Ultimate Guide to Modding GTA 5 on PC

It’s been over a decade since Grand Theft Auto 5 has existed, and it is normal for players to be bored with the same gameplay pattern. Thankfully, besides the variety the game already provides, there are even more ways to breathe life into it. One such method is installing GTA 5 mods. However, the process can be tedious for newbies and veterans alike, and that’s where we come in. So keep reading as we show you all the safe ways on how to mod GTA 5 on PC.

Note: This GTA 5 mod guide is only meant to be an instructional article. As such, using some of the mods may result in your game’s data loss or a Rockstar Games ban, so proceed with caution. You have been warned.

Prerequisites for GTA 5 Modding

Before we start with the modding process, you must take a few steps to ensure the security of your device and the game. As such, follow the steps below before installing GTA 5 mods:

1. Backup Game Files

Backing up your GTA 5 game files is one of the most important things if you don’t want to lose your 100+ GB of data. To do so, you must locate where your game is installed. If you installed Grand Theft Auto 5 on the C drive, it will be in the “C:Program FilesRockstar GamesGrand Theft Auto V” directory.

We recommend copying the entire folder and moving it to an external drive or a different folder on your device. If things go sideways, you can rename the folder to ‘GTA5_Backup‘ to recognize it. Copying the files will require an additional 150GB of storage, so make sure you have it already.

2. Disable BattlEye Anticheat

The BattlEye anti-cheat is one of the ways Rockstar Games prevents players from using any third-party files. To get around it, you must stop the anti-cheat. There are two ways you can disable BattlEye anti-cheat in GTA 5. The simplest way to do it is by deleting ‘GTA5_BE.exe‘ from the game’s main folder.

Alternatively, you can disable it using the Rockstar Launcher. First, open the Rockstar Launcher on your PC and go to Settings. Now, find the BattlEye option in the General tab and click the yellow checkbox to disable it.

Download and Install Script Hook V Mod in GTA 5 PC

Now that we have our game backed up with the anti-cheat off, the first tool we will need for the GTA 5 mod is Script Hook V. Search for the official Script Hook V on your browser and download the version that matches your game. Here is the latest Script Hook V download link you can use even if you are playing GTA 5 Enhanced.

Once you have downloaded the zip file, copy ‘args.txt’, ‘ScriptHookV.dll’, ‘xinput1_4.dll’, and ‘dinput8.dll’ into your GTA 5 installation directory. The args.txt file already disables the BattleEye anti-cheat, but we recommend you stop it manually by following the steps mentioned above.

You can also copy the ‘NativeTrainer.asi’ file if you are willing to use it. Remember that this tool does not work on GTA Online, which prevents you from getting banned.

Once you have it installed, open GTA 5 and press F4 to open the native trainer. Here, you will have the option to add money, vehicles, weapons, and more. This native trainer is helpful for players who want to enjoy the single-player mode with fun twists.

Grand Theft Auto 5 Graphics Mod

GTA 5 Enhanced has already made notable changes to the game’s visuals. However, the legacy Grand Theft Auto 5 players would love the taste of enhanced visuals without compromising much on performance. That is why you can install GTA 5 graphics mods. There are plenty of graphics mods for Grand Theft Auto 5, such as GTA V Remake, Clouds V, and HD Low End. However, we will use the best GTA 5 graphics mod, VisualV.

As of now, you can only manually install VisualV or any of the mods. To install the Grand Theft Auto 5 graphics mod, follow the steps below:

• Download CodeWalker 30, dev48 version or newer, from the CodeWalker Discord server.
• Download and install OpenRPF from the official website.
• Go to your GTA V Enhanced folder, create a “mods” folder, then create an “update” folder.
• Copy the ‘update.rpf’ file from the “update” folder of your game files to “modsupdate”.
• Download VisualV files from the official source.
• Run CodeWalker and move files from the “manual installation” folder to their respective directories in ‘modsupdateupdate.rpf‘.

GTA 5 Gameplay Mods

Gameplay mods have been in Grand Theft Auto V for years and have been upgraded in different ways. Here, we will showcase the process of installing two of the most popular GTA V gameplay mods: FiveM and Chaos.

Install FiveM Mod on GTA 5

You must download the FiveM client from the official FiveM website in order to use mods. You don’t install most mods directly into your game files because they are server-sided. Rather, you will automatically download and use the mods that are specific to the GTA 5 RP server you join. Some of the mods you’ll install locally are client-side, meaning they only impact your gaming experience.

Use caution, as some servers may prohibit or limit their use. Verifying the FiveM server’s rules regarding permitted client-side changes is always essential. With that said, here is how you can install the FiveM mods in GTA 5:

• Run the Setup: Double-click the downloaded setup file once the download is complete.
• Allow Updates (if needed): The installer might check for updates. Ensure your PC is connected to the internet to allow this process to complete.
• Locate GTA5.exe: The installer will prompt you to locate your GTA5.exe file. This is usually found in your Grand Theft Auto V game directory (e.g., C:Program FilesRockstar GamesGrand Theft Auto V). Navigate to the correct folder and select the executable.
• Verify and Update Game Data: FiveM will now verify your game files and may download necessary updates. When prompted, allow these processes to proceed.
• Download Additional Files: A new download screen might appear for additional FiveM files. Allow these to download completely.
• Sign in to Rockstar Social Club: When the Rockstar Social Club sign-in window appears, enter your credentials to log in.
• Launch FiveM: Once the installation and sign-in are complete, you can open the FiveM application to explore custom GTA 5 servers and mods.

Install Chaos Mod in GTA V

Unlike the FiveM mod, the Chaos mod hooks into your main game. This is why you must install Script Hook V first. You can follow the guide at the top of this article to install it. Before you start the process, go to the GTA5-Mods website and download the Chaos Mod V file. Once you have downloaded it, follow the step-by-step process below to install Chaos Mod:

• First, extract the downloaded ‘.zip’ file into a new folder.
• Locate your Grand Theft Auto 5 game installation directory. This is usually found in one of the following locations (depending on where you purchased the game): (e.g., C:Program FilesRockstar GamesGrand Theft Auto V).
• Copy and paste the components from your new folder to the GTA 5 folder.
• Make sure the ‘ChaosMod.asi‘ file exists in the folder. Once done, run GTA 5, and you are good to go.
• You can open the ChaosModV config to adjust the mods you want in the game.

Will Modding GTA 5 on PC Get My Account Banned?

Yes and no both. Rockstar officially said in 2015, “We have always appreciated the creative efforts of the PC modding community…no one has been banned for using single- player modifications, and you should not worry about being banned or being relegated to the cheater pool just for using single-player PC mods.”

This means that if you are using GTA 5 mods in single-player mode, it should not get you banned. However, that does not mean you can use the same trainers or other mods in GTA Online, either. Rockstar also uses duplicate GTA files for the online version. This ultimately keeps you vulnerable to the cheater pool bans.

As mentioned earlier in this guide, you should always check if the mod is legal. Moreover, always download and install the mod from a legitimate source. You wouldn’t want the malware to take over your PC, just like you would take over a bank in the game.

Installing a GTA 5 Mod Menu can directly get you banned if it is not legal. Before you use a GTA 5 Mod Menu, you must know which one you use. There are two types of mod menus: Single-Player Mod Menus (trainers) and Online Mod Menus.

In simple terms, the mods we suggested at the top download the Mod Menu automatically in your GTA V. While the Mod Menus can be fun, we recommend you stick to the ones used for single-player GTA 5.

That ends our complete GTA 5 mod guide. Have you tried modding your Grand Theft Auto 5 yet? Which mod is your favorite? Tell us in the comments below!