LaunchELF

LaunchELF (and its derivatives) is a powerful file manager and tool for the PS2. It's one of the most essential pieces of software for PS2 modding, enabling you to launch software and installers for exploits, edit your setups configuration files, format your hard drive and many more handy things.

Note that in LaunchELF, is used as OK and to go back.

Version Differences

LaunchELF was originally developed by Mirakichi. The developement was later continued by by Eric Price (E P) and Ronald Andersson (dlanor) under the name uLaunchELF (u = unofficial), which is a more up to date version. uLaunchELF was again forked multiple times. Current and other interesting versions are listed below.

wLaunchELF

wLaunchELF (w = double unofficial) is a fork of uLaunchELF maintained by sp193 and AKuHAK. It still gets updated regularly and also features exFAT support (although not for MX4SIO).

wLaunchELF_R3Z

A fork of wLaunchELF, maintained by R3Z3N. It is almost feature complete, visit github to download.

Supports all devices: mc, dual usb, mmce, mx4sio, apa hdd, exfat hdd, psx dvr hdd, psx flash (xfrom) and udpfs client
- LoadBOOTer MC Exploit installer, supports Retail PS2/PSX and DEX(DTL-HXXXXX)
- Bind any ELF to memory card, just provide PS2KEYS.dat (kelftool no longer needed on pc)
- RetroGem Game ID for PIXEL FX RetroGem
- Launch PS1 VCDs with option for custom POPStarter path, falls back to defaults.
- Writes to history file for disc launches for mmce vmc change
- Applies deckard disc patches
- X/0 applied per region if no config file is found so O is only default for Japan
- Keyboard layout choices: QWERTY, DVORAK, AZERTY, QWERTZ, ABNT, ABC
- Language built: English, Spanish, Italian, French, German, Polish, Portuguese, Portuguese Brazilian, Hungarian
- All config options exposed in gui
- HDD/ATA drives hidden for deckard ps2 (SCPH-75K+)
- Xfrom/dvr_hdd0 hidden from non-PSX consoles
- Dual hdd support
- multi-usb support
- HDD Manager can inject APA partition headers
- View/edit APA partiion header system.cnf
- All drivers besides core lazy loading for faster boot and support of all devices.
- Create and Extract PSU options so user knows what will happen
- Extra file extensions for Text Editor ShortCuts
- Timestamp manipulation feature to fix the date of any memory card folder containing any icon-based exploit (*tuna)
- Launch KELFs (encrypted elfs)
- LaunchELF with Args
- APA Header injection from usb, mmce and udpfs. Thanks to Alex Parrado and @israpps
- warnings when modifying/deleting exploit folders on PS2/PSX
- Support for PS3/PS4 Dualshocks thanks to Alex Parrado (DS34 build)
- Organize OSDSYS/HOSDSYS MC/HDD browser by altering timestamps on root of memcard and hdd0:__common:pfs:/*
  - Sort order: Manual, A-Z, Z-A, SAS Timestamps (should ignore game saves)

wLaunchELF_ISR

A fork of wLaunchELF, maintained by El Isra. It is very feature rich:

supporting exFAT drives (also MX4SIO, shown as mass:/ or mx4sio:/),
supporting MMCE (not simultaneously with MX4SIO though),
working with DualShock 3 and 4 controllers,
has special builds for arcade PS2 systems (namco system 246/256, Konami python1),

and more.

On the download site you can choose which features you want in your version.

smbLaunchELF

While smbLaunchELF by Ronnie Sahlberg is not currently maintained anymore, it allows transfering files over the network using SMB instead of FTP (which is what's used in other LaunchELF versions). This might make it easier to transfer files, depending on your setup.

Versions for Modchips

If you have a modchip you can also start LaunchELF from a burned disc to install another exploit from there for example. Before you try this however, note that some modchips support loading ELF files from USB drives directly, letting you skip burning a DVD or CD.

If you can't boot from USB and need to burn a disc, you need a special version of LaunchELF. Check out uLaunchELF_v4.40_CD and uLaunchELF_v4.37_DVD respectively.

Launching and Installing Homebrew

Homebrew does not need to be installed to be started from LaunchELF. Simply navigate to your device, hightlight the ELF and press . If you want to, you can copy the file to wherever you want on your storage device.

A lot of homebrew is now also available using the Universal Memory Card Structure (UMCS) and Save Application Structure (SAS). Software that follows these guidelines usually comes in .PSU files. A selection of these can be downloaded from the PS2 Homebrew Store. These can be installed in a standardized way:

Select your PSU file, press , select Copy.
Go to the memoy card of your choice.
Press , PSU Paste. Do not use Paste.

Additional Features

HddManager

The HddManager lets you format your PS2's hard drive as APA. You can find it under MISC/HddManager. To format your HDD, press and select Format. After formatting (or if your drive was already formatted), you'll get an overview of your HDD and how much space is used up currently.

PS2Net

PS2Net under MISC/PS2Net allows you to access your PS2's files over FTP.

This feature might currently (as of 2026-03-29) be broken in multiple LaunchELF versions, including wLaunchELF and wLaunchELF_ISR. You can try using older versions.

Connecting your PS2 to your network

Before you can transfer files over the network, you need to give your PS2 an IP address. Remember that you need the official network adapter on fat PS2 consoles.

Go to your internet routers settings and add a new device manually.
You might need to enter your console's MAC address on some routers.
- On slim consoles, you can see the MAC address by pressing after powering up the console.
- On fat systems with a network adapter, you need the network access disc (it's also included in some games like Star Wars Battlefront). Add a new connection setting and proceed with all steps until you can see the network adapters MAC address on the last page. Note it down.
Note down the IP address you gave to your console.

Settings in LaunchELF

On the start screen of LaunchELF, press to go into the software's options.
Scroll down to Network Settings.
Enter the IP address from earlier as well as the correct netmask and gateway. The latter 2 can be found in your routers settings.
Don't forget to save your config. You might need to change which slot your memory card is connected to so that the config is saved on the correct card.

Transferring files

Start PS2Net from MISC/PS2Net.
Assuming that your PC is in the same network, use an FTP client of your choice and enter your console's IP address.
- On Windows, the standard file explorer can be quite buggy with FTP. Look for an alternative software if possible.
- On Linux, the standard file explorers like Dolphin in KDE Plasma and Nautilus in Gnome should be enough for file transfers.
You should now be able to transfer files to your console over the network.