Made by fans, for every GTA 6 player. Unofficial guide, not affiliated with Rockstar Games or Take-Two.Unofficial guide.

GTA6Geek

Language Get launch alerts

Gameplay · Updated 24 Oct 2026

GTA 6 wanted system explained: 6 stars, witnesses and CCTV

Short answer: GTA 6 brings back six wanted stars (GTA 5 stopped at five). The big change: police need to know who they’re looking for. Witnesses and CCTV build a description of your face, clothes, vehicle, weapon and partner, shown as icons under the stars. To lose the cops you break that description: change your full outfit or hairstyle, swap cars, wear a mask during the crime, or split Jason and Lucia up.

By Jake Morrison · Sources checked by GTA6Geek Editorial · Published 23 Oct 2026 · Updated 24 Oct 2026

On this page

How the wanted level works now
How to lose the police
What happens after the chase
GTA 6 vs GTA 5 wanted system
Sources
What to read next

How the wanted level works now

Someone has to notice. A crime must be seen by a witness or set off an alarm before police are called.
Police get a description. Each detail they know (face, clothing, vehicle, weapon, accomplice) shows as a small icon below your stars.
Hollow stars mean police are searching but have no description of you.
Up to six stars. At three stars or more inside Vice City, escaping gets very hard because streets are narrow and traffic is dense.

How to lose the police

Police know your…	Do this
Face	Wear a mask or face wrap during the crime and take it off after. A new hairstyle also clears your appearance
Clothes	Change your whole outfit. Sunglasses or a new hat are not enough. Keep spare clothes in your car trunk
Vehicle	Ditch the car and take another one
Partner	Split Jason and Lucia up to divide the police
Weapon	Hide your gun before you walk in; you can keep it behind your back

What happens after the chase

Police lock down crime scenes and keep patrolling the area after you leave, so going straight back is risky. Climbing and parkour were rebuilt so that running away on foot is a real option even at three stars or more.

How you commit crimes also feeds your Criminal Profile: a clean job with nobody hurt counts very differently from shooting into a crowd.

GTA 6 vs GTA 5 wanted system

	GTA 5	GTA 6
Max stars	5	6
Police know who you are	Instantly	Only what witnesses and cameras saw
Disguise	Barely mattered	Main way to escape
Partner	—	Can be identified separately

Sources

Last checked: 24 Oct 2026. Labels: Official = Rockstar or platform holder, Reported = previews or press, Unconfirmed = not stated by Rockstar.

Frequently asked questions

How many wanted stars are in GTA 6?

Six. GTA 5 had five.

How do you lose a wanted level in GTA 6?

Break the description police have: change your full outfit or hairstyle, swap vehicles, wear a mask during crimes, or split Jason and Lucia up.

Do police know who you are right away in GTA 6?

No. A witness or alarm has to report the crime, and police only know the details that were seen.

What do hollow wanted stars mean?

Police are searching, but they don’t have a description of you yet.