How to use parachute in GTA 5 (Controller Guide)

So you want to go sky-high in San Andreas? Jumping out of planes and off tall buildings in GTA 5 is awesome, but using the parachute on a controller can be tricky at first. I remember the first time I bailed out of a chopper – heart pounding, wind rushing, and then crash! – because I forgot how to deploy my chute. I struggled with it too, but I’m here to share everything I learned. In this guide, I’ll walk you through getting a parachute, equipping it, and nailing the perfect landing on your PS4/PS5 or Xbox controller. Let’s dive in and make your next free-fall a blast!

Finding and Equipping Your Parachute

First things first: you need a parachute. In GTA 5, parachutes aren’t magic – you have to find or buy one. After you complete the mission “Minor Turbulence” in Story Mode, Ammu-Nation starts selling them. I always grab one there so I’m ready for any jump. You can also find parachutes on top of high points around the map – for example, Maze Bank Tower or the cable car station on Mount Chiliad. If you hop into a helicopter or plane, the game will even give you a parachute automatically when you bail out. (For a cheat code quick fix: dial 1-999-759-3483 – that’s “SKYDIVE” – to spawn a chute instantly, though where’s the fun in that?)

Once you have a parachute, equip it like any other weapon. On consoles, you can open the Interaction Menu and select “Parachute” to gear up. In fact, whenever you buy or pick up a chute, it shows up on the bottom-right of your weapon wheel – that means it’s ready to use. I always double-check this before I jump off anything high: open your weapon wheel and look for the parachute icon in the lower corner. If it’s there, you’re all set to skydive!

A parachutist drops from the sky – make sure you have a chute equipped before you leap!

Deploying and Steering the Parachute on Controller

Okay, you’re geared up and standing on a rooftop or peeking out of a plane door. The rules are simple: when you’re falling in mid-air, hit the deploy button on your controller. For PlayStation (PS4/PS5), that’s X; for Xbox controllers, press A. I used to panic and mash buttons, but it really only takes one quick press of X/A to pop open the parachute. You’ll see your character’s chute automatically unfurl.

Once the parachute is open, you take full control of your descent. Push the left analog stick forward to dive down faster (gain speed) and pull it back to slow your fall. Move the stick left or right to steer your parachute gently in those directions. For sharper turns or quick flips, tap the shoulder buttons: L1/R1 on PlayStation or LB/RB on Xbox. Pressing both bumpers together enters “focused landing mode” – basically a stability brake for precision touchdowns. It sounds fancy, but I’ve found it really helpful. When I need to land on a small target (like a moving truck or a boat), I hold both bumpers to level out and aim dead-center.

Another neat trick: add some flair with smoke trails. Just hold X (PS) or A (Xbox) while you’re gliding, and your parachute will emit colored smoke. I once did a jump with a blue smoke trail for my friend’s birthday stunt – it looked epic against the Los Santos skyline!

Pro Tip: After deploying the parachute, pull back on the left stick to slow down and run upon landing. This way you won’t fall prone on impact. Also, right before you touch down, press both bumpers (L1+R1 or LB+RB) for a precision landing – it really slows your descent for a smooth finish. This little trick saved me from splatting on the ground more times than I care to admit!

Tips and Tricks for Smooth Landings

Here’s what worked for me after a few (okay, many) goofy falls:

• Delay a bit for thrill. Sometimes I wait an extra second before pressing X/A – this means a longer free-fall and soaring through the air before the chute opens. It’s thrilling, but be careful not to push it too far. I always set a mental timer: once the ground is, say, 100 meters away, I open the chute. (From personal experience, anything less and I start to panic!)
• Aim for soft spots. If you miss your landing spot, try steering towards soft landing zones. Water is safest – falling into the ocean or a lake is insta-survival (even without a chute). Roofs with a gentler slope can work too. I remember landing on a water tower once by accident, and it gave me a nice view of the city – unexpected, but cool.
• Watch your altitude. Keep an eye on your altitude bar on the screen. When you see the ground icon getting close, switch your focus to landing mode (bumpers together). It’s easy to get distracted by the scenery, but remember to pull that chute in time or you’ll splat upon landing. Trust me, it hurts your score (and your street cred).
• Practice makes perfect. The more you parachute, the better you’ll gauge distance and timing. Try throwing yourself off different heights. The height difference between the Maze Bank skyscraper and Mount Chiliad is huge, so jump from both to train your reflexes. And don’t forget the smoke trails challenge – follow a path in the sky to entertain your buddies or just to break monotony.
• Controller comfort. I switch to first-person view occasionally to feel the rush (press the right stick), but many people prefer the default 3rd-person for better spatial awareness. Do what feels comfortable. Just make sure your controller grip is solid – you don’t want to drop your controller mid-fall because your hands got sweaty!

When Things Go Wrong

Even with all these tips, accidents can happen. If you don’t deploy the chute in time, your character will take massive fall damage and probably die. I learned this the hard way by waiting one second too long. Ouch. If you’re in the middle of a mission or a chase (like a Strangers & Freaks mission or heist), keep that chestnut in mind: press X/A a little early.

If you find yourself parachute-less, try rolling instead of a hard drop. When you’re about to hit ground, pull back on the stick (or just release it) so your character lands running, not flat. It reduces damage a bit. And hey, sometimes GTA glitches out and detaches your chute if you hit triangle/Y – mostly a console quirk, but it basically cuts your parachute mid-air. If that happens, pray you have a hay bale or water below you!

Ready to Fly!

Using the parachute on a controller in GTA 5 is easier once you know the ropes. To recap the main points: equip the chute via Interaction Menu (or Ammo-Nation) before jumping, press X/A to deploy in mid-air, steer with the left stick and use bumpers for turning and landing, and focus-brake (L1+R1) just before touchdown for a safe landing. Delay opening if you want more free-fall fun, and don’t forget the smoke trail for style.

I hope these tips help you pull off some epic jumps (and survive them!). I’ve landed on moving cars, raced friends to the ground, and even tried hitting checkpoints on the way down. Give it a try – you’ll be soaring like a pro in no time. What’s the coolest parachute jump you’ve done in GTA? Share your story next time you fly by!