Skip to main content

How to make your own radio station in Grand Theft Auto 5 for PC

Image used with permission by copyright holder
4K resolution and 60 frames-per-second animation are great and all, but one of the best perks of Grand Theft Auto 5‘s new PC version is the ability to create your own, in-game radio station so that you can cruise around to a custom, curated playlist without needing to turn down the game’s volume and provide your own speakers.

The game itself doesn’t do a terribly good job of explaining how to do this, but fortunately it’s pretty easy, and we’re here to show you the way.

Under your user profile documents folder you should find an empty folder in \Rockstar Games\GTA V\User Music. Copy and paste the music you want (or simply shortcuts to it, if you’d rather save space) into the folder. It’s not obvious what formats are accepted, but GTA 4 supported MP3, M4A and WMA, so those are probably a safe bet.

Load up the game and Self Radio should be then available as one of your stations. Don’t fret if it isn’t. Simply head over to Settings and then Audio. Perform a “Quick” or “Full” Scan (the difference is not currently obvious to us) and then your radio station should be added. In this menu you will also have the option to select how Self Radio plays: like a regular radio station, randomly, or in sequential order — if you don’t want to mess with that perfectly-ordered mix you spent hours crafting.

gta music
Image used with permission by copyright holder

And that’s it! Now you can cruise around Los Santos while rocking out to Tuvan throat singing, books on tape, your college a cappella group — whatever floats your esoteric boat.

Editors' Recommendations

Will Fulton
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Will Fulton is a New York-based writer and theater-maker. In 2011 he co-founded mythic theater company AntiMatter Collective…
5 key details we noticed in the first Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer
Lucia is interview in prison in Grand Theft Auto VI.

Rockstar finally dropped the first trailer for the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 on Monday night after it leaked early. In less than 24 hours, it has already amassed over 77 million views. Outside of what's featured in the trailer, Rockstar isn't revealing much more about GTA 6. Rockstar Games founder Sam Houser simply stated in a press release that Rockstar wants to "push the limits of what’s possible in highly immersive, story-driven open-world experiences."

Grand Theft Auto VI Trailer 1

Read more
First Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer takes players back to Vice City
Lucia and her partner rob a store in GTA 6.

Watch Trailer 1: Tuesday, December 5 at 9AM ET

Rockstar Games finally dropped the first trailer for the next game in the Grand Theft Auto series, which is officially titled Grand Theft Auto VI. It's set to launch in 2025 and it'll take players back to Vice City.

Read more
Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer: when it’s coming and how to watch
A man drives away in a boat with stolen money in Grand Theft Auto 5 art.

Rockstar has confirmed exactly when it will drop the first trailer for the next mainline Grand Theft Auto game. It has been over a decade since the launch of Grand Theft Auto V, so excitement and hype surrounding the next GTA installment is at an all-time high. The release of Grand Theft Auto 6 Trailer 1 will be the biggest game reveal of 2023, so you don't want to miss it. Here's everything we know about when it'll air and how you can watch it.

When will Rockstar post GTA 6 Trailer 1?
Rockstar has confirmed that it will post "Trailer 1" for the next GTA game at 9 a.m. ET/6 a.m. PT on December 5. Make sure you don't oversleep Tuesday morning if you want to see the trailer right when it drops.
How to watch GTA 6 Trailer 1
Watch Trailer 1: Tuesday, December 5 at 9AM ET

Read more