Jailbreaking Your PS5 in 2026: The Complete Relapse Exploit Guide (Firmware 7.00 to 13.60)
⚠️ Check your firmware before starting. This guide reflects the situation as of September 30, 2026: the Relapse exploit, released on September 29, 2026 by developer ntfargo, covers PS5 firmware from version 7.00 to 13.60 (both PS5 and PS5 Pro). Sony has since shipped firmware 14.00.00 (September 16, 2026), which is NOT covered: if your console is already on that version or newer, do not update further and check the exploit's official repository for any compatibility update first.
Following the earlier leak of the PS5's BootROM (Level 0) keys, the homebrew scene finally has a complete, public exploit chain. Relapse combines a memory bug in WebKit, the engine behind the PS5's built-in browser, with a race condition in the console's FreeBSD kernel (the aio_multi_wait function) to gain kernel read/write access. The result: unsigned code execution, homebrew and Linux included, in under a minute.
What you'll need
You need: a PS5 or PS5 Pro on firmware between 7.00 and 13.60 (check under Settings → System → System Information); an internet connection; and nothing else, no disc, no USB drive, no PC. Before starting, turn off automatic updates under Settings → System → System Software Update, so Sony can't patch the flaw before you've had a chance to use it.
Steps
1. Go to Settings → Network → Settings → Set Up Internet Connection → Advanced Settings, and enter a custom primary DNS (check the official GitHub repository below for the current value, as this can change).
2. From the home screen, open Settings → Guide and Tips, Health and Safety, Other Information → User's Guide.
3. Inside the User's Guide, type the Relapse exploit page's address into the URL bar and confirm.
4. Wait for it to load: the WebKit stage may take several attempts, reload the page if the browser stalls.
5. Once the exploit runs, the ELF loader is active (port 9021) and the payloads in the payloads/ folder are ready to launch homebrew apps.
⚠️ Important warnings. The exploit is not persistent: you'll need to rerun it after every full console restart. The kernel stage can occasionally hang or crash the PS5; if that happens, just reboot and try again. Never update your console past firmware 13.60 until compatibility is confirmed. Finally, playing online on a jailbroken PS5 risks a permanent PSN account ban and blocks access to certain digital exclusives like GTA VI: RetroVault only endorses offline use and backups of legally owned games.
For up-to-date documentation and official files, check the official Relapse Exploit GitHub repository. The full video walkthrough below covers every step visually:
Source: HotHardware