Alex Ruben
How To Bypass the First Mission in GTA V (2025)
If you’re tired of sitting through the prologue every time you start GTA V and just want to jump straight into the open world, you’re not alone. Sometimes, the first mission feels like an obligatory grind, especially if you’re itching to mess around with the actual gameplay. The good news is, it’s kinda weird but you can dodge that intro by swapping out your save files with one that’s already completed. No crazy mods or tools needed — just a little bit of file digging. This works across different versions, whether you’re on the Steam, Epic, or repacked versions like FitGirl or DODI. That said, sometimes when jumping straight into a new save, the game might act up or refuse to load that save properly, so always keep backups of your original files just in case.
How to Bypass the First Mission in GTA V
Method 1: Using a 100% Save Game File
This is the easiest way — download a save that’s already finished the first mission and replace your current save with it. It’s like magic. The trick is, those save files store your game progress, so loading one where the intro is over skips the whole thing entirely. It applies if you’re ready to jump straight into free roam or story mode. Expect to spend a few minutes copying files around, and once done, you’ll be set to roll into the GTA universe without that intro drag.
- Make sure GTA V isn’t running. If it is, exit the game completely.
- Fire up a web browser and search for something like “100% GTA V Save Game.”
- Click on a reputable source — I usually go for well-reviewed forums or modding communities to avoid sketchy downloads.
- Download the provided save file. It’ll probably be a zip or 7z archive.
- Open your download folder, right-click the file, and select Extract All (or use 7-Zip if you prefer). You want to get those save files out.
- Navigate to your GTA V save directory. Typically, it’s located at:
File Explorer > This PC > Local Disk (C:) > Users > [Your Username] > View > Hidden Items.
Then, go to AppData > Roaming > Goldberg Social Club > Saves.
You might need to enable hidden files or folders to see AppData. - Copy the save files from the extracted folder and paste them into the Saves directory.
Not sure why it works, but on many setups, replacing the save file instantly tricks the game into thinking you’ve already finished the intro. Worth noting, sometimes GTA or Social Club keeps copies or syncs online, so you might need to disable any cloud sync temporarily or manually overwrite. Because of course, GTA V has to make it harder than necessary.
Method 2: Using Cheat Engine or Save Editor (If the first method fails)
If your save files don’t work or you want a cleaner route, experimenting with a save editor might help. Tools like GTA V Save Editor let you tweak your progress directly — skipping missions, setting character stats, etc. It’s more advanced, but sometimes the game just refuses to accept external save files. This method applies if you’re comfortable tinkering with the game files and want a more controlled approach. Expect a learning curve, and always backup your original saves before editing.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
- Double-check that your save files match your game version — mismatch versions can lead to loads errors or crashes.
- If GTA refuses to load the save, try cleaning the cache or restarting your PC. Sometimes, Windows or Social Club caches interfere with loaded save states.
- Oddly, on some setups, just launching GTA V twice seems to refresh the save system. Not sure why it works, but it does.
Wrap-up
Getting past the intro in GTA V isn’t rocket science, but it can be kinda finicky depending on your setup. Downloading a pre-made save feels like the fastest hack, and it generally works pretty smoothly — just keep backups, and don’t overwrite your original files unless you’re confident. If nothing else, fiddling around with save files adds a little extra control over your game experience.
Summary
- Download a 100% GTA V save game from a reputable source.
- Copy the save files into AppData > Roaming > Goldberg Social Club > Saves.
- Launch GTA V and enjoy skipping the intro mission.
- Backup your original save files before messing with things.
Final thoughts
Hopefully, this shaves off a few hours of boredom for someone. It’s not perfect — sometimes the game doesn’t quite register the save immediately — but on one setup it worked first try, on another it took a restart or two. Either way, it’s a decent workaround to get into the actual gameplay faster. Fingers crossed this helps, and happy gaming!