Enter GameShark and Other Cheat Codes in Visual Boy Advance

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Learn to enter and enable cheat codes on Visual Boy Advance

Written by Travis Boylls

Last Updated: October 17, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Entering Cheat Codes
|
• Finding GameShark Codes
|
• FAQ
|
• Video
|
• Q&A
|
• Tips
|
• Warnings

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Sometimes, using cheat codes in a game can add a little fun to it. Luckily, the Game Boy Advance emulator Visual Boy Advance supports GameShark, CodeBreaker, and other cheat codes. This wikiHow teaches you how to use cheat codes while playing a Game Boy Advance game on the VisualBoyAdvance (VBA) emulator.

Enter Cheats in Virtual Boy Advance

1. Click Tools > Cheats > List Cheats. 2. Click the green icon to add a new cheat. 3. Enter a description of the cheat code. 4. Select “GameShark” or “CodeBreaker” as the code type. 5. Enter the code and click Ok.

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

Entering Cheat Codes

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1. 
   1
   Open Visual Boy Advance. Double-click the purple VisualBoyAdvance icon in the unzipped folder. This will bring up the VBA window.

   • If you don’t have Visual Boy Advance installed, you can download it from the official website. Click Download in the upper-right corner. Visual Boy Advance is available for both Windows and Mac.
2. 2
   Load a ROM. Visual Boy Advance supports Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy ROMs. Use the following steps to load a ROM:

   • Click File in the menu at the top.
   • Click Open.
     • Alternatively, you can click Open Game Boy for Game Boy ROMs, or Open Game Boy Color to load a Game Boy Color ROM.
   • Select your ROM file.
   • Click Open.
     • If the game screen remains blank, do the following: click the Options tab, select Emulator, select Save type, click Flash 128K, and then click File and click Reset.
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3. 3
   Open the Cheats menu. To do so, click Tools in the menu bar at the top. Then click Cheats.

   • Additionally, check to make sure “Enable cheats” at the bottom of the Cheats menu is enabled and has a checkmark next to it.
4. 4
   Click List Cheats. This opens the list of cheats that have been entered for the ROM you have loaded. If no cheats have been entered, this list will be empty.
5. 5
   Click the Add New Cheat button. It’s the button with the green bar at the top of the page. This opens a dialogue window that allows you to enter a new cheat code.

   • Alternatively, you can load a list of cheats as a CLT file. To do so, click the folder icon and select a CLT file for the game you have loaded. Then click Open.
6. 6
   Enter a description for the cheat. Provide a brief description of what the cheat code does in the space at the top.
7. 7
   Select the type of cheat code. For GameShark codes, use the drop-down menu to select GameShark. Alternatively, you can select CodeBreaker for CodeBreaker codes, Flashcart to select a CHT cheat file, or Generic Code for generic cheat codes.
8. 8
   Enter the code and click Ok. Enter the code in the box below “Code.” Some games have master codes that must be entered and active in order for other cheat codes to work.
9. 
   9
   Reset the game. To do so, click Emulation in the menu bar at the top and click Reset.

   • You can enable and disable your codes by reopening the List cheat menu. Click the tiny checkbox next to the cheats you want to enable (or disable) and click Ok.
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Section 2 of 3:

Finding GameShark Codes

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1. There are numerous places you can find cheat codes. The following are a few websites you can check out:

   • Neoseeker
   • Supercheats
   • GameShark.com (Internet Archive)

Section 3 of 3:

Frequently Asked Questions

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1. 1
   Why isn’t the code working? There are many reasons a cheat code may not work. The following are some common causes:

   • The code isn’t enabled in the List Cheat menu.
   • The code was entered incorrectly.
   • The master code was not entered.
   • The master code is not enabled.
   • You entered a CodeBreaker code instead of a GameShark code (or vice versa).
   • The code needs to be activated in-game by pressing a button combination or fulfilling some condition.
   • The code was made for a different version of the game.
   • The code doesn’t work.
2. 2
   Can using cheat codes cause problems with the game? Yes, using cheat codes can have unintended consequences. They can cause bugs and glitches or cause the game to freeze or crash. In some cases, using cheat codes can cause fatal errors, or errors that alter the way the rest of the game plays.
3. 3
   How do I prevent cheat codes from causing problems? The best thing you can do is not to use too many codes at one time. Using lots of cheat codes increases the chances of glitches or that the codes might conflict with one another. Using a limited number of codes also makes it easier to figure out which codes are causing problems if they occur.
4. 4
   How do I fix a game that isn’t working after entering a cheat code? Disable or delete the cheat code that is causing the problem. If the problem still persists, try reloading the game. If that doesn’t work, you may need to reset the game and start over from the beginning without the cheat code.
5. 5
   Is it illegal or unethical to use cheat codes? No, not really. Most Game Boy, Game Boy Color, or Game Boy Advance games are single-player games that might support local multiplayer at most. Using cheat codes generally doesn’t give you an unfair advantage over other players. It just makes the game easier for yourself.

   • If you feel like using cheat codes cheapens the experience, try playing through the entire game first without using cheat codes. Then go back and try out different cheat codes after you’ve beaten the game.
6. 6
   Is it legal to play ROMs with an emulator? It depends. Using an emulator to play copyrighted and pirated games is generally considered illegal. However, if you own the rights to the game or have permission from the copyright holder, then it is legal to play the game.
7. 7
   Are ROM hacks or modified ROMs illegal? In most cases, yes. Even ROM hacks and modified ROMs are usually illegal. They generally require unauthorized access to a copyrighted game to create. Therefore, they are just as illegal to download and distribute as an unaltered copy of a copyrighted game.
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Community Q&A

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• Question

  Where can I find "Pokemon Emerald" cheats?

  

  Community Answer

  A quick Google search can pull up thousands of pages of "Pokemon Emerald" cheats. Putting them in the emulator is fairly easy - only requiring a quick copy and paste. Be careful to keep it formatted correctly, however.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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  Not Helpful 12 Helpful 16
• Question

  What if I did all this and it still doesn't work?

  

  Community Answer

  Make sure the codes are properly spaced. If that does not work, find new codes with the new master code, respectively.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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  Not Helpful 30 Helpful 16
• Question

  Can I download a GameShark code, or do I actually have to go buy one?

  

  Community Answer

  You can look for "GameShark codes" online followed by whatever Pokemon version you're playing. You should get a list that way.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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Video

Tips

• You'll need to enable your code(s) each time you reopen the VBA emulator.
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• Cheat codes are available in multiple formats, including Gameshark, Action Replay MAX, and RAW. Do not mix and match code formats in a cheat file, or none of the codes will work.
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Warnings

• Some codes won't work with your game, while others may have unintended side effects (e.g., corrupt save files).
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