Saving Progress in GTA 5 and GTA Online: A Complete Guide

Saving Progress in GTA 5 and GTA Online: A Complete Guide

Grand Theft Auto V and its online counterpart GTA Online feature an autosave function that captures player progress automatically. However, players often find it challenging to determine the last autosave checkpoint. To mitigate the risk of losing valuable progress, many players prefer to execute manual saves or enforce autosaves through various methods. This guide provides clear instructions on how to save effectively in both GTA V and GTA Online.

When an autosave occurs, a rotating orange circle will appear in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Although it can be easy to overlook, recognizing this indicator assures players that their progress has been saved successfully.

GTA 5: Manual Saving Techniques

Sleeping at a Safehouse

In the Story Mode of GTA V, players can initiate a manual save by resting in a bed located within a Safehouse. Safehouses serve as primary or secondary residences for the game’s protagonists and are identifiable by a white house icon on the in-game map.

GTA 5 Safehouse
Sleeping to Save in GTA 5

Upon entering a Safehouse, approach the protagonist’s bed and use the following controls to save your game:

  • Keyboard: Press the E key
  • Controller: Press the Right D-Pad

Utilizing the Cell Phone

If visiting a Safehouse feels time-consuming, players can opt for a quick save using the in-game cell phone. Follow these steps to save:

Using Cell Phone to Save in GTA 5
  • Access the cell phone by pressing the up arrow key (keyboard) or up on D-Pad (controller).
  • Locate and select the cloud icon to enter the Save Game menu.
  • Confirm the save action to complete the process.

GTA Online: Saving Strategies

Contrary to GTA V’s Story Mode, GTA Online does not provide a manual Save Game menu. Nevertheless, there are effective methods to trigger autosaves and secure your progress. Players are encouraged to adopt the following strategies regularly.

Changing Outfits or Accessories

One of the simplest ways to enforce an autosave in GTA Online is to change your outfit or switch just a single accessory. Players should ensure they see the spinning orange circle confirming an autosave. If the circle doesn’t appear, simply repeat the process until it does.

Changing Accessories in GTA Online
GTA Online Interaction Menu
  • Open the Interaction Menu by pressing M (keyboard) or the touchpad (controller).
  • Select Appearance.
  • Modify any Accessory or change your Outfit.
  • Exit the Interaction Menu.

Accessing the Swap Character Menu

Another method to trigger an autosave is to access the Swap Character menu, regardless of whether a character switch occurs. Here’s how to do so:

Swap Character Menu in GTA Online
  • Open the Pause Menu by pressing Esc (keyboard) or Start (controller).
  • Navigate to the Online tab.
  • Select Swap Character.

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