Before you follow any guide that modifies a PlayStation console, record two separate facts: the hardware model number printed on the console, and the system software version installed on it. Any modification guide worth trusting is written for a specific model family and software version, so these two numbers decide whether its instructions apply to your machine at all.
Why you need both numbers
People often treat the model number and the software version as one piece of information. They are not. The model number identifies the physical hardware, and its prefix tells you the family. The system software version is the firmware-level release running on that hardware, and it changes through updates. A guide can be correct for one model and wrong for another, and it can also depend on a particular software release.
| Item | What it identifies | Where it comes from | Changes over time? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Model number | Physical hardware and its family | Printed label on the console or its packaging | No, unless you replace the hardware |
| System software version | Installed firmware release | The console’s Settings menu | Yes, with each system software update |
Record both before you open the console, change any setting, or install any file.
PS5
Check the system software version
- From the home screen, open Settings.
- Select System, then System Software, then Console Information.
- Read the system software version shown on the screen. If the text “Up to date” appears beneath it, Sony says the latest version is installed.
Sony’s PS5 instructions are at How to check for updates on PS5 consoles and PS4 consoles.
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Find the model number
The PS5 model number begins with CFI. Sony describes it as “the letters CFI, followed by a series of numbers and a letter.” Turn the console upright and look at the label on the bottom. If the stand or base is attached and hides the label, remove the base to read it.
The serial number is also listed under Settings > System > System Software > Console Information. Do not treat it as a substitute for the model number. Write down the CFI-prefixed model number from the chassis as a separate entry. Sony’s PS5 serial and model guide is at How to find PS5 console serial and model numbers.
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PS4
Check the system software version
- From the home screen, open Settings.
- Select System, then System Information.
- Read the value in the System Software field.
Find the model number
The PS4 model number begins with CUH. Sony describes it as “the letters CUH, followed by four numbers and a letter.” It appears on the console or on the original packaging. The label position depends on the model family, so the same instruction does not work for every unit. Sony’s guide separates the CUH-10xx, CUH-11xx and CUH-12xx families, the CUH-20xx family, and the CUH-70xx family. Use Sony’s diagrams to find the label for your family, and read the full code rather than only the prefix. The diagrams are in PS4: Where to find serial and model numbers.
PS3
Check the system software version
- From the XMB, open Settings.
- Select System Settings, then System Information.
- Read the version shown in the System Software field.
Find the model number
The official PS3 support pages we reviewed do not provide a model-label locator. Read the model number from the label on your console, and cross-check it against the box or the manual that came with your unit. Confirm the hardware family from that source before you follow any family-specific guide. Do not borrow label-position instructions written for the PS4 or PS5, because those consoles print their labels in different places and use different prefixes.
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If you plan to use Sony’s computer-based update
Sony’s PS3 system software page describes a computer-based update that uses a USB storage device formatted as FAT32, with the official update file placed in the prescribed PS3/UPDATE folder structure. This matters only if you choose that update path. You do not need USB storage to read the model number or the installed version. Sony’s instructions are at How to update PS3 console system software.
Quick reference by console
| Console | Version location | Model prefix | Where the model number is printed |
|---|---|---|---|
| PS5 | Settings > System > System Software > Console Information | CFI | Bottom of the console when upright; remove the base if it hides the label |
| PS4 | Settings > System > System Information, then the System Software field | CUH | Console or original packaging; position depends on the family |
| PS3 | Settings > System Settings > System Information, then the System Software field | Not stated in the official pages reviewed | Console label and packaging; confirm against the manual |
What these checks do not tell you
Reading the model number and version establishes which hardware and firmware you have. It does not establish whether a particular modification is compatible, safe, legal in your region, or covered by your warranty. Sony’s support pages describe how to identify the console and read its software version, and they do not address third-party modifications. Treat a model family name as a starting point, not as proof that a guide applies to your unit.
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Before you follow a modification guide
- Write down the full model number, including the prefix and the characters after it.
- Write down the exact system software version, not only the major release.
- Confirm that the guide names the same model family and a software version that matches yours.
- If the guide does not name your model family or version, stop and find one that does.
- If the model number or version on your console differs from what the guide describes, do not proceed with the steps.
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