Radar

For the arrows used in early top-down perspective GTA games, see location compass.
For the directions system in Grand Theft Auto IV and Grand Theft Auto V, see GPS.

The radar in GTA San Andreas showing blips for various shops and a yellow mission blip indicating the target is higher than the player.

The Radar (also a Satnav in GTA IV), is a map on the Heads-up Display showing the player's current location in the game, and the relative location or direction of various points of interest. Introduced in Grand Theft Auto III, the radar essentially replaces the player centered location compass used in preceding GTA games, and remains an element of all GTA games after.

Blips on the radar show the location of various points of interest such as:

• Mission targets - Initially indicated only by colored squares in GTA III, radars from GTA Vice City onwards specifically use squares for targets on the same physical level (altitude) as the player, and a triangle pointed upwards if the target is above or a downwards triangle if it is below. In GTA IV, the radar uses coloured circles; if the target is higher or lower, there will be a small arrow inside the circle.
• Landmarks - Such as Pay 'n' Spray, Ammu-Nation, Clothing and places where the player can purchase food.
• Location of characters who can give missions to the protagonists.
• Save Points and Safehouses
• Gang Colors or Territory. (GTA San Andreas)
• Custom waypoints (GTA San Andreas onwards)

Gallery

3D Universe

GTA III. (PC Version. The PS2 version changes slightly with the safehouse marker's colour changing from pink/purple to green.)

GTA Vice City.

GTA San Andreas.

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GTA San Andreas blue Player Icon.

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GTA San Andreas white Player Icon.

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GTA San Andreas Map Icon.

GTA Advance.

GTA Liberty City Stories..png

GTA Liberty City Stories.

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GTA Vice City Stories.

HD Universe

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GTA IV. (Wanted level radar)

The Lost and Damned.

The Ballad of Gay Tony.

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GTA Chinatown Wars.

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GTA V, note the special ability bar and the "2.5" perspective.

The New Version of GTA V's Radar as seen in the PS4, Xbox One and PC versions.

Trivia

• In GTA San Andreas the normal Player Icon on the Radar is a white arrow which is round on one side like in all other 3D Universes (except GTA Advance.). But when CJ enters a dark area, he makes that breathing sound. Also, the Icon turns blue. It's how you learned in the Mission  Madd Dogg's Rhymes that you are in the shaddow and hidden from guards.
  • The Player Icon on the map is a bit different, its a crossbred white arrow which tip showes the exact location of the Player.
• In GTA V, the radar has been modified, and now appears rectangular rather than circular like in previous games. It is also the first in the series to have a 3D view, as well as a heat zone which shows the distance enemies will be alerted.
  • In Chinatown Wars iOS version, if the HUD is turned off, the mission icons will be displayed on the edge of the screen, causing similar look as in V.
• In GTA Online, quickly pressing the down button on the D-pad will enlarge the map for a few moments.
  • In GTA IV and V, hitting down on the D-Pad will enlarge the map, however, it won't be as big as it is in Online.
  • When in an aircraft in GTA Online, pressing down will enlarge the map until down is pressed again, as of patch 1.17