC.
  2. Copy the ARK_01234 folder into /PSP/SAVEDATA/ on the memory card.
  3. Copy ARK_Loader into /PSP/GAME/ (on PSP Go, everything on the same storage).
  4. Launch ARK Loader from Game > Memory Stick: ARK-4 stays active until the next reboot.
  5. For a permanent hack on PSP 1000, 2000, 3000 or Street, use the cIPL (full installation recommended by the wiki). The Infinity method is now deprecated.
  6. To move to ARK-5, use FasterARK on the memory card then run CustomIPL, following its GitHub page.

On PS Vita

ARK-4 also works within Adrenaline (Vita firmwares 2.10 to 3.74). If you use Adrenaline-ARK, first switch to Adrenaline-8.


⚠ Warning: a failed cIPL installation or flash can brick the PSP. Charge the battery, and don't interrupt anything during the operation.


Sources and official guides: ARK-4 (installation) · ARK-4 Release · ARK-5 · FasterARK

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