GTA 5 & GTA Online: A Comprehensive Guide to Saving Your Progress

Grand Theft Auto 5 and GTA Online utilize autosave functions to periodically record your progress. However, the exact timing of these autosaves isn't always clear. To prevent losing progress, manual saves and forced autosaves are highly recommended. This guide details how to save in both GTA 5 Story Mode and GTA Online.

A spinning orange circle in the bottom-right corner of your screen indicates an autosave in progress.

GTA 5 Story Mode Saving

Method 1: Sleeping at a Safehouse

Manual saves in GTA 5's Story Mode are achieved by sleeping in a bed at a Safehouse (marked with a white house icon on the map). Approach the bed and press:

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

This will trigger a save and open the Save Game menu.

Method 2: Using the Cell Phone

For a quicker save, utilize your in-game cell phone:

1. Open the cell phone (Keyboard: Up arrow; Controller: Up on the D-pad).
2. Select the cloud icon to access the Save Game menu.
3. Confirm the save.

GTA Online Saving

GTA Online lacks a dedicated manual save menu. Instead, you can trigger autosaves using these methods:

Method 1: Changing Outfits/Accessories

Altering your outfit or even a single accessory forces an autosave. Look for the spinning orange circle confirmation:

1. Open the Interaction Menu (Keyboard: M; Controller: Touchpad).
2. Select "Appearance."
3. Choose "Accessories" and swap an item, or change your "Outfit."
4. Exit the Interaction Menu. Repeat if the orange circle doesn't appear.

Method 2: Accessing the Swap Character Menu

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

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

By employing these methods, you can ensure your progress in GTA 5 and GTA Online is regularly saved, minimizing the risk of losing valuable gameplay.