Hacking Running PS4 PKG from USB?

Leeful

GBAtemp Member
Developer
Joined
Sep 4, 2015
Messages
1,900
Trophies
1
XP
6,920
Country
United Kingdom
You have 2 main options.

1. PS4 Extended Storage USB HDD
Format a USB HDD on the PS4 as Extended Storage and then install or move the games to that.
This is the easiest and most simple method.
On the PS4 go to Settings > Devices > USB Storage Devices > Select Your USB Drive > Format As Extended Storage

2. AppToUSB
Format a USB HDD as exFAT and use stooged's AppToUSB.
This is a more complicated method but instructions can be found on the PS4 AIO Guide here. (look for 'USING APPTOUSB')
 
Last edited by Leeful,
  • Like
Reactions: GilgameshArcher

Proto-Propski

Legally Weird!
Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2018
Messages
266
Trophies
0
Age
24
Location
Boulevard of Broken Meme's
XP
743
Country
United Kingdom
You have 2 main options.

1. PS4 Extended Storage USB HDD
Format a USB HDD on the PS4 as Extended Storage and then install or move the games to that.
This is the easiest and most simple method.
On the PS4 go to Settings > Devices > USB Storage Devices > Select Your USB Drive > Format As Extended Storage

2. AppToUSB
Format a USB HDD as exFAT and use stooged's AppToUSB.
This is a more complicated method but instructions can be found on the PS4 AIO Guide here. (look for 'USING APPTOUSB')

I'm curious I know the first method is Official, but does AppToUSB have anything that the Official Method by Sony doesn't? for instance if you have a "backup" would it be best to use AppToUSB, or would either work just as fine. essentially what are the Pros, and Cons to each, if any.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LH1980

Leeful

GBAtemp Member
Developer
Joined
Sep 4, 2015
Messages
1,900
Trophies
1
XP
6,920
Country
United Kingdom
Pros and Cons:

PS4 Extended Storage - Pros:
Easiest method to setup and use.
The USB drive can be plugged in to another exploitable PS4 and the games will work on that PS4 console.
(if you are using the USB drive on more than one PS4 you must make sure that you run HEN before you plug in the USB drive.
This does not matter if you are ony using it on one PS4 console)
Works with both legal games and backups.

PS4 Extended Storage - Cons:
Once formatted as external storage, the USB drive cannot be used to tranfer files to and from a PC anymore.
If you plug the drive into a PC the drive/files will not be visible.


AppToUSB - Pros:
Because the USB drive is formatted as exFAT you can still use the same USB drive on a PC.
The installed games on the USB drive are in .pkg format and are an identical copy of the .pkg file you used to install the game,
so basically you have a backup copy of the .pkg file on the USB that you can use to re-install the game if needed.


AppToUSB - Cons:
Harder to set up for beginners. (although if you follow the guide you will be fine)
You must install a new game to the PS4 first, then transfer it to the USB drive with AppTo Usb. You cannot install a new game directly to the USB drive.



When the PS4 was fist exploitable the official method of using Extended Storage on USB did not work that is why AppToUsb (and similar payloads) were created.
With the release of HEN v1.7 Extended Storage on USB was fixed and the official method of using Extended Storage on USB now worked as it should.

In my opinion, the only advantages that AppToUsb has now is that the drive is still usable with a PC and the drive can act as a backup of your installed .pkg files if you need it.

I personally now use the Extended Storage method if my internal drive is full and have another USB drive to use for transfering files to and from the PC if needed.
I also have another drive that I use keep a backup of all my installed .pkgs so I can re-install them if needed.
 
Last edited by Leeful,

Proto-Propski

Legally Weird!
Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2018
Messages
266
Trophies
0
Age
24
Location
Boulevard of Broken Meme's
XP
743
Country
United Kingdom
Pros and Cons:

PS4 Extended Storage - Pros:
Easiest method to setup and use.
The USB drive can be plugged in to another exploitable PS4 and the games will work on that PS4 console.
(if you are using the USB drive on more than one PS4 you must make sure that you run HEN before you plug in the USB drive.
This does not matter if you are ony using it on one PS4 console)
Works with both legal games and backups.

PS4 Extended Storage - Cons:
Once formatted as external storage, the USB drive cannot be used to tranfer files to and from a PC anymore.
If you plug the drive into a PC the drive/files will not be visible.


AppToUSB - Pros:
Because the USB drive is formatted as exFAT you can still use the same USB drive on a PC.
The installed games on the USB drive are in .pkg format and are an identical copy of the .pkg file you used to install the game,
so basically you have a backup copy of the .pkg file on the USB that you can use to re-install the game if needed.


AppToUSB - Cons:
Harder to set up for beginners. (although if you follow the guide you will be fine)
You must install a new game to the PS4 first, then transfer it to the USB drive with AppTo Usb. You cannot install a new game directly to the USB drive.



When the PS4 was fist exploitable the official method of using Extended Storage on USB did not work that is why AppToUsb (and similar payloads) were created.
With the release of HEN v1.7 Extended Storage on USB was fixed and the official method of using Extended Storage on USB now worked as it should.

In my opinion, the only advantages that AppToUsb has now is that the drive is still usable with a PC and the drive can act as a backup of your installed .pkg files if you need it.

I personally now use the Extended Storage method if my internal drive is full and have another USB drive to use for transfering files to and from the PC if needed.
I also have another drive that I use keep a backup of all my installed .pkgs so I can re-install them if needed.


Thank-you for pointing them out, personally though I think I'll keep to using AppToUSB for myself. I really just like that it makes the games into PKG files, it can be really helpful in backing them up in a re-installable format (if I ever need to for whatever reason) without always having to take on double the storage space. Not to mention it bugs me that I wouldn't be capable of using my HDD on the Official Method, I don't have a lot of USB Devices that can handle 64+ GB's for some big titles, so I'd like to use whatever I have to install the game initially then AppToUSB it.

Regardless it's always great to have options though, what works for me might not others
 
  • Like
Reactions: Leeful
General chit-chat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.
    Skelletonike @ Skelletonike: No idea what that is tbh, is that like the iso or something?