PS5 Jailbreak 2026: Relapse Guide for Firmware 13.60

Can you jailbreak a PS5 in 2026? Yes, if your console is on firmware 13.60 or lower. The Relapse exploit, released on 29 September 2026, jailbreaks the PS5 and PS5 Pro on firmware 7.00 to 13.60. If your console has installed 14.00 or later, there is no public PS5 jailbreak yet, and Sony does not allow downgrades.

This guide explains what a PS5 jailbreak is, why the console can be jailbroken at all, and which firmware versions work. It covers the real risks, including PSN bans, bricking and scams, and how to jailbreak your PS5 safely step by step. It also answers whether GTA 6 will run on a jailbroken PS5.

A note before you start: this guide is about running homebrew and owning your hardware. It does not cover pirated games and does not link to them. Jailbreaking can void your warranty, and it can cost you PlayStation Network access. Read the risks section before you touch anything.

PS5 jailbreak at a glance (October 2026)

What Is a PS5 Jailbreak and Why Is It Possible?

The PS5 can be jailbroken because its operating system is built on FreeBSD, and its built-in web browser runs on WebKit. Both are open-source projects, so their bugs are public once they are fixed upstream. When Sony is slow to patch the copy inside the console, researchers can turn those public bugs against it.

Almost every PS5 jailbreak works the same way, as a chain:

1. Get a foothold. A bug in something that runs untrusted content gives limited code execution. That has been the browser (WebKit), a Blu-ray disc (BD-JB), a PS2 classic's emulator (Mast1c0re), or a game's save or script engine (Lua).
2. Escape to the kernel. A second bug in the FreeBSD-based kernel gives full read and write access to the system.
3. Load payloads. With kernel access, a loader accepts unsigned programs (ELF payloads) such as FTP servers, homebrew menus and debug tools.

Sony patches each link in firmware updates, and each new chain usually stops working on firmware released after it. That is why firmware version decides everything in the PS5 jailbreak scene.

PS5 jailbreak history: every major exploit

Relapse is credited to Sonic_Iso (kernel exploit) and Jordy (WebKit exploit and a kernel bug). ntfargo and ufm42 built the project, with help from TheFloW, SlidyBat, Flatz and others. It was published on GitHub on 29 September 2026.

PS5 Jailbreak Firmware Compatibility (October 2026)

Relapse works on firmware 7.00 to 13.60, and nothing public works on 14.00 or later. Your firmware version is the only thing that decides whether you can jailbreak today.

To check your version, go to Settings > System > System Software > Console Information.

Has Sony patched the PS5 jailbreak? Firmware 14.00 and 14.10

• Firmware 14.00 (16 September 2026) closed the browser bug Relapse relies on, two weeks before Relapse went public.
• Firmware 14.10 (1 October 2026) shipped with a generic "security fixes" changelog.
• PSN lockout (from 15 October 2026): consoles on 14.00 or older are refused PSN sign-in until they install 14.10. That means no online play, no store, and some digital games won't launch. Sony hasn't commented, but multiple outlets have confirmed it. Full story: Sony blocks PSN on PS5 firmware 14.00.

The trade-off is now stark: stay on old firmware and lose PSN, or update and lose the jailbreak.

What the Relapse exploit actually gives you

• Tethered: it does not survive a reboot, so you rerun it every time the console restarts.
• Fast but flaky: reports say it loads in under a minute. The browser stage can stall and the kernel stage can hang or crash the console, so a few retries are normal.
• An ELF loader: once it succeeds you can send homebrew payloads to the console over your local network.

Will GTA 6 work on a jailbroken PS5?

Probably not at launch. Dataminers report that GTA 6's release build requires firmware 14.10 or newer, and the game launches on 19 November 2026. A jailbroken console on 13.60 or lower would have to update, which removes the jailbreak. Neither Sony nor Rockstar has confirmed the requirement. New games requiring recent firmware is normal, so expect more big releases to do the same.

Is Jailbreaking a PS5 Safe? Risks and Ban Chances

The realistic worst case is not a dead console. It is losing PSN access on that console, or on your account, plus a voided warranty. Bricks are rare with tethered exploits because nothing is written to flash, but crashes and lost data are not.

Is it legal to jailbreak a PS5?

It depends on where you live, and this is not legal advice. In the US, the Copyright Office has repeatedly declined to grant the DMCA exemption that covers jailbreaking phones to game consoles. Modifying your own console is a grey area and a breach of Sony's terms of service. What is clearly illegal almost everywhere is downloading or sharing games you don't own. Distributing jailbreak tools for piracy can also bring legal trouble.

The safest position is simple: jailbreak for homebrew, backups of games you own, and learning, and nothing else.

How to Jailbreak Your PS5 Safely: Step by Step

The single most important step is to stop your console updating before you do anything else. One accidental update to 14.00 or later ends your jailbreak for good, because Sony does not allow downgrades.

Before you start

1. Check your firmware in Settings > System > System Software > Console Information. If it says 14.00 or later, stop here.
2. Turn off automatic updates in Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings. Switch off both automatic download and automatic install.
3. Block Sony's update servers. Point the console's DNS at a blocker you run yourself, such as Pi-hole or AdGuard, and set this up before the console reaches the internet. If an update prompt appears anyway, decline it. Reports say some exploit setups route your console's traffic through a third-party DNS server whose owner is unknown, so avoid those.
4. Or skip the internet entirely. If you don't need it, the simplest option is a local network with no internet route.
5. Back up your saves to a USB drive or PS Plus cloud storage while you still have PSN access.
6. Sign out of your main account, or create a secondary offline account for jailbreak use.
7. Get Relapse from its official GitHub repository only. Read its README, the issues and the release notes. Ignore mirrors, YouTube links, "one-click" sites and anything asking for payment, surveys or your PSN login.

Running the Relapse exploit

1. Follow the official README's steps exactly. Relapse starts in the console's web browser, then runs its kernel stage.
2. Expect failures. If the browser stalls or the console freezes, power-cycle and try again. A few attempts is normal.
3. Once it succeeds, use the ELF loader to send payloads from your PC over your local network.
4. Start with read-only, well-known tools such as an FTP server, so you can look around before changing anything.
5. After every reboot, run the exploit again. Nothing is permanent, which is also what keeps it relatively safe.

Habits that keep you out of trouble

• Never sign in to PSN while jailbroken, and never play online.
• Don't run payloads that patch system files unless the project is well known and you understand what it changes.
• Keep your DNS block on permanently, not just during setup.
• Check the official repo's release notes before each new payload or update. The scene changes weekly.

PS5 Jailbreak FAQ

I'm on 14.00 or later. Can I downgrade my PS5 firmware?

No. Sony provides no official way to roll back system software. Your only option is to wait for a new exploit.

I bought a new PS5. Should I update it?

Not if you want to jailbreak it. Consoles that sat on shelves for a few weeks may still ship with 13.60 or lower. Check the version before the console ever goes online.

Does the PS5 jailbreak survive a restart?

No. Relapse is tethered, so you rerun it after every reboot or full power-off.

Will I get banned for jailbreaking my PS5?

Reports disagree. Old firmware may simply be refused PSN sign-in, which removes the temptation. Sony can still ban accounts used online with a modified console, so keep jailbroken use offline.

Someone says they can jailbreak 14.10 for a fee. Is it real?

No. Every public PS5 jailbreak is free and released on GitHub with credits. Paid "jailbreaks", survey gates and APK downloads are scams, and some carry malware.

Does it work on the PS5 Pro and Digital Edition?

Relapse is reported to work on both the standard PS5 and the PS5 Pro on supported firmware. Its entry point is the browser, so it doesn't need a disc drive.

What are the biggest PS5 jailbreak mistakes?

• Connecting to Wi-Fi "just for a second" and letting an update install.
• Downloading the exploit from a mirror instead of the official repo.
• Running random payloads straight away instead of starting with an FTP server.
• Signing in to their main PSN account on a jailbroken console.

Final verdict: should you jailbreak your PS5?

If your PS5 is on 13.60 or lower, Relapse is the easiest jailbreak the console has ever had. Keep it offline, take it from the official repo, and accept that the console becomes a homebrew machine, not a PSN one. If you're on 14.00 or later, don't update further, ignore anyone selling a fix, and check back: we update this PS5 jailbreak guide whenever a new exploit is released.

Sources

• New PS5 Relapse exploit breaks into the kernel across years of firmware releases (Cyber Security News, 1 Oct 2026)
• PS5 jailbreak exploit for systems running July 2026 firmware (Kotaku, 29 Sep 2026)
• PS5 firmware 14.10 blocks PSN for jailbreakers (Tech Insider, Oct 2026)
• GTA VI will reportedly require PS5 firmware 14.10 or newer (TweakTown, Oct 2026)
• PS5 jailbreak and custom firmware (Wololo)
• umtx2 and Byepervisor (GitHub)

If you'd rather spend on games than hack around them, our GTA VI release guide covers price, preorder bonuses and how to win a PlayStation gift card to pay for it.