GTA 5 Explosive Bullets Cheat Code: How to Turn Every Bullet Into a Grenade

One cheat code turns every gun you're holding into a one-shot rocket launcher. Fire a pistol, an assault rifle, even a sniper round, and it explodes on contact. It works on every platform GTA 5 shipped on - PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC - through three different entry methods. Here is every code, exactly how to type it, and what it actually does once it's on.

Essentials:

• Phone code (all platforms): 1-999-444-439 (1-999-HIGH-EX)
• PC console command: HIGHEX
• PS4 / PS5 combo: Right, Square, X, Left, R1, R2, Left, Right, Right, L1, L1, L1
• Xbox One / Series X|S combo: Right, X, A, Left, RB, RT, Left, Right, Right, LB, LB, LB
• Story mode only - it does nothing in GTA Online
• Disables achievements/trophies for the current play session
• Enter the same code again to switch it off

What the Explosive Bullets Cheat Actually Does

Once active, every round fired from any weapon you're carrying explodes on impact, pistols, SMGs, assault rifles, shotguns and sniper rifles included. Small arms suddenly deal area-of-effect damage instead of a single hit, which makes clearing out a group of enemies, a wanted level, or an entire Strangers and Freaks encounter dramatically faster. It stacks with other cheats too - combine it with the health and armor cheat and you can tank return fire while turning every gunfight into a demolition job.

The effect is purely cosmetic to your loadout - it does not change ammo capacity, reload speed or weapon damage against vehicles beyond what explosive splash usually does. It just adds an explosion to the bullet's impact point.

How to Activate It: The Phone Method (Works on Every Platform)

The simplest way to enter any GTA 5 cheat, including this one, is through Franklin, Michael or Trevor's in-game phone. It works identically on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC.

1. Bring up the phone: press Up on the D-pad on console, or Backspace on PC (by default).
2. Open the dialer.
3. Dial 1-999-444-439.
4. Hang up. A small on-screen message confirms the cheat is active.

This method is a lifesaver if you keep fumbling the button combo, since there's no timing involved - you just have to type the right digits.

PC: Console Command

On PC, open the developer console with the tilde key (~) and type:

HIGHEX

Press Enter and the effect triggers immediately. You can also use the phone method above if you'd rather not touch the console.

PS4 and PS5: Button Combo

Enter this sequence during gameplay, without pausing, fast enough that the game recognizes it as a cheat rather than random input:

Right, Square, X, Left, R1, R2, Left, Right, Right, L1, L1, L1

If nothing happens, you likely paused between inputs or opened a menu mid-combo. Reset and try again, or just use the phone number instead.

Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S: Button Combo

Same sequence, translated to Xbox face buttons and triggers:

Right, X, A, Left, RB, RT, Left, Right, Right, LB, LB, LB

Like the PlayStation version, this has to be entered quickly during free gameplay, not while a menu or cutscene is on screen.

How to Turn Explosive Bullets Off

Cheats in GTA 5 are toggles. Dial the same phone number again, retype HIGHEX in the console, or re-enter the same button combo, and the effect switches off. There's no separate "cancel" code.

What to Know Before You Use It

• Story mode only. None of GTA 5's cheat codes, this one included, work in GTA Online. They're single-player exclusive.
• Achievements and trophies get disabled. The moment you activate any cheat, achievement/trophy progress is locked for that session. If you're going for a specific unlock, save your game first, use the cheat, then reload your last clean save afterward to restore normal progress tracking.
• It doesn't persist through a reload. Loading a save file resets all active cheats, so you'll need to re-enter the code each time you start a new session.
• It affects every weapon you're holding, not just one gun, so switch loadouts carefully if you want a specific weapon to stay "normal."

Pair It With: Explosive Melee Attacks

If you want the chaos to extend beyond gunfire, GTA 5 also has an Explosive Melee cheat that makes Michael, Franklin or Trevor's punches and kicks detonate on impact.

• Phone: 1-999-4684-2637 (1-999-HOT-HANDS)
• PC: HOTHANDS
• PS4/PS5: Right, Left, X, Triangle, R1, Circle, Circle, Circle, L2
• Xbox: Right, Left, A, Y, RB, B, B, B, LT

Run both at once and literally every attack you throw, gun or fist, becomes an explosion.

More GTA 5 Cheat Codes Worth Knowing

Explosive bullets is one piece of a much bigger list. If you're building a full cheat rotation, check out the complete weapon cheat codes for instant max ammo and full arsenals, the health and armor cheat to stay alive while you test it, or the master list of every GTA 5 story mode cheat for PS5, PS4, Xbox and PC in one place.

Curious whether Rockstar will carry any of this over to the next game? See which GTA 5 cheat codes could return in GTA 6, or get ahead of launch day with the full list of GTA 6 cheat codes we'll be tracking once the game ships.