Cheat codes are a real lifesaver in the world of GTA 4. You won't have to bother searching for weapons or transportation or trying to escape from the police. They have been around since the very first games in the series and have since become a hallmark of the entire series. 

In GTA 4, codes are entered using the phone of the main character, Nico Bellic. It's convenient and, most importantly, fast. Take out your phone, dial the number you need, and you'll have full health, armor, a cool car, or even a helicopter. All this can be obtained in just a couple of seconds.

But remember that after entering cheat codes, you won't be able to complete the game 100%. Therefore, it's better to use a separate save file for cheats.

How to enter a cheat code in GTA 4

Codes are entered via the protagonist's mobile phone, and this is one of the features that sets the fourth installment apart from other games in the series.

Here's how it works:

• Start the game and wait until Nico appears in the game world.
• Press the “Up” key on the keyboard (PC) or on the joystick (Xbox 360/PS3) to open the mobile phone.
• Press “Up” again to open the dialing mode.
• Enter the desired cheat code using the keyboard or the number buttons on the gamepad.
• Confirm the entry, and if the code was entered correctly, the effect will be activated immediately.

After the first entry, the code is saved in the “Cheats” tab on the phone — you can return there and activate it again without entering the number.

List of cheats

Weapons, health, and armor

• 486-555-0100 — Weapon set #1: bat, pistol, shotgun, MP-10, M4, sniper rifle, RPG, and grenades.
• 482-555-0100 — Restores health and armor
• 362-555-0100 — Gives you a bulletproof vest. Useful before a firefight or dangerous mission.
• 486-555-0150 — Weapon set #2: knife, Molotov cocktail, pistol, pump-action shotgun, Micro-PP, AK-47, sniper rifle, and RPG.

Controlling your wanted level and the weather

• 267-555-0100 — Lowers the wanted level. If the police are on your tail, this code will quickly help you disappear from their field of vision.
• 267-555-0150 — Raises the wanted level.
• 468-555-0100 — Changes the weather in the game. You can make it a sunny day, foggy, or rainy.

Passenger cars

• 227-555-0168 — Super GT — one of the fastest cars in GTA 4 for racing and escaping the police.
• 227-555-0142 — Cognoscenti — a sedan for getting around the map.
• 227-555-0175 — Comet — a sports car inspired by Porsche.
• 227-555-0147 — Turismo — a powerful and fast car with excellent handling.
• 227-555-0100 — FBI Buffalo — an armored police car.

Motorcycles

• 625-555-0150 — Sanchez — a lightweight off-road motorcycle.
• 625-555-0100 — NRG-900 — one of the fastest motorcycles in the game.

Helicopters and boats

• 359-555-0100 — Annihilator — a combat helicopter equipped with machine guns.
• 938-555-0100 — Jetmax — a high-speed motorboat, indispensable for water trips or escapes along rivers and bays.