A GTA 5 save editor lets you modify your Story Mode save file directly — adjusting character money, skill stats, weapon unlocks, and mission progress without entering any in-game cheat codes. It is one of the most flexible ways to customise a single-player playthrough on PC, and the process takes only a few minutes once you know where your save file lives.
What you need before you start
Save editors work only with PC Story Mode saves. They cannot touch GTA Online data (Rockstar stores Online progress server-side, so no local file exists to edit). You will need:
- GTA 5 installed on PC via Rockstar Games Launcher, Steam, or the Epic Games Store.
- At least one saved game in Story Mode.
- A trusted save editor — the most widely used is GTA 5 Save Editor by XB36Hazard, available on gta5mods.com.
- A spare folder to keep a backup copy of the original save.
How to use a save editor for GTA 5
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Step 1: Download a GTA 5 Save Editor
Visit gta5-mods.com and search for GTA 5 Save Editor. The most comprehensive option is the editor by XB36Hazard, which supports saves from all three PC storefronts and covers money, stats, weapons, vehicles, wanted level, and mission completion. Download the latest version, extract the ZIP, and run the installer or the standalone executable. No game files are modified during installation.
Search for GTA 5 Save Editor on gta5-mods.com and download the version by XB36Hazard. -
Step 2: Locate Your GTA 5 Save File
GTA 5 stores its Story Mode saves in a numbered folder inside your Windows Documents directory. The exact path is:
Documents > Rockstar Games > GTA V > Profiles > [8-character profile ID]
Inside that folder you will find files named SGTA50000, SGTA50001, and so on — each one corresponding to a different save slot. Slot 0 (SGTA50000) is typically the most recent. Before doing anything else, copy the file to a separate backup folder so you can restore it if something goes wrong.
Your save files live at Documents > Rockstar Games > GTA V > Profiles > [ProfileID]. Always back up SGTA50000 before editing. -
Step 3: Open Your Save File in the Editor
Launch the save editor. Click Open (or use File > Open) and navigate to the Profiles folder you found in the previous step. Select SGTA50000 — the file has no extension, which is normal. The editor will parse the binary save data and display all editable fields in a tabbed interface. If the file fails to load, make sure GTA 5 is closed and you have selected the correct slot.
Click Open and select SGTA50000 from your Profiles folder. No file extension is required. -
Step 4: Edit Money, Stats, and Unlocks
The editor is organised into tabs. The most commonly used ones are:
- Money — set wallet balances for Michael, Trevor, and Franklin individually. The practical maximum is just over $2.1 billion per character.
- Stats — raise skills such as Stamina, Shooting, Flying, Driving, and Stealth to any value from 0 to 100.
- Weapons — add or remove weapons and set their current ammo counts.
- Vehicles — unlock specific cars and adjust their properties.
- Missions — mark missions as complete to advance story progress.
Change any value you like, then move on to the next tab. Changes are held in memory until you save the file.
The Money tab lets you set wallet balances for all three protagonists. Other tabs cover stats, weapons, and vehicles. -
Step 5: Back Up and Save the Edited File
When you are happy with your changes, click Save File (or File > Save) in the editor. This overwrites the SGTA50000 file in your Profiles folder with the edited data. Because the original is now replaced, having your backup copy from Step 2 is critical — if GTA 5 refuses to load a corrupted save, you can simply paste the backup back into the Profiles folder. Never use a save editor on a GTA Online profile; editing online data violates Rockstar's terms of service and can result in a ban.
Copy the original to a backup folder first, then click Save File to write your changes. Keep both copies safe. -
Step 6: Load the Edited Save in GTA 5
Close the save editor, then launch GTA 5. From the main menu, select Story Mode > Load Game and choose the slot you edited (Slot 1 corresponds to SGTA50000). The game will load normally, and your changed values — money, stats, weapons — will be in effect immediately. If the game shows an error or the save appears blank, restore your backup file and try the editing process again, making sure the game was fully closed before you opened the file in the editor.
Select Story Mode > Load Game and pick Slot 1 to start playing with your edited save.
Tips for safe and effective editing
- Always keep a backup. Paste a copy of SGTA50000 into a separate folder every time before you open it in the editor. One bad edit can make the save unreadable.
- Close GTA 5 before editing. The game locks the save file while it is running. Editing an open save can corrupt it or cause your changes to be overwritten on the next autosave.
- Do not exceed realistic maximums. Setting a value far beyond the game's own maximum (for example, skill values over 100) can trigger bugs or crashes.
- Story Mode only. Save editors have no effect on GTA Online and attempting to use one in that context risks your account.
- Re-download saves if needed. Rockstar Games Launcher backs up cloud saves. You can re-download an unedited version from the launcher if you lose your local backup.
Troubleshooting
The editor says it cannot read the save file
Make sure GTA 5 is completely closed — not just minimised — before you open the save in the editor. Also confirm you are selecting a file named SGTA5000X with no extension, not a similarly named file with a different suffix.
GTA 5 shows an error when loading the edited save
The save was likely corrupted during editing. Restore your backup copy to the Profiles folder and try again. Recheck that you did not enter an out-of-range value (such as a negative number or a figure far above the game's maximum).
My changes did not appear in-game
The most common cause is saving the file to the wrong slot. Verify that the file you edited is the same SGTA5000X number as the slot you loaded in-game — Slot 1 in the menu corresponds to SGTA50000, Slot 2 to SGTA50001, and so on.
Frequently asked questions
Is using a GTA 5 save editor safe?
It is safe for offline Story Mode play as long as you keep a backup. The save editor modifies a local file and does not interact with Rockstar's servers in any way, so there is no ban risk in single-player. Never use it on a GTA Online account.
Which GTA 5 save editor is the best?
The save editor by XB36Hazard is the most feature-complete option for PC, covering all three storefronts and exposing the widest range of editable values. It is regularly updated and available on gta5-mods.com.
Can I use a save editor on GTA 5 console (PS4, PS5, Xbox)?
Standard save editors target PC save files. Console saves are encrypted with platform-specific keys and typically cannot be edited with the same tools. Some modding communities offer console-specific solutions, but they require additional steps and carry greater risk.
Where exactly is the GTA 5 save file on PC?
It is at Documents\Rockstar Games\GTA V\Profiles\[8-character ID]\SGTA50000. The profile ID is a random alphanumeric string assigned when you first ran the game. If you have multiple Windows user accounts, check the Documents folder for the account that owns the GTA 5 installation.
Will editing my save break achievements or trophies?
On PC, Steam achievements that rely on in-game statistics may not unlock retroactively if you bypass the normal progression. Achievements already earned are unaffected. If achievements matter to you, consider editing only money and leaving stat-based values unchanged.
Final thoughts
Using a save editor for GTA 5 is a straightforward way to tailor your Story Mode experience — whether you want to start a fresh playthrough with funds already in the bank, max out character skills for a specific build, or skip past a frustrating mission. Follow the six steps above, keep your backup file safe, and the whole process takes under ten minutes. Just remember: Story Mode only, and always close the game before you touch the save file.
