This wikiHow teaches you how to jailbreak a PlayStation 3. Jailbreaking allows you to install mods, cheats, third-party applications, and games that you normally can't use on the PS3. Keep in mind that jailbreaking your PS3 is against Sony's terms of use, so you won't be able to go online while the jailbreak is active without risking being permanently banned. It's also important to remember that some PS3 models, such as some versions of the Slim and all versions of the Super Slim, cannot be jailbroken.
Part
1
Preparing to Jailbreak
1
Download the jailbreak file. Go to the jailbreak file hosting site on a computer, click the red Download button, and click Allow if your browser asks to store files on your computer. Once the transfer finishes, the jailbreak ZIP folder will download onto your computer.
The jailbreak file can take a while to download, so you should start the download process before moving on to other preparations.
2
Format a USB flash drive to FAT32. Do so by choosing "FAT32" in the "Format" drop-down menu during the formatting process. This will ensure that the flash drive can be used to update your PS3 later, though formatting your flash drive will also delete any files currently on it.
The flash drive must be at least 8 gigabytes in size.
Leave your flash drive plugged into your computer after formatting it.
3
Determine your PS3's model number. Look on the back or the bottom of the PS3 for a serial code which begins with "CECH" and has several numbers (or a letter and some numbers) after it.
4
Compare your PS3's model number to supported models. Models of PS3 which can be jailbroken include the following:
Fat — All PS3 Fat models are supported.
Slim — If the first two numbers after "CECH" are "20", "21", or "25", and if your PS3 is below version 3.56, your console is supported.
Super Slim — No versions of the Super Slim model of PS3 can be jailbroken.
5
Figure out whether your PS3 is NAND or NOR. Depending on your PS3's model number, you can determine the type of PS3 you have, which will determine the type of custom firmware (CFW) you use later:
Fat — If the first letter after "CECH" is "A", "B", "C", "E", or "G", the console is NAND; for all other letters, the console is NOR.
Slim — All supported Slim models are NOR.
Part
2
Creating the Firmware Check Drive
1
Extract the jailbreak ZIP folder. This process will vary depending on your computer's operating system:
Windows — Open the ZIP folder, click the Extract tab, click Extract all, and click Extract at the bottom of the window that appears. The extracted folder will open when the extraction finishes.
Mac — Just double-click the ZIP folder to extract it. The extracted folder will open when the extraction finishes.
2
Open the Step 1 folder. Double-click the PS3 Jailbreak Kit folder, then double-click the Step 1 - Minimum Version Checker folder.
3
Copy the PS3 folder. Click the PS3 folder, then press Ctrl+C (Windows) or ⌘ Command+C (Mac) to copy it.
4
Paste the PS3 folder onto your flash drive. Open your flash drive by clicking its name in the lower-left side of the File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) window, click a blank space, and press Ctrl+V (Windows) or ⌘ Command+V (Mac). Once the folder finishes pasting, you can proceed.
5
Eject the flash drive. Now that the flash drive is set up for your PS3, you can use it to check your PS3's firmware.
Part
3
Determining Your PS3's Compatibility
1
Plug your flash drive into your PS3's right-most USB slot. This is important, as using any other slot may cause the process to malfunction.
2
Go to the firmware number's location. Select Settings on the main menu, select System Update, select Update via