Do Cheat Codes Disable Achievements and Saves? What to Know Before You Cheat

Cheat codes are part of the fun of single-player games. But before you type HESOYAM into a 60-hour save, it is worth knowing what cheats can do to your achievements, your save file and your account.

I build Cheatly: Game Cheat Codes, a free offline cheat code app for iPhone and iPad, and the screenshots here come from it. If you want every code on your phone next to the controller, get Cheatly on the App Store.

Do cheats disable achievements and trophies?

Many modern games disable achievements when you use cheats, to keep them meaningful. The details differ by game:

Game	What happens
GTA 5 (story mode)	Achievements and trophies are disabled for the rest of that session. Save and restart the game to earn them again.
Classic GTA (original PC releases)	These releases predate achievement systems.
Other games	Varies. Some disable achievements for that save permanently, some only while cheats are on, some not at all.

If achievements matter to you, check how your game handles it before you use any cheat, and use a separate save.

Can cheats corrupt or break a save?

Built-in cheats will not corrupt a save file in the technical sense, but some can change the game state in ways that persist after you save. In older GTA games especially, players report effects such as altered stats, changed pedestrians or traffic, or missions becoming hard to complete. To stay safe:

1. Keep a clean save in a separate slot that has never used cheats.
2. Use cheats on a copy of your save, not your main one.
3. Avoid saving right after world-changing cheats.
4. Turn toggle cheats off before saving.

Can cheat codes get me banned?

There is an important difference between two very different things:

• Built-in cheat codes in single-player modes, like those in Cheatly, are features the developers put in the game. They do not get you banned.
• Third-party cheat software, mods or exploits in online games break the terms of service and are detected by anti-cheat systems. They can get your account banned, and they ruin the game for other players.

Cheatly only covers single-player cheat codes. Built-in single-player cheats generally do not work in online modes anyway.

Are cheat codes "cheating"?

In a single-player game, it is your experience. Cheats can let you explore a world freely, get past a frustrating mission, replay a favourite game with new toys, or simply have fun. Many developers included cheats for exactly that reason.

Good habits when using cheats

• Finish the story once without cheats if you want the intended challenge.
• Keep a clean save for achievements.
• Use cheats for experiments, sandbox play and replays.
• Never use cheat tools in online or competitive modes.

For the codes themselves, see GTA 5 cheats for PC and how to enter cheat codes on every platform.

More guides you may find useful:

• Cheat Codes vs Trainers vs Mods: What Is the Difference, and What Is Safe?
• GTA 5 Cheats for PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S: Every Button Code
• GTA 4 Cheats: Every Phone Number for Health, Weapons, Wanted Level and Vehicles

How Cheatly helps

• 3,300+ single-player cheats across 84 games, all stored on your iPhone or iPad.
• Shown the way your platform enters them: PlayStation and Xbox button chips, copyable PC console text, and in-game phone numbers.
• Search by name or by effect, such as "wanted" or "helicopter", and filter by category.
• Favourites for the codes you use every session.
• Read aloud, so you can enter long combos with the controller in your hands.
• Works offline, with no account and no sign-up.

Download Cheatly free on the App Store and stop searching the web mid-game.