To switch characters in Grand Theft Auto V story mode, hold D-Pad Down on console, pick your character with the right stick, then release. On PC, hold Left Alt, highlight with the mouse, and release.
PC also has direct hotkeys that skip the wheel completely: F5 for Michael, F6 for Franklin, F7 for Trevor, and F8 to head to GTA Online.
On Console
- Hold D-Pad Down.
- A circular selection wheel appears, with the unlocked protagonists around a central hub: Michael at the top, Trevor to the right, Franklin to the lower left.
- Highlight with the right analogue stick.
- Release D-Pad Down to confirm.
The camera pulls up and away, then drops into wherever that character happens to be, which is usually mid-way through something you did not ask for.
On PC
Hold Left Alt, move the mouse to the character, release.
Or skip it entirely with the function keys. F5, F6 and F7 jump straight to Michael, Franklin and Trevor. If you switch often, these are considerably faster than the wheel.
When Switching Does Nothing
Two reasons, and neither is a bug.
Trevor is not unlocked yet. He arrives through story progression, so early on the wheel only holds two.
You are in a mission or scripted sequence where switching is disabled. The wheel either will not open or will not let you commit.
Why It Is Worth Using Constantly
Switching is not only a story device. Each character holds separate money, which matters enormously for the stock market, and each has their own special ability and skill set.
If you are running the assassination and stock market strategy, switching between all three to invest is the difference between a decent payout and a huge one.
Tips Most Players Miss
- Learn F5, F6 and F7 on PC. The wheel is slower and you will use this hundreds of times.
- Three characters, three wallets. Money does not pool.
- Switching is a kind of fast travel. Dropping into a character across the map is often quicker than driving.
Character switching underpins most of what makes GTA 5’s structure work, including the heists and the money strategies built around them. Our guide to making money fast covers why three separate wallets matters so much, and our full GTA guides cover the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you switch characters in GTA 5? Hold D-Pad Down on console or Left Alt on PC, highlight the character, then release.
Are there PC shortcuts for switching? Yes. F5 for Michael, F6 for Franklin, F7 for Trevor, and F8 for GTA Online.
Why can’t I switch to Trevor? He unlocks through story progression and is not available from the start.
Why is character switching disabled? You are in a mission or scripted sequence where the game blocks it.