Last updated Jul 1, 2026

ARK-5 CFW on PSP#

ARK-5 is a custom firmware (CFW) for the PSP, currently in active development. It is the successor to ARK-4, which itself succeeded ARK-3, PRO, and LME.

For information on ARK-4, see PSPunk's ARK-4 page↗. For a first-hand account of installing ARK-5 on a PSP 1000, read the blog post.

What ARK-5 adds#

Compared to older CFW like PRO and LME, ARK-5 includes:

Compiled with the latest PSPSDK
Better plugin management in the XMB
True overclocking for all PSP models (not available on PS Vita)
Improved memory management for consoles with extra RAM
Easier installation and usage

For the full details, see the ARK-5 GitHub↗.

Who this guide is for#

This guide covers three starting points:

No CFW installed — you are on official firmware and want to install ARK-5 for the first time
ARK-4 installed — you want to update to ARK-5
PRO or LME installed — you want to move to ARK-5

If another guide refers you to PRO or LME, you can ignore that. ARK-5 is the only firmware currently being maintained and updated.

Prerequisites#

Before installing, make sure your PSP meets the following conditions:

Running official firmware 6.61. If you are on a lower version, follow the firmware update guide first.
If you currently have permanent CFW like PRO with Infinity 2 installed, you need to reinstall official firmware before proceeding. Follow the Chronoswitch guide to do that.

Installation steps#

Downloads — which package to download and what each contains
First time install — installing ARK-5 as a temporary CFW
Making it permanent — flashing ARK-5 so it persists after power off