How to Install Themes on a PS3

Tired of looking at the same, old boring interface whenever you use your PS3? The Sony Playstation 3 (PS3) is as versatile and customizable as any desktop computer. There are websites available all over the Internet that offer custom themes for the PS3 for download. You can apply a new theme to your PS3 based on a favorite movie, TV show, anime or video game, or even just apply a fresh new look to the PS3 interface. Read on to learn how to install themes on a PS3.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Playstation 3 (PS3) with Internet access
• Computer (if installing themes or wallpapers manually)
• USB drive or other USB storage device (if installing themes or wallpapers manually)

Getting Started

1. Do a web search for a website that offers PS3 themes for download. There are plenty out there and you can find them by doing a search for terms such as “PS3 themes” or “Playstation 3 themes” or “Download PS3 themes.” This can be done from your computer or through the PS3’s Internet Explorer, all that you need as this point is the URL of a website that offers PS3 themes for download.

2. Now that you have found a suitable website you need to navigate to it through your PS3. Make sure that your PS3 is connected to an active Internet connection.

3. From the main menu of the PS3, the XrossMediaBar (XMB), open the PS3 Internet Browser by going to "Network" and selecting “Internet Browser.”

4. Navigate the PS3 Internet Browser to a website offering PS3 themes for download. Browse the website, then select any theme that you like and download it. This will be the standard point-and-click browsing and navigation done with any web browser software on a computer.

5. Once the theme has finished downloading, exit the PS3 Internet Browser. Now, go back to the main menu, XMB, and go to "Settings" then select "Theme Settings" then "Theme." Find the theme that you just downloaded, select it, and select "Apply." Wait a moment and the new theme will now be applied.

Installing PS3 Themes Manually From an External Source

6. Perform a web search if necessary, then navigate your computer’s web browser to a website for PS3 themes.

7. Download the file onto your computer and save it to some sort of portable USB mass storage device such as an external hard drive, USB drive, flashdrive or thumbdrive. PS3 themes will be have their own special file format, “.p3t” so this will be a great indicator that you have downloaded the correct file.

8. Connect the USB drive to the PS3 via the console’s USB port.

9. Navigate to "Photos" in the main menu, XMB, and then find the icon for the USB drive. If you have a special name for the drive it will appear under this name, otherwise it will appear under “USB Device.”

10. Select the drive and press the triangle button on the PS3 controller to bring up the copy menu. Copy the theme files (.p3t files) to the "PS3/Theme" directory. From there you can navigate to the files through the XMB (go to "Settings" then select "Theme" settings, then "Theme," and select the theme) and apply them as a theme as described in the previous sections.