Beginner
Intermediate
AdvancedThis guide explains how to manually download PS3 System Software (firmware) Updates on your PC, copy to a USB flash drive, and then copy and install on your PS3. It is also possible to just connect your PS3 to the Internet and let it handle the updating for you.
Prerequisites
You will need a USB flash drive (thumb drive, removable media, storage media, etc) with enough free space to store the system software update file. You will need at least 120MB.
It might be worth noting that updates are not incremental. Each time you download an update file you are getting all the previous updates in the file too. This means that the filesize will grow with each version. 
Step 1: Prepare your removable media
- Plug your USB drive into your PC
- Create a new folder on it called PS3
- Inside that PS3 folder, create a new folder called UPDATE (must be in capitals)
Step 2: Download the update file on your PC
- You must download the update file suitable for your region. Start at www.playstation.com and find the “System Software Updates” page
- Regional links: Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, North America
- Find the “Download” link
- Save the file “PS3UPDAT.PUP” into the UPDATE folder on your USB storage device
Step 3: Copy the file to your PS3
- Unplug the flash drive from your PC and plug into any free USB slot on your PS3
- Go to the “Settings” XMB menu, choose “System Update”
- Choose “Update via storage media”
- The USB drive will be scanned. If you get an error that no update file was found, ensure that the folder structure is correct (Step 1)
- Select “OK” to copy the update file to the PS3′s hard disk
- Wait for the file to be copied and the PS3 should reboot automatically (leave the USB drive plugged in during this phase)
At this point, for two different update/firmware attempts, I have had my PS3 freeze. The copy completes and the screen goes black, but there is no activity from the machine. Both times I had to force a shutdown and start it up again. Thankfully everything still went smoothly.
Step 4: Install the update
- When the PS3 has started up again you should be presented with a screen showing the version of the system software ready to install. Press the PS button
- Wait for the “Checking for update data” to complete
- Accept the user agreement
- Press X button to confirm the installation
- The update will be installed and the PS3 should be rebooted!
apparently, update via USB media much faster than direct from the net.
i tried downloading it from my storage device and it keeps saying no apllicable updates found????? help please
it is much faster to do it via a pc. updating my ps3, it took 45 minutes to get to 45% download before deciding to freeze and say there was a connection error. on the pc, it took 36 mins to download the entire update from the sony website (whuch usefully gives you a full detailed overview of all the updates and whats in each one. it then took 45 seconds to copy and install it on the ps3. from now on ill always update via pc
hey it seems pretty simple but for this update does it matter if i cant find the firmware for australia, i looked everywere and couldnt find it.
for this firmware is the update universal, meaning does it matter if i cant find the australian firmware.
thanx
AVI: The link for Australia above gets you to the firmware page, however we tend to get the newer versions a little later (like a day or two later than US).
In the past I’ve downloaded and applied the US firmware no problem.
will the update erase everything or anything at all
this guy: The updates do not erase anything.
How do I download vedio and music codecs or do they automatically come with the updates? My PS3 fails to play some vedios and music which frustrates me alot sometimes!
Gumbah: The PS3 software contains various codecs as determined by Sony and there isn’t a way to add more yourself. We have a list of supported filetypes if you’re interested.
Will updating my PS3 from US released firmware to the Australian released firmware allow it to support PAL games with a SD TV? Any ideas other than buy a HDTV
?
after i did a software update i putted in a game and its’ saying that there is a software for this and i pressed ok, and the screen went blank, but the system is still on….what do i do
Hi guys, just clearing up, PS3 updates whether it is done by this method or by intenret on the PS3 itself, will not erase user data. I cannot say that the update will not corrupt and cause an abnormal problem erasing data etc.
But updates are designed to improve, not set the user back.
I’m downloading 3.15 after I got my PS3 back from repairs. It takes a while but I have a small archieve of updates should something go wrong
This method is a good way of updating. It’s best to go to:
Game > Trophies > (Press Triangle) > Click on ‘Sync trophies’
This will sync your trophies with the PSN Network
i seemed to do everything rite but when i pressed via internet it wouldnt work i tried everything idk… plzz help
Okay, I go through the whole process of downloading the file to my USB drive like it says. This is the only way I can do it since I’m on dial-up. I plug it into my PS3 and, when I get to “Update via storage media,” it scans it and says the file is corrupt.
Can downloadable content for games such as Dragon Age be done using portable storage media?
Hi Mike – as far as I know it’s not possible. Only system updates can be done this way.