How to Save in GTA 5 & GTA Online

Quick Links

• GTA 5: How to Save

• GTA Online: How to Save

Grand Theft Auto 5 and GTA Online utilize autosave features, automatically recording your progress. However, knowing the exact autosave timing can be tricky. To prevent potential data loss, manually saving or triggering autosaves is recommended. This guide details how to save in both Grand Theft Auto 5 and GTA Online.

A rotating orange circle in the bottom-right corner signifies an active autosave. While easily missed, its presence confirms your progress is being saved.

GTA 5: How to Save

Sleeping at a Safehouse

Manual saving in GTA 5's Story Mode is achieved by sleeping in a Safehouse bed. Safehouses, your character's homes, are marked with a white house icon on the map.

Once inside, approach the bed and press:

• Keyboard: E
• Controller: Right on D-Pad

This initiates sleep and opens the Save Game menu.

Using the Cell Phone

For a quicker save, bypass the Safehouse and use your in-game cell phone:

• Access the cell phone (Keyboard: Up arrow; Controller: Up on D-pad).
• Select the cloud icon to open the Save Game menu.
• Confirm the save.

GTA Online: How to Save

Unlike GTA 5's Story Mode, GTA Online lacks a dedicated manual save menu. However, you can force autosaves using these methods:

Changing Outfits/Accessories

Altering your outfit or even a single accessory triggers an autosave. Look for the spinning orange circle in the bottom-right corner to confirm. Repeat if necessary.

• Open the Interaction Menu (Keyboard: M; Controller: Touchpad).
• Select Appearance, then Accessories. Swap an accessory or change your Outfit.
• Exit the Interaction Menu.

Using the Swap Character Menu

Navigating to the Swap Character menu, even without switching characters, also forces an autosave:

• Open the Pause Menu (Keyboard: Esc; Controller: Start).
• Go to the Online tab.
• Select Swap Character.