exfathax.img is a specialized disk image file used to facilitate the firmware 9.00 jailbreak
for the PlayStation 4 (PS4). It is specifically designed for the
exploit, which requires a USB drive with a modified exFAT partition to trigger a memory corruption vulnerability in the console's kernel. Prerequisites USB flash drive (any size will work, as the image is only about 4MB). or a similar imaging tool (to flash the exfathax.img
file, which can be found on community-trusted repositories like the ChendoChap GitHub Download and Installation Steps Prepare the USB Drive : Connect your USB drive to a PC. This process will erase all data on the drive. Flash the Image . Select your USB drive under "Device," and then select the exfathax.img file under "Boot Selection". Start Flashing
to write the image to the USB. Once finished, the drive may appear "unreadable" or "unformatted" in Windows; this is normal because it now contains the exploit data. Run the Exploit on PS4 Navigate to the User's Guide on your PS4 (Settings > User's Guide). Load a host site (like Karo or Kameleon) and select the 9.00 Jailbreak
When prompted by the on-screen message, insert the prepared USB drive.
Wait for the notification saying "This USB storage device's filesystem is unsupported" to appear and disappear before clicking
: If successful, a "Jailbreak Done" message will appear. You should then remove the USB drive to prevent system crashes. Common Issues Failed Exploits
: If the console crashes or the notification doesn't appear, ensure you are using a high-quality USB drive and that the exfathax.img
file is roughly 4MB in size (some corrupted versions are only ~100KB). Restoring the USB
: To use the drive for normal storage again, you will need to re-format it using Windows Disk Management or Rufus, as the exploit partition makes it appear unusable to standard OS explorers. reputable host websites to use for the browser part of this exploit? How To Format Nintendo Switch SD Card To ExFat Format
The exfathax.img is a critical file used to trigger the pOOBs4 kernel exploit on PlayStation 4 consoles running firmware 9.00. This image file, typically around 4 MB in size, is written to a USB drive to simulate a specific exFAT filesystem error that allows the console to be jailbroken. Preparation & Requirements Target Firmware: Your PS4 must be exactly on firmware 9.00. Hardware: A USB flash drive (any size) and a PC. Software: The pOOBs4 exfathax.img file.
An image writing tool like Rufus (Windows) or BalenaEtcher (macOS/Linux). Installation Steps Flash the USB Drive:
Open Rufus on your PC and select your USB drive under "Device".
In the "Boot selection" dropdown, choose Disk or ISO image, then click Select to locate the exfathax.img file.
Click Start. This will erase all existing data on the USB drive. Prepare the PS4:
Disable automatic updates in Settings > System > Automatic Downloads to prevent accidental updates to newer, unhackable firmware. exfathax img download install
Clear your browser cache and history in the PS4 Internet Browser. Run the Exploit:
Navigate to an exploit host (e.g., Karo or Kameleon) via the PS4 User Guide or web browser. Select the 9.00 GoldHEN or kernel exploit option. Wait for the on-screen prompt: "Insert USB now".
Insert the flashed USB drive and wait for the notification: "This USB storage device's filesystem is unsupported".
Once that notification disappears, press OK on the console. A "Jailbreak Done" or "GoldHEN loaded" message should appear.
Remove the USB drive immediately to prevent potential boot issues or crashes. Troubleshooting
"Not enough memory" Error: Simply click OK and continue; this is a common occurrence during the exploit loading process.
USB Notification Not Appearing: If the "unsupported filesystem" message never shows, try a different USB port or re-flash the image using a different tool.
Resetting the USB: After jailbreaking, the USB drive will appear to have a tiny capacity or be unreadable by Windows. You must use Rufus or Windows Disk Management to reformat it back to a standard exFAT partition for normal use.
To download and install the exfathax.img file, you will need a small USB drive and a computer to flash the image before using it on a PlayStation 4 running firmware 9.00. This process is the core of the pOOBs4 jailbreak
, which uses a specifically formatted USB drive to trigger a kernel exploit. ConsoleMods Wiki 1. Download Required Tools exfathax.img
: The exploit image file (typically around 4MB). Reliable sources include community repositories like the ChendoChap GitHub or hosted links from tutorials on sites like ConsoleMods Wiki Flashing Software : You need a tool to write the image to your USB. Use for Windows or balenaEtcher for Mac/Linux. ConsoleMods Wiki 2. Install (Flash) the Image to USB Connect USB
: Insert a USB drive (any size works; even old, small drives are fine) into your PC. Open Flasher Select Drive : Choose your USB device in the "Device" section. Select Image
: In Rufus, set the boot selection to "Disk or ISO image" and navigate to your downloaded exfathax.img Start Flashing
: Click "Start." This will erase all data on the USB and format it correctly for the exploit. ConsoleMods Wiki 3. Usage on PS4 (Firmware 9.00) Launch Exploit Host
: On your PS4, open the web browser and go to an exploit host like Trigger Exploit
: Select the "9.00 GoldHEN" option. Wait for the browser to cache files if it's your first time. Insert USB exfathax
: When a pop-up appears saying "Insert USB drive now," plug your flashed USB into the PS4. Wait for Notification
: Wait until the system says "This USB storage device's filesystem is unsupported." Do click "OK" until this message disappears.
: Once the message vanishes, click "OK" on the browser prompt. Remove the USB once "Jailbreak Done" or "GoldHEN loaded" appears. ConsoleMods Wiki
Authorized resources for console modification and homebrew development: Exploit Repositories Community Guides Firmware Safety Official Exploit Sources ChendoChap GitHub
is the primary repository for the pOOBs4 exploit, containing the source code and necessary img files for developers and users. Alternative automated tools like pOOBs4-Luckfox
offer ways to emulate the USB insertion for those looking to automate the 9.00 jailbreak process. Documentation & Wikis ConsoleMods Wiki
provides a highly detailed, step-by-step written guide for the pOOBs4 method, including troubleshooting for different USB types. Detailed video tutorials from contributors like MODDED WARFARE
walk through the visual steps of using Rufus and configuring PS4 network settings safely. Preventing Accidental Updates
maintains the official version history, which is critical for verifying that your console remains on version 9.00 to stay compatible. PlayStation Support
exfathax.img is a critical image file used to exploit PlayStation 4 consoles running on firmware 9.00. This specialized file works by triggering an overflow in the PS4's exFAT filesystem driver, allowing users to run custom homebrew and play backups. How to Download and Install exfathax.img
To successfully jailbreak a PS4 9.00, you must properly "burn" this image onto a physical USB drive. Simply copying the file to the drive will not work; it must be written as a disk image. 1. Preparation and Download
A dedicated USB Drive: Any small USB stick will work, as the image file is typically only about 4MB. Note that all existing data on the drive will be erased.
The exfathax.img file: Download the latest version from trusted community repositories like ConsoleMods Wiki or reputable GitHub contributors like ChendoChap.
Image Writing Tool: You will need software like Rufus or Win32 Disk Imager to write the image to your USB. 2. Installation Steps (Using Rufus) Connect your USB drive to your PC.
Open Rufus and select your USB stick under the "Device" section.
In the "Boot selection" dropdown, choose Disk or ISO image, then click "Select" and find your downloaded exfathax.img file. If the project provides a checksum (SHA256/SHA1) or
Click Start. Rufus will warn you that all data will be destroyed; confirm to proceed.
Once finished, Windows may say the drive needs formatting or is unreadable—do not format it. The drive is now ready for the PS4. Using exfathax for the Go to product viewer dialog for this item. Jailbreak
The USB drive acts as a "key" that you insert only when prompted by the exploit.
Triggering the Exploit: On your PS4, navigate to the User’s Guide in Settings (which should be redirected to an exploit host like Karo's Host).
Insertion Timing: Wait for the web page to prompt you to insert the USB drive. After inserting it, wait for the PS4 notification "This USB storage device's filesystem is unsupported" to appear and disappear before clicking OK on the screen.
Success: If done correctly, you will see a message like "Jailbreak Done" or "GoldHEN loaded". You can then remove the USB drive until the next time you reboot the console. Troubleshooting Common Issues
USB Not Detected: If the PS4 doesn't show the "unsupported" notification, try a different USB port or a different USB drive entirely. Some brands are more stable than others for this specific exploit.
System Crashes: If the console shuts down when inserting the drive, ensure you are using the correct 9.00 firmware and the most recent version of the exfathax.img file.
Restoring the USB: After you are done using the drive for jailbreaking, you can use Rufus to reformat it back to standard exFAT or FAT32 for normal use on a PC.
sha256sum exfathax.imggpg --import maintainer.pubgpg --verify exfathax.img.sig exfathax.imgIf you are reading this article because you have an SD card larger than 32GB and Windows won't let you format it to FAT32, do not use exfathax. Instead, use a tool like Guiformat (GUI for FAT32 format).
This allows you to format massive SD cards (64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB) to FAT32, allowing them to work natively with the Switch and Atmosphere CFW without risking corruption or relying on outdated patches like exfathax.
Once the IMG is flashed, you insert the SD card into the Switch. This is where "exFAT Hax" actually triggers.
payload.bin) located on the root of the SD card.sudo dd if=/path/to/exfathax.img of=/dev/disk2 bs=4M status=progress sudo sync
After flashing: Safely eject the microSD card. Do not try to open it in File Explorer. Do not add any files yet.
Now that your SD card contains the ExFATHAX image, it’s time to boot the Switch into RCM and send the initial payload.
.img file (extracted from the ZIP).dd (Linux/Mac terminal).