PS Vita Recovery Menu

PS Vita Recovery Menu
PS Vita Recovery Menu
General
Author	DrinkingSubset
Type	System Tools
Version	1.0.6
License	MIT License
Last Updated	2026/03/19
Links
	Download
	Website
	Source

PS Vita Recovery Menu is a diagnostic and recovery environment for the PlayStation Vita running custom firmware (HENkaku, h-encore, h-encore2, or Ensō). It provides a comprehensive toolkit for plugin management, system diagnostics, storage repair, and unbricking, accessible by holding the R trigger at power-on to boot directly into the recovery environment.

Description

PS Vita Recovery Menu is a homebrew application created by DrinkingSubset (Jose) as a custom recovery environment for PlayStation Vita systems running custom firmware. The application can be launched either as a standard homebrew bubble from LiveArea or triggered at boot by holding the R button, launching automatically before the Vita's standard shell fully initialises.

The tool is designed to assist with software-level issues on PS Vita systems. It can help recover from corrupted or misconfigured config.txt files, plugin conflicts causing boot loops, broken LiveArea databases, misconfigured storage mount points, and general CFW misconfigurations.

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This tool cannot recover a fully hard-bricked PS Vita. It is intended for experienced PS Vita CFW users who understand the risks. Certain operations — including modifying system partitions, deleting core system files, resetting the tai configuration, or applying unsafe plugin configurations — can result in a soft brick or, in worst-case scenarios, a hard brick.

Features

Main Menu

Exit to LiveArea
Plugins
Advanced
System Info
Restore / Unbrick
Plugin Fix Mode
Sony Recovery
Storage Manager
File Manager
Cheat Manager
Reboot
Power Off

Plugin Manager

Toggle any plugin on/off
Remove duplicate entries
Clean config.txt
Save changes

Advanced Tools

CPU Speed Control — independent ARM / GPU ES4 / BUS / XBR clock domains, persists across reboots
Registry Hacks
Reset VSH (restart LiveArea)
Suspend / Shut Down / Reboot
System Write Mode (with full warning dialog)
Boot Diagnostics
Boot Recovery Installer

System Information

Displays firmware version, model, Ensō status, motherboard series, live clocks, battery health, memory, and active tai config path.

Restore / Unbrick

Safe Mode Boot
Reset taiHEN config
Backup / Restore ux0:tai/
Rebuild LiveArea Database
Official Sony recovery options

Plugin Fix Mode

Safe Mode
View & Toggle plugins
Re-enable All
Reset to Minimal
Backup / Restore config

Sony Recovery

Replicas of Sony's safe-mode options (Restart, Rebuild Database, Format Memory Card, Restore System, Update Firmware) with danger warnings.

Storage Manager (SD2Vita)

Card & config information
Mount point switching
StorageMgr install
Format tools

File Manager

Full partition browser with folder and file operations.

Cheat Manager

Vita native cheats (.psv)
PSP CWCheat (.db) support

Safety Features

Never touches vs0: / os0: unless System Write Mode is manually enabled (with full warning dialog)
Config backed up before every install/uninstall operation
Atomic config writes (.tmp → rename) prevent corruption on power loss
L-trigger at boot triggers safe mode — disables non-essential plugins before menu opens

Compatibility

Requires a jailbroken PS Vita running HENkaku, h-encore, h-encore2, or Ensō on firmware 3.60–3.74.

Tested Devices

Device	Firmware	CFW
PS Vita PCH-1000 (3G)	3.65	Ensō
PS Vita PCH-1101	3.60	HENkaku
PS Vita PCH-1101	3.74	h-encore2
PS Vita PCH-2001 Slim	3.65	Ensō + SD2Vita

The disclaimer notes compatibility with all PS Vita models including PCH-1000 / PCH-1001 (OLED), PCH-1100 / PCH-1101 (OLED 3G), PCH-2000 / PCH-2001 (Slim LCD), and PlayStation TV (VTE-1000 / CEM-3000).

Installation

Download the latest VitaRecovery.vpk from the Releases page.
Install via VitaShell.
Launch the app once from LiveArea (bubble will appear as Title ID RECM00001).
Go to Boot Recovery Installer → Install Boot Recovery.
- Copies boot_recovery.skprx and boot_trigger.suprx to your active tai directory.
- Inserts both entries into ur0:tai/config.txt (or your active config).
- A backup of your config is automatically created.
Reboot holding R to enter the recovery menu.

Recommendations Before Use

Always back up ux0:tai/config.txt and ur0:tai/config.txt before making any changes.
Use the Backup tai/ function under Restore / Unbrick before proceeding with any repair operation.
Test changes on one device before applying to others.

How the R-Trigger Boot System Works

The boot recovery system uses two separate plugins that work together:

boot_recovery.skprx — kernel plugin, loaded under *KERNEL
boot_trigger.suprx — user plugin, loaded under *main

At power-on, boot_recovery.skprx loads first as a kernel plugin and spawns a thread that waits for the controller driver to initialise. If the R trigger is held, it writes a flag file (ur0:tai/recovery_boot_trigger); otherwise it exits cleanly with zero overhead on normal boot. Once SceShell and LiveArea start, boot_trigger.suprx loads inside the SceShell process, checks for the flag file, deletes it, and then calls sceAppMgrLaunchAppByUri to launch the recovery menu application.

The two-plugin design is required because sceAppMgrLaunchAppByUri can only be called from within the SceShell process — it cannot be invoked from kernel space or before the shell has initialised.

Known Issues

PS Vita 2000 model detection shows incorrect model name in System Info — under investigation.
Boot recovery does not work on h-encore2 (3.74) without Ensō, because the kernel hook requires taiHEN to load at coldboot. Normal bubble launch works fine on all firmware versions.

Screenshots

Credits & Thanks to the Homebrew Scenes

This recovery menu stands on the shoulders of giants. The PSP and PS Vita homebrew communities have been collaborative, innovative, and persistent for over two decades. Without their exploits, tools, libraries, and shared knowledge, none of this would exist.

PSP Scene Pioneers (2005–2010) – The Revolution Begins

These trailblazers cracked the PSP wide open, creating the first homebrew enablers and Custom Firmwares (CFW) that inspired everything that followed.

Dark_AleX (Dark Alex) — The absolute legend who started it all. Creator of OE (Open Edition), SE, and M33 series CFW (3.51–5.00+). His work enabled safe homebrew execution and updates on PSPs worldwide. Often called the "father" of PSP modding.
Team M33 (including Dark_AleX under pseudonym, Adrahil, Yoshiro/Miriam, Helldashx, and others) — Developed the iconic M33 CFW line after OE/SE. Continued innovations post-2007.
Total_Noob — Long-time PSP developer with tools, plugins, and scene involvement across eras.
Fanjita — Early exploit collaborator with Dark_AleX.
nem — Created the very first PSP exploit (2005 TIFF on 1.0 firmware).
Davee (Team Typhoon) — ChickHEN for newer PSP models (bridged to full CFW).
Other early notables: Liquidzigong, Team GEN, various PSP-Archive maintainers.

PS Vita Scene (2016–Present) – Kernel Hacks & Modern Tools

The Vita scene built on PSP foundations with deep reversing and safe, persistent hacks.

Team Molecule (yifanlu, Davee, Proxima, xyz, mathieulh, and others) — The core group that reverse-engineered the Vita kernel. Created HENkaku (initial exploit), taiHEN (plugin framework), and Ensō (permanent coldboot CFW). Their work is the foundation for almost all modern Vita homebrew.
TheOfficialFloW (The Flow) — One of the most prolific Vita developers. Creator of VitaShell (essential file manager), Modoru (the downgrader), Adrenaline (PSP emulator on Vita), and countless tools/utilities.
SKGleba — Modern maintainer and powerhouse. Updated/forked Modoru for higher firmwares, created VitaDeploy (all-in-one toolbox), enso_ex, IMCUnlock, CBS, and many SD2Vita/storage tools.
Freakler — Tools like ConsoleID, Fingerprint, and various utilities.
xerpi — Vital libraries (ftpvitalib, vita2dlib) used in hundreds of projects.
Rinnegatamante — Massive ports, emulators, and game enhancements.
cuevavirus — Maintained and updated taiHEN.
devnoname120 — VHBB (Vita homebrew browser/app store).
LiEnby — Technical corrections and feedback that improved this project's accuracy.
Other major contributors (alphabetical, from GitHub credits, vita.hacks.guide, and community acknowledgments):
- 173210
- aerosoul
- ColdBird
- cpasjuste
- der0ad (wargio)
- dots-tb
- frangarcj
- Hykem
- LemonHaze
- MajorTom
- motoharu
- mr.gas
- Nkekev
- PrincessOfSleeping
- qwikrazor87
- SilicaAndPina
- SocraticBliss
- Sorvigolova
- St4rk
- sys (yasen)
- velocity

Special Thanks

The entire r/vitahacks community (Reddit) for guides, testing, and support.
vita.hacks.guide maintainers — The definitive modern resource.
GameBrew, PSDevWiki, and PSP-Archive for preserving history.
All plugin authors (StorageMgr, rePatch, NoNpDrm, etc.) whose work is used daily.
Testers, translators, documenters, and everyone who shared knowledge on forums like GBAtemp, PSX-Place, and DCEmu.

If I've missed someone important (especially from your own testing or inspirations), feel free to add them — the scene is huge and collaborative. Massive respect to everyone who kept the Vita (and PSP) alive long after official support ended.

External links