How to put custom themes on the PSVita with FW3.65

We’ve been getting quite a few request on how to install custom theme on FW3.63 or 3.65 and since the release of psvimgtools there not really a clear guide on how to install them. In this post, I will show you how to use psvimgtool to extract the app.db file and modify it for custom themes to work on newer FW.
custom themes

What you need:

PSVIMGTOOL

CMA or QCMA

A few custom themes

DB Browser for SQLite 3.7.0

First, you are going to make a full system backup with cma or qcma ( I prefer qcma) on the PC. Once the backup is made you are going to install PSVIMGTOOL frontend and use it to decrypted the system back up.

Now that you have PSVIMGTOOL frontend installed, open it up and pick backup manager, then unsign & extract, then last is system backup.

Pick the user and then the backup image you want to decrypt then click on the unsign & extract button and it will do all the work for you. Once it is done it will bring up the window where you can find the extracted backup, its where the rest of your vita files are kept with qcma.

Go to the extracted folder, then the system folder, next click on the only folder in there. Then you are looking for the ur0_shell folder and inside of ur0_shell click on the db folder and you will see the app.db file.

Now that we have the app.db file you will need to install DB Browser for SQLite so you can modify it for the Vita to see the new custom themes. Once its installed open up the app.db file with DB Browser for SQLite. On the tabs go to Browse Data, then for the table pick tbl_theme.

theme2

Now here is the easy part, which I seen a lot of people get this wrong. Hit new record and fill it in. I’m going to use mine as an example and I also will put this one up for everyone to download. This is how you are going to write it in the id section and just repeat this when you want to add more themes. Once you are done filling out the fields they will look like this:

Field input
id ux0:pspemu/PSP/SAVEDATA/NPUH90023/theme/PCSF00690-CUSTOM0000000P4
packageImageFilePath preview_thumbnail.png
homePreviewFilePath preview_page.png
startPreviewFilePath preview_lockscreen.png
contentVer 100
size 0
type 100

ux0:pspemu/PSP/SAVEDATA/NPUH90023/theme/PCSF00690-CUSTOM0000000P4

Example pictures:theme1

Once you’re done hit Write Changes and close the program. In my opinion, it’s best to store all your custom theme in a psp game saves as you can easily swap them out for new ones.

This download here only has one theme in it: P4 theme and game save. Use qcma to send the game save to our Vita. You can visit our forums, where we have more themes for you to download here and if you like to know how to make your know theme you can go here or use our easy theme maker tool here.

Now that we are done modifying the app.db file its time to use psvimgtool and sign & repack the backup to restore on the Vita. If you still have it open pick sign & pack, system back, then pick the system backup that is decrypted and then choose the user and it will start to repack the pack.

Depending on how big your system backup is this could take a while, once it’s done just refresh qcma and restore that system backup onto the Vita. When it’s done restoring the backup onto the Vita go to the setting bubble and pick theme & backgrounds, then pick themes and you will see all the new custom theme you added.

Now if you get an error trying to apply the new custom theme double check the app.db file as you may have misspelled one of the fields. Hopes this helps and if you have any questions feel free to leave a comment.

About hackinformer

I like to get everyone the right info and I like to help others get the most from there electronic devices. I enjoy playful cleverness and the exploration of technology. My Motto: You own it, you can do whatever you want with it.

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20 comments

  1. Did everything correct but the theme didn’t show up

  2. Did everything it said in the guide still no luck in installing the theme

  3. Hola hise todo pero no entiendo la ultima parte de meter los datos a un juego plis
    contesten gracias

  4. any step by step videos on how to install the custom themes….

  5. this doesn’t work

  6. It works. Tips for those: Make sure you have all the programs,When unpacking the backup do not exit psvimgtool you are going to need that program again to sign and pack. I have 3.63 and this help me to get custom themes installed. Also If you are editing the app.db and if you get an error check app.db to see if it is saved. Thank you hackinformer this helped me greatly.

  7. modifier
    Id: ux0: pspemu/PSP/SAVEDATA/NPUH90023/theme/PCSF00690-CUSTOM0000000P4
    packageImageFilePath: preview_thumbnail.png
    HomePreviewFilePath: preview_page.png
    StartPreviewFilePath: preview_lock.png
    ContentVer 100
    Taille 0
    type 100

  8. at the last part.. is it still unsign & extract? or sign & pack?

  9. there’s no folder inside system folder only a file named 201706102309-01.psvinf

  10. Hey where do I put my custom theme folder at once i make it

  11. just fill the fields or you need drag file?

  12. do i have to put my theme somewhere or not?

  13. How do you fill it out? Sorry noob