There are several reasons you might want to upgrade your device’s firmware or software. Maybe your current version is too outdated to run the latest games, or online features have become inaccessible because Sony requires a higher firmware version. Perhaps you simply want to improve your setup with new features and better performance. Whatever your motivation, upgrading is often necessary to keep enjoying your device to its fullest.
However, one major concern when upgrading is preserving your game progress and personal data. Losing saved games or settings can be frustrating and discouraging. That’s why this guide will walk you through the entire update process step-by-step, including how to safely back up your data before you begin. This way, you can upgrade with confidence and keep all your progress intact.
Requirements
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A PS3 with any Custom Firmware (CFW) already installed.
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A newer version of the CFW than your current one (download it before starting).
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A USB flash drive with at least 1GB of free space, formatted as FAT32.
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Important: Remove any Blu-ray game disks from your PS3 before proceeding.
Important Warning
Upgrading your CFW can sometimes require resetting your PS3, which may cause loss of data. It is highly recommended to back up all your important data and save files before starting the update process.
Verify Your Current Firmware Version
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Turn on your PS3 and navigate to:
Settings > System Settings > System Information -
Check the version number shown here. Make sure the new CFW version you plan to install is newer than the one currently installed on your PS3.
If you want to install a lower version than what you currently have, this guide is not for you. Instead, refer to a dedicated downgrader guide designed for that purpose.
Back Up Your Saved Game Data
Before upgrading, back up your saved games to avoid losing progress:
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Insert your USB stick (formatted as FAT32) into a USB port on your PS3.
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Navigate to Game > Saved Data Utility (PS3).
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Highlight your first save game file.
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Press the Triangle button and select Copy Multiple.
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On the right side, select Select All to choose all your save data.
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Press OK, then select your USB stick as the destination for the backup.
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Wait for the copying process to complete fully.
Once done, safely remove the USB stick.
Prepare the Firmware Update on Your USB Stick
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Connect the USB stick to your PC.
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Download the desired CFW update file. This file should be a
.PUPfile, usually around 180-200MB. -
On your USB stick, create a folder structure as follows:
(“USB_ROOT” is the root directory of your USB stick.)
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Copy the
.PUPfile into theUPDATEfolder. -
Rename the
.PUPfile to PS3UPDAT.PUP (make sure the extension is.PUP).
Your USB stick is now ready for the update.
Perform the Firmware Update on Your PS3
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Insert the USB stick into your PS3.
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Double-check that no Blu-ray game disks are inside the console.
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Navigate to:
Settings > System Update > Update via Storage Media -
Your PS3 should detect the new firmware update and display its details. Verify it is the correct CFW version you intended to install.
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Agree to the user agreement and begin the installation process.
The PS3 will automatically reboot, enter update mode, and install the firmware. This process may take several minutes. The console will shut down when complete.
Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)
Q: My PS3 can’t find the update file on the USB stick. What should I do?
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Make sure your PS3 is already running a Custom Firmware. This guide will not work on stock/original PS3 consoles.
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If the update file is still not detected, try booting into Recovery Mode on your PS3 and install the update from there. This often resolves detection issues.
Q: I want to install a lower firmware version than the one currently installed.
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This guide does not cover downgrading. For that, look for a dedicated downgrader guide tailored to your PS3 model.