PS Vita Guide

Your PS Vita Guide — ModxGaming

Welcome to your PS Vita guide. If you've just unboxed your console and noticed there are no games on it — don't worry, that's completely normal and completely intentional. Your console has been set up by Lewis at ModxGaming with custom firmware, which means you're in full control of what goes on it. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, step by step.

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Understanding Your Home Screen

When you turn on your PS Vita, you'll notice the home screen is organised into rows of bubbles (icons). Here's a quick breakdown of what you've got:

The first two bubbles on the middle row are labelled “Apps” and “More Apps” — these contain all the standard apps that come with the PS Vita, things like Settings, the Browser, PS Store, Photos, Music, Videos, Messages, Friends, Trophies, and more. You don't need to touch these to get started, but they're there if you need them.

The third bubble on the middle row is labelled “Mods” — this is where all your custom firmware tools live. We'll cover these further down.

The fourth bubble on the middle row is labelled “Games + Themes” — this is the most important one. This is where you'll go to install games and customise the look of your console. We'll start here.

Installing Games — PKGj

Inside the Games + Themes bubble, you'll find an app called PKGj. This is your game store — think of it like the App Store or Google Play, but for your PS Vita.

PKGj gives you access to a huge library of PS Vita games, PSP games, and PS1 classics, all downloadable directly over your Wi-Fi connection, completely for free.

How to Install a Game Using PKGj

Step 1 — Connect to Wi-Fi
Before opening PKGj, make sure your PS Vita is connected to your home Wi-Fi. You can check this by going to Settings > Network > Wi-Fi Settings.

Step 2 — Open PKGj
Head to the Games + Themes bubble and open PKGj. It will load up a list of available games. This may take a few seconds while it fetches the latest database.

Step 3 — Find Your Game
You'll see a long list of games. To search for a specific game, press the Triangle button to open the menu, then select Search. Type in the name of the game you're looking for.

You can also use the Triangle menu to filter by type — PS Vita games, PSP games, PS1 games, or DLC.

Step 4 — Install Your Game
Once you've found the game you want, highlight it and press X to select it. You'll be asked to confirm — press X again to begin the download.

The game will download and install in the background. You can press the PS button to go back to the home screen while it downloads — you'll see a progress bubble appear on your home screen just like a normal download.

Step 5 — Play Your Game
Once the download is complete, the game will appear as a bubble on your home screen, ready to launch. Just tap it and you're good to go.

Tip: Download speeds are typically around 1–2 MB per second over Wi-Fi, so larger games may take a little while. You can carry on using your Vita while it downloads in the background.

Installing Custom Themes — Custom Themes Manager

Also inside the Games + Themes bubble is the Custom Themes Manager app. This lets you completely change the look and feel of your PS Vita — backgrounds, colours, icons, and even background music.

How to Install a Custom Theme

Step 1 — Open Custom Themes Manager
Go to the Games + Themes bubble and open Custom Themes Manager.

Step 2 — Browse the Online Repository
Select “Download and install a new Custom Theme from the online repository”. This will connect to an online library of hundreds of custom themes made by the community.

Note: The first time you do this, press L + START to import all the theme files. This may take a little while as there are a large number of themes to load — just leave it running and it will complete on its own.

Step 3 — Pick a Theme
Browse through the available themes and find one you like. Select it and confirm to download and install it.

Step 4 — Apply the Theme
Once installed, select “Apply an installed theme” from the main menu, choose your theme, and your Vita will reboot with the new look applied.

If you ever want to remove a theme and go back to default, the Custom Themes Manager also has an option to fully uninstall any theme without needing a PC.

Your Mods Bubble — Custom Firmware Tools Explained

Inside the Mods bubble you'll find a set of custom firmware apps. You don't need to use most of these on a daily basis, but it's good to know what they do. Here's a simple breakdown of each one:

VitaShell
This is your Vita's file manager. It lets you browse the files and folders on your console, transfer files between your Vita and a PC, and install apps manually. Think of it like File Explorer on Windows or Finder on a Mac, but for your PS Vita. Most people rarely need to open this unless they're doing something more advanced.

Adrenaline
Adrenaline turns your PS Vita into a full PSP as well. It loads a complete PSP home menu inside your Vita, allowing you to play PSP games and PS1 games with full compatibility. If you download PSP or PS1 games through PKGj, Adrenaline is what runs them. Simply open it from the Mods bubble and it will boot into the PSP environment. To exit back to your Vita, hold the PS button and select Exit.

VitaDeploy
This is the tool Lewis used to set up your console in the first place. It's a powerful all-in-one setup tool that can update or reinstall your custom firmware, download homebrew apps, and manage your console's storage options. Unless something goes wrong with your console, you won't need to open this — but it's there if you ever do.

VitaDB Downloader
Think of this as an app store for homebrew (community-made) applications. If you ever want to explore additional apps, emulators, or tools made by the PS Vita community, VitaDB Downloader is where you'll find them. Just open it, browse, and install anything that takes your interest.

Save Manager
This app lets you back up and restore your game save files. If you ever want to save a backup of your progress in a game — just in case — open Save Manager, find the game, and create a backup. It's a simple but very useful tool.

batteryFixer
This is a utility that fixes a common issue where the PS Vita's battery percentage becomes inaccurate over time — for example, showing 50% but then dying shortly after. If you ever notice your battery behaving strangely, open batteryFixer and follow the on-screen instructions. It will recalibrate your battery automatically.

Registry Editor
This is an advanced settings tool that lets you change hidden system settings on the PS Vita. Unless you know what you're looking for, it's best to leave this alone — but it's there for those who want to dig deeper into how the console works.

PSVident
PSVident shows you detailed information about your PS Vita hardware — things like the model number, firmware version, and system identifiers. It's mainly useful for troubleshooting or if you ever need to identify exactly what version of the hardware you have.

A Quick Word on Your Apps & More Apps Bubbles

The first two bubbles on your home screen — Apps and More Apps — contain all the standard applications that come built into the PS Vita. This includes things like the internet browser, the camera, photo and music players, the PlayStation Store, trophies, messages, and more.

These all work exactly as Sony intended. The PS Store is still accessible if you want to browse official content, and all the standard features of the console are fully intact — your custom firmware runs alongside everything Sony built in, not instead of it.

Need Help?

If you ever get stuck or something doesn't seem right, feel free to get in touch directly through ModxGaming. Lewis personally handles every order and is happy to help.

ModxGaming — Premium Modded Consoles, Handcrafted by Lewis