DuckStation cheat codes not working — GameShark / Action Replay not activating

You've tried to enter or load cheat codes in DuckStation but they have no effect, the cheat list is empty, or you can't find where to enter GameShark / Action Replay / Xploder codes. DuckStation has a dedicated **Cheat Manager** with both an online database and manual code entry — the tool isn't in the Settings menu but under the **Tools** bar during emulation. ## Solution 1: open-cheat-manager-duckstation-tools ### solutionTitle Open Tools > Cheat Manager and enable codes from the built-in database ### isMostHelpful: true ### body 1. Start your PS1 game in DuckStation. 2. Click **Tools** in the menu bar → **Cheat Manager** (shortcut: none by default, can be bound in Settings → Hotkeys). 3. Click **Download Cheats** (top-right) — DuckStation queries its online cheat database for your game's serial number automatically. 4. A list of cheats appears (infinite health, max ammo, etc.). Check the box next to each cheat you want enabled. 5. Cheats activate immediately — no game restart required for most RAM-patch type codes. 6. Cheats persist for the session. To save them permanently: File → Save State or exit normally (DuckStation remembers active cheats per-game). If **Download Cheats** returns "No cheats found", your game serial may not be in the database — use Solution 3 (manual entry) with codes from GameFAQs or RetroArchive. ## Solution 2: auto-enable-cheats-setting-duckstation ### solutionTitle Enable "Auto-load cheats" so they activate every session without reopening Cheat Manager ### isMostHelpful: false ### body 1. Close your game if open. 2. Settings → **General** → scroll to **Cheats** section. 3. Enable **Load Cheats Automatically** — this makes DuckStation load any saved cheat file for the current game at startup without you opening Cheat Manager each time. 4. Enable **Enable Cheats** toggle on the same page (separate from auto-load — both must be on). 5. Restart your game; previously checked cheats reactivate automatically. Note: this setting only applies if cheats are already added and checked in Cheat Manager. You still need to open Cheat Manager at least once to select which codes you want. ## Solution 3: enter-gameshark-code-manually-duckstation ### solutionTitle Enter a GameShark or Action Replay code manually in Cheat Manager ### isMostHelpful: false ### body DuckStation accepts raw GameShark v1/v2/v3, Action Replay, and Xploder codes. 1. Tools → **Cheat Manager** → click **Add** (bottom of the cheat list). 2. Enter a **Name** for the cheat (e.g., "Infinite Health"). 3. Set **Type** to the code type — **GameShark**, **Action Replay**, **Xploder**, or **RAW** (if unsure, try GameShark first for 8-digit hex codes). 4. Paste the code string into the **Code** field. Example GameShark format: `800778E4 0063`. 5. Click **OK** → the cheat appears in the list with a checkbox. 6. Check the box to enable it. **Format tips:** - GameShark codes are 8 hex chars + space + 4 hex chars: `XXXXXXXX XXXX` - Multi-line codes (master code + effect lines) must be entered as separate entries — enter the master code first, enable it, then add the effect lines - If a code has a "master code" (often labelled "Must Be On"), add and enable it before the gameplay codes or they'll have no effect ## Solution 4: cheat-not-working-after-enabling-duckstation ### solutionTitle Cheat is checked but has no effect — game version or serial mismatch ### isMostHelpful: false ### body GameShark codes are tied to specific game revisions. A code for "Final Fantasy VII v1.0 US" won't work on the v1.1 revision or the EU release because memory addresses shift between versions. **Diagnosis:** 1. Tools → **Cheat Manager** — the window title shows your game's **serial number** (e.g., `SCUS-94163`). 2. Cross-reference the serial on [redump.org](https://redump.org) to confirm your disc region and revision. 3. Search for codes that specifically list your serial — GameFAQs codes usually note which revision they target. **Other causes:** - Some codes require the game to be in a specific state (e.g., in a menu, after loading a save, at title screen). Re-enable the cheat after reaching that state. - Multi-game compilations ("2-in-1" discs) may report the compilation serial, not the individual game serial — search for the compilation serial separately. - If you patched the ISO (translation patch, anti-mod patch removal), any code targeting the original binary layout will likely fail on the patched copy.