ps5upload

PS5 Upload gets your games, apps and homebrew onto a jailbroken PS5 quickly and reliably: uploads resume after a dropped connection, installs pick the route that works, and you can browse files, manage the console and run cheats from your computer, phone or browser.

What it does

• Fast, resumable uploads of games, folders, disk images and .zip / .7z / .rar archives (unpacked on the way, nothing extracted to your disk). Everything runs over AVA1, one encrypted connection on port 9120. Every file is verified, and an upload continues after a dropped connection, a helper restart or rest mode. A job that will not fit is refused up front, counting what is already on the console. Queue, live speed and ETA.
• Install any package. PS4 .pkg and PS5 fake packages (base, update, DLC) from your computer (Stream & install or Upload & install), a NAS/SMB share, a USB drive or a link. If the PS5 refuses one route, the app offers another.
• Collection. Every game in your folders (including folders on a NAS, scanned in place), grouped with its updates and DLC, with what each PS5 already has and one click to install the rest. Organize, de-duplicate and clean up the drives. Replaces PS Game Library.
• Convert Games. Build an installable package from a decrypted game folder or an image, or write a game folder as a game image (.exfat, .ffpkg, .ffpfs, or the smaller .ffpfsc) that ShadowMount+ mounts, and upload it in one step.
• Browse and manage. Files, games, disk images (mount, edit in place), saves, screenshots and video clips; register, launch, stop and uninstall games; copy, move (Move to…), delete, set permissions.
• Cheats, fan curve, hardware view, Remote Play pairing, payload sender with a catalogue and playlists, backport tools, and an optional FTP server on the PS5.
• Power. Rest mode, reboot, shut down, and wake over the network (optionally straight into your signed-in user).
• Runs everywhere: macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, or any browser through the self-hosted Docker web UI. 21 languages.

What it doesn't do

• System package patches (NPXS Store or Settings updates). Use the PS5's own Settings → Debug Settings → Game → Package Installer.
• Sign packages with fake keys. It only installs packages the console already trusts.

A quick look

Install

Pre-built downloads land on the Releases page:

NixOS

No NixOS artifact is published on the Releases page, but ps5upload is packaged in GriefNorth's NUR as ps5upload (x64 and ARM64) — it wraps the same .AppImage and needs no FUSE. With flakes:

{
  inputs = {
    nixpkgs.url = "github:NixOS/nixpkgs/nixos-unstable";
    nur.url = "github:GriefNorth/nur-packages";
  };

  outputs = { nixpkgs, nur, ... }: {
    nixosConfigurations.myhost = nixpkgs.lib.nixosSystem {
      system = "x86_64-linux";
      modules = [
        ({ pkgs, ... }: {
          environment.systemPackages = [
            nur.packages.${pkgs.system}.ps5upload
          ];
        })
      ];
    };
  };
}

Then nixos-rebuild switch --flake .#myhost and launch ps5upload from your app menu. Without flakes, call the package straight out of the repo — and note that ps5upload bundles UnRAR for .rar support, so nixpkgs needs config.allowUnfree = true:

{ pkgs, ... }:
{
  nixpkgs.config.allowUnfree = true;

  environment.systemPackages = [
    (pkgs.callPackage
      ((builtins.fetchTarball
        "https://github.com/GriefNorth/nur-packages/archive/refs/heads/main.tar.gz")
        + "/pkgs/ps5upload")
      { })
  ];
}

Or try it without installing anything:

nix run github:GriefNorth/nur-packages#ps5upload

The Nix expression pins one release version, so bump it there when a new ps5upload comes out. Prefer to run the AppImage yourself? Prefer the ./PS5Upload.sh wrapper from the zip above — on NixOS the bare .AppImage usually renders an empty window, because its bundled libwayland-client shadows the host one and WebKitGTK then fails to create an EGL display. The Nix package works around that for you.

First-launch warnings (and why they're there)

ps5upload is not code-signed with paid OS certificates — same as every other PS5 scene tool. The OS's verification layers (Gatekeeper on macOS, SmartScreen on Windows) treat unsigned downloads as suspicious until you allow them once. The one-time bypass:

macOS — "App is damaged" or "cannot be opened":

xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/PS5Upload.app

That removes the quarantine attribute macOS slaps on every file downloaded from a browser. Alternatively, right-click PS5Upload in Applications → Open → click Open in the prompt. Either method only needs to be done once per install.

Windows — "Windows protected your PC" SmartScreen prompt:

• Click More info → Run anyway.
• Only shown until SmartScreen builds reputation for the binary; subsequent launches are silent.
• If your IT policy blocks "Run anyway", unzip + right-click PS5Upload.exe → Properties → check Unblock → OK.

Linux — no equivalent warning. Just chmod +x and launch.

System requirements

• macOS 11 (Big Sur) or newer. No dependencies — ad-hoc signed, see First launch above for the one-line quarantine bypass.
• Windows 10 (build 19041+) or Windows 11. Ships with the Microsoft Edge WebView2 runtime by default; LTSC / stripped installs may need WebView2 installed once.
• Linux — the .deb and .rpm packages pull in their dependencies automatically (WebKitGTK 4.1, gtk3, libsoup3, etc.) via the package manager, so they're the easiest route on Debian/Ubuntu and Fedora/RHEL/Bazzite. The universal .AppImage instead expects those libraries already on the host (libfuse2, gtk3, webkit2gtk 4.1, libsoup3, libappindicator, librsvg2); install commands for Debian/Ubuntu/Fedora/RHEL/Arch are in the FAQ. Minimum distro version: all three Linux artifacts are built against glibc 2.39, so they need a reasonably recent distro — Ubuntu 24.04+, Debian 13+ (trixie), Fedora 40+, or equivalent. (This is a glibc floor, not a package dependency — the .deb/.rpm install fine on older releases but the app won't launch, and the AppImage bundles WebKitGTK yet still uses the host's glibc.) On an older distro, build from source with make dist-linux on that machine.

The app checks GitHub for updates once per launch (Settings → Updates) and downloads a fresh archive to your Downloads folder when you click Download. Replace the old app and relaunch; the app then offers to update the helper.

Building from source:

git clone https://github.com/phantomptr/ps5upload.git
cd ps5upload
make install       # bootstrap dev env (auto-detects host OS)
make build         # payload ELF + engine + client UI
make run-client    # launch the Tauri dev app

make install auto-detects your OS and runs one of:

• make install-ubuntu — Debian / Ubuntu / WSL2: apt deps for Tauri (libwebkit2gtk-4.1-dev, libgtk-3-dev, librsvg2-dev, libayatana-appindicator3-dev, libxdo-dev, libssl-dev, build-essential), Node.js 22 LTS via NodeSource (only if missing), Rust via rustup, and checksum-verified PS5 Payload SDK v0.43 → ~/ps5-payload-sdk.
• make install-macos — macOS: Xcode CLT, Homebrew, node, current llvm (LLVM 22 at this release), Rust via rustup, and checksum-verified PS5 Payload SDK v0.43.
• make install-windows — Windows 11: Node.js LTS, Rust, VS 2022 Build Tools (C++ workload), WebView2 Runtime, 7-Zip, and PS5 Payload SDK via winget. Run from an elevated PowerShell (or any shell with pwsh / powershell.exe on PATH).

All three install scripts are idempotent — re-running them after a partial setup is safe. A stale or unmarked SDK is upgraded to the repository pin and moved to a timestamped backup instead of being deleted. Local and GitHub Actions builds read the same tag and official release checksum from scripts/ps5-sdk.env.

For per-platform bundles only (no full dev env): make dist-mac, make dist-mac-x64, make dist-linux, make dist-linux-arm, make dist-win, and make dist-win-arm.

Quick start

1. Jailbreak the PS5 and keep an ELF loader running on port 9021.
2. Launch ps5upload and open Connection. Enter the PS5's IP address.
3. Click Check, then Send payload. The app launches the helper and pairs with it by itself.
4. If you loaded the helper another way, the console shows a 6-digit code. Enter it in the app once; the computer is remembered.

The helper stays until the PS5 reboots or enters rest mode. The app only needs ports 9120 (the helper) and 9021 (the loader); allow both in your firewall. 6.0 cannot talk to a v5.x helper: the app offers Update the helper and replaces it in one click.

Architecture

client/ (Tauri 2 · React · TypeScript)   Android app · Docker web UI
   │
   └── spawns ── ps5upload-engine (HTTP :19113)
                          │
                          ▼  AVA1 (Noise-encrypted, port 9120)
                payload/ps5upload.elf  (PS5 C payload)

• payload/: C payload on the PS5 (FreeBSD 11). Transfers, BLAKE3 verification, mounts, file operations and every management call. Spec: protocol/ava1/SPEC.md.
• engine/: Rust workspace with the AVA1 client, transfer logic, HTTP API and lab tools.
• client/: Tauri 2 desktop app (and the Android and web builds), talking to the engine.

Build and test

All workflows go through the root Makefile (make help).

See TESTING.md for the full workflow, and CONTRIBUTING.md.

Tech stack

• Payload: C (FreeBSD 11), prospero-clang, PS5 Payload SDK v0.43
• Engine: Rust, tokio + axum
• Client: Tauri 2, React, TypeScript, Zustand, Tailwind CSS v4, Vite
• Protocol: AVA1 (Noise XX handshake, ChaCha20-Poly1305, BLAKE3 verification)

Supported platforms

• Desktop: macOS, Linux and Windows, x64 and arm64.
• Android: the .apk from Releases.
• Web UI: the self-hosted Docker image, in any browser on your LAN (see below).
• PS5 firmware: 1.00 through 13.60 on every model; one payload binary for all. Tested on 5.10, 9.60 and 13.60. In practice the limit is your jailbreak's ELF loader on port 9021.

Fake package install needs live kernel patches (kstuff / fpkg-enable) on the console; where they are missing the app says so instead of reporting a false success.

Self-hosted engine and web UI

Run the engine on a NAS or server and use it from a browser, or point the desktop app at it with Settings → Engine URL.

• Images: ghcr.io/phantomptr/ps5upload-engine-webui (full web UI) and ghcr.io/phantomptr/ps5upload-engine (engine only), tagged :latest or :<version>.
• Start from engine/compose.yaml. It uses host networking (stream installs need the PS5 to reach the engine). Set PS5_ADDR and PS5UPLOAD_ALLOW_IP.
• Open http://<host>:19113. The file picker browses the engine's disk; mount your games folder into the container and set PS5UPLOAD_BROWSE_ROOTS.
• Map /data to a host folder (on Unraid, /mnt/user/appdata/ps5upload): it holds the pairing key, so the PS5 keeps trusting the web UI after the container is recreated.
• An upload keeps running when you close the tab.
• No password. Anyone allowed can read, write and delete on your PS5. Keep it on a trusted LAN, never on the internet.
• You may build the docker container with the PS5UPLOAD_BASE_URL to host the webui through a reverse proxy. This cannot be changed on runtime.

FAQ

Common questions (connection problems, install errors, USB drives, firmware) are in FAQ.md, also available inside the app.

Contributing

• Report bugs: GitHub Issues
• Pull requests welcome. Read CONTRIBUTING.md and run the checks in TESTING.md before opening.

Disclaimer

ps5upload is provided for research, educational, interoperability, and homebrew development purposes only. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. "PlayStation", "PS4" and "PS5" are trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc., used here for identification only.

Use this software entirely at your own risk. It is provided "as is", without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

➡ Full terms: DISCLAIMER.md. By downloading, building, installing, or using this software you accept them in full. If you do not agree, do not use it.

You are solely responsible for how, where, and on what hardware you use this tool. By downloading, installing, or running it, you acknowledge and accept that:

• It interacts with a modified PS5. This tool only works on a console that has been jailbroken / has kernel exploits loaded by the user. Modifying console state, bypassing platform integrity checks, or running unsigned code may void your manufacturer warranty, violate the platform's terms of service, and — under certain operations — leave your console unrecoverable without a reinstall. You took those steps before this tool entered the picture; this tool does not put you in that state and cannot reverse it.
• It writes to your PS5's filesystem and can install / register packages with Sony's installer. Mistakes can corrupt the console's app database, leave orphaned mount points, or wedge Sony's mgmt service mid-install. Recovery normally means a reboot or — worst case — a factory reset. Back up anything important before bulk operations.
• It is intended for use only with content you legally own and hardware that belongs to you. Using it to install, mount, or distribute software you do not have the legal right to use is your responsibility, not the project's.
• No support is guaranteed. This is a free, volunteer-built tool. The author may answer questions on Discord but is under no obligation to provide fixes, updates, or compensation if anything goes wrong.
• No piracy. This tool must not be used to copy, distribute, or run software you do not lawfully own or are licensed to use. The authors do not condone or assist with piracy in any form, and requests for such help will be refused.
• You accept the real risks. Operating a modified console can permanently damage it, irreversibly destroy saves and licences, and get your account or console banned from online services. Back up anything you cannot afford to lose before you begin.
• Indemnity. You agree to hold the authors, contributors, and distributors harmless from any claim arising out of your use or misuse of this software.

If any of the above is not acceptable to you, do not use this software.

Third-Party Libraries

This software builds on the following open-source projects:

Desktop client (Tauri 2 + React):

• Tauri — Rust-backed cross-platform desktop runtime
• React — UI library
• Zustand — Client state management
• Tailwind CSS — Styling
• Vite — Build + dev server
• lucide-react — Icons
• react-router — Routing

Engine (Rust):

• tokio — Async runtime
• axum — HTTP service
• serde — Serialization
• anyhow — Error handling
• uuid — Job IDs
• zip + sevenz-rust2 — pure-Rust .zip / .7z extraction
• unrar / unrar_sys — .rar extraction on desktop (bundles the UnRAR source by Alexander Roshal; used to extract only, never to compress). See the required notice and the GPLv3 §7 linking exception in LICENSES/. The unrar wrapper (MIT OR Apache-2.0) is vendored at third_party/unrar carrying one local fix for an out-of-bounds read on multi-volume archives — upstream 0.5.8 has no fix; see that directory's README.

Payload (PS5):

• PS5 Payload SDK — Open-source SDK for PS5 payload development; its startup code is vendored at payload/third_party/sdk-crt with one fix so payloads start on firmware where two kernel lookups fail (FW 5.50)
• elfldr (GPLv3) — the ELF loader; a patched copy is vendored at third_party/elfldr (fix for a loader that hangs on a silent client)
• Monocypher (CC0 / BSD-2) — AVA1's cryptography on the console (X25519, ChaCha20-Poly1305, BLAKE2b)
• BLAKE3 (CC0 / Apache-2.0) — fast hashing for AVA1 file verification
• SQLite (public domain) — reading the console's app database
• tiny-AES-c (Unlicense) — MC4 cheat decryption

Thanks

• elf-arsenal (soniciso, Sanad) — parts of the drive sensor, cheat and wake-watchdog code
• PS5 Dump Forge (quer3q) — the UFS2 (.ffpkg) and PFS (.ffpfs) image writers, the streaming .ffpfsc container, reader and safety fixes to the package crates, and the ideas behind hash-checked images and spare space for read-write mounts
• PROSPEROPatches, ORBISPatches and TMDB — game details and artwork
• etaHEN PS5_Cheats and GoldHEN — cheat files
• Everyone who contributed code, translations and docs, and the Discord testers

ps5upload stands on the shoulders of the PS5 homebrew scene. Huge thanks to everyone who makes this ecosystem possible — the exploit and kernel researchers, the ELF/payload loader authors, the PS5 Payload SDK maintainers, the homebrew tool developers whose work this lives alongside, and everyone in the community who tests, reports bugs, and shares knowledge. None of this exists without your collective effort. 🙏

License

GNU General Public License v3.0 (GPLv3). Free to use, free to modify. See LICENSE.

.rar support / UnRAR: the desktop build bundles the UnRAR source (used only to extract RAR — never to compress or build a RAR-compatible archiver). A GPLv3 §7 linking exception covers combining it with this GPL code, and UnRAR's own license is reproduced as required. See LICENSES/UnRAR-exception.md and LICENSES/UnRAR-license.txt.

Author

Created and maintained by PhantomPtr.

• Follow me on X (@phantomptr)

Support

If you find this tool useful, consider buying me a coffee!

• Discord server: https://discord.gg/fzK3xddtrM
• Support me on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/B0B81S0WUA