Since the very first installment of the series, cheats have played an essential role in the Grand Theft Auto experience. At the height of the game’s popularity, kids everywhere made a point of memorizing the most important codes, while the rest were hastily scrawled down in the back of the games’ instruction manuals. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas reigns supreme in this regard much like modern titles like Saints Row, this game allows you to completely rewrite the rules of reality, turning a quiet countryside into a full-blown warzone.
The Largest Arsenal of Cheats in Franchise History
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas boasts more cheat codes than any other entry in the franchise. Most of these legendary sequences have been successfully carried over to the Definitive Edition release on PS5. In fact, the developers went a step further for the 2021 remaster, adding a few brand-new cheats specifically for this version, allowing players to cause even more carnage than ever before with just a few simple button presses.
How to Activate Cheats on PlayStation
Activation on PS5 and PS4 remains as intuitive as it was decades ago. Cheats are entered directly during gameplay (outside of the pause menu) using the buttons on your DualSense controller.
- Entering Codes: Simply perform the specific sequence of D-pad directions and face buttons in quick succession.
- Confirmation: If entered correctly, a small confirmation pop-up will appear in the corner of your screen.
- Important Note: Unlike GTA 5, there is no option to enter these codes via a cell phone; everything is done the old-school way through the controller.
| Effect | PS5 Cheat Code |
|---|---|
| Weapon Set #1 | R1, R2, L1, R2, Left, Down, Right, Up, Left, Down, Right, Up |
| Weapon Set #2 | R1, R2, L1, R2, Left, Down, Right, Up, Left, Down, Down, Left |
| Weapon Set #3 | R1, R2, L1, R2, Left, Down, Right, Up, Left, Down, Down, Down |
| Max Weapon Proficiency | Down, ☐, ✕, Left, R1, R2, Left, Down, Down, L1, L1, L1 |
| Get $250,000 Cash, Full Health & Full Armor | R1, R2, L1, ✕, Left, Down, Right, Up, Left, Down, Right, Up |
| Instant Death | Right, L2, Down, R1, Left, Left, R1, L1, L2, L1 |
| Infinite Ammo | L1, R1, ☐, R1, Left, R2, R1, Left, ☐, Down, L1, L1 |
| Infinite Health | Down, ✕, Right, Left, Right, R1, Right, Down, Up, △ |
| Infinite Lung Capacity | Down, Left, L1, Down, Down, R2, Down, L2, Down |
| Raise Wanted Level | R1, R1, 〇, R2, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right, Left |
| Lower Wanted Level | R1, R1, 〇, R2, Up, Down, Up, Down, Up, Down |
| Six-Star Wanted Level | 〇, Right, 〇, Right, Left, ☐, ✕, Down |
| Lock Wanted Level | 〇, Right, 〇, Right, Left, ☐, △, Up |
| Maximum Stamina | Up, ✕, △, ✕, △, ✕, ☐, R2, Right |
| Remove Hunger | ☐, L2, R1, △, Up, ☐, L1, Up, ✕ |
| Maximum Fat | △, Up, Up, Left, Right, ☐, 〇, Down |
| Maximum Muscle | △, Up, Up, Left, Right, ☐, 〇, Left |
| Minimum Muscle | △, Up, Up, Left, Right, ☐, 〇, Right |
| Maximum Respect | L1, R1, △, Down, R2, ✕, L1, Up, L2, L2, L1, L1 |
| Maximum Appeal | 〇, △, △, Up, 〇, R1, L2, Up, △, L1, L1, L1 |
| Big Head Mode | Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, 〇, ✕ |
| Super Bunny Hop | △, ☐, 〇, 〇, ☐, 〇, 〇, L1, L2, L2, R1, R2 |
| Super Jump | Up, Up, △, △, Up, Up, Left, Right, ☐, R2, R2 |
| Super Punch | Up, Left, ✕, △, R1, 〇, 〇, 〇, L2 |
| Recruit Civilians with Pistols | Down, ☐, Up, R2, R2, Up, Right, Right, Up |
| Recruit Civilians with Rocket Launchers | R2, R2, R2, ✕, L2, L1, R2, L1, Down, ✕ |
| Gang Wars | L1, Up, R1, R1, Left, R1, R1, R2, Right, Down |
| Carnival Mode | △, △, L1, ☐, ☐, 〇, ☐, Down, 〇 |
| Beach Party Mode | Up, Up, Down, Down, ☐, 〇, L1, R1, △, Down |
| Armed Pedestrians | R2, R1, ✕, △, ✕, △, Up, Down |
| Angry Pedestrians | Down, Up, Up, Up, ✕, R2, R1, L2, L2 |
| Rioting Pedestrians | Down, Left, Up, Left, ✕, R2, R1, L2, L1 |
| Rioting Pedestrians (Golf Clubs) | Down, Left, Up, Left, ✕, R1, R1, L2, L1 |
| Pimp Theme | ☐, Right, ☐, ☐, L2, ✕, △, ✕, △ |
| Elvis Theme | L1, 〇, △, L1, L1, ☐, L2, Up, Down, Left |
| Triad Theme | ✕, ✕, Down, R2, L2, 〇, R1, 〇, ☐ |
| Rural Theme | △, Left, ☐, R2, Up, L2, Down, L1, ✕, L1, L1, L1 |
| Reduced Traffic | ✕, Down, Up, R2, Down, △, L1, △, Left |
| Rural Traffic | L1, L1, R1, R1, L2, L1, Right, 〇 |
| Rich Traffic | Up, L1, R1, Up, Right, Up, ✕, L2, ✕, L1 |
| Speed Up Time | 〇, 〇, L1, ☐, L1, ☐, ☐, ☐, L1, △, 〇, △ |
| Faster Gameplay | △, Up, Right, Down, L2, L1, ☐ |
| Slower Gameplay | △, Up, Right, Down, ☐, R2, R1 |
| Adrenaline Mode | ✕, ✕, ☐, R1, L1, ✕, Down, Left, ✕ |
| Improved Handling | △, R1, R1, Left, R1, L1, R2, L1 |
| Max Vehicle Skills | ☐, L2, ✕, R1, L2, L2, Left, R1, Right, L1, L1, L1 |
| Invincible Car | L1, L2, L2, Up, Down, Down, Up, R1, R2, R2 |
| Full Aim in Vehicles | Up, Up, ☐, L2, Right, ✕, R1, Down, R2, 〇 |
| All Traffic Lights Are Green | Right, R1, Up, L2, L2, Left, R1, L1, R1, R1 |
| Aggressive Traffic | R2, 〇, R1, L2, Left, R1, L1, R2, L2 |
| Flying Cars | Up, Down, L1, R1, L1, Right, Left, L1, Left |
| Flying Boats | R2, 〇, Up, L1, Right, R1, Right, Up, ☐, △ |
| All Cars Have NOS | Left, △, R1, L1, Up, ☐, △, Down, 〇, L2, L1, L1 |
| All Taxis Have NOS | Up, ✕, △, ✕, △, ✕, ☐, R2, Right |
| Drive On Water | Right, R2, 〇, R1, L2, ☐, R1, R2 |
| Destroy All Cars | R2, L2, R1, L1, L2, R2, ☐, △, 〇, △, L2, L1 |
| Invisible Cars | △, L1, △, R2, ☐, L1, L1 |
| Floating Cars | ☐, R2, Down, Down, Left, Down, Left, Left, L2, ✕ |
| Pink Cars | 〇, L1, Down, L2, Left, ✕, R1, L1, Right, 〇 |
| Black Cars | 〇, L2, Up, R1, Left, ✕, R1, L1, Left, 〇 |
| Spawn Rhino Tank | 〇, 〇, L1, 〇, 〇, 〇, L1, L2, R1, △, 〇, △ |
| Spawn Jetpack | Left, Right, L1, L2, R1, R2, Up, Down, Left, Right |
| Spawn Monster Truck | Right, Up, R1, R1, R1, Down, △, △, ✕, 〇, L1, L1 |
| Spawn Parachute | Left, Right, L1, L2, R1, R2, R2, Up, Down, Right, L1 |
| Spawn Bloodring Banger | Down, R1, 〇, L2, L2, ✕, R1, L1, Left, Left |
| Spawn Caddy | 〇, L1, Up, R1, L2, ✕, R1, L1, 〇, ✕ |
| Spawn Dozer | R2, L1, L1, Right, Right, Up, Up, ✕, L1, Left |
| Spawn Hotring Racer (1) | R1, 〇, R2, Right, L1, L2, ✕, ✕, ☐, R1 |
| Spawn Hotring Racer (2) | R2, L1, 〇, Right, L1, R1, Right, Up, 〇, R2 |
| Spawn Hunter | 〇, ✕, L1, 〇, 〇, L1, 〇, R1, R2, L2, L1, L1 |
| Spawn Hydra | △, △, ☐, 〇, ✕, L1, L1, Down, Up |
| Spawn Limo | R2, Up, L2, Left, Left, R1, L1, 〇, Right |
| Spawn Quad Bike | Left, Left, Down, Down, Up, Up, ☐, 〇, △, R1, R2 |
| Spawn Rancher | Up, Right, Right, L1, Right, Up, ☐, L2 |
| Spawn Stunt Plane | 〇, Up, L1, L2, Down, R1, L1, L1, Left, Left, ✕, △ |
| Spawn Tanker | R1, Up, Left, Right, R2, Up, Right, ☐, Right, L2, L1, L1 |
| Spawn Trashmaster | 〇, R1, 〇, R1, Left, Left, R1, L1, 〇, Right |
| Spawn Vortex | △, △, ☐, 〇, ✕, L1, L2, Down, Down |
| Always 21:00 | Left, Left, L2, R1, Right, ☐, ☐, L1, L2, 〇 |
| Always Midnight | ☐, L1, R1, Right, ✕, Up, L1, Left, Left |
| Sunny Weather | R2, ✕, L1, L1, L2, L2, L2, △ |
| Extreme Sunny Weather | R2, ✕, L1, L1, L2, L2, L2, Down |
| Cloudy Weather | L2, Down, Down, Left, ☐, Left, R2, ☐, ✕, R1, L1, L1 |
| Rainy Weather | R2, ✕ L1, L1, L2, L2, L2, 〇 |
| Stormy Weather | R2, ✕, L1, L1, L2, L2, L2, 〇 |
| Foggy Weather | R2, ✕, L1, L1, L2, L2, L2, ✕ |
| Sandstorm | Up, Down, L1, L1, L2, L2, L1, L2, R1, R2 |
A Warning for Trophy Hunters and Completionists
Using cheat codes comes with one major drawback that you shouldn’t overlook. Once you activate a code, it will make it impossible to unlock trophies during your current gameplay session.
Because of this restriction, it is a very good idea to save your game in a new slot before you start experimenting. Furthermore, some cheats can cause irreversible changes to the game world—such as making pedestrians aggressive which can negatively impact your ability to progress through the story if you accidentally save with the cheat active.
New Features in the Definitive Edition
The PS5 remaster brought more than just updated graphics; it introduced a few tweaks to the cheat list. While most of the classic codes for weapons, health, and vehicle spawns (like the Hydra or the Rhino tank) work perfectly, some technically demanding cheats from the original PS2 version may have been replaced or streamlined. This ensures players can enjoy a smooth “grind” with infinite ammo or flying cars without worrying about the game crashing.
Editorial Perspective
Returning to San Andreas on the PS5 is a pure hit of nostalgia, and cheats only amplify that feeling. It’s great to see that even in a modern remaster, the “insane DNA” that allows you to spawn a jetpack in the middle of Las Venturas remains intact. While the trophy disabling is a bit of a letdown, let’s be honest CJ with infinite health and a rocket launcher is simply too much fun to pass up, even if you don’t get a digital medal for it.
FAQ
Q: Are there any completely new cheats in the PS5 version?
A: Yes, the Definitive Edition includes a few bonus codes that weren’t in the original 2004 release, such as those for specific visual filters or physics anomalies.
Q: Do the original PS2 cheat codes work on PS5?
A: The vast majority of the original combinations work exactly the same way. Rockstar aimed to keep as many classic codes as possible for an authentic experience.
Q: Can I turn off cheats and start earning trophies again?
A: Not within the same save file. Once a cheat is activated, that save is “flagged.” You must load a save file created before the cheats were used to earn trophies.
Q: Is it safe to save the game while cheats are active?
A: It is generally not recommended. Certain cheats, like “Pedestrians Riot,” can be permanent and might prevent you from completing specific story missions later on.
