PS4 Linux Tutorial for Dumbasses and Others Alike

August 21, 2026

Disclaimer:

Before I get started...

This is not a replacement for DionKill's guide.

This is just an arguably simpler guide for morons who can't use a computer. (AKA i was bored)

Key Information

Requirements

  • Compatible PS4: Anything that can run GoldHEN can run Linux.

  • Keyboard and Mouse (obviously—how else are you gonna control the thing?)

  • Internet (who doesnt have internet bro cmon)

  • One or more USB drives (If you want to install to an external drive, you can use a USB pendrive or HDD.)

    GoldHEN: https://consolemods.org/wiki/PS4:GoldHEN

Discord server if you get stuck somewhere: https://discord.gg/fZQScGvRQb

remember, you're not getting any help if you dont read!

South Bridge Compatibility

South Bridge Generation Support Notes
 Aeolia   Oldest   Good   Minor issues 
 Belize   Second gen   Best   Most supported 
 Baikal   Last gen   Poor   No internal HDD, many issues 

TL;DR: Aeolia and Belize good, Baikal bad.

Setup

Storage Devices to Install To

  1. Internal — Not on Baikal; very slow; needs free space.
  2. External HDD/SSD/USB — Use USB 3.x. Pendrives work if you're a masochist.

PS4 System

Some configuration is needed in Orbis (the PS4's OS) before loading Linux.

Note Down from Settings → System Information

  • System software version
  • Southbridge
  • GoldHEN version

Settings

Audio & Display

  • Resolution: 1080p/720p (4K may fail on Pro; Auto works on Belize).
  • RGB Range: Set manually — "Limited" if "Full" looks weird.
  • Wide Color Gamut: Disable (no video output if you don't do that).

System

  • Internet: Connect first — some models glitch without it.
  • Ethernet: May not work on PS4 Pro Baikal.

PC

You'll need a PC and internet to transfer files to your PS4.

Access the PS4 filesystem via FTP (or USB if you INSIST).

FTP Clients

Windows

  • Built-in file manager — Can crash the desktop if the connection fails (great job, Microsoft).
  • WinSCP (recommended, simple interface)
  • Filezilla

Linux

If you're using Linux, you should probably be skilled enough to read the main guide...

  • Built-in file explorer (KDE, Gnome, Cinnamon)
  • Filezilla

macOS

  • Filezilla

⚠️ Filezilla users: Use binary mode — GoldHEN's FTP has issues otherwise.

Necessary Files

Download these for the next step. You'll get links for these soon, don't worry :)

  • bzImage — the kernel here (if you're baikal, here (requires github account) or here)
  • initramfs.cpio.gz — the rescue shell/terminal before the main distro here
  • A distro — preinstalled and modified for PS4 here (or make your own; read the main guide for that).

Installation

Alright, it's time to put your big boy pants on and get this shit started.

  1. Boot your PS4 and launch GoldHEN.

  2. Take the initramfs.zip file, open it, and choose your installation method. Put it somewhere you'll remember, like your desktop (mind the Southbridge).

  3. Download the kernel (you should have done this in the previous step).

  4. Take the distro file and rename it to psxitarch.tar.xz (don't extract it! It's supposed to be an archive).

Here, there are two branching paths: Internal and External Installation.

Take the route you wish to use—use only one of them.

Internal Installation:

Remember, this is fucking slow.

Check your PS4 storage, as you'll need to choose the size of the installation. Leave some free space in your console, and remember that the PS4 doesn't report the space taken internally by Linux!

FTP to your PS4. Go to the /data/ folder, create the folder /linux/boot/, and place your bzImage (from the kernel download) and the initramfs (that you downloaded) in there.

Once you've done that, go to /user/system/, make a folder called boot, and paste psxitarch.tar.xz into there.

(Tip: You can uninstall Linux by removing those files and the linux.img in /user/home/.)

Launchin' the Payload!

After that, either launch your payload with a payload website to load them (you will need GoldHEN's Payloader Server enabled).

Remember: what RAM payload you pick will share your system memory with the GPU! If you pick a 2GB payload, it will give you 8-2 = 6GB of RAM!

  1. Go to http://webkitty.arabpixel.isroot.in/ on your PS4's browser.

  2. Select the Linux tab at the top center.

  3. Wait for the cache to install first...

  4. Load 1GB for the first install. You may choose something later.

Installation Commands

Once you're in the "rescue shell", type install-linux-hdd.sh or linux-install-hdd.sh.

Type how much storage you want to use for the installation.

Go eat something while it does its thing—don't force shut it down! If it looks frozen, it's probably not. Just wait it out.

If it doesn't automatically boot into the OS, run resume-boot.

And boom, it's done.

You can pick a 2GB VRAM payload after if you wanna game or something, I dunno.

External Installation - Method 1 (using a script)

WARNING

Remember we'll format the external drive! Back up any existing data you care about.

TIP

If you have issues or just want to do manual partitioning (which often works better), try the alternative installation.

Installation Scripts

Put the kernel, initramfs (initramfs.cpio.gz), and your distro psxitarch.tar.xz on the root of a FAT32 formatted drive. (just on the drive, like you would documents, I guess?)

Manual Format for Big Drives

If the drive is larger than 32GB, Windows will just refuse to format it as FAT32, but only in NTFS or ExFAT, which is just bullshit, as FAT32 supports up to 2TB drives. To fix it, go ahead and download the Rufus program.

  1. Select "List USB Hard Drives"
  2. Select "Non bootable" as a type of format
  3. Select "MBR" as partition scheme
  4. Select "FAT32" as filesystem
  5. Click start and wait. Once done, place the files on the drive. Plug your drive into the PS4 and continue.

Launchin' the Payload!

After that, either launch your payload with a payload website to load them (you will need GoldHEN's Payloader Server enabled).

Remember: what RAM payload you pick will share your system memory with the GPU! If you pick a 2GB payload, it will give you 8-2 = 6GB of RAM!

  1. Go to http://webkitty.arabpixel.isroot.in/ on your PS4's browser.

  2. Select the Linux tab at the top center.

  3. Wait for the cache to install first...

  4. Load 1GB for the first install. You may choose something later.

Installation Commands

Now that the storage is covered, here comes the moment of truth. You'll be sent to the Rescue Shell.

Type install-psxitarch.sh

If it fails, use the alternative method.

Go eat something while it does its thing—don't force shut it down! If it looks frozen, it's probably not. Just wait it out.

After that is done, it should boot into the desktop. If it doesn't, run:

resume-boot

WARNING

Don't run resume-boot more than twice, or it'll crash the system! Do CTRL+ALT+DELETE to reboot instead!

External Installation - Method 2 (manual partitioning)

WARNING

Remember we'll format the external drive! Back up any existing data you care about.

This method involves manual partitioning. It's slower to do, but works flawlessly, therefore it's recommended if you have issues.

Get a Linux PC or VM (even a Live ISO works), or any program that can format drives in Linux's formats.

Then, plug in your drive, and use "GParted", "KDE Partition Manager", or "Aoemi Partition Assistant" on Windows to format your external drive like so:

  • 50MB of FAT32 at the start of the drive with an empty label
  • And a partition of the remaining space formatted as EXT4 labeled "psxitarch"

BTRFS works too and is faster, but EXT4 is recommended.

Now move your bzImage (and bootargs if you need it) and initramfs to the FAT32 partition.

Then, you will need to untar your distro of choice at the root of the bigger EXT4 partition, using this command:

sudo tar -xvJpf ps4linux.tar.xz -C /run/media/YOURNAME/psxitarch --numeric-owner

NOTE

Replace YOURNAME. Also, you need to check that the drive is actually called psxitarch—it'll be different if you didn't set it.

Launchin' the Payload!

After that, either launch your payload with a payload website to load them (you will need GoldHEN's Payloader Server enabled).

Remember: what RAM payload you pick will share your system memory with the GPU! If you pick a 2GB payload, it will give you 8-2 = 6GB of RAM!

  1. Go to http://webkitty.arabpixel.isroot.in/ on your PS4's browser.

  2. Select the Linux tab at the top center.

  3. Wait for the cache to install first...

  4. Pick any VRAM payload, (2GB recommended)

Booting Up

Now that the storage is covered, here comes the moment of truth. It should already boot into the desktop. If it doesn't, and instead shows a Rescue Shell command prompt, type this until the distro starts:

resume-boot

WARNING

Don't run resume-boot more than twice, or it'll crash the system! Do CTRL+ALT+DELETE to reboot instead!

Finale

Okay, hopefully I wrote all of that correctly and I don't get slandered in the abuse club, but, who knows.