# Cheats
Provenance supports cheat codes across many systems — both through native emulator cores and RetroArch-based cores. Apply Game Genie, Action Replay, GameShark, and other cheat formats to your games.
{% hint style="info" %}
Provenance has a **native cheat UI** for managing and applying cheats. An improved UI with search and input validation is in development for a future update.
{% endhint %}
***
## How to Use Cheats
### Enabling Cheats
1. Launch a game
2. Open the **pause menu**
3. Tap **Cheats**
4. Load or enter cheat codes
5. Toggle cheats **ON** and resume gameplay
For RetroArch-based cores, cheats are also accessible via **RetroArch Settings** → **Cheats** in the pause menu.
### Cheat Code Formats
| Format | Systems | Example |
| ----------------------------- | ------------------------------ | ---------------------- |
| **Game Genie** | NES, SNES, Genesis, Game Boy | `SXIOPO` (NES) |
| **Action Replay / GameShark** | GBA, N64, PlayStation, DS, PS2 | `0100A2C5` (GBA) |
| **Pro Action Replay** | SNES, Genesis, PS2 | `7E0DBE:09` (SNES) |
| **GameShark V3** | PS2 | Various |
| **Code Breaker** | GBA, PS2 | Various |
| **Gecko** | GameCube, Wii | Various |
| **Gateway** | 3DS | Various |
| **CWCheat** | PSP | Various |
| **Raw / Memory Address** | Most systems | `address:value` format |
### Loading Cheat Files
Cores support `.cht` cheat files:
1. Place `.cht` files in the appropriate cheats directory
2. In the cheats menu, select **Load Cheat File**
3. Browse and select your cheat file
4. Enable individual cheats from the list
{% hint style="warning" %}
Cheats modify game memory in real-time. Some cheats may cause crashes or save corruption. **Save your game before enabling cheats** as a precaution.
{% endhint %}
***
## Supported Cores & Systems
Cheat support is available in both **native cores** and **RetroArch-based cores**.
### Native Cores
| Core | System(s) | Cheat Formats |
| ------------------ | --------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- |
| **Stella** | Atari 2600 | Enabled |
| **Gambatte** | Game Boy / GBC | Game Genie, GameShark |
| **SNES9x** | SNES | Game Genie, Pro Action Replay, Gold Finger, Raw |
| **Mednafen** | GB, SNES, PlayStation | Game Genie, GameShark, Pro Action Replay |
| **VBA-M** | GBA | Action Replay, GameShark |
| **mGBA** | GBA | GameShark, Code Breaker, Pro Action Replay |
| **Mupen64Plus-NX** | N64 | Supported |
| **DuckStation** | PlayStation | GameShark |
| **PPSSPP** | PSP | CWCheat |
| **Dolphin** | GameCube / Wii | Action Replay, Gecko |
| **Azahar (Citra)** | 3DS | Gateway |
| **Play!** | PS2 | Code Breaker, GameShark V3, Pro Action Replay |
### RetroArch Cores
All **RetroArch-based cores** support cheats through the standard libretro cheat interface. This covers 80+ sub-cores including NES, SNES, Genesis, PlayStation, N64, Dreamcast, arcade systems (MAME, FinalBurn Neo), and more.
{% hint style="info" %}
If cheats aren't working with one core, try switching to an alternative core for that system. Some cores support more cheat formats than others.
{% endhint %}
***
## Finding Cheat Codes
Popular sources for cheat codes and `.cht` files:
* [**GameHacking.org**](https://gamehacking.org/) — Large database organized by system and game
* [**RetroArch Cheats Database**](https://github.com/libretro/libretro-database/tree/master/cht) — Official `.cht` files for RetroArch cores
* **Game-specific wikis** — Search for "\[game name] cheat codes \[system]"
***
## Tips
* **Save before cheating** — Create a save state before enabling cheats so you can revert if something breaks
* **Disable before saving** — Some cheats should be turned off before creating in-game saves to avoid corrupted save data
* **One at a time** — Enable cheats one at a time to identify which ones work and which cause issues
* **Core matters** — If cheats don't work with one core, try a different core for that system
***
## Troubleshooting
Cheats option not available in pause menu
Not all cores support cheats. Check the [supported cores table](#native-cores) above. If your current core doesn't support cheats, try switching to a different core — long-press the game → Game Settings → Core.
Cheat code doesn't work
* Verify the code matches your ROM's **region** (US/EU/JP codes are different)
* Check that the code format matches what the core expects
* Some codes only work with specific ROM versions (v1.0, v1.1, etc.)
* Try a different cheat source — codes from some databases may be inaccurate
Game crashes after enabling cheats
Some cheat codes are unstable or incompatible with certain core versions. Disable all cheats, reload from a clean save state, and try enabling them one at a time to identify the problematic code.
***
## See Also
* [In-Game Menu](/using-provenance/in-game-menu.md) — Pause menu features and shortcuts
* [Game Saves](/using-provenance/saves.md) — Save before enabling cheats
* [RetroAchievements](/using-provenance/retroachievements.md) — Earn achievements (cheats may disable achievements in Hardcore mode)
* [Performance Optimization](/platforms-and-performance/performance-optimization.md) — If cheats cause slowdown
***
{% hint style="info" %}
Need help with cheats? Ask on [Discord](https://discord.gg/provenance).
{% endhint %}
---
# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.
Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:
```
GET https://wiki.provenance-emu.com/using-provenance/cheats.md?ask=
```
The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.
Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.