: Locate the official Retail Update file (not the full recovery file) for PS4 Firmware 9.00 from a trusted console modification archive. Verify the MD5 checksum to ensure the file is clean.
April 2026 , PlayStation 4 consoles running firmware can be jailbroken using several different methods. While you can run homebrew on 8.52 directly, the general consensus in the scene is that it is often more stable and beneficial to update to a specific higher firmware depending on which exploit you prefer. Current Status and Recommendations PSFree Exploit : Firmware 8.52 is natively supported by the PSFree webkit exploit
Works with standard kernel exploits for firmwares below 9.00 .
update your console via the internet, as this will install the latest firmware (e.g., 13.00+), which may not have a stable public exploit. Download Firmware 9.00 : Obtain the official 9.00 system update file ( PS4UPDATE.PUP ) from reputable community archives like DarthSternie Prepare a USB Drive Format a USB flash drive to Create a folder named (all caps) at the root. Inside the folder, create another folder named (all caps). PS4UPDATE.PUP file inside the Install the Update Turn off your PS4 and disconnect it from the internet. Insert the USB drive into the PS4. Navigate to Settings > System Software Update and follow the prompts to install version 9.00. Step 2: Performing the 9.00 Jailbreak Once on 9.00, you will use the pOOBs4 exploit , which requires a second specialized USB drive. Create the Exploit USB On a PC, download the exfathax.img file (part of the 9.00 jailbreak package). Use a tool like
Download the latest version of GoldHEN and the stage2.bin payload . 2. Network Setup