How to Jailbreak PS3 – Step-by-Step Guide 2023

Chances are you are trying to install some MODS, or games cheats in your PlayStation 3, however you aren’t allowed to do so! because your console is like a black box, and you are not allowed to make any changes in it !

If you want to do more with your PlayStation 3 console, like install mods, games and other apps that are usually not available for the PS3, the way to do this is to jailbreak the console.

What is Jailbreak?

Jailbreaking can be explained as an unofficial way to unlock your device or gadget to be able to access some functions and features of the app that are usually not available to users. Jailbreaking a PlayStation 3, while it unlocks some features, is duly frowned upon by Sony and can lead to a loss of warranty or a total ban if you go online with a Jailbreak on your Sony PlayStation 3.

Pros & Cons of Jailbreaking a PS3

Once you choose to Jailbreak your Sony PlayStation 3, you also agree to deal with the pros and the cons of doing so.  Some of the pros and cons of jailbreaking your PS3 include

Pros of Jailbreaking PlayStation 3

1 – Play MKV video format

MKV video formats are comfortably the best video format you can find around for now. Unfortunately for PlayStation 3 owners, the device does not support this video format

But with a jailbreak on your gadget, you can watch your MKV files in high definition formats as you please.

2 – Ability to Backup your Games for Disk-less Play

Game disks can go bad over time, and become unplayable. But in a situation whereby you can store your files on the device’s hard drive, you wouldn’t have to worry about the disc becoming unplayable. You can even lend out the disk, get a faster load time than loading from the disk and so on.

3 – Game Cheats and Mods

With a Jailbroken PS3, you can download and use cheat codes and interesting game mods to enhance your gaming experience.

4 – Pirated Games

While this is not a good thing to do, with a Jailbreak on your PS3 console, you get the opportunity and ability to play pirated games without having to pay anything.

5 – Run Other Software

A jailbreak on your PS3 console allows you to install and run other applications and software on your device. You can run Linux, Ubuntu and other OS and play games like Sudoku with your console.

Cons of Jailbreaking PlayStation 3

1 – Get stuck on old Firmware

With your device jailbroken, you can’t install new firmware on your console until Dev-Team releases a patch for such firmware, and this might take a long time.

For example, if a new version of firmware gets released, before it can get jailbroken by Dev-Teams and available for download for people who might need it, it can take as long as months, or even years.

2 – No PSN or Game Updates

Once your PS3 console spots a Jailbreak, you can’t go online with it. You can’t sign in to the PSN network. Sony regularly updates it’s firmware regularly as a measure against jailbreak vulnerability and if you do not have the latest firmware on your device, you cannot sign in to the PSN network.

With this inability to sign in to the PSN work, comes the realization of the fact that you can not update your games from the Sony online service.

3 – No Playstation Plus Service and Cloud Storage

If you own a PlayStation plus service subscription on your console, jailbreaking the device, which will translate to no sign in to PSN will also mean that your subscription to the PlayStation Plus service will be unavailable, and you will not have access to cloud storage as well.

4- No Online Gameplay

Almost every additional features of the PS3 console requires signing in to the PSN network. With a jailbreak on your console, however, and the inability to access the PSN service, you will be restricted from playing the awesome games available on the console with your online friends.

All these are what you should consider before jailbreaking your console. And also, ensure your device stays offline because Sony is known to not take Jailbreak lightly and you might get a ban from the PSN and every Sony service of your jailbroken console gets online. However, if you have decided against all odds to jailbreak your PS3, the below method will help you do that.

How to jailbreak PS3 in Simple Steps

Note: There are some versions of the Slim PS3 firmware that cannot be Jailbroken. Also, all versions of the Super Slim console cannot be jailbroken as well. Custom firmware that is above 3.55 also cannot be jailbroken

To start, ensure all the following are available

• Flash drive with 8 GB space or more
• Latest PS3 update
• PS3 console
• WinRar (or any other ZIP files reader)

Steps to Jailbreak your PS3:

1. First, you will download a jailbreak file by searching on the web with Google. It’ll be a zip file.
2. Empty the flash drive and format it with FAT 32 file system on your computer/laptop
3. Check under your console for the model (usually starts with CECH)
4. Use this console model to check of your device can be Jailbroken or not. Pay attention to the shared ‘Note above’
5. Once you’ve checked your PlayStation model and firmware, and are sure you can jailbreak it, then you can proceed with the jailbreaking
6. Extract all the jailbreak files with your PC. The copy the extracted file onto the Flash drive
7. Plug the flash drive to your PS3 through the available USB ports and turn your console on
8. Navigate to settings and then go to system update. Select update via media storage and follow the prompts
9. Remove the flash drive from the console and plug back to your PC. Now, copy the updated folder in the flash drive and accept overwrite
10. Insert the flash drive back into the PS3 console and then update it via Media Storage, follow all prompts till the update is done.

If you follow the above steps as mentioned, your PS3 would be successfully jailbreak(ed). You can enjoy the features of PS3 that are fortunately or unfortunately not available to other PS3 owners.

Jailbreaking your PS3 console is not encouraged – however, if you feel the need to do so, it is completely your choice. With your console jailbroken successfully, you can start enjoying all your mods, cheats and 3rd party apps and games as you like.