GTA San Andreas health and armor cheats
The GTA San Andreas armor cheat is HESOYAM on PC and R1, R2, L1, X, Left, Down, Right, Up, Left, Down, Right, Up on PlayStation. It fills CJ’s health and armor, repairs your current vehicle and adds $250,000. For infinite health, type BAGUVIX on PC or press Down, X, Right, Left, Right, R1, Right, Down, Up, Triangle on PlayStation. The Xbox and Switch combos, the support cheats that keep CJ alive, and the in-game alternatives are all below.
The two codes you came for
San Andreas has two cheats that deal directly with CJ’s survival. HESOYAM is the all-in-one refill: full health, full armor, a repaired vehicle and a quarter of a million dollars. BAGUVIX toggles infinite health, which stops most damage from draining CJ’s health bar at all. There is no standalone armor cheat in San Andreas, which surprises players coming from Vice City or GTA III, where armor had its own code. HESOYAM is the only cheat that gives you body armor.
| Effect | PC (type it) | PlayStation | Xbox | Nintendo Switch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health, armor and $250,000 | HESOYAM | R1, R2, L1, X, Left, Down, Right, Up, Left, Down, Right, Up | RB, RT, LB, A, Left, Down, Right, Up, Left, Down, Right, Up | R, ZR, L, B, Left, Down, Right, Up, Left, Down, Right, Up |
| Infinite health | BAGUVIX | Down, X, Right, Left, Right, R1, Right, Down, Up, Triangle | Down, A, Right, Left, Right, RB, Right, Down, Up, Y | Down, B, Right, Left, Right, R, Right, Down, Up, X |
These codes apply to the original 2004 game, the later PC releases, the PS2 Classic on PS4, and Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch and PC. The Xbox column uses the modern controller names found on Xbox 360, Xbox One and Series X|S. The Switch column uses Nintendo’s button labels, where B sits in the same bottom position as X on a PlayStation pad.
Quick steps: enter the armor and health cheat
- Load your save and take control of CJ in normal gameplay, not a cutscene or menu.
- On PC, type HESOYAM on the keyboard; on console, press the button combo on the D-pad.
- Enter the inputs quickly and without pausing between them.
- Watch for the “Cheat activated” message in the top-left corner.
- Repeat the code whenever you need another refill or another $250,000.
How to enter health and armor cheats on each platform
Every version of San Andreas reads cheats during live gameplay. You cannot enter them from the pause menu, the map screen or a cutscene, and the game gives you no text box to type into. If the inputs land correctly, a short confirmation message appears and the effect is instant.
PC: original and Definitive Edition
On PC you type the code letters directly on your keyboard while you control CJ. Capital letters do not matter, you do not press Enter, and there is no console window to open. The game watches a rolling buffer of your recent keystrokes, so a typo does not ruin the attempt; you simply type the whole code again from the start and the correct sequence still triggers.
This works on the 2005 PC release, the later Steam and Rockstar Launcher builds of the original game, and the Definitive Edition on PC. Some cheats also respond to plain-English phrases, such as ROCKETMAN for the jetpack, THUGSARMOURY for the first weapon set and FULLCLIP for infinite ammo. San Andreas checks what you type against stored hash values rather than readable text, according to long-standing community datamining on GTAForums, which is why so many official codes look like random strings and why alternate phrases can produce the same result.
If typing does nothing, check two things. Your keyboard layout must match the letters you type, because AZERTY and other layouts move several keys. And some numpad or gamepad overlay software can intercept keystrokes, so close it and try again.
PlayStation: PS2, PS3, PS4 and PS5
On PlayStation you enter the combo with the D-pad and shoulder buttons, never the analog stick. The original PS2 game, the PS2 Classic re-release on PS4 and the Definitive Edition on PS4 and PS5 all use the same sequences. Speed matters more here than on PC: hesitate for too long between inputs and the game drops the combo, so practise the rhythm once before you need the refill in a firefight.
A common mistake on PlayStation is pressing R1 and R2 too close together and registering them as a single input. Tap each button cleanly. If you play on a PS5 with the DualSense, the L2 and R2 triggers need a full press to register.
Xbox: original, 360, One and Series X|S
The Definitive Edition and the 2014 Xbox 360 release (which also plays on Xbox One and Series consoles through backward compatibility) use the RB, RT, LB and LT names shown in the table. The original 2005 Xbox version used a different controller layout with White and Black buttons, so the same HESOYAM sequence reads as R, Black, L, A, Left, Down, Right, Up, Left, Down, Right, Up on that hardware.
Nintendo Switch
The Definitive Edition on Switch accepts cheat combos the same way, using L, R, ZL and ZR in place of PlayStation’s shoulder buttons. The face buttons are where most players slip. Nintendo’s layout puts A on the right and B on the bottom, which is the reverse of Xbox, so you have to think in positions rather than letters. Joy-Cons held separately work, but the D-pad on the left Joy-Con is four separate buttons, which some players find slower for long combos. A Pro Controller is the more reliable option.
Mobile and Netflix
The iOS port released on December 12, 2013 and the Netflix Games version of the Definitive Edition, which arrived on December 14, 2023, have no built-in way to enter cheats on a touchscreen, while the Android port released on December 19, 2013 accepts cheat codes through a Bluetooth keyboard or gamepad. Rockstar has not documented cheat support for these versions. Community reports of using a paired Bluetooth keyboard to type codes exist, but results vary by device and version, so treat it as unconfirmed rather than a guaranteed method.
Heads up
Do not install “cheat apps”, trainers or modded APKs that promise health or armor on mobile; they are a common malware vector and can corrupt your save. If a touch version has no cheat entry, play it straight or use the in-game armor sources listed below.
Button conversion key
Most cheat lists online, including the tables further down this page, are written in PlayStation notation because San Andreas launched on PS2 in October 2004 and the community standardised on those names. Use this key to translate any PlayStation combo for your controller.
| PlayStation | Xbox (360, One, Series) | Original Xbox | Nintendo Switch |
|---|---|---|---|
| X | A | A | B |
| Circle | B | B | A |
| Square | X | X | Y |
| Triangle | Y | Y | X |
| L1 | LB | L | L |
| L2 | LT | White | ZL |
| R1 | RB | R | R |
| R2 | RT | Black | ZR |
| D-pad directions | D-pad directions | D-pad directions | D-pad directions |
What HESOYAM actually does (and what it does not)
HESOYAM is the most used cheat in San Andreas by a wide margin, and for good reason. In a single input it restores CJ’s health to its maximum, fills his armor to its maximum, fully repairs whatever vehicle you are sitting in, and adds $250,000 to your wallet. The vehicle repair covers cars, bikes, aircraft and boats, which makes it a lifesaver when your plane starts trailing smoke over the desert or your bike is one crash away from a fireball.
It fills the bar to CJ’s current cap, not a fixed number. That matters because two side activities raise those caps permanently. Completing all 12 levels of the Vigilante missions raises CJ’s maximum armor to 150, and finishing level 12 of the Paramedic missions increases his maximum health. After either reward, HESOYAM tops up the larger bar, so the cheat becomes more valuable the more of the game you complete.
There are also things HESOYAM leaves alone, and knowing them saves you from dying with a false sense of security:
- It does not clear your wanted level. The police keep chasing you at the same star rating.
- It does not refill ammunition. If you are out of rounds, you need a weapon cheat or an Ammu-Nation visit.
- It does not give you infinite health. The refill is one-time; the next burst of gunfire drains the new bar normally.
- It does not change CJ’s stats, respect or appearance.
The $250,000 adds up fast. A few dozen uses will fund every property purchase in the state, and the money counter tops out at $999,999,999, so there is no practical limit on how often you can use it. If you want money without the refill, there is no separate money cheat in San Andreas; HESOYAM is the money cheat.
Agent's note
HESOYAM and Weapon Set 1 start almost identically on console (R1, R2, L1, then X versus R1, R2, L1, then R2). If you keep getting guns instead of armor, your fourth input is the problem.
How infinite health works in practice
BAGUVIX, or Down, X, Right, Left, Right, R1, Right, Down, Up, Triangle on PlayStation, is a toggle. Enter it once to switch infinite health on and again to switch it off, with a confirmation message each time. While it is active, gunfire, melee hits and most falls no longer reduce CJ’s health, which turns gang wars, police shootouts and parachute jumps into low-stakes affairs.
It is not true invincibility. Explosions still kill CJ, so a car that catches fire beneath you, a rocket from a police helicopter or a fuel tanker detonating nearby can end the run instantly. Getting busted is also unaffected, because arrest has nothing to do with health; if the cops reach you on foot with a wanted level, you will still be hauled off to the station.
The smart pairing is BAGUVIX plus a wanted-level cheat. Infinite health keeps CJ standing, while Never Wanted or Clear Wanted Level removes the arrest threat that infinite health cannot touch. For underwater sections, add infinite lung capacity so the oxygen meter stops being a factor.
You will see searches for “unlimited health” and “infinite health” cheats used interchangeably. They are the same thing in San Andreas: BAGUVIX is the only cheat that stops health loss, and HESOYAM is the only one that refills health and armor together.
Survival cheats that pair with health and armor
Health and armor are only part of keeping CJ alive. San Andreas added RPG-style systems that its predecessors lacked: hunger, lung capacity, stamina and body shape. Neglect them and CJ can lose health from starvation or fail to escape a chase. These cheats cover the gaps.
| Effect | PC | PlayStation |
|---|---|---|
| Infinite lung capacity (oxygen) | CVWKXAM | Down, Left, L1, Down, Down, R2, Down, L2, Down |
| Never get hungry | AEDUWNV | Square, L2, R1, Triangle, Up, Square, L2, Up, X |
| Max muscle | BUFFMEUP | Triangle, Up, Up, Left, Right, Square, Circle, Left |
| Max respect | OGXSDAG | L1, R1, Triangle, Down, R2, X, L1, Up, L2, L2, L1, L1 |
| Max sex appeal | EHIBXQS | Circle, Triangle, Triangle, Up, Circle, R1, L2, Up, Triangle, L1, L1, L1 |
| Suicide (instant death) | SZCMAWO | Right, L2, Down, R1, Left, Left, R1, L1, L2, L1 |
Convert any PlayStation combo with the key above for Xbox or Switch.
The hunger cheat is the most underrated item on this list. If you skip meals for long enough, CJ starts losing health, and if you binge on fast food he gets fat, which slows him down and costs him stamina. AEDUWNV removes the whole problem, so you never have to detour to a Cluckin’ Bell in the middle of a long session.
Max muscle helps in a more indirect way. A muscular CJ hits harder in melee, and his appearance feeds into respect and sex appeal. If you want even more damage from bare fists, the Super Punch cheat (IAVENJQ on PC) makes every punch send enemies flying.
Max respect matters most in gang territory. Respect determines how many Grove Street Families members you can recruit at once, and a full crew soaks up bullets that would otherwise hit CJ. It is the cheapest form of extra armor in the game during gang wars around Grove Street and Ganton, because enemies split their fire between you and your recruits.
The suicide cheat sounds pointless until you get stuck. If CJ is trapped in geometry or you want to reset a failed attempt without reloading, it kills him on the spot and sends him to the nearest hospital.
Wanted-level cheats: the other half of staying alive
Most deaths in San Andreas free roam come from police escalation, not from street gangs. At four stars the FBI arrives, at five the army shows up with Rhino tanks, and at six you face military convoys and helicopters. No amount of armor survives that for long without help, so these cheats are the natural companion to HESOYAM.
| Effect | PC | PlayStation |
|---|---|---|
| Clear wanted level | ASNAEB | R1, R1, Circle, R2, Up, Down, Up, Down, Up, Down |
| Never wanted (toggle) | AEZAKMI | Circle, Right, Circle, Right, Left, Square, Triangle, Up |
| Raise wanted level by two stars | OSRBLHH | R1, R1, Circle, R2, Left, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right |
ASNAEB, which also responds to TURNDOWNTHEHEAT on PC, wipes your current stars in one go. It is the right choice when you want to keep the possibility of police attention later. AEZAKMI goes further: while it is active, the police ignore you entirely, no matter how many patrol cars you wreck.
Toggle Never Wanted off before story missions. Some missions script a wanted level as part of their design, and having the cheat active can cause odd behaviour, including chase sequences that never resolve or objectives that refuse to trigger. Turn it back on once the mission is done.
The raise cheat is there for the opposite situation. If you have infinite health on and want to test how long CJ survives against the National Guard, OSRBLHH stacks stars quickly, and HESOYAM keeps your vehicle intact while you push your luck.
Weapon cheats that keep you out of trouble
Armor only buys time. Firepower ends the fight. San Andreas offers three weapon sets plus two cheats that turn every gun into a better version of itself. On PC each set also has a plain-English alternate.
| Effect | PC | PC alternate | PlayStation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weapon set 1 (thug’s tools) | LXGIWYL | THUGSARMOURY | R1, R2, L1, R2, Left, Down, Right, Up, Left, Down, Right, Up |
| Weapon set 2 (professional tools) | KJKSZPJ | PROFESSIONALSKIT | R1, R2, L1, R2, Left, Down, Right, Up, Left, Down, Down, Left |
| Weapon set 3 (nutter tools) | UZUMYMW | NUTTERSTOYS | R1, R2, L1, R2, Left, Down, Right, Up, Left, Down, Down, Down |
| Infinite ammo, no reload | WANRLTW | FULLCLIP | L1, R1, Square, R1, Left, R2, R1, Left, Square, Down, L1, L1 |
| Hitman level in all weapon skills | NCSGDAG | PROFESSIONALKILLER | Down, Square, X, Left, R1, R2, Left, Down, Down, L1, L1, L1 |
Notice how closely the weapon sets mirror HESOYAM’s opening on console. They share the first three inputs and the four-direction loop, so if you memorise one you have nearly memorised the others. Just keep the fourth input straight.
The Hitman skill cheat is the most powerful survival tool in this table. At Hitman level, CJ can dual-wield pistols, Micro SMGs and sawn-off shotguns, and he aims faster and moves while shooting. Paired with infinite ammo, you can clear a gang war without reloading once, which means less time standing still and less damage taken.
Escape kit: jetpack, parachute, Rhino and Hydra
Sometimes the best way to stay alive is to leave. These vehicle and gear cheats are the fastest exits San Andreas offers, and all of them work well alongside HESOYAM, which repairs any vehicle you are sitting in when you use it.
| Spawn | PC | PlayStation |
|---|---|---|
| Jetpack | YECGAA (or ROCKETMAN) | L1, L2, R1, R2, Up, Down, Left, Right, L1, L2, R1, R2, Up, Down, Left, Right |
| Parachute | AIYPWZQP | Left, Right, L1, L2, R1, R2, R2, Up, Down, Right, L1 |
| Rhino tank | AIWPRTON | Circle, Circle, L1, Circle, Circle, Circle, L1, L2, R1, Triangle, Circle, Triangle |
| Hydra jet | JUMPJET | Triangle, Triangle, Square, Circle, X, L1, L1, Down, Up |
The jetpack is the classic panic button. It lifts CJ straight out of a gunfight, ignores traffic, and lets you hover over rooftops where ground units cannot follow. The long combo on console is easy to fumble under pressure, so enter it in a quiet moment if you expect trouble.
The Rhino is the brute-force answer. Small-arms fire barely scratches it, it crushes anything in its path, and its cannon ends police pursuits in seconds. Our separate guide to the GTA SA Rhino cheat covers its quirks in more depth, including how its handling changes on hills and in water.
The Hydra is the escape for when the army is already on you. Its vertical take-off gets you airborne from a standing start, and once you switch to forward flight nothing on the ground can keep up. Spawn a parachute before you bail out of any aircraft, because a long drop without one is one of the few things that still hurts badly when infinite health is off.
Earning armor and health without cheats
Cheats are fast, but the game’s own systems are more durable, and some of them permanently make CJ tougher in ways no cheat can match. If you are playing a touch version without cheat entry, or you want a clean save for trophies and achievements, these are your options.
| Source | What it gives | Cost | Where or how |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body armor at Ammu-Nation | Full armor | $200 | Any Ammu-Nation counter, once the store is unlocked |
| Sprunk vending machines | A small health top-up | $1 per can | Placed all over the map, often near gas stations |
| Fast-food restaurants | Health refill, plus a hunger reset | A few dollars per meal | Cluckin’ Bell, Burger Shot and Well Stacked Pizza Co. |
| Health and armor pickups | Instant refill | Free | Fixed spawns, including outside hospitals and inside some interiors |
| Vigilante, level 12 | Maximum armor raised to 150 | Free, takes time | Start from any police vehicle |
| Paramedic, level 12 | Maximum health raised permanently | Free, takes time | Start from any ambulance |
| Firefighter, level 12 | CJ becomes fireproof | Free, takes time | Start from any fire truck |
The Vigilante, Paramedic and Firefighter rewards are the best permanent survival upgrades in the game. Fireproofing in particular covers one of infinite health’s weak spots, since burning vehicles and Molotovs stop being a threat on foot. None of these rewards has a cheat equivalent.
Food comes with a catch. Eating too much in one sitting makes CJ vomit, and repeated overeating adds fat, which slows him down. Balance meals with time at the gym, or use the hunger and muscle cheats from the earlier table if you would rather skip the upkeep.
How San Andreas compares with other GTA games
Players searching for a GTA San Andreas armor cheat often expect a dedicated armor code because earlier games had one. San Andreas folded health, armor and money into a single cheat, and later games followed a similar path with their own codes.
| Game | Health cheat | Armor cheat | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| GTA III (2001) | GESUNDHEIT (PC) | TORTOISE (PC) | Separate codes for health and armor |
| GTA Vice City (2002) | ASPIRINE (PC) | PRECIOUSPROTECTION (PC) | Separate codes for health and armor |
| GTA San Andreas (2004) | HESOYAM (PC) | HESOYAM (PC) | One code for health, armor, vehicle repair and $250,000 |
| GTA IV (2008) | 482-555-0100 on the in-game phone | 362-555-0100 on the in-game phone | The health number also refills armor, ammo and repairs your car |
| GTA V (2013) | TURTLE (PC), 1-999-887-853 on the phone | Same cheat | Max health and armor in story mode only |
If you play the modern games as well, our guides to GTA 5 cheat codes and GTA 5 PS4 cheats list the full GTA V button combos. One thing that does not carry over: story-mode cheats never work in GTA Online, and despite what plenty of videos claim, there are no working GTA Online money cheats that are safe to use.
Cheats, saves, trophies and stats
Cheats in San Andreas are not consequence-free, though the consequences are milder than most players fear. Here is what changes when you use them.
The stats screen keeps a record. San Andreas tracks a “Times cheated” stat, which counts every cheat you activate. It has no gameplay effect and does not block 100% completion, but anyone looking at your stats will see it.
Trophies and achievements are affected in the Definitive Edition. Rockstar’s remaster disables trophy and achievement progress once you enter cheats. If you are hunting the full list on PS4, PS5 or Xbox, keep a separate cheat-free save and reload it before going after any trophy.
Toggle cheats can interfere with missions. Never Wanted is the usual offender, as covered above. Spawning vehicles in the middle of a mission can also leave you without the vehicle the mission expects you to use, which can stall an objective.
Saving while cheats are active is a risk. Effects that alter the world, rather than CJ, can behave unpredictably once saved. The safe habit is simple: before you experiment, save to a spare slot, then keep your main progress on a slot you only save to when no toggle cheats are running.
Multiplayer mods ignore them. Single-player cheat codes do nothing on Multi Theft Auto servers, where the server controls health, armor and weapons. Typing HESOYAM there will not give you an advantage.
Heads up
Keep a cheat-free backup save before using any code. In the Definitive Edition, cheats disable trophies and achievements, and toggled world cheats can carry unexpected effects into a save.
Troubleshooting a cheat that will not activate
If the “Cheat activated” message never appears, the cause is almost always one of a handful of issues. Work through this list before assuming your version does not support cheats.
- You are not in live gameplay. Cutscenes, menus, the map screen and some scripted moments ignore input. Wait until you have full control of CJ.
- You used the analog stick. On console, direction inputs must come from the D-pad.
- You are too slow. Long combos time out if you pause. Enter them in one smooth sequence.
- Your controller is mapped differently. Custom button remaps in the console settings change which input the game receives. Reset to default if a code fails repeatedly.
- Wrong keyboard layout on PC. AZERTY and QWERTZ layouts move letters such as A, Q, Y, Z and W. Switch to a US or UK layout for the moment you type the code.
- You are on a touch version. Mobile and Netflix builds have no cheat entry screen, as covered earlier.
If you google a code and find a different combo from the one listed here, check which version the source covers. Original Xbox notation uses White and Black, Switch notation flips A and B relative to Xbox, and some older guides mix them up.
FAQ
What is the armor cheat in GTA San Andreas?
HESOYAM on PC. On PlayStation it is R1, R2, L1, X, Left, Down, Right, Up, Left, Down, Right, Up; on Xbox it is RB, RT, LB, A, followed by the same directions; on Switch it is R, ZR, L, B, followed by the same directions. It fills CJ’s health and armor, repairs your vehicle and adds $250,000. San Andreas has no separate armor-only cheat.
What is the infinite health cheat in GTA San Andreas?
BAGUVIX on PC. On PlayStation, press Down, X, Right, Left, Right, R1, Right, Down, Up, Triangle. On Xbox, swap X for A, R1 for RB and Triangle for Y. On Switch, use B, R and X in the same positions. Enter the code again to switch it off.
Does infinite health make CJ invincible?
No. Gunfire, melee and most falls stop draining his health, but explosions still kill him and the police can still arrest him. Pair it with Never Wanted (AEZAKMI) to remove the arrest threat, and with infinite lung capacity (CVWKXAM) for long swims.
Can I use HESOYAM as many times as I want?
Yes. There is no cooldown or limit, and each use adds another $250,000. Your money caps at $999,999,999, which is more than you can spend in a single playthrough.
Do health cheats work in the Definitive Edition?
Yes. The Definitive Edition on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch and PC accepts the same codes as the original game. Using cheats disables trophy and achievement progress in that version, so keep a clean save for trophy hunting.
Can I use cheats in the mobile or Netflix version?
Not through the touchscreen. Neither the 2013 mobile port nor the Netflix version of the Definitive Edition offers a cheat entry screen. Some players report success typing codes on a paired Bluetooth keyboard, but it is unreliable, and you should never install third-party cheat apps.
Will cheating ruin my save?
Health, armor and weapon cheats are safe in normal use. The risks come from toggle cheats left active during missions, the Times Cheated stat on your record, and the trophy lock in the Definitive Edition. Save to a spare slot before experimenting and you avoid all of them.
Where can I find every other cheat?
This page covers health, armor and the cheats that support survival. Our full list of GTA San Andreas cheats covers the rest, including vehicle spawns, weather and time, traffic, pedestrian and gang codes, for every platform.
