HEN, kstuff or payloads load more than once
Medium risk✓ ProvenWhat you see
- The console has a kernel panic or crashes when you open games after the autoloader runs.
- The autoloader only loads some of the time, or an installer says the console did not respond.
What it means
When the same HEN, kstuff or payload is sent more than once, or two autoload lists overlap, users report kernel panics when opening games, an autoloader that only loads some of the time, or an installer saying the console did not respond. This applies to setups that use the Y2JB Autoloader, Payload Manager and a HEN such as onionHEN. The cases behind this page are user reports, not tests made by this guide.
What to do
Save a copy of your autoload.txt
The Y2JB Autoloader README says autoload.txt lives in a ps5_autoloader folder, either at the root of a USB drive or at /data/ps5_autoloader, and that the USB drive comes first. Also write down the payloads in the Payload Manager autoload list before you change anything.
Test with only Payload Manager
The Payload Manager README says it can load a list of payloads automatically whenever the manager starts. For this test, start only the manager and nothing else.
Keep only one autoload list in use
The README says the autoloader's autoload.txt and Payload Manager's built-in autoload are separate. If no autoload.txt is found, the autoloader starts Payload Manager. If one is found, Payload Manager is not started unless pldmgr.elf is listed in it. Put your payloads in one of the two lists, not in both.
Load a single HEN stack
The onionHEN README says it already bundles kstuff, which loads by default and can be turned off in its Toolbox, and that its ShadowMount+ plugin needs kstuff. So you do not need to send a separate kstuff on top of it. Load the HEN once, then ShadowMount+ and only the services you need.
Add optional payloads back one at a time
As a check, add each extra payload back on its own and test after each one, so you can see which one brings the problem back.
When to stop
A repeated payload is not a sign of success
Seeing a payload load again, or a second notification, does not confirm that it worked. The two autoload lists are independent, so check both before adding a payload to either. The reports where this helped are user reports, not tests made by this guide.
Sources
- PS5 Y2JB Autoloader README (Oct 29, 2026)
- PS5 Payload Manager README (Oct 31, 2026)
- onionHEN README (Oct 31, 2026)
Last reviewed: Oct 31, 2026
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