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The upstream ps5-linux loader documents Linux support on specific PS5 firmware versions from 3.00 through 7.61. It does not support every version in that range: only the exact releases listed below qualify. The upstream FAQ says firmware 8.00 and newer are not supported. A separate, unofficial fork claims support for 13.60, including PS5 Pro, but that claim is not part of the upstream compatibility list and requires independent validation.
Upstream PS5 Linux firmware compatibility
For the upstream project, compatibility is defined by an exact firmware list rather than a broad range. A console must be running one of these releases; a nearby version is not automatically supported.
| PS5 firmware | Upstream Linux-loader status | M.2 SSD status |
|---|---|---|
| 3.00, 3.10, 3.20, 3.21 | Supported | No M.2 support |
| 4.00, 4.02, 4.03, 4.50, 4.51 | Supported | M.2 support |
| 5.00, 5.02, 5.10, 5.50 | Supported | M.2 support |
| 6.00, 6.02, 6.50 | Supported | M.2 support |
| 7.00, 7.01, 7.20, 7.40, 7.60, 7.61 | Supported | M.2 support |
| 8.00 and higher | Not supported by the upstream FAQ | Not applicable |
The project describes this matrix as applying to PS5 Phat and Slim consoles. It is a project-documented compatibility claim, not a measured success rate or a guarantee that every console will boot Linux. No independent percentage of successful installations is established in the project documentation.
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What the firmware list means in practice
Firmware 4.03
Firmware 4.03 appears in the upstream 4.xx group and is therefore an upstream-supported target. The group is listed with M.2 support, so a compatible internal expansion drive can be used with the documented setup.
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Firmware 4.51
Firmware 4.51 is also explicitly listed in the supported 4.xx group. It has the same M.2 status as the other listed 4.xx releases.
Firmware 7.61
Firmware 7.61 is the highest version in the upstream loader’s supported matrix. It belongs to the 7.xx group, which is listed with M.2 support.
Firmware 13.60
Firmware 13.60 is not in the upstream table. An unofficial soniciso1 fork claims to add 13.60 support on PS5 Phat, Slim and Pro, but that is a fork-specific claim rather than upstream support. Treat it as unverified until the fork, exploit chain and hardware behavior have been checked separately.
Highest PS5 firmware supported for Linux
If you mean the upstream ps5-linux project, the highest supported firmware is 7.61. The answer is not 7.62 or every version below 8.00: the loader lists only the individual releases in its matrix. The upstream FAQ answers the question about firmware 8.00 and newer with no, so those versions should not be treated as supported targets for this project.
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The 13.60 figure belongs only to the unofficial soniciso1 fork. It should be reported separately whenever compatibility is discussed, because combining it with the upstream list would make the support level appear stronger than the documentation warrants.
Linux-loader support is separate from jailbreak availability
A firmware appearing in the Linux-loader table does not by itself identify the exploit or entry point that will run on that console. The idlesauce/umtx2 repository documents a WebKit-based PS5 jailbreak covering firmware 1.00 through 5.50. That range overlaps the lower part of the Linux matrix, including the listed 3.xx, 4.xx and 5.xx releases.
The available documentation does not state that umtx2 is the universal entry point for every supported 6.xx and 7.xx firmware. Consequently, a 6.00, 6.02, 6.50, 7.00, 7.01, 7.20, 7.40, 7.60 or 7.61 console still needs an exploit chain that is specifically verified for that firmware. Do not infer exploit availability solely from the loader table.
The upstream FAQ says support for 1.xx and 2.xx may be added in the future but is not prioritized. Those older versions are therefore not current upstream Linux targets, even though the separately documented umtx2 jailbreak range begins at 1.00.
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Do you need an M.2 SSD?
No. An M.2 SSD is optional hardware for the documented setup, and its availability depends on firmware. The upstream README lists M.2 support for the 4.xx, 5.xx, 6.xx and 7.xx groups, but not for 3.xx.
A 3.xx PS5 cannot boot with an M.2 drive attached, according to the project documentation. If the console is on 3.00, 3.10, 3.20 or 3.21, remove the M.2 before attempting to boot the Linux environment. The absence of M.2 support does not remove 3.xx from the Linux-loader list; it changes the storage configuration you can use.
| Firmware group | Can the documented setup use an M.2? | Practical implication |
|---|---|---|
| 3.xx | No | Boot without an attached M.2 SSD. |
| 4.xx through 7.xx listed releases | Yes | A PS5-compatible M.2 SSD is optional, not mandatory. |
Hardware required for the documented setup
The upstream README specifies a minimum external-storage requirement and several peripherals:
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- USB input: a USB keyboard and a USB mouse.
- M.2 storage: optional, and only for firmware groups listed with M.2 support.
- Wireless networking: an optional USB WLAN adapter.
- Bluetooth: an optional Bluetooth dongle.
The 64GB figure is a minimum capacity requirement for the USB drive, not a promise that every 64GB device will have the same usable space or performance. A larger external SSD can provide more room for images and data, but it does not change which firmware versions the loader supports.
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- Backward compatible with USB 2.0
- Secure file encryption and password protection(2)
PS5 model coverage
The upstream wording limits documented support to PS5 Phat and Slim models. The upstream firmware table should therefore be applied to those two model families, subject to the exact firmware and hardware conditions above.
The unofficial 13.60 fork claims coverage for PS5 Phat, Slim and Pro. Because that statement comes from a fork rather than the upstream project, model compatibility, exploit requirements and boot reliability should be treated as separate questions. A PS5 Pro on 13.60 is not equivalent to an upstream-supported console on 7.61.
Linux images available for supported targets
The separate ps5-linux-image release project publishes bootable images for Ubuntu, Arch, CachyOS, Fedora, Proxmox VE and Debian. Its latest listed image was built on 2026-08-29.
Image availability and firmware compatibility are different layers. Publishing a newer Ubuntu, Debian or other image does not expand the loader’s firmware matrix, and an image release cannot make an 8.00-or-newer console supported. First establish that the console has a documented loader and exploit path; then select an image appropriate to the intended use.
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How to determine whether your console is a viable target
- Record the exact system-software version. Use the PS5 system-software information screen and write down the complete version, including every decimal component.
- Match the number against the upstream table. Do not substitute a general range for an exact match. For example, 4.03 and 4.51 are listed, while an unlisted 4.xx release is not established by this matrix.
- Identify the support source. Releases through 7.61 in the table are upstream entries. A 13.60 result would depend on the unofficial soniciso1 fork and should be labeled that way.
- Check the exploit separately. The documented umtx2 WebKit jailbreak covers 1.00–5.50, but the available documentation does not make it a universal solution for 6.xx or 7.xx.
- Plan storage around the firmware group. Prepare at least a 64GB USB drive and remember that a 3.xx console must not boot with an M.2 attached.
- Choose peripherals and an image. Have the USB keyboard and mouse ready; add WLAN or Bluetooth hardware only if the chosen setup needs it. Select an image from the available Linux-image releases after the loader and exploit path are confirmed.
Common compatibility mistakes
Assuming every firmware below 8.00 works
The upstream project does not document blanket support for all versions below 8.00. It lists specific releases, so an unlisted version remains unconfirmed even when its number sits between two supported entries.
Confusing an image release with an exploit
A bootable image for a particular Linux distribution is not an exploit. The image layer and the firmware-entry layer must both work on the console.
Installing an M.2 on a 3.xx console
The project specifically states that a 3.xx PS5 cannot boot with an M.2 attached. Remove that drive for a 3.xx setup rather than treating M.2 as a universal requirement.
Calling a fork claim upstream support
The 13.60 claim is tied to the soniciso1 fork. Keep it out of the upstream table and identify the fork whenever discussing it.
Assuming the same exploit covers every listed version
umtx2 documents 1.00–5.50, while the Linux-loader table extends to 7.61. Those are overlapping but non-identical ranges; exploit verification is required for the higher versions.
Quick Recap
Bottom line for each common question
- Can a PS5 on 4.03 run Linux? It is explicitly listed as upstream-supported, with M.2 support.
- Can a PS5 on 4.51 run Linux? It is explicitly listed as upstream-supported, with M.2 support.
- Can a PS5 on 7.61 run Linux? It is the highest firmware in the upstream list and is listed with M.2 support, but the exploit entry point must still be verified separately.
- Can a PS5 on 13.60 run Linux? Only an unofficial fork claims this, including Pro support; it is not upstream support.
- Can a PS5 on 8.00 or higher be jailbroken for this Linux project? The upstream FAQ says no.
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