To use GTA 5 cheats safely, make a manual save first, use cheats in single-player story mode only, and try one cheat at a time. Rockstar says saving is allowed with cheats enabled but achievements are temporarily disabled, and that reloading a save or rebooting resets all cheats. This guide covers the checklist, the rules and the cheats that are easiest to regret.
Your checklist before you cheat
- Make a manual save. It gives you a clean state to return to.
- Be in story mode. Cheats are not meant for GTA Online.
- Pick one cheat. Trying several at once makes it hard to tell what changed.
- Know how to undo it. Enter the same code again, or reload your save.
- Check your goals. If you want achievements or trophies, do that in a save that has no cheats.
What does Rockstar say about cheats?
Rockstar publishes a support article titled Information about saving and achievements while using GTA V cheat codes. See the Rockstar support article for the original. It was last updated on April 28, 2024. The points it makes are:
- Saving is allowed when cheat codes are enabled, but achievements are temporarily disabled.
- Entering the same cheat code twice will usually, but not always, disable the cheat.
- During specific areas of gameplay, specific cheats are temporarily not available. The game then shows the message Cheat Denied: Cannot activate that cheat right now.
- Starting a mission with off-mission cheat codes enabled will disable those cheats.
- Reloading a save or rebooting the console resets all cheats and returns the game to its previous state.
Why make a manual save first?
Because saving works while cheats are on, a save made during a cheat session can keep the effects of what you did in the game. A save made before you start keeps a version where nothing has changed. If a cheat leaves you in a bad spot, you can reload it and the cheats reset, as Rockstar describes.
Which cheats are easiest to regret?
Cheats that change your situation sharply are the ones to treat carefully: raising the wanted level, dropping you from the sky, and effects that change how you move or shoot. Here are the ones in our database that fit that description.
| Cheat to handle with care | PC code |
|---|---|
| Drunk Mode | LIQUOR |
| Explosive Bullets | HIGHEX |
| Explosive Melee Attacks | HOTHANDS |
| Flaming Bullets | INCENDIARY |
| Lower Wanted Level | LAWYERUP |
| Raise Wanted Level | FUGITIVE |
| Skyfall | SKYFALL |
| Slidey Cars | SNOWDAY |
Try them only after a manual save, and one at a time, so you can see exactly what each one does.
Can cheats affect missions?
Yes. Rockstar says starting a mission with off-mission cheat codes enabled disables those cheats. That is useful to know if you expected an effect to carry into a mission and it did not. If you want a cheat during a mission, check whether the game shows the Cheat Denied message when you try.
Cheats in GTA Online and with mods
Cheat codes are for story mode. They are not meant for GTA Online. Mods are a separate matter: they remain popular in story mode, but using mods in GTA Online can get you banned. Keep both out of online play.
How do you enter cheats in the first place?
On PC, press the tilde key (~), type the code and press Enter. On PlayStation and Xbox, enter the button sequence during gameplay. See the PC cheat guide and the PlayStation and Xbox guide for the steps, or use the cheat code finder.
A safe cheat session, step by step
- Load your story game and make a manual save in a place where you are not in the middle of a mission.
- Pick one low-risk cheat, such as Max Health and Armor, and enter it.
- Check that it worked and that nothing else changed.
- Try the next cheat only when you are happy with the first.
- When you are finished, reload your save to reset every cheat, as Rockstar describes.
What to do if a cheat goes wrong
Stay calm and use the simplest fix first. Enter the same cheat code a second time, which Rockstar says will usually, but not always, disable it. If that does not work, reload a save or reboot the console, which resets all cheats and returns the game to its previous state. If you made a manual save before you started, you can return to exactly where you were.
Common mistakes
- Cheating in your only save. Keep a separate save for experiments.
- Stacking many cheats at once. You cannot tell which one caused a problem.
- Expecting cheats to work in GTA Online. They are for story mode only.
- Using mods online. Using mods in GTA Online can get you banned.
- Assuming nothing will change. Achievements are temporarily disabled while cheats are enabled.
Cheats and completion goals
If you are working toward trophies, achievements or full completion, plan for it. Rockstar says achievements are temporarily disabled while cheat codes are enabled, so do that progress in a save where you have not used cheats. Use a different save for anything you want to try just for fun.
Quick reference
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can I save with cheats on? | Yes, saving is allowed |
| Are achievements affected? | They are temporarily disabled while cheats are enabled |
| How do I turn a cheat off? | Enter the same code twice, which usually works |
| What resets every cheat? | Reloading a save or rebooting the console |
| Why does it say Cheat Denied? | That cheat is not available in that area right now |
| What happens when I start a mission? | Off-mission cheats are disabled |
Frequently asked questions
Do GTA 5 cheats disable achievements?
Rockstar says achievements are temporarily disabled while cheat codes are enabled. Reloading a save or rebooting resets all cheats.
Can I save while cheats are on?
Yes. Rockstar says saving is allowed when cheat codes are enabled.
How do I turn off a cheat?
Enter the same code twice, which usually works, or reload a save. Reloading a save or rebooting the console resets all cheats.
Why does it say Cheat Denied?
Specific cheats are temporarily not available in specific areas of gameplay. The game shows Cheat Denied: Cannot activate that cheat right now.
Do cheats work in GTA Online?
No. Cheat codes are for story mode only.
Can mods get me banned?
Using mods in GTA Online can get you banned, so keep them out of online play.
Which cheat should I try first?
Start with something low-risk, such as max health and armor or a parachute, and see our best GTA 5 cheats guide for the most useful ones.