How to Create Custom Radio Stations in GTA 5 - Music Mod Guide 2026

Custom Radio Stations in GTA 5 — Complete Music Mod Guide 2026

Add your own music to GTA 5 with custom radio stations. This guide covers the built-in Self Radio feature, advanced music mods, and how to create fully custom stations with DJ intros and ads.

Method 1: Self Radio (Easiest)

1. Navigate to Documents/Rockstar Games/GTA V/User Music/
2. Copy your .mp3, .wma, or .m4a files into this folder
3. Launch GTA 5, go to Settings → Audio → Scan Music
4. Wait for the scan to complete (may take a few minutes for large libraries)
5. In-game, switch to Self Radio on the radio wheel

Method 2: Custom Radio Station Mod

1. Download a custom radio station mod (e.g., Custom Radio Stations by InfamousSabre)
2. Install Script Hook V and .NET Script Hook as prerequisites
3. Place the mod DLL in your scripts folder
4. Create station config files with playlist definitions in the mod's config folder
5. Add audio files referenced in your playlists
6. Launch the game — new stations appear on the radio wheel

Advanced: RPF Audio Replacement

1. Open x64/audio/sfx/ in OpenIV
2. Find the station RPF you want to replace (e.g., RADIO_01_CLASS_ROCK.rpf)
3. Extract the original files as backup
4. Convert your music to the required .awc format using audio tools
5. Replace tracks inside the RPF archive
6. Test in-game to verify playback

Supported Audio Formats

• Self Radio: MP3, WMA, M4A, AAC
• Custom Mod: MP3, OGG, WAV (depends on mod)
• RPF Replace: AWC (Rockstar's proprietary audio format)

Tips for Best Quality

• Use 320kbps MP3 or lossless for best audio quality
• Normalize audio levels so volume is consistent between tracks
• Keep file names simple — avoid special characters
• For Self Radio, organize a playlist of 20-50 songs for variety
• Restart the game after adding new music to Self Radio