Cheats & codes: the complete guide
GTA 6 doesn't have its own cheats yet (the game launches November 19, 2026), but the series' history gives a good idea of what to expect. In the meantime, here's everything you need on GTA 5 cheats — useful if you're catching up on the previous chapter while waiting, and a solid hint at how cheats will likely work in GTA 6 too.
How cheats work in GTA 5
In the numbered GTA games (from III onward), cheats have always been exclusive to single-player story mode — never in GTA Online. On GTA 5 there are three ways to activate them, depending on platform:
- In-game phone (the most convenient method on next-gen consoles and PC): press Up on the D-pad to open the phone, go to Contacts, open the keypad and dial the number for the cheat
- Button combinations (PS3/PS4/PS5, Xbox 360/One/Series): a sequence of buttons pressed quickly during gameplay
- PC console: press the tilde key (~) to open the command console and type the cheat's keyword
The most useful GTA 5 cheats
| Effect | Phone code |
|---|---|
| Temporary invincibility (~5 minutes) | 1-999-724-654-5537 (PAIN-KILLER) |
| Full health and armor | 1-999-887-853 (TURTLE) |
| Full weapon set with ammo | 1-999-8665-87 (TOOL-UP) |
| Lower wanted level by one star | 1-999-5299-3787 (LAWYER-UP) |
| Spawn an armed Buzzard helicopter | 1-999-289-9633 (BUZZ-OFF) |
The same codes also work typed as a word into the PC console (e.g. "painkiller", "turtle") — only the input method changes, not the effect.
What to expect in GTA 6
Rockstar hasn't confirmed specific cheat codes for GTA 6 yet. That said, every numbered entry in the series since GTA III has included some form of story-mode cheat, so it's reasonable to expect the tradition to continue. The in-game phone system (already present and central to GTA 5's gameplay) is likely to remain the main method, given how convenient it is on modern consoles.
Confirmed news from the Extended Look (August 27, 2026)
While not exactly "cheats", the Extended Look and the following press previews confirmed several mechanics that will change gameplay compared to GTA V:
- Six-star wanted system (instead of the traditional five), with color-coded stars by severity and multiple factors that raise your heat level (cameras, noise, clothing)
- A "Focus" mechanic to spot nearby objects and move more carefully, also useful for avoiding police
- A mechanic reminiscent of Red Dead Redemption's Dead Eye, never before seen in a numbered GTA entry
- A morality system tracking the player's ethical choices, including interactions with animals and NPCs