Check the PS5’s exact system software version before buying hardware or downloading an image. The community ps5-linux project lists support for specific firmware versions on PS5 Phat and Slim consoles through 7.61. Firmware 8.00 and newer are not supported by the project, and versions between the listed releases are not automatically covered. Linux also does not replace the PS5 operating system permanently: the documented setup uses an exploit-based soft-mod that must be run again when you want to boot Linux.
This guide shows how to verify eligibility, what equipment the project requires, what the available images mean, and why a successful Linux boot still does not guarantee that a particular game or peripheral will work.
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Start with the firmware check
The model name alone cannot tell you whether your console is eligible. A PS5 Phat or Slim must have one of the exact system software versions listed by ps5-linux. The project says intermediate versions may not work, downgrading is not possible, and firmware 8.00 or later will not be supported.
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Find the installed version
- On the PS5 home screen, open Settings.
- Select System, then System Software.
- Open Console Information and record the complete version number, including every decimal component.
- Compare that number with the supported-version table below. Do not round it, compare only the first digit, or assume that a release between two listed versions is included.
Menu wording can vary slightly with language settings, but the version shown in the console-information screen is the value that matters. If the console has already downloaded an update, check the installed version rather than the version you remember using previously.
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Supported firmware combinations
The following list reproduces the combinations currently stated in the project README. It is a version list, not a claim that every PS5 has the same exploit behavior or that every installation will succeed.
| PS5 firmware versions listed by ps5-linux | M.2 status in the documented setup |
|---|---|
| 3.00, 3.10, 3.20, 3.21 | Without M.2 support; the project says the console fails to boot with an M.2 attached on its 3.xx setup. |
| 4.00, 4.02, 4.03, 4.50, 4.51 | M.2 support indicated by the project. |
| 5.00, 5.02, 5.10, 5.50 | M.2 support indicated by the project. |
| 6.00, 6.02, 6.50 | M.2 support indicated by the project. |
| 7.00, 7.01, 7.20, 7.40, 7.60, 7.61 | M.2 support indicated by the project. |
Use the live ps5-linux loader README as the final authority before changing anything. Community exploit support can change when vulnerabilities are closed or new methods are developed. A console on 4.10, 5.01, 6.10, 7.50, or another unlisted intermediate release should be treated as unconfirmed, not as automatically compatible.
What an unsupported result means
If your exact version is not listed, do not proceed on the assumption that a nearby release will work. The project says downgrading is not possible. Sony’s US system-software agreement also contains restrictions concerning reinstalling earlier system software and using unauthorized or modified hardware or software. There is no safe, general downgrade recipe to make an unlisted PS5 fit the table.
Understand what “run Linux” means on a PS5
This is not an official setting in the PS5 interface and it is not an ordinary Linux installation supported by Sony. The ps5-linux project describes an exploit-based boot process and a soft-mod. You launch the exploit, prepare the external storage, and then boot a Linux environment. The soft-mod must be run again when you want to boot Linux; it is not a permanent replacement for the console’s standard software.
That distinction affects everyday use:
- You can return to the normal PS5 operating system, but Linux is not selected from a supported Sony menu.
- The documented setup does not support standby/resume for the Linux session, so plan to shut down and repeat the boot process rather than relying on Rest Mode.
- Exploit behavior depends on the exact firmware, hardware revision, storage arrangement, and current project files.
Read the current loader documentation in full before attempting the procedure. Do not treat a distribution image, a USB drive, or an M.2 SSD as a substitute for the required firmware and exploit conditions.
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- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Check the equipment before you begin
Once the firmware passes the first gate, assemble the equipment listed by the project. Buying these items does not make an unsupported console compatible.
Required storage
- USB drive with at least 64 GB: this is the project’s minimum capacity for the Linux environment and associated files.
- External SSD recommended: an SSD is the project’s preferred type of external drive, but the documentation does not endorse a particular brand or model.
Capacity is only a minimum. Leave room for the selected image, updates, applications, and games you plan to install inside Linux. A drive that meets 64 GB can still be unsuitable if it is unreliable, incorrectly prepared, or connected through a failing cable or hub.
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- USB keyboard
- USB mouse
Keyboard and mouse dongles are supported according to the project. Keep them connected during the initial setup because gamepad-only navigation may not be available at every stage.
Optional connectivity accessories
The project lists a USB WLAN adapter and a Bluetooth dongle as optional. They may be useful if the selected Linux image does not provide the connection method you need, but the documentation does not promise that every adapter, headset, controller, or wireless feature will work.
Optional M.2 storage
On the supported firmware groups, an M.2 SSD can be dedicated to Linux. In this documented configuration it cannot also be used as PS5 game storage. The 3.xx setup is the important exception: the project says the console fails to boot when an M.2 is attached, so do not install one on that setup unless the live documentation changes.
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- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
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- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
An M.2 drive is therefore an optional storage path, not an eligibility test. Verify the firmware and the project’s current M.2 notes first, and be prepared to remove the drive if the documented configuration requires it.
Choose an image without confusing availability with compatibility
The project’s image release page lists several Linux choices. The release page viewed for this guide showed Ubuntu 26.04, Arch, CachyOS, Fedora 44, Proxmox VE 8, Debian 12, Bazzite variants, and SteamOS 3 (Holo). It also displayed kernel 7.1.7 and a build date of 2026-08-29. Those are release metadata, not a performance benchmark or a guarantee that every game will run.
| Image or family shown on the release page | What the listing tells you |
|---|---|
| Ubuntu 26.04 | An Ubuntu-based image was available in the viewed release. |
| Arch | An Arch image was available in the viewed release. |
| CachyOS | A CachyOS image was available in the viewed release. |
| Fedora 44 | A Fedora 44 image was available in the viewed release. |
| Proxmox VE 8 | A Proxmox VE 8 image was available in the viewed release. |
| Debian 12 | A Debian 12 image was available in the viewed release. |
| Bazzite variants | Bazzite variants were listed in the viewed release. |
| SteamOS 3 (Holo) | A SteamOS 3 image was listed in the viewed release. |
Check the current PS5 Linux image releases for the files and notes that apply to your loader version. Image names and builds can change, so do not rely on an old download or assume that a newer image supports every older firmware.
Can you run SteamOS on a PS5?
SteamOS is Linux-based, and Valve says Proton allows much of the Steam library to run on SteamOS. That general statement does not establish official SteamOS support for a PS5 installation. On this project, SteamOS 3 (Holo) is one image choice, but successful installation, graphics acceleration, controller support, anti-cheat behavior, and performance remain dependent on the specific PS5 and image.
A practical eligibility and setup sequence
Use this order so that you do not spend money or alter settings before confirming the decisive condition.
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- Record the firmware. Write down the exact version from Settings > System > System Software > Console Information.
- Match the complete number. Compare it with the project’s listed versions. If it is absent, stop; a nearby version is not proof of support.
- Check the live README. Read the current instructions for your firmware and console revision at ps5-linux-loader. The README is the project’s current source of truth.
- Prepare the minimum hardware. Use a USB drive of at least 64 GB, preferably an external SSD, and connect a USB keyboard and mouse. Add wireless adapters only if your planned setup needs them.
- Decide on M.2 storage. Use it only where the project documents support, and understand that the described arrangement dedicates the M.2 to Linux rather than PS5 game storage. Do not attach one to the documented 3.xx setup.
- Select an image. Download an image listed by the project and read its release notes. Choose based on the applications and desktop you need, not on the assumption that one distribution has universal game support.
- Follow the exploit and boot instructions exactly. The project’s soft-mod must be run again for a Linux boot. Do not substitute instructions from a different firmware or an old tutorial.
- Plan each session correctly. Do not use standby/resume as if Linux were a normal PS5 application. Shut down as directed and repeat the documented boot process when returning to Linux.
- Test before committing to a library. Confirm that Linux reaches the desktop, recognizes storage and input devices, and can start the particular game or launcher you care about before moving additional data.
The project recommends disabling automatic updates as part of its setup guidance. Treat that as a deliberate trade-off, not a harmless toggle: an update can change the firmware and remove the version-specific conditions on which the exploit depends.
Why a working Linux boot does not prove game compatibility
There are several separate tests between “Linux starts” and “my game is playable.” A successful boot confirms only that the loader, firmware, storage, and image worked together for that session.
- Operating-system support: the image must include a usable graphics stack, audio support, networking, and input drivers for the hardware you connect.
- Game distribution: a title may require Steam, another launcher, a native Linux build, or a Windows-compatibility layer such as Proton.
- Graphics features: a game can start but fail because of shader compilation, unsupported APIs, memory limits, or driver bugs.
- Online services: anti-cheat, DRM, launchers, and account checks can block a title even when the game itself runs on Linux elsewhere.
- Peripheral behavior: a controller, headset, Wi-Fi adapter, or Bluetooth device can work differently from the keyboard and mouse required for setup.
The reviewed project pages do not provide a complete, independently validated game-by-game guarantee for every PS5 model, firmware, image, and peripheral combination. Test the exact title and accessories you need; do not infer compatibility from the presence of an image in the release list.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Updates, security, and terms you should understand
Automatic updates
Disabling automatic updates can preserve a firmware version, but it also means giving up the normal convenience of automatically receiving Sony’s updates. Monitor the project documentation manually and decide whether preserving exploit eligibility is worth that maintenance burden.
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Sony’s agreement
Sony’s US PS5 System Software Licence Agreement says updates may include security patches or changes that prevent use of unauthorized or pirated content and unauthorized hardware or software. The agreement also contains restrictions involving modified hardware, modified software, and circumvention of security measures.
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- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
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That is the wording of the US agreement, not a universal legal conclusion. Terms and applicable law differ by region, so read the agreement that applies to your account and country before modifying the console. A Linux boot can also affect support, service, account, or warranty decisions in ways the project documentation cannot resolve for you.
Troubleshoot by locating the failing gate
The firmware is not in the table
Stop at the eligibility step. Do not attempt a downgrade, do not assume an intermediate release works, and do not buy an M.2 drive to compensate. Recheck the exact number and consult the current README for any documented change.
The console updated unexpectedly
Record the new installed version and compare it again with the exact list. If the new version is not listed, treat the console as unconfirmed. The project says downgrading is not possible, so an earlier backup or image cannot restore compatibility by itself.
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Check whether the console is on the 3.xx setup. The project specifically documents no M.2 support there and says the console fails to boot with an M.2 attached. Remove the M.2 and retest the documented USB-storage path rather than repeatedly changing images.
The image boots but the keyboard, mouse, or network does not work
Reconnect the required USB keyboard and mouse directly, bypassing a questionable hub, and verify the image’s release notes. For wireless networking or Bluetooth, compare the adapter with the project’s current hardware notes; optional status does not mean universal driver support.
A game launches but is unplayable
Separate the failure into launcher, Proton or native-runtime, graphics, input, and online-service layers. Try the title only after confirming the base desktop and drivers work. A different image may change the software stack, but no listed image guarantees a specific game or anti-cheat service.
Decision checklist
- Exact firmware recorded from the console-information screen.
- Firmware appears as an exact entry in the current ps5-linux list.
- Console is treated as an exploit-based, community-supported setup rather than an official PS5 feature.
- USB storage has at least 64 GB; an external SSD is preferred.
- USB keyboard and mouse are available.
- M.2 use matches the firmware-specific rules and is understood to be Linux-only in the documented arrangement.
- Automatic-update consequences and regional Sony terms have been considered.
- The target distribution, game, launcher, controller, and online features are being tested individually.
If every item above is satisfied, your PS5 is a plausible candidate for the project’s Linux environment. It is still a conditional community setup: the live README, the exact firmware, and the behavior of your chosen image determine the result.
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