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Mac to Sony PSP: How to Download Photos?

Dave, I just got a new Sony PSP and really want to download some of my favorite pictures from my Mac onto the unit. Is that possible, and if so, what do I need to do on the PSP and Mac to get it to work?

Dave's Answer:

It's surprisingly easy to download pictures from you Mac to your new Sony Playstation Portable (PSP), actually!

The key is that you need a USB cable: I bought one as part of a connectivity kit for about $15 - but even Radio Shack would have the specific cable you'd need as it's a standard "5 pin mini-B connector" USB cable (take your PSP in with you, though, so the salesperson can see the connector, which is on the top edge of the unit).

Once you have the cable, connect the cable to the PSP unit, connect the other end of the cable into your Macintosh (I hook mine up to an open USB port on my keyboard, actually, which works fine), then turn on the PSP.

Now, and here's the most important step that people hiccup on, go to the PSP and press the HOME button (tiny half-moon on the lower left corner of the screen). Use your Left or Right arrow buttons to move along the options shown here and get to the Settings option. On the image shown below, Settings is the little toolbox:

Once you're on the settings option, use the Up or Down button to find "USB Connection" (it's between "Network Update" and "Video Settings"). Select it with the X button (the circular button on the right of the screen with the "O" inside it).

Now on the PSP you'll just see "USB Mode", not too exciting, but on your Macintosh, you'll now see a new device appear on the desktop called Untitled. That's your PSP!

Double click on it and you'll see two files called "MEMSTICK.IND" and "MSTK_PRO.IND" (they're your Memory Stick Duo) and two folders, "MP_ROOT" and "PSP". Double click on the PSP folder and you'll see:

Cool, eh? To add pictures, finally, or any images, simply drag and drop your JPEG format graphics (those are files with filename suffixes of "JPG" or "JPEG", typically) into the PHOTO folder. As many as your Memory Stick Duo has space for.

When you're done, eject the PSP from your Mac system by right-clicking on the "Untitled" device on your desktop and choosing Eject "Untitled".

Go to the PSP itself now and again use the circle button to quit USB Mode, then the Right arrow to move from Settings to Photo. You'll have a single entry there called "Memory Stick" (which will also tell you how much space is still free, if any).

Push the X button (round button on the right controller with an "X" in the middle) and you'll see a list of your newly downloaded photographs, hopefully with tiny thumbnails. Scroll down to the picture of your choice and again push the X button and, voila! You should be viewing your photograph on your Sony PSP.

I hope that helps you decipher the workings of the PSP and how to use it with the Macintosh. I'll be adding more step-by-step how to tutorials here about working with the Sony PSP for both Windows and Mac folk in the next few weeks, so do stay tuned!

(and if anyone has tips on how to get good PSP screenshots, I'd love to hear about it!)

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Categorized: Sony PSP, MP3 Players, Etc. (Article 4070)
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Comments

i have a windows xp and i need help downloading photos to my psp. when i attach my usb cable to my psp and i hit usb connection the G drive shows up and i dont know what to do from there can u please help?

Posted by: mike samolis at July 26, 2005 9:55 PM

i cant set waalpappers cause there is no themes menu
in setting how do i fix it

Posted by: kieran at September 7, 2005 1:43 PM

Kieran, while Sony announced that the 2.0 firmware release would include the ability for you to set your own wallpaper, it turns out that it's there, but labeled "DO NOT USE". Rather disappointing. You can, however, change your theme from the Settings menu to pick a different color if you're so inclined.

Posted by: Dave Taylor at September 8, 2005 12:34 AM

i have windows ME and i want to download pictures to my sony psp but when i plug my psp in to the pc it does not find it as new hardware. What do i do?

Posted by: Robbie at January 20, 2006 10:15 AM

As far as I know, Robbie, Windows ME is not a supported operating system with the Sony PSP, so I don't know how you can get it to work.

Posted by: Dave Taylor at January 20, 2006 10:18 AM

i also have a windows 2000 what do i do to download photos?

Posted by: Robbie at January 20, 2006 10:29 AM

dave i have a big problem donloading onto my psp it wont seem to go and i would also like it if you made a instruction manual that is for windows

Posted by: jason jeffcote at January 20, 2006 9:36 PM

i hve the same problom as mike what do i do?

Posted by: Jonathan O'Connor at January 20, 2006 11:36 PM

I JUST GOT MY SONY PSP FOR X-MAS AND I WANT TO KNOW HOW I DOWNLOAD PICTURES FROM MY WINDOWS COMPUTER TO MY NEW PSP. IF IT IS POSSIBLE CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO DO THIS

Posted by: KASHIF at February 3, 2006 10:20 PM

how do i get my pictures on my psp to use as a wallpaper. i use a windows pc

Posted by: aron at March 17, 2006 12:16 PM

Aron, see

http://www.askdavetaylor.com/about_psp_wallpaper.html

Posted by: Dave Taylor at March 18, 2006 10:02 PM

i did all of that stuff, but when i when to the photos folder and clicked on memory stick, it said that their were zero images in it? HElP!!!!!

Posted by: Noelle at March 19, 2006 11:25 AM

How about answering the question concrning downloading to PSP from Windows?

Posted by: Peter Jones at April 8, 2006 8:25 PM

Peter, I have lots of articles on that. Please see:

http://www.askdavetaylor.com/about_psp_windows.html

Posted by: Dave Taylor at April 8, 2006 8:36 PM

how do i look at pictures from adisk.

Posted by: keresa at June 25, 2006 8:19 PM

i have windows ME and i want to download pictures to my sony psp but when i plug my psp in to the pc it does not find it as new hardware. What do i do?

Posted by: Julio at October 3, 2006 5:26 PM

I have a Apple Macbook and a Sony PSP (white). I read the tutorial on how to connect it and put files on it, but when I open the folder PSP from the PSP on my desktop it only has two folders SAVEDATA and SYSTEM. Can you please help me with this.

Posted by: Niall at January 18, 2007 1:01 PM

Hi Dave, When I plugged my psp into the mac and activated the usb etc. I then double clicked on the psp folder like you said. BUT the folders in your screen grab, game, photo, music etc. doesnt show up. Can you help?

Posted by: Matt at February 19, 2007 5:23 AM

Im having problems putting photos from my windows computer to my psp. When I plug in the usb cable the psp shows the photos on there but I cant get them to come up on the psp itself. The "photos" folder says no images. Can you please help. Thanks.

Posted by: Darren at February 20, 2007 5:09 PM

i have a mac, and followed your instruction - bt when i click on the PSP folder have only SYSTEM and SAVED DATA no folders for photos or videos... do you know how I put videos and pictures on? Thankyou

Posted by: Olivia at March 4, 2007 8:18 AM

I did it a few times but its usless . I have mac and i created the folders but nothing happening .

Posted by: Nadine Leydon at March 11, 2007 5:26 AM

i have a mac and followed your instructions but when i click on the psp folder have only system and savedata no folders for anything and can not download anything please help DAVE.

Posted by: shak at March 17, 2007 4:38 PM

when i opened my untitled folder all there was for the folders were DCIM and MISC. I couldn't find any PSP folder at all. What happened?

Posted by: Jacc at April 11, 2007 5:28 PM

Hey dose anyone know how to put mac on psp..please help me!if you know how to put mac on psp can you guys tell me please..if you have messeger her is me email ''garcia_rivera94@hotmail.com''ok thnx :)

Posted by: David at April 11, 2007 9:50 PM

i have an apple macbook and i did every thing it said but my computer never saw the psp

Posted by: taylot at April 11, 2007 11:11 PM

David, there's no way to "put Mac" on a Sony PSP, sorry to say. The PSP isn't a full-blown computer and even if it was, you can only run the Mac operating system (Mac OS X) on Apple-brand computers...

Taylot, sounds like you have a memory card formatted for a digital camera if you're seeing a DCIM folder. Try having the PSP reformat the card itself:

http://www.askdavetaylor.com/how_do_i_format_my_sony_psp_memory_stick.html

Good luck!

Posted by: Dave Taylor at April 12, 2007 12:05 PM

if you only have the folders system and savedata open one them

Posted by: $F.BABY$ at April 14, 2007 2:02 PM

yeah well my comdoes not want to show the thing called untitled so can you please help me

Posted by: jose at April 25, 2007 4:38 PM

this is not working and Im not happy about it Iv been trying this for over an gour!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Posted by: chase at April 27, 2007 10:25 AM

i have a psp but i don't know how to get music photos or videos i have ubs conection

Posted by: james at May 6, 2007 1:39 PM

i found the info you have given a real real great help thx alot from a new psp owner

Posted by: katy at May 11, 2007 3:29 PM

Hi Dave, I just found this site about 2-3 days ago and i was wondering how to get pictures from my windows xp onto my sony psp.
1st. I plugged in my usb cables onto my psp and computer, I then went to usb conection and pressed "x" then it said usb mode.
2nd. I went to start-my computer-removable disk "f" and made a folder named "psp" and inside that folder i put "photos".
3rd. I then went on a random yahoo site and searched "cows" in images.
4th. I copied a picture of 2 cows milking a naked guy in the wrong spot and pasted it into "photos"
5th. I pressed "o" on the psp and unplugged the usb cable.
6th. I went to photos and nothing was there,but the picture was still in the computer.
7th. PLZ HELP. IM ONLY 12!!!!sorry if i click twice for posting....

Posted by: Julian at July 8, 2007 12:45 PM

I followed the instructions very carefully but it still didn't work.
then i realized that yours said (G:) but mine says (F:)
what does that mean?

Posted by: Cat at July 14, 2007 12:23 PM

Just to point out the "Do Not Use" thing on the wallpaper is not them telling you not to use it. It is the default setting telling you that it is not using the wallpaper. Turn it to "use" and then the problem is solved.

Posted by: Brian at July 27, 2007 10:29 PM

I have a canon EOS 5D and Canon wifi transfers pictures straight to the computer a MAC Book Pro,What progam or software i need to see pictures right away so i can delete or save pics.

Posted by: ron Fostey at October 21, 2007 7:28 PM

I have a Sony cyber shot. I can view my pics from the memory stick 128mb Lexar but it wont download to me comp. HELP!

Posted by: lisa at October 24, 2007 11:22 AM

Hi Dave.I have a Mac mini and plugged the USB to connect it to my PSP Slim.However,when I went to Desktop,I did not see any folder that says Untitled. One of the steps you gave was also a problem for me.When I pressed Format Memory Stick,the console said that I had to delete all data from my memory stick.Is there a problem with my Mac and why does the PSP need to delete the data in the memory stick?

Posted by: Muhammad at December 24, 2007 8:13 AM

THIS WORKS GENOUS NOW I CAN ADD PHOTOS THANKS SOOO MUCH THIS REALLY HEALPS

Posted by: BOYINHOODS at December 26, 2007 7:42 PM

i just got a psp, and i opened up the folder, except my screen doesnt show videos, pictures, or music. all it shows is savedata. how do i get the others?is there something wrong with my computer?

Posted by: jonathan at December 27, 2007 12:13 PM

i did that but it said (unknown Device) Please Help

Posted by: Gooch at December 30, 2007 10:45 AM

i also have the same problem and i have readed your instruction and it doesent happened and i was not having the photos and games folder i maked it and a pasted te pictures but it still did not comed in my sony psp

Posted by: muazzam khan at January 1, 2008 6:23 AM

I HAVE A DELL BUhhT iiTS WiINDOWS XP. MY PICS WONT SHOW ON MY PSP BUT THEY SHOW THAT THEY ARE IN THE PICTURES FOLDER ON MY PSP ON THE COMPUTER

WAT DO I DO??

Posted by: RhhETRO ChhiiK at February 14, 2008 10:25 AM

Hey! I just got a PSP and I'm trying to figure out how to put music, photos, etc. with my iBook (running 3.9) but I'm having the same problem as Jonathan (couple posts above) I see it on my desktop as "No Name" double click and then it shows one folder "PSP" double click again and it shows two folders "SAVEDATA" and "SYSTEM". In the "System" folder it contains another folder entitled "Browser" with my internet history an bookmarks...In the "Savedata" folder there are 8 folders with various names that are letters and numbers. How do I get it to work? Thanks.

Posted by: Christie at March 27, 2008 11:21 AM

My Psp slim was showing up on my Mac desktop for some time now and working Great for months but just yesterday I don't know why but my mac G5 is telling me "the disk you inserted was not readable by this computer"I check my computer using disk utility programs and my computer is fine. could there something wrong with my 4G memory stick or PSP Slim.
PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!! I'm going crazy trying to find out why this isn't work on my computer any more.

Posted by: merr at March 30, 2008 10:11 PM

for all mac users to get music, and photos transfered to your psp you have to reformat you memory stick then open your untitled on your mac, then drag your music and photos to the folder you want to put it in, but when you reformat your memory card it will erase all saved data so you might want to back it up

Posted by: junior at April 24, 2008 7:46 PM

i bougrght a 1 gb memory card the good 1 and i got a disk so that save data and things came up but looked rlly cool ty u helped

Posted by: tom at May 11, 2008 1:37 AM

Do i need a memory card to download pictures on to my PSP

Posted by: Jason at May 31, 2008 6:51 AM

after i do all this, it ways the files are curopted when i go to play it.

Posted by: Gary Oic at June 6, 2008 12:44 PM

Hey im having a problem with my PSP hooking up with my MAC.
i did everything your supposed to but when its finally all hooked up the PSP never shows up on my computer.
help me figure this out please.

Thanks!
(:

Posted by: Phoebe at June 10, 2008 6:22 PM

thanks you helped alot without that i would never have fond out

Posted by: SANDMAN at June 26, 2008 2:44 PM

you are the bomb dave, your information was spot.
Thanks for your help my son was over the moon with the photos now loaded

Posted by: tracey at September 8, 2008 2:52 AM

i have a problem with downloading psp games.the problem is that after i download it says the data is corupted can you help me to solve this.if you can plz contact me witch my email adress or my skype name fraol live in holland

Posted by: fraol at October 4, 2008 9:03 AM

dat dont work for me cause i aint got macintosh how do i download from an ast bravo

Posted by: bobby at October 4, 2008 10:09 PM

help me dave taylor to get imesh off my psp cause i cant find it and delete it

Posted by: jarrll at November 30, 2008 2:02 PM

hello.
i am wounder doing i need a mac computer to be able to download pictures and vidoes? I am thinking about getting a psp for christmas. how many psp`s are there and what are the differents.Can i acully get on the internet and google search or is the internet for just downloading things. Are there more high speed ones out now because my freind has one but it only has games not music or internet?

it would be great if you could e-mail me back
thanks,
kasey

Posted by: kasey at December 15, 2008 12:26 PM

silly!! i do exacty the same and it dosent word

Posted by: Liam at January 18, 2009 8:02 PM

Hello Dave,
I just baught my son a psp and we cannot figure out how to download pictures from my toshiba laptop to the psp can you please help me

Thank you very much
Michael

Posted by: michael at January 20, 2009 8:14 PM

Hi,Just wanted to ask I have a (iBOOK G4)will a (Radio Shack)usb cable work the same way? Thx R.Bartosh

Posted by: robert bartosh at March 2, 2009 12:33 AM

download videos on psp this is it.

Posted by: shamar at April 26, 2009 2:28 PM

I have a lot to say, but ...

I have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but most of all I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a chai!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!