This guide details how to save your progress in Grand Theft Auto 5 (GTA 5) and GTA Online. Both games feature autosaves, but manual saves and forced autosaves offer additional security against data loss.
GTA 5: Saving Your Game
GTA 5's Story Mode offers two primary saving methods:
1. Sleeping at a Safehouse:
This is the traditional manual save. Safehouses are marked with a white house icon on the map. Enter a safehouse, approach your character's bed, and press:
- Keyboard: E
- Controller: Right on the D-pad
This will initiate a save and open the Save Game menu.
2. Using the Cell Phone:
For a quicker save, use the in-game cell phone:
- Open the cell phone (Keyboard: Up arrow; Controller: Up on the D-pad).
- Select the cloud icon.
- Confirm the save.
An orange, clockwise-rotating circle in the bottom-right corner indicates an active autosave.
GTA Online: Forcing Autosaves
GTA Online doesn't have a dedicated manual save menu. Instead, utilize these methods to trigger autosaves:
1. Changing Outfits/Accessories:
Altering your appearance forces an autosave. Look for the orange circle confirmation.
- Open the Interaction Menu (Keyboard: M; Controller: Touchpad).
- Select Appearance, then Accessories. Change an accessory or your Outfit.
- Exit the Interaction Menu. Repeat if the orange circle doesn't appear.
2. Accessing the Swap Character Menu:
Even without switching characters, navigating to this menu triggers an autosave.
- Open the Pause Menu (Keyboard: Esc; Controller: Start).
- Go to the Online tab.
- Select Swap Character.
Remember to regularly utilize these methods to safeguard your progress in both GTA 5 and GTA Online. The appearance of the orange circle confirms a successful save.
