PPSSPP has a built-in cheat system that reads CWCheat codes, the same format used on real modded PSPs. You can turn on ready-made cheats from a database with a few taps, or type in codes you find online. Here’s how.
Cheats can crash a game or corrupt a save. Make a normal in-game save (and a save state) before you turn any cheat on, and switch cheats on one at a time.
Step 1: turn cheats on
- Open PPSSPP and tap Settings → System.
- Turn on Enable cheats.
Step 2: import cheats from the database
PPSSPP can read a cheat database file called cheat.db that has codes for thousands of games.
- Download an up-to-date
cheat.db. A popular, regularly updated one is the “CWCheat Database Plus” project on GitHub. - Copy
cheat.dbinto thePSP/Cheats/folder of PPSSPP’s memory stick. To find it, check Settings → System → Memory Stick folder. Create theCheatsfolder if it isn’t there. - Start your game, open the pause menu (the back button or the PPSSPP icon) and tap Cheats.
- Tap Import from cheat.db. The cheats for that game appear in the list.
- Tick the cheats you want and go back to the game. They’re active straight away.
Step 3 (optional): add your own codes
PPSSPP stores each game’s cheats in a text file named after the game ID, for example PSP/Cheats/ULUS10041.ini. In the Cheats menu, tap Edit cheat file (on PC it opens in a text editor; on Android, edit the file with any text editor app). A cheat looks like this:
_C0 Infinite Health
_L 0x20123456 0x000003E7
_L 0x20123458 0x000003E7_C0starts a cheat that is off by default;_C1means on. The text after it is the name you’ll see in the menu.- Each
_Lline is one code line. Copy them exactly as you found them. - Save the file, then open the Cheats menu again to see the new cheat.
The game ID is shown in PPSSPP when you long-press the game and open Game info. Codes are made for one region (US, EU or JP), so use codes for your exact game ID.
Cheats not working?
- Cheats menu missing: “Enable cheats” is off in Settings → System.
- Nothing imports:
cheat.dbis in the wrong folder, or your game’s region isn’t in the database. - The cheat does nothing: it’s for another region or version. Find codes for your game ID.
- The game freezes: two cheats conflict, or the code is broken. Turn cheats off, load your save state and enable them one at a time.
- Changes need a restart: some cheats only work from the start of a level or after a reload.
| Code starts with | Meaning |
|---|---|
_S | Game ID the cheats are for |
_G | Game name |
_C0 / _C1 | Cheat name, off / on by default |
_L | One line of cheat code |
New to PPSSPP? Start with how to add games and our best settings.
FAQ
Where is the cheat folder in PPSSPP?
In the PSP/Cheats folder of PPSSPP’s memory stick. You can see the memory stick location in Settings > System > Memory Stick folder.
Why don’t PPSSPP cheats work?
The usual reasons are that cheats are not enabled in Settings > System, or the codes are for a different region of the game. Use codes made for your exact game ID.
Can cheats damage my save?
They can. Save normally and make a save state before using cheats, and turn them on one at a time.
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