Replace Peds Guide - Swap Character Models in GTA 5 2026

How to Replace Pedestrian Models in GTA 5

Replacing pedestrian models (peds) is one of the most popular forms of GTA 5 modding, allowing you to swap existing NPC and player character models with custom 3D characters. Whether you want to replace random pedestrians with movie characters, swap story mode protagonists with custom models, or create an entirely new cast of NPCs for your modded game in 2026, this guide covers the complete process from file preparation to in-game verification.

Required Tools and Preparation

To replace ped models you need OpenIV for accessing and modifying game archives, a compatible replacement model in the correct format (.ydd for geometry, .ytd for textures), and optionally CodeWalker for previewing models before installation. Create a mods folder backup before any replacements. The replacement model must use the same skeleton (rig) as the original ped — most male pedestrians use the standard male skeleton, while female peds use the female skeleton. Mismatched skeletons cause severe animation glitches.

Step-by-Step Replacement Process

Open OpenIV and navigate to the target ped's files, typically found in x64v.rpf/models/cdimages/streamedpeds_players.rpf for main characters or streamedpeds.rpf for regular pedestrians. Enable Edit Mode in OpenIV, then replace the .ydd (model) and .ytd (texture) files with your custom versions. Make sure file names match exactly — GTA 5 identifies ped models by their file names. After replacing, verify that the file sizes are reasonable and that no corruption occurred during the copy process.

Texture and Component Setup

GTA 5 ped models use a component-based system where different body parts (head, upper body, lower body, hands, feet, accessories) are separate mesh components. When replacing a ped, all components must be present and correctly numbered. The texture dictionary (.ytd) must contain all referenced textures with matching names. For player character replacements, additional variation textures may be needed for clothing options. The component system allows mix-and-match customization in-game if configured correctly.

Addon vs Replace Methods

In 2026, modders have two primary approaches for adding custom characters. The replace method overwrites existing ped files and requires no additional configuration but removes the original character. The addon method adds new ped entries alongside existing ones, requiring peds.meta and pedpersonality.meta entries but preserving original content. For story mode characters, replacement is simpler. For FiveM servers, addon peds are preferred as they allow custom characters without losing any vanilla content. Each approach has trade-offs in terms of complexity and compatibility with other mods.