To run ISO files on a physical PSP, the device must be running . This "jailbreaking" process unlocks the system's ability to read digital files from the Memory Stick rather than the UMD drive.

However, an emulator is just a shell; it is useless without the game data. This is where the demand for ISOs comes in. Users need the game files to load into the emulator to actually play.

Modern preservation largely relies on , the leading PSP emulator available for Windows, Android, and iOS.

Access the games through the "Game > Memory Stick" menu on the PSP's XMB interface. 3. The Role of Emulation: PPSSPP