GTA 5 Wanted Level Cheat: How to Raise or Lower Your Stars on Any Platform

Chasing a five-star wanted level you never meant to trigger, or want to spike the chaos on purpose? GTA 5 has a dedicated cheat for both directions, and it works the same way on every console. Here is the full code for raising or lowering your wanted level on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC.

The essentials

• Raise wanted level (PS4/PS5): R1, R1, Circle, R2, Left, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right
• Lower wanted level (PS4/PS5): R1, R1, Circle, R2, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right, Left
• Raise wanted level (Xbox): RB, RB, B, RT, Left, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right
• Lower wanted level (Xbox): RB, RB, B, RT, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right, Left
• Raise wanted level (PC): type FUGITIVE in the console
• Lower wanted level (PC): type LAWYERUP in the console
• Phone number (all platforms): 1-999-3844-8483 to raise, 1-999-5299-3787 to lower
• Works in story mode only. Disabled in GTA Online.

How to enter the wanted level cheats

On PS4 and PS5, hold the D-pad up to bring up the phone if you prefer dialing, or just tap the button sequence directly during gameplay - do not pause the game first. A small confirmation message appears in the top-left corner when the code registers correctly.

On Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, the process is identical, just swap the PlayStation buttons for their Xbox equivalents (RB for R1, B for Circle, RT for R2).

On PC, press the tilde key (~) to open the developer console and type the cheat word exactly as shown, then hit Enter. You can also use the in-game phone on PC: tap up on the d-pad or click the phone icon, open the dialer, and enter the number.

If you get the input order wrong, nothing bad happens - just try the sequence again. The game does not lock you out for a failed attempt.

Raise wanted level: get the cops on you

Typing FUGITIVE on PC or dialing 1-999-3844-8483 on any platform instantly adds stars to your wanted level, calling in police attention even if you have done nothing. This is mostly used for:

• Testing how NPC police AI reacts at a given star level without actually committing a crime
• Setting up a chase for a video or screenshot
• Triggering random events tied to a wanted level, like certain ambient encounters

Each cheat activation typically adds a fixed number of stars rather than jumping straight to five, so you may need to repeat the input if you want maximum heat.

Lower wanted level: shake the cops instantly

The reverse cheat, LAWYERUP on PC or 1-999-5299-3787 by phone, strips stars away instead of forcing you to lose the cops the old-fashioned way (breaking line of sight, spraying your car, or driving into a Pay 'n' Spray). It is the fastest way to reset your heat level when a mission or a stunt has gone wrong and the chase is dragging on.

Unlike some open-world games, GTA 5 does not let this cheat clear a wanted level tied to a mission objective - if the story forces a chase, expect the stars to return once you re-trigger the scripted event.

Important limitations to know before you use it

• Single-player only. Neither code does anything in GTA Online. Rockstar disabled all cheat codes in multiplayer to keep the economy and progression fair.
• Achievements and trophies get disabled. Using any cheat, including this one, switches off achievement and trophy unlocks for the rest of your play session. Reload a save from before you entered the code to get them back.
• Effects do not carry over saves. Quitting to the pause menu and reloading, or restarting the game, resets the cheat's effect - the wanted level cheat is not a permanent game state change.
• Story missions can override it. Some scripted sequences force a specific wanted level regardless of what you set manually.

Why this cheat is still popular years later

Even more than a decade after release, the wanted level cheat remains one of the most searched GTA 5 codes because it is the fastest shortcut for content creators staging a chase scene, players farming police-related challenges, or anyone who just wants a chaotic sandbox moment without grinding for it organically. It pairs well with other classic codes: dial in a weapon cheat first, then raise your wanted level for an instant shootout, or combine it with the invincibility cheat if you want to survive a five-star assault without reloading.

If you are building a full loadout of story mode codes, check our complete rundown of every GTA 5 story mode cheat, plus dedicated pages for health and armor and slow motion. And if you are curious whether any of these codes make the jump to the sequel, we have covered which GTA 5 cheats could return in GTA 6.

FAQ

Does the wanted level cheat work in GTA Online? No. All cheat codes are story-mode exclusive. Trying to dial the phone number or enter the button combo in GTA Online does nothing.

Will using this cheat get my achievements blocked forever? No, only for the current session. Reload an earlier save (from before you entered any cheat) and achievements/trophies re-enable automatically.

Can I stack the raise cheat to hit five stars immediately? Yes, entering the code multiple times in a row keeps adding stars until you hit the five-star cap.

Is there a keyboard shortcut on PC instead of the console? No default keybind exists. You either type the cheat word into the console or use the in-game phone.