GTA V: Story basics, character switching and heist planning
Use Franklin, Michael and Trevor effectively and save before important choices.
Edition / platforms: PC Legacy/Enhanced · PS3/PS4/PS5 · Xbox 360/One/Series
All guides for GTA V ↗Keep story and Online progress separate
This guide covers the single-player story. GTA Online money, properties and progress do not form a shared account for Franklin, Michael and Trevor. Even within the story, each protagonist has individual money and equipment. Read the names and colours on map markers so you start an assignment with the appropriate character. When a mission specifically requests a character switch, follow the prompt rather than continuing to search for a route from the wrong perspective.
Use special abilities deliberately
Franklin’s driving ability slows the surroundings and helps with a tight corner or crowded road section. Activate it before the difficult manoeuvre rather than after a collision. Michael’s ability gives you more time to place shots, while Trevor’s suits aggressive combat situations. None replaces cover, ammunition or a sensible escape route. Watch the ability meter instead of assuming that a rescue button will remain available throughout an entire chase or firefight.
Protect your heist choices
Create an additional manual save before planning a heist. Your chosen approach changes the preparation and execution, and crew members differ in skill and cost. Read the planning-board descriptions before confirming a selection. Our jewellery heist walkthrough explicitly covers the Smart approach. Its rooftop opening cannot simply be transferred step by step to the Loud version, even though both routes ultimately target the same store.
Complete first, optimise later
On an initial playthrough, learn the escape route and changes between protagonists. Optional gold-medal requirements are a separate improvement target. Mission replay is also not a substitute for a properly preserved story save before a decision. These fundamentals apply to the original console versions and later editions, including PC Legacy and Enhanced. Graphics, camera options and inputs differ, so follow your edition’s action prompts. The walkthroughs do not require a particular frame rate or first-person camera.
Recommendations and interpretation are editorial. Information may change after the date shown above.