On the PC version of Fallout 3, press the grave accent key (`), usually beside or below Escape, to open the developer console. Use tgm for god mode, tcl to move through solid objects, unlock on a selected lock, and player.additem <base_id> <amount> for inventory. Save first: quest and world edits can permanently alter progression.
Opening the Fallout 3 PC console
Press the grave accent key (`); on a US keyboard this is the same key as tilde (~), normally to the left of the number 1 and below Escape. UK and other keyboard layouts may place the key under a different symbol. If the key does not respond, check your layout and try the key that produces the grave accent rather than assuming the US position.
The console is a developer debugging interface, not a normal game menu. Commands are typed without angle brackets. For example, type player.additem 0000000F 500, not player.additem <0000000F> <500>.
Essential Fallout 3 cheat commands
| Goal | Command | How it works and cautions |
|---|---|---|
| God mode | tgm |
Toggles invulnerability, unlimited ammunition, unlimited carry capacity and Action Points, and prevents item degradation according to the command reference. Run it again to turn the effect off; it substantially changes the game’s balance. |
| No clipping | tcl |
Toggles movement through solid objects and empty space. It can free a character stuck in geometry, but movement can place you outside the intended world. |
| Unlock a selected object | unlock |
Open the console, click the door, safe, terminal or container so its reference appears, then enter the command. It does not open a lock that is locked from the other side. |
| Add an item | player.additem <base_id> <amount> |
Requires the item’s correct form (base) ID. A base-game example is player.additem CB547 1. |
| Add an item at a chosen condition | player.additemhealthpercent <base_id> <amount> <quality> |
Enter quality as a decimal: .50 requests 50% condition. |
| Reveal map markers | tmm 1 |
Activates map markers and their fast-travel destinations. It does not increase the game’s discovered-locations statistic. |
| Toggle local-map fog | tfow |
Shows or hides fog of war on the Pip-Boy local map. |
Using item codes safely
Replace <base_id> with a real form ID and <amount> with a number. For example, 0000000F is used for bottle caps in the standard base-game example: player.additem 0000000F 500.
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- DLC and mods can change which IDs are valid, and load order can affect form IDs. Treat examples such as
CB547as base-game references, not universal IDs. - Adding a large quantity or spawning quest-critical objects can create balance, scripting or inventory problems. Make a separate save before experimenting.
- If an ID does nothing, verify the ID for your edition and current mod load order instead of repeatedly entering the command.
Targeting doors, NPCs and objects
Selecting what is in front of you
With the console open, click a visible door, container, terminal or NPC. The selected reference is then used by commands such as unlock. Click empty space or the wrong object and the command may affect nothing or the wrong target.
Selecting an unseen reference
Use prid <ref_id> to select an object or NPC by reference ID when it is not visible. Do not type the angle brackets. Once selected, commands that operate on the current target can act on that reference.
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Moving the player or a target
player.moveto <ref_id> moves the player to the specified reference. moveto player moves the currently selected NPC or object to the player. Verify the reference before moving anything; an incorrect ID can strand an NPC or disrupt a scene.
Fixing a broken or stalled quest
Quest commands can skip scripts, dialogue and objectives. Use them as recovery tools, not as a routine way to play. Create a named backup first with save ConsoleBackup (or another save name), then inspect the quest before changing it.
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- Identify the quest’s base ID from a reliable reference for your edition and installed mods.
- Inspect its progress with
getstage <base_id>. Usesqsto list quest stages andshowquestlogto inspect the quest log. - If you know the next valid stage, advance only to that stage with
setstage <base_id> <stage>. Use the stage number documented for that quest; an arbitrary number may skip required scripts. - If the quest state is irreparably confused,
resetquest <base_id>resets it, but this can remove progress and may not rebuild every world change. CompleteAllObjectives <base_id>completes all listed objectives at once. Treat it as a blunt last resort, since it can bypass the intended sequence and leave follow-up scripts out of sync.
After any change, close the console and test the affected dialogue, objective and location. If the quest remains broken, reload the pre-command save rather than stacking additional stage changes.
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Map markers versus discovery
tmm 1 makes markers and fast travel available, but it does not simulate discovering those locations through play or update the discovered-locations statistic. Use it when you need navigation, not when you want the game’s exploration record to remain authentic.
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Local-map visibility
tfow toggles the Pip-Boy local map’s fog of war. It changes what you can see on the map; it does not itself move the player or complete exploration objectives.
Escaping geometry
tcl is the practical choice when the character is trapped in scenery. Turn it off after reaching safe ground and check that the player has returned to a valid interior or exterior space.
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Compatibility and limitations
Fallout 3’s all-command references include legacy commands inherited from earlier games and warn that some do not work properly. The commands in this guide are a practical subset, not a guarantee for every release, patch, DLC combination or mod setup. Test unfamiliar commands on a disposable save, especially when a mod changes quests, NPCs or form IDs.
Quick Recap
- Edition and mod differences can change item and quest IDs.
- Targeted commands depend on selecting the correct reference.
- Toggles such as
tgm,tclandtfowremain active until toggled again. - Quest edits can have consequences that are not visible until a later objective or scene.
A conservative console workflow
- Make a normal in-game save and a second named console backup.
- Open the console with the grave accent key.
- Use the least invasive command that solves the problem: a selected
unlockor temporarytclis safer than resetting a quest. - Enter one command at a time and verify the result before continuing.
- Toggle temporary cheats back off and keep the backup until the next quest or area loads correctly.
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