Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFallout 4 console commands are a PC-only developer tool. They can give you items, change carry weight, move characters, inspect quest stages, toggle god mode, and sometimes recover from a stuck objective—but they can also break quests, NPC behavior, fast travel, or your save. Make a separate manual save before using any command, and never overwrite the clean save you may need to restore.
This guide covers the current PC version, including the Anniversary Edition context. PlayStation and Xbox players cannot use this keyboard-console workflow. Bethesda describes the console as an unsupported debugging feature rather than a normal cheat menu.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
How to open the Fallout 4 console
- Load a save and make a separate manual save.
- Press the
~key on a standard US keyboard. - If that does not work, try the grave-accent key,
`, or the equivalent key position on your keyboard layout. Bethesda specifically notes that some UK layouts use the grave-accent key. - Type a command and press Enter.
- Press the console key again to close the console.
To look up an unknown command or ID, type help. Bethesda’s support instructions confirm that the console’s help command returns command information.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteIf no key opens the console, check the keyboard layout selected by your operating system and the key position used by the game. A working keyboard is required; a controller alone does not reproduce the PC developer-console workflow.
#1 Best Overall
Important platform and edition limits
These commands apply to the PC version of Fallout 4. The original game was released for PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4, while the Fallout 4 Anniversary Edition is available on PC, PlayStation 4/5, and Xbox One/Series consoles. The edition does not change the basic rule: the keyboard console is a PC feature.
On Xbox and PlayStation, use the game’s ordinary settings, official Creations, or platform-specific mods where available. Do not expect a command copied from a PC guide to work in the console versions.
Bethesda released the digital Fallout 4 Anniversary Edition on November 10, 2025. It includes the base game, all six official add-ons, and more than 150 Creation Club items. The 2024 PC update also added widescreen and ultrawide support along with Creation Kit, stability, and quest fixes. Commands and IDs can still depend on the installed content and load order, so a code from an older list is not automatically universal.
Essential Fallout 4 console commands
Commands beginning with “toggle” in this guide are switches: enter the command once to enable the effect and enter it again to disable it.
| Command | Effect | Risk or limitation |
|---|---|---|
tgm |
Toggles god mode, providing broad invulnerability and resource benefits. | Turn it off when you want normal play. It is not a permanent character setting. |
tim |
Toggles immortal mode. | It is not identical to full god mode; the player can still be affected in ways that differ from tgm. |
tcl |
Toggles collision, allowing you to pass through geometry and move freely. | You can become trapped inside terrain or reach invalid areas. |
tfc |
Toggles free-camera mode. | Useful for screenshots, but save before experimenting with camera and movement. |
tm |
Toggles the user interface. | With the interface hidden, the console and other controls can become harder to use. |
tai |
Toggles general AI. | Can freeze or disrupt NPC behavior throughout the world. |
tcai |
Toggles combat AI. | Avoid using it during active quests unless you are deliberately troubleshooting. |
kill |
Kills the selected target. | You must target the actor first. Killing a quest actor or companion can permanently damage progression. |
resurrect |
Attempts to revive the selected NPC or creature. | Revival does not guarantee that a damaged quest state will be repaired. |
unlock |
Unlocks a selected door, terminal, or container when the object is correctly targeted. | It does not repair a broken quest script. |
activate |
Activates the selected object. | A targeting error can activate the wrong object or advance a mechanism unexpectedly. |
Give yourself items, caps, ammunition, and materials
The general item syntax is:
player.additem <formID> <amount>For example, once you have confirmed the correct form ID, the pattern is:
player.additem <formID> 1Replace <formID> with the item’s actual ID and <amount> with the quantity wanted. The angle brackets are placeholders; do not type the brackets themselves.
Useful inventory patterns
player.additem <formID> 1
player.removeitem <formID> 1
player.setav carryweight 1000
player.modav carryweight 500player.additemadds an item.player.removeitemremoves an item.player.setav carryweight 1000assigns a carry-weight value of 1,000.player.modav carryweight 500increases the existing carry weight by 500.
Do not confuse setav and modav. setav assigns a value; modav changes the current value by an amount. Repeating both without recording the starting value can produce a result you did not intend. Exact behavior can vary by actor value.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Change level, perks, and health
player.setlevel 50
player.addperk <perkID>
player.removeperk <perkID>
player.getav healthplayer.setlevel 50 sets the player level to 50. The perk commands require the relevant perk ID. player.getav health reports the current health actor value, which can help you inspect a character rather than blindly changing it.
Rank #2
- UP UP DOWN DOWN LEFT RIGHT B A START
- Hardcover journal with 240 line-ruled pages (120 sheets)
- Built-in elastic closure and ribbon bookmark
- Includes an expandable inner storage pocket and a pen holder
Use perk and level commands cautiously in an existing playthrough. They can change the character’s progression without supplying the ordinary prerequisites, choices, or resources that normally accompany advancement.
Target NPCs, companions, and objects
To target an NPC or object, open the console and click it. The selected reference ID should appear in the console. You can then run a command against that selection.
<targetID>.moveto player
<targetID>.additem <formID> 1
<targetID>.removeitem <formID> 1
<targetID>.setav <actorValue> <value>
<targetID>.modav <actorValue> <amount>
setessential <baseID> 1For example, <targetID>.moveto player moves the selected actor to the player. Use the reference ID shown after clicking, not a randomly chosen ID from an unrelated list.
If clicking is unreliable, use a known reference ID from a trusted Fallout 4 reference. However, community-maintained ID lists can contain omissions or errors, and the same name may refer to different records. Verify the result where possible.
Companions and essential actors
setessential <baseID> 1 changes whether an actor can die. That can protect an NPC, but it is not a universal quest fix. Companion relationships, faction membership, dialogue conditions, aliases, and quest stages are interconnected. Making one actor immortal or moving one NPC may create a later dialogue or objective problem.
Prefer ordinary dialogue and quest progression whenever they are still available. If you must alter a companion or faction-related actor, use a separate save and test the next dialogue or objective before continuing.
Find item, NPC, quest, and perk IDs
The safest general discovery method is to search from inside the game:
Rank #3
- UP UP DOWN DOWN LEFT RIGHT B A START
- Hardcover journal with 240 line-ruled pages (120 sheets)
- Built-in elastic closure and ribbon bookmark
- Includes an expandable inner storage pocket and a pen holder
help <search term> 0
help <search term> 4
help "combat armor" 4Use quotation marks for a multiword search. Search results can contain several records with similar names, so do not automatically copy the first result. Distinguish whether the returned record is the item, quest, NPC, perk, or other form you actually need.
After confirming an item’s form ID, use it in the item command:
player.additem <confirmed-formID> 1External Fallout 4 command and ID references are useful for common records, quest stages, factions, and DLC content, but they are not official Bethesda documentation and may be incomplete or wrong. In-game help searches are particularly important for add-ons and Creation Club content.
DLC, Creation Club, and load-order prefixes
Fallout 4’s six official add-ons are:
- Automatron
- Wasteland Workshop
- Far Harbor
- Contraptions Workshop
- Vault-Tec Workshop
- Nuka-World
DLC records are often shown in guides with an xx prefix. That is a placeholder for the content’s actual load-order prefix on your installation—not a literal value and not a universal two-digit code.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Replace xx only after determining the correct prefix for your installation, or find the record with an in-game command such as:
help "item name" 4This matters even more for Anniversary Edition owners because the bundle includes the six add-ons plus more than 150 Creation Club items. Installed content, load order, edition, and mod setup can all affect which IDs are valid. A code copied from another player’s installation may add the wrong record or do nothing.
Inspect and repair a stuck quest safely
The safest console approach is inspection first, followed by the smallest possible change. Use this sequence:
- Make a manual backup save. Keep the clean save untouched.
- Inspect the quest. Use
sqs <questID>orgetstage <questID>. - Identify the intended next stage. Use a reliable quest reference for the exact quest, objective, and game situation.
- Advance only as far as necessary. Use
setstage <questID> <stage>. - Test the next objective. Check the marker, dialogue, item handoff, reward, and subsequent stage.
- Reload the backup if dialogue, rewards, markers, aliases, or later objectives fail.
Quest commands
sqs <questID>
getstage <questID>
setstage <questID> <stage>
movetoqt <questID>
completequest <questID>
resetquest <questID>
caqssqsdisplays quest stages and helps inspect which stages have been reached.getstagechecks the current stage of a quest.setstagemoves the quest to a specified stage.movetoqtmoves the player to the active target of a quest when that quest has a valid target.completequestmarks a quest as complete, but may skip required scripts, rewards, or dependencies.resetquestresets a quest and can leave aliases, scripts, items, or world states out of sync.caqsattempts to complete every stage of the primary quest and is not a targeted repair command.
Do not use resetquest as a routine fix. A quest that appears stuck may depend on an NPC alias, scene, item handoff, location state, or another quest. Resetting it can create more problems than it solves. Likewise, setstage can skip scripts, aliases, scenes, and required handoffs even when the objective appears to advance.
Commands that deserve the strongest warnings
| Command | Why it is dangerous |
|---|---|
caqs |
Can complete every stage of the primary quest, skipping content, rewards, dependencies, and faction consequences. |
kill |
Can permanently remove a quest actor or companion if the wrong target is selected. |
disable |
Can hide or remove a selected object from the world. |
markfordelete |
Can permanently remove an object after a reload or cell reset. |
resetquest |
Can damage quest state rather than restore it. |
setstage |
Can skip scripts, aliases, scenes, item handoffs, and prerequisite logic. |
tcl |
Can strand the player inside terrain or an invalid area. |
tai and tcai |
Can disrupt general NPC behavior or combat behavior across the world. |
Bethesda warns that console use may cause broken quests, loss of fast travel, broken AI, or other game problems. If a save begins behaving abnormally after a command, close the console, stop issuing additional commands, and reload the earlier manual save.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Commands versus mods and Creations
Console commands are useful for a one-time test, a small inventory change, or inspecting a quest. They are not a substitute for a properly designed bug-fix mod. Mods and official Creations may offer more repeatable changes, but they introduce their own compatibility, load-order, and platform restrictions.
On PC, keep a record of installed mods and the save on which a command was used. On Xbox and PlayStation, availability depends on the platform and the specific mod or Creation. Do not assume that a PC command, PC mod, or PC ID list transfers to a console edition.
Achievements and trophies
There is no safe blanket rule that every console command always disables achievements or trophies, or that none of them ever do. Behavior can depend on the game version, platform, mods, Creations, command, and installation.
Recommended Free Tools
If preserving achievements or trophies matters, use a separate test save, check the current rules for your platform and installed mods or Creations, and avoid experimenting on your main progression save. A backup protects your save state; it does not guarantee achievement behavior.
Practical command checklist
- Use the PC version and a keyboard.
- Make a separate manual save before opening the console.
- Use
helpto find unknown commands and IDs. - Confirm the exact record returned by an ID search.
- Use
setavto assign a value andmodavto change an existing value. - For quests, inspect with
sqsorgetstagebefore changing anything. - Use the smallest necessary
setstagechange. - Do not use a copied DLC prefix without checking your load order.
- Avoid
caqs,resetquest,markfordelete, and indiscriminatekillcommands. - Reload the clean save if AI, fast travel, dialogue, markers, rewards, or later objectives stop working.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Fallout 4 console commands on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, or Xbox Series?
No. The commands in this guide use Fallout 4’s PC keyboard developer console. Console players must use the game’s settings, official Creations, or platform-specific mods where available.
Best Value
Do console commands work in Survival mode?
The console is a PC feature, but using commands in Survival mode can undermine its restrictions and may produce unintended results. Make a separate test save and do not assume that a command will preserve Survival-mode behavior.
Why does my Fallout 4 item code not work?
The ID may be wrong, the search may have returned a different record, or the code may use a DLC or Creation Club load-order prefix that differs from your installation. Search with help "item name" 4, verify the record, and do not blindly reuse another installation’s xx prefix.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Can setstage fix a broken Fallout 4 quest?
Sometimes it can move a quest past a genuinely stuck objective, but it can also skip scripts, aliases, scenes, dialogue, or item handoffs. Inspect the current stage first, use the smallest change possible, and reload your backup if the next objective does not behave normally.
What should I do if a console command breaks my save?
Stop issuing commands and reload the separate manual save made before the experiment. Do not overwrite that clean save. If you have no backup, the safest recovery may be an earlier autosave or manual save; there is no universal command that repairs every damaged quest or world state.
Do Fallout 4 console commands disable achievements?
There is no universal promise either way. Achievement behavior can vary by platform, version, mods, Creations, command, and installation. Use a separate test save and check current platform-specific rules if achievements matter.
Do I need the Anniversary Edition to use console commands?
No. Console commands are a PC feature of Fallout 4 and are not exclusive to the Anniversary Edition. However, installed DLC, Creation Club content, mods, and load order affect the IDs available in a particular installation.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →The Bottom Line
Fallout 4 console commands are powerful PC troubleshooting and experimentation tools, not risk-free cheat codes. Use help to verify IDs, inspect quests before changing them, keep DLC prefixes installation-specific, and protect your clean save. The more global the command—especially caqs, resetquest, kill, markfordelete, tai, or tcai—the more reason to avoid it unless you are prepared to restore a backup.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
