The easiest way to play your original PSP games on PPSSPP is by creating a digital backup (ISO/CSO file) from your physical UMD disc and loading it into the emulator.
This preserves your game legally while letting you enjoy enhanced graphics, save states, and smoother performance on PC or mobile.
Love replaying your classic PSP games, but don’t want to dig out your old console? PPSSPP, the best PSP emulator, lets you relive your favorite titles with HD upscaling, customizable controls, and even cheats. But how do you legally transfer your owned UMD games to play on PPSSPP? This guide covers everything—from dumping your discs to optimizing gameplay while respecting copyright laws.
🧰 What You’ll Need
Before you start, gather a few essentials:
PSP Console with Custom Firmware (CFW)
To dump your UMD games, your PSP needs to be running custom firmware. Think of it as unlocking your console’s full potential.
Memory Stick and USB Cable
You’ll use the memory stick to store the dumped ISO file, and a USB cable to transfer it to your PC or phone.
A PC or an Android Device
This is where you’ll install and run the PPSSPP emulator.
PPSSPP Emulator
You can download this free emulator from https://ppssppgolds.com. It works on nearly every platform.
How to Create a PSP Game Backup (UMD to ISO/CSO)
To play your real PSP games in PPSSPP, you’ll first need to extract the game data from your UMD disc into a digital file. Here’s how:
Method 1: Using a Modded PSP (Easiest Way)
- Install Custom Firmware (CFW) – Soft-mod your PSP (temporary or permanent) using guides from trusted sources like PSP Dev Wiki.
- Use UMD Dumping Tools – Apps like UMDumper or IsoTool can rip your disc to an ISO file.
- Transfer to PC/Mobile – Connect via USB or remove the memory stick to copy the file.
Method 2: Using a PC with a UMD Drive
If you have a rare UMD-compatible PC disc drive, tools like RawDump can extract ISOs directly. Most users find Method 1 simpler since UMD PC drives are uncommon.
How to Load Your PSP Game into PPSSPP
Once you have your ISO or CSO file, follow these steps:
- Open PPSSPP and navigate to Games.
- Browse to your game folder (where you saved the ISO/CSO).
- Select the file—PPSSPP will load it just like a real PSP!
Pro Tip: Compress your ISO to a CSO file (using MaxCSO or YACC) to save storage space without major performance loss.
Optimizing Game Performance in PPSSPP
PPSSPP lets you enhance your games beyond the original PSP’s limits:
- Upscaling Resolution – Go to Graphics → Rendering Resolution and set it to 2x or 4x for sharper visuals.
- Enable Texture Filtering – Smooths out pixelated graphics (Graphics → Texture Filtering).
- Use Fast Memory (Unsafe) – Boosts speed (System → Fast Memory) but may cause rare glitches.
Bonus: Save states let you pause anywhere—no more worrying about lost progress!