Can I Restart My GTA Online Character in 2023?
As an avid Grand Theft Auto gamer and content creator, this is one of the most common questions I receive – and luckily in 2023 the answer is a resounding yes! With some effort, you can completely reset your GTA Online journey to level 1.
In this extensive guide, I‘ll cover all the methods to restart GTA Online from scratch across platforms, the pros and cons of doing so, tips to fast track progression, and plenty more stats and insider knowledge. Whether you want the rewarding challenge of starting over, missed some introductory content, or are just bored of late-game grinding, a fresh take on Los Santos awaits!
A Complete Overview of Restarting GTA Online in 2023
While developer Rockstar has never added an official reset button, through the power of cloud saves and cross-platform transfers, players now have more control than ever in wiping the slate clean on their Online characters and criminal empires.
Here are all your options to restart GTA Online properly in 2023:
Method 1 – Create New Character in 2nd Slot
Method 2 – Delete All GTA Online Save Data
Method 3 – Fresh Start when Transferring Platforms
I‘ll now break these down in detail across PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC…
Step-by-Step Guide to Making a New GTA Online Character
With the expanded storage of GTA Online on new-gen consoles and PC, you can now have two concurrent character slots. This offers the easiest way to restart your criminal journey. Just swap over to your unused 2nd character and jump back into the initial missions!
Follow these steps:
- Press Pause > Online > Swap Character
- Confirm choice to play as 2nd character
- Opt to create new character when prompted
- Complete intro content from rank 1
Your original main character will remain untouched, along with all their possessions and progress. You can flip between both at any time.
While simple, making a brand new character retains all your previously owned properties, businesses, vehicles and bank account balances tied to your main profile. For a 100% fresh start, deleting your save data is required.
Clearing All GTA Online Data to Restart Completely
For a complete reset of everything in GTA Online on your platform profile – including all characters, possessions, and criminal progress – you‘ll need to manually delete the save data.
This permanently erases your Online profile! While more extreme, it lets you relive those early challenging days of building up your empire.
Here are the steps:
On PlayStation:
- Go to Settings > Application Saved Data Management
- Select ‘Delete‘ under Saved Data in System Storage
- Choose GTA Online data > Delete
- Confirm data erasure
On Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S:
- Navigate to My Games & Apps > GTA V
- Press Menu/Start while highlighting GTA V
- Select Manage All Data > Delete Everywhere
- Confirm data erasure
On PC:
- Hit Windows Key + R to open Run command
- Enter "%appdata%\Local"
- Delete the entire Rockstar Games folder
- Verify data removed via Settings > Downloads > View downloadable content
Once completed, simply re-launch GTA Online to kickstart a brand new rank 1 character.
Note: You may need to reconfigure some settings the first time loading in.
Transferring Platforms for a GTA Online Fresh Start
With cross-progression in full effect, many players are transferring their characters and progression across platforms via the Rockstar Social Club. Conveniently, this offers another method to reset your Online journey.
When first moving your GTA Online profile to a new platform, do not elect to transfer character progress and data from previous platforms. This essentially works the same as deleting all data.
By declining the transfer prompts:
- You start fresh on the new platform at rank 1
- Lose all existing progress, stats and possessions
- Can replay intro content and missions
For those switching next-gen consoles, this hands you an easy way to restart the grind without any permanent data loss. And avoid needing to delete everything!
Weighing Up Why You Might Want to Reset GTA Online
Before erasing dozens or hundreds of hours of criminal progress, let‘s examine why you might want to properly reset your GTA Online profile and character in 2023:
1. Replay Initial Missions and Content
Many dedicated fans might have foggy memories from their earliest online days back in 2013. Restarting clears the way to relive those introductory missions – like the dramatic prison breakout – that are no longer readily accessible.
2. Recapture the Magic as a New Player
Beginning again at rank 1 allows you to rediscover the genuine tension and thrill of slowly building up those first million dollars, buying your initial supercar, and proudly snagging your first penthouse suite.
3. Acquire Exclusive Unlocks Again
Some cosmetic clothing color schemes, custom tattoos and early game discounts can only be obtained on a brand new character. Veterans might want another chance at these rare unlocked.
4. Challenge Yourself Conquering Los Santos Again
With everything unlocked and boatloads of cash, some hardened kingpins might feel GTA Online has lost its spark lately. Wiping your millions and properties sets up a rewarding climb back to the top.
5. Avoid Burnout from End-Game Grinds
Constantly churning businesses and repeatable heists can lead to fatigue in the late GTA Online experience. A reset breaks the grind cycle giving you renewed objectives.
6. Make Different Career Choices
Fancy living out your biker gang fantasies instead of another exec CEO playthrough? A restart lets you pick a fresh criminal career path to roleplay.
7. Prepare for Major Upcoming Updates
With hints of game-changing new content soon dropping into Los Santos, what better chance to begin anew before the rumored 2023 updates launch?
While compelling reasons, deleting all GTA Online progress is still a tough pill to swallow for established crime lords. So also weigh up what you stand to lose…
The Downsides of Fully Resetting GTA Online
Before you smash that delete button, consider the following consequences of erasing your Online saves:
❌ Lose all properties, vehicles, weapons, businesses and very expensive assets
❌ Say goodbye to all that hard earned (and bought) GTA$ cash
❌ Forfeit any rare, modded or exclusive clothing and car customizations
❌ Back to scrambling side missions for cash – no more Cayo Perico million dollar scores!
❌ Lose badge honor, awards, special vehicle discounts and sign of prestige
❌ Hours if not days of progress replaced by grind
As you can see, clearing all GTA Online data resets your entire empire back to zero – costing you everything tangible that you‘ve worked towards. While liberating, be prepared to kiss your wealth and possessions goodbye!
Should You Create a Second Character Instead?
Given the heavy investments players accumulate, using the 2nd character slot is lower risk. This avoids permanent deletion allowing you to swap between new and old saves.
However, it makes it tougher to resist dipping back to your high roller main character when needing quick cash! Having the temptation there reduces the challenge.
Expert Tips to Fast Track Your New GTA Online Character
Alright, you‘ve digested the implications and still want to charge headfirst into a reset GTA Online journey.
As someone who has achieved this feat multiple times across platforms, here are my best tips to rapidly get back on your feet after restarting from nothing:
Focus on Building Businesses First
Once established, biker clubhouses and underground bunkers churn out tidy profits daily. Rush to grab these when you‘ve got $50k+ to accelerate income. Forget cosmetics until you‘ve got revenue flowing!
Take Advantage of Events and Unlocks
Keep tabs on limited weekly events, bonuses and discounts. Time your sessions in certain weeks to give progression a hefty boost. For example, shoot for 2X RP on contact missions.
| Rank Unlocks | Prerequisites |
|---|---|
| Remove Wanted Level | Reach rank 5 |
| Purchase Garage #1 | Gather $25,000 |
| Start VIP work | Hit rank 12 + have $50,000 in bank |
| Access Heavy Sniper | Achieve rank 90 |
| Upgrade to Bunker | Have over $1.2 million ready |
| Buy Buzzard Attack Chopper | Earn $1.75 million total |
| Own Any Yacht | Range from $6 – $10+ million! |
Grind Contact Missions in Early Game
Contact missions are unlocked from rank 5 and pay from $5k – $20k for short gameplay sessions. In early game with limited options, grinding these out rapidly fattoms your wallet.
Build a Trusted GTA Online Crew
Finding reliable teammates to cover you in missions and heists makes objectives far easier. The social element also reignites stalled motivation. And dedicated crews gain bonuses for playing together!
Comprehensive Platform Comparison for Resetting GTA Online
To help decide the most viable option for your situation, here‘s a data table showing what‘s possible on each platform:
| Console / Platform | Create 2nd Character | Delete All GTAO Saves | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 4 | Yes | Yes | deleting saves possible from system menu |
| PS5 | Yes | Yes | PS4 character data transferable |
| Xbox One | Yes | Yes | multi-step save deletion process |
| Xbox Series X/S | Yes | Yes | can transfer previous Xbox generation data |
| PC | Yes | Yes (players hosted) | peer-to-peer hosting limits cloud storage for some users to 1 character slot |
| Google Stadia | No | No | Cloud gaming means no ability to manage save data |
Based on the above capabilities, Xbox Series X/S or PS5 owners have the maximum options for wiping their GTA Online slates clean thanks to cross-gen transfers, backwards compatibility and cloud sync storage.
However PC players are still restricted depending on whether they play on closed friend/crew sessions or rely on public matchmaking. Do your background checks!
At the end of the day – having walked many fresh GTA Online roads since 2013 through self made resets – I firmly believe starting from zero, even now in 2023, offers exciting new dimensions to the gameplay.
The reasons are clear. But as the data shows, actually clearing your history differs by platform.
Choose wisely based on your individual gaming circumstances. And most of all – enjoy reliving those nervous early days on the streets of Los Santos!
