Add-On Peds Installation Guide - Custom Characters in GTA 5 2026

What is the AddonPeds Mod?

The AddonPeds mod is the go-to solution for adding custom character models to GTA 5 without replacing any existing pedestrians. Unlike the traditional replacement method, AddonPeds creates a separate system for managing custom characters that coexists with vanilla content. In 2026, this mod remains essential for anyone wanting to expand their GTA 5 experience with custom characters from movies, anime, games, or original creations while keeping all original NPCs intact.

Installation Requirements

Before installing addon peds, you need several prerequisites in place. ScriptHookV and ScriptHookVDotNet must be installed and updated to match your game version. The AddonPeds mod itself comes with an .asi plugin and a configuration folder. You also need OpenIV installed with the mods folder structure set up, as addon ped files are stored within game archives. Ensure your gameconfig.xml supports additional ped streaming — the default config may not allocate enough memory for many custom characters.

Folder Structure and File Organization

AddonPeds uses a specific folder structure within the mods directory. Custom ped files go into mods/update/x64/dlcpacks/addonpeds/dlc.rpf. Inside this archive, each ped requires model geometry (.ydd), textures (.ytd), and optionally drawable dictionaries for clothing variations. The AddonPeds.xml configuration file maps each custom model to a spawn name and defines properties like default clothing components, personality type, and animation set. Proper file naming and organization is critical for the mod to recognize your characters.

Spawning Custom Characters

Once installed, custom characters can be spawned through the AddonPeds in-game menu (activated via a configurable hotkey). The menu displays all registered addon peds with preview thumbnails if configured. You can spawn peds as ambient NPCs, bodyguards, or switch to playing as the custom character. The mod supports spawning multiple custom peds simultaneously, limited only by your system's streaming memory capacity. Each spawned ped inherits the behavior profile defined in the configuration.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Common addon ped problems in 2026 include invisible models (usually caused by incorrect file paths or missing textures), T-pose characters (skeleton mismatch or missing animation dictionaries), and game crashes on spawn (memory allocation issues or corrupted model files). Always verify that your ped model was exported with the correct GTA 5 skeleton. Check that texture names in the .ytd match those referenced by the model. If experiencing crashes, try reducing the texture resolution or increasing streaming memory allocation in gameconfig.xml. For FiveM servers, addon peds require server-side resource configuration.