GTA 5 PC Cheats: Every Console Code and How to Use the ~ Key

How do GTA 5 PC cheats work?

GTA 5 PC cheats are words you type into a hidden console. Instead of memorizing twelve-button combos like on PlayStation and Xbox, PC players press one key, type something like HOPTOIT and hit Enter. It is the fastest way to cheat in any modern GTA, and once you get used to it, going back to a controller feels like dialing a rotary phone.

The interactive table above lists every PC code. This page covers the bits the table cannot: how to find the console key on your keyboard, how to type codes without fumbling, what changes between PC editions, and how to make it work on a Steam Deck.

How to enter GTA 5 cheats on PC: step by step

1. Load story mode and get control of Michael, Franklin or Trevor. The console does not open in GTA Online, the pause menu or cutscenes.
2. Press the tilde (~) key. On a US keyboard it sits below Esc and left of 1. A small text field appears at the bottom of the screen.
3. Type the cheat, for example PAINKILLER.
4. Press Enter. A notification confirms the cheat is active.
5. Press the console key again or Esc if the field stays open and you want to close it without entering anything.

That is it. No saving required, no unlock, no in-game purchase.

Where is the tilde key on my keyboard?

This is where most “cheats don’t work” problems come from. The console is bound to a physical key position, not to the ~ character. On a US QWERTY keyboard that key is printed with ~ and `. On other layouts, the same position is labeled differently.

Keyboard layout	What the key under Esc usually shows
US QWERTY	~ and `
UK QWERTY	` and ¬ (sometimes ¦)
German QWERTZ	^ and °
French AZERTY	²
Nordic layouts	§ and ½ (varies by country)

These labels vary between manufacturers and regions, so do not take the table as gospel. The reliable rule: press the key directly below Esc, left of 1, whatever it says on it. If that still does nothing, try switching Windows to a US English input layout temporarily (Win + Space cycles layouts if you have more than one installed).

Laptop and compact keyboards sometimes move or merge this key. On some 60% keyboards, for example, it shares the Esc key and needs a function-layer combo. Check your keyboard’s manual if there is no key between Esc and 1.

Typing tips that save you from failed codes

• Case does not matter. buzzoff, BUZZOFF and BuzzOff all spawn the Buzzard.
• No spaces. Every GTA 5 code is one word. LAWYER UP fails; LAWYERUP works.
• Watch the numbers. HOLEIN1 ends with the digit one, not a lowercase L or the letter I.
• Use the console’s history. On many setups you can press the Up arrow in the console to recall the last code you typed, which is handy for stacking cheats that need repeated entries.
• Repeat for stronger effects. SLOWMO stacks up to three times (a fourth entry turns it off), DEADEYE up to four times (a fifth turns it off), and LAWYERUP removes one wanted star per entry.
• Weather cycles. MAKEITRAIN moves to the next weather type each time, so keep entering it until you get the sky you want.

The best GTA 5 PC cheats to start with

The full list is in the table above. These are the ones PC players reach for first.

Cheat	PC code	What it does
Invincibility	PAINKILLER	Immune to damage for about five minutes
Max Health & Armor	TURTLE	Refills health and armor
Give Weapons & Ammo	TOOLUP	Full loadout including RPG and sniper rifle
Explosive Melee	HOTHANDS	Punches cause explosions
Lower Wanted Level	LAWYERUP	Removes one star per entry
Super Jump	HOPTOIT	Leap several stories
Skyfall	SKYFALL	Drops you from the sky for a freefall
Moon Gravity	FLOATER	Cars and bodies float
Spawn Buzzard	BUZZOFF	Armed attack helicopter
Spawn Comet	COMET	Pfister Comet sports car

Three extra vehicle codes, DEATHCAR (Duke O’Death), BUBBLES (Kraken submarine) and EXTINCT (Dodo seaplane), are returning-player bonuses. They depend on having the enhanced version of the game and/or a linked account, so they may not work for everyone.

Does it matter if I bought GTA 5 on Steam, Epic or Rockstar?

No. All PC copies run through the Rockstar Games Launcher in the background, and the cheat console is part of the game itself. Steam, Epic Games Store and Rockstar Store copies all use the same codes and the same key.

What differs is where achievements are tracked: Steam achievements on Steam, Epic achievements on Epic, and Rockstar’s own system everywhere. Cheats disable all of them for the session, regardless of storefront. Our trophies and achievements guide explains exactly what gets locked and how to get it back.

GTA 5 Legacy vs Enhanced on PC

In 2025 Rockstar released an upgraded PC version, GTA V Enhanced, alongside the original, which is now called GTA V Legacy. Enhanced brings features from the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions, such as improved graphics options. Both are typically included with your purchase, and you choose which to launch.

For cheats, the important bits are:

• The same console and the same codes work in both editions, as far as we and the wider community can tell.
• Saves and achievements may be handled differently between the two editions. If you migrate a story-mode save from Legacy to Enhanced, check Rockstar’s support pages for the current process.
• Mods and trainers written for Legacy do not automatically work on Enhanced. That is a mod issue, not a cheat issue, but worth knowing if you are mixing both. See cheats vs mods vs trainers for the difference.

Details like these can change with patches, so if something behaves differently on your install, trust what you see over any guide, including this one.

How to use GTA 5 cheats on Steam Deck

The Steam Deck has no physical keyboard, but you have two easy options.

Option 1: The on-screen keyboard

1. In story mode, press Steam + X to bring up the on-screen keyboard.
2. Tap the ~ key to open the cheat console.
3. Type the code and tap Enter.

If the console closes when the keyboard appears, try opening the keyboard first and then tapping ~, or map the console key to a back button in Steam Input so it is always one press away.

Option 2: The phone cheats

Skip typing entirely. Pull up the in-game phone and dial a 1-999 number. 1-999-887-853 gives max health and armor, for instance. Every number is in our GTA 5 phone cheats guide. On current versions of the game, numbers you have dialed are usually remembered in the phone, so re-entering them later is quick.

You can also use the controller button combos on Steam Deck, since it behaves like an Xbox-style pad in GTA 5.

Troubleshooting: GTA 5 PC cheats not working

• You are in GTA Online. Cheats only work in story mode, always.
• You are in a mission that blocks cheats. Some missions disable cheats or specific effects. Try again in free roam.
• Wrong key. Press the physical key below Esc, not a key showing a ~ symbol somewhere else.
• Overlay conflicts. Some overlays and tools bind the same key. If pressing it opens something else, change that tool’s hotkey.
• Typo. Double-check spelling and remove spaces.
• Vehicle won’t spawn. You need space around you; try a road or open area.

Practice before you play

Want to get faster at the controller combos too? Our cheat trainer lets you drill inputs with a keyboard, an on-screen pad or a real controller, and the GTA 5 cheats hub has the full PS, Xbox and phone lists side by side.