Script Hook V
Alexander Blade's core library required to run most scripted mods in Story Mode.
GTA 5 Mods
Modding is only possible on PC, and only in single-player. With the right mods you can overhaul the graphics completely, add thousands of real-world cars, turn the game into a police simulator, or jump into full roleplay servers on FiveM.
Never run mods in GTA Online
Any modification detected in the online mode results in an account ban. Disable your mods folder and remove .asi scripts before launching GTA Online.
Must-Have Tools
Most mods simply won't run without these programs installed first.
OpenIV
RPF archive editor for installing textures, vehicles, and graphics packs.
GTA5-Mods
The largest mod catalog: graphics, vehicles, weapons, scripts, and maps.
FiveM
A multiplayer platform hosting roleplay servers with custom rule sets.
RAGE Multiplayer
An alternative multiplayer client with large community-run RP projects.
Community Script Hook V .NET
A runtime for .NET scripts: menus, trainers, and custom missions.
Mod Catalog by Category
Photorealistic graphics overhauls
Packages like NaturalVision completely rework lighting, weather, reflections, and color grading. The game starts to look like a modern release, but demands a powerful graphics card.
Requires: ScriptHookV, OpenIV, an RTX 3060-class GPU or better for a comfortable 60 FPS
ENB and ReShade presets
A lightweight alternative to heavy overhauls: post-processing, contrast, and volumetric lighting. Installs in a couple of minutes with almost no performance hit.
Requires: Just extract the files into the game's root folder
Real-world car packs
Thousands of real-world car models with detailed interiors and physics. Installed either as replacements or as add-on vehicles.
Requires: OpenIV; add-on vehicles require editing dlclist.xml
Trainers and menus (Menyoo, Simple Trainer)
Full control over Story Mode: spawn vehicles, change weather and time, teleport, and use a scene editor for screenshots and machinima.
Requires: ScriptHookV + ScriptHookV .NET
Police officer mode
Turns the game into a patrol-duty simulator: calls, arrests, ID checks, radio chatter, and partner NPCs.
Requires: RAGE Plugin Hook, a clean game install without other heavy mods
FiveM — roleplay servers
A separate client for playing on custom servers: RP projects, racing, survival. Requires a legitimate copy of the game.
Requires: A legitimate copy of GTA V, the standalone FiveM client
RAGE Multiplayer
The second most popular multiplayer client, home to large community RP projects with stable synchronization.
Requires: A legitimate copy of GTA V, the RAGE MP client
OpenIV — archive editor
A must-have utility for any mod that touches game files. Creates a mods folder so the original archives stay untouched.
Requires: Administrator rights, free space for a backup copy
HD texture and vegetation packs
Replaces roads, buildings, grass, and trees with high-resolution textures. Pairs well with ReShade and noticeably refreshes the visuals without touching the lighting engine.
Requires: OpenIV, 8 GB of VRAM for the 4K versions
VisualV — weather and sky overhaul
A free, comprehensive mod: new weather cycles, realistic skies, volumetric clouds, fog, and improved city lighting at night. Widely considered the best-balanced alternative to heavier overhauls.
Requires: OpenIV, a mods folder, a mid-range PC
Realistic driving physics
Tweaks to handling.meta make cars heavier, add momentum and drift, and create a noticeable difference between drivetrains. Works great alongside real-car packs.
Requires: OpenIV, editing handling.meta inside the mods folder
Planes, helicopters, and boats
Add-on air and water vehicles: civilian aircraft, military planes, rescue helicopters, and yachts with detailed cabins.
Requires: OpenIV, dlclist.xml, ScriptHookV for spawning
Realism and survival mods
Damage becomes harsher, the police get smarter, health kits are limited, and hunger and fatigue systems kick in. The game turns into a tense survival simulator set in Los Santos.
Requires: ScriptHookV .NET, .NET Framework 4.8
Map Editor
Lets you build custom locations, race tracks, and props right inside the game, then save and share the files with other players.
Requires: ScriptHookV .NET, NativeUI
alt:V Multiplayer
A modern, high-performance multiplayer client with a large number of community RP servers. Supports custom scripts and resources.
Requires: A legitimate copy of GTA V, the alt:V client
ScriptHookV .NET
A wrapper that lets mods written in C# run in-game. Without it, most modern scripted mods and menus won't work at all.
Requires: ScriptHookV, .NET Framework 4.8, a scripts folder
Mod and profile managers
Utilities for quickly toggling mod setups on and off — handy for keeping a "clean" profile for Online and a modded one for single-player.
Requires: A backup of the game folder
Step-by-Step Mod Installation
Install one mod at a time and launch the game after each step to check for issues.
- 1Back up your game folder, or at minimum the update.rpf files.
- 2Install Script Hook V and copy dinput8.dll and ScriptHookV.dll into the game's root folder.
- 3Install OpenIV, enable edit mode, and create a mods folder.
- 4Make all changes only inside the mods folder — that way the original files stay intact.
- 5Place scripted mods (.asi, .dll) in the root folder, and .NET scripts (.cs, .dll) into the scripts folder.
- 6Launch the game in offline mode: mods are incompatible with GTA Online.
What to Do About Crashes
The most common cause of crashes is an outdated Script Hook V after a game update. The library is tied to a specific game build, so you need to update or temporarily remove it after every patch.
The second most common cause is two mods editing the same file. Remove mods one at a time, starting with the most recently installed — you'll usually find the culprit within a couple of minutes. If the game won't launch at all, rename your mods folder to disable every change at once.
Before experimenting, make sure your hardware can handle the build you're going for — see our system requirements page for benchmarks.
How to Choose GTA 5 Mods Without Breaking the Game
GTA 5 mods fall into four broad categories: graphics overhauls (ReShade, NaturalVision), vehicle add-ons, script mods packaged as .asi files, and full multiplayer platforms like FiveM and RAGE MP. Each category needs its own set of tools, and mixing them without understanding the dependencies is the number one cause of crashes.
An Install Order That Always Works
- Back up your game folder, or at minimum your update.rpf files.
- Install Script Hook V and OpenIV first — the foundation for roughly 90% of mods.
- Add mods one at a time, launching the game to test after each one.
- Keep a plain-text list of everything installed — it saves hours when tracking down a conflict.
Hardware Requirements for Modding
Graphics overhauls push GPU load up by roughly 1.5–2x. If you're getting 60 FPS on high settings in the vanilla game, expect 30–40 FPS after installing a photorealistic preset. Check our system requirements page for reference configurations.
File Safety
Only download mods from GTA5-Mods, Nexus Mods, and creators' official sites. Archives with .exe installers from unknown sources are one of the most common ways malware and Social Club/Steam credential stealers get distributed.
GTA 5 Mods: Frequently Asked Questions
Will I get banned for using mods in single-player?
No. Rockstar doesn't ban players for modifying Story Mode, but you must disable every mod before launching GTA Online.
Do mods work on consoles?
No. Mods are PC-only — PlayStation and Xbox don't allow access to the game's files.
Why does the game crash after an update?
Script Hook V is tied to a specific game build. After a patch, wait for the library to update or temporarily remove dinput8.dll.
What is FiveM?
It's a separate multiplayer client with roleplay servers. It uses your legitimately purchased copy of the game and has no connection to official GTA Online.