Halo: Combat Evolved Cheat Codes for PC

How to enable cheats for the original Halo on PC

The PC version of Halo: Combat Evolved has cheat codes that spawn items, decrease downtime, and make players invincible. Before you can take advantage of these cheats, you must enable the developer console.

These cheats work with the standard and custom editions for Windows and Mac. There are separate cheats for Halo: Combat Evolved on Xbox.

Halo: Combat Evolved for PC cover art
Microsoft Games Studios

How to Enter Cheat Codes for Halo: Combat Evolved on PC

To use cheats for Halo on PC, launch the game with the following command line parameters to enable developer mode:

-console -devmode

Halo: Combat Evolved Cheat Codes

With developer mode enabled, press the tilde key (~) to open the cheat console during gameplay, then enter one of the following cheats.

Effect Cheat Code
Spawn all weapons cheat_all_weapons
Spawn Warthog (only in levels where they are available) cheat_spawn_warthog
Spawn all vehicles (only in local multiplayer) cheat_all_vehicles
Spawn all power-ups (only in local multiplayer) cheat_all_powerups
One-shot kills (0 = off, 1 = on) cheat_omnipotent number
Enemies die instantly when they see you (0 = off, 1 = on) cheat_medusa number
Set game speed (0-20) game_speed number
Unlimited ammunition and no overheating (0 = off, 1 = on) cheat_bottomless_clip number
Unlimited ammunition (0 = off, 1 = on) cheat_infinite_ammo number
Super jumps (0 = off, 1 = on) cheat_super_jump number
Touch characters to possess them (0 = off, 1 = on) cheat_bump_possession number
Invincibility (0 = off, 1 = on) cheat_deathless_player number
Take no damage from falls (0 = off, 1 = on) cheat_jetpack number
Teleport player to current camera position cheat_teleport_to_camera
Save current camera location debug_camera_save
Go to saved camera location debug_camera_load
Clear console window cls
Quit game quit

Cheats cannot be used in online multiplayer games, and some cheats cannot be active simultaneously.

How to Unlock All Levels

If you're comfortable with editing game files to use cheats, it's possible to start a new game with every level unlocked:

  1. Launch the game and create a new save profile.

  2. Close the game, then open Windows File Explorer and locate the file folder for Halo. Navigate to the checkpoints directory for the profile you just created (Halo > profile > All_Levels > checkpoints).

  3. Create a new text file in the checkpoints directory and enter the following:

    0,0,0
    0,0,0
    0,0,0
  4. Save the text file as checkpoint0.sav.

  5. Create another text file named checkpoint1.sav in the same directory with the following text:

    1,0,0
    0,0,0
    0,0,0
  6. Repeat the above step until you have 10 files total named checkpoint0.sav- checkpoint9.sav. For each file, change the first number in the code to unlock a different level. For example, to unlock the last level, enter:

    9,0,0
    0,0,0
    0,0,0

  7. Launch Halo and load your save data to start the campaign with all levels unlocked.

How to Get the Secret Ending in Halo: Combat Evolved

Completing the game on Legendary difficulty will earn you an extended alternate ending.

Halo Easter Eggs for PC

Halo: Combat Evolved has a few secret Easter eggs that are just for fun.

Multiplayer Menu Secrets

From the title screen, select Multiplayer, then hover the mouse over the Gametypes option. There are two Easter eggs highlighted on the Master Chief's suit: The breastplate reads “All your bases are belong to us,” which is a reference to the NES game Zero Wing; and the thigh pad says “Sometimes I give myself the creeps/sometimes my mind plays tricks on me,” which is from the Green Day song Basket Case.

The Talking Grunt

After Echo 419 gets shot down in the final level, you'll come to a path with several tunnels. Take the right tunnel, then take another right at the first corridor you see. Here you'll find a talking grunt, but he doesn't have anything interesting to say.