Cheat codes are one of the best things about emulation. Whether you want infinite Master Balls in Pokémon, unlimited lives in Kirby, or just want to skip a frustrating section, My Boy! makes it easy to add and manage cheat codes. This guide covers every cheat system the emulator supports and walks you through setting them up correctly.

Note: Cheat code support is a feature of My Boy! (paid version). If you are using My Boy! Free, you may have limited or no cheat functionality. See our comparison of My Boy vs My Boy Free to understand the difference.

What Cheat Systems Does My Boy Support?

My Boy! supports three major GBA cheat code formats:

GameShark — The most widely used format for GBA games. Codes are typically 8 characters in two groups (e.g., XXXXXXXX YYYYYYYY).

CodeBreaker — Another popular format. Codes look similar to GameShark but use a different encryption method. They are not interchangeable.

Action Replay — The format used by the Action Replay device, common in Europe. My Boy! supports these natively.

When searching for cheat codes online, always check which format the code is in before entering it.

How to Enter Cheat Codes in My Boy — Step by Step

Step 1: Open the game you want to add cheats to

Launch My Boy! and load your ROM file as you normally would. The game does not need to be running — you can add cheats from the pause menu or before the game starts.

Step 2: Open the menu

While a game is loaded, tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the screen, or swipe from the edge depending on your interface settings.

Step 3: Tap “Cheats”

In the menu that appears, select Cheats. This opens the cheat manager for the currently loaded game.

Step 4: Tap the “+” button to add a new cheat

In the cheat manager, tap the plus (+) icon to create a new cheat entry.

Step 5: Enter the cheat details

A dialog box will appear with three fields:

  • Description — Give your cheat a name so you can identify it later (e.g., “Infinite Master Balls” or “Walk Through Walls”).
  • Cheat type — Select GameShark, CodeBreaker, or Action Replay from the dropdown.
  • Code — Enter the cheat code exactly as written, including any spaces or line breaks between sections.

Step 6: Tap OK and enable the cheat

After entering the code, tap OK. The cheat will appear in your list. Make sure the checkbox next to it is ticked to activate it. Unticking disables it without deleting it.

Step 7: Return to the game

Go back to your game. The cheat will now be active.

Multi-Line Cheat Codes

Some cheat codes span multiple lines. For example, a GameShark Master Code for Pokémon FireRed might look like:

000014D1 000A
10001DCE 0007

In My Boy!, you enter each line as a separate cheat entry under the same description, OR paste the entire code in the code field if the emulator accepts multi-line input. Test both approaches if one does not work.

Tips to Avoid Crashes When Using Cheats

Cheats can sometimes cause games to crash or behave unexpectedly. Here are the key rules to follow:

Only enable cheats that are meant for your game version. A cheat code for Pokémon FireRed v1.0 will not work correctly on v1.1 and may crash the game. Check the ROM version you are using.

Enter Master Codes first. Many GameShark and Action Replay cheat packs require a “Master Code” to be active before other codes will work. This is usually labeled at the top of any cheat list you find online.

Do not enable too many cheats at once. Running 10+ cheats simultaneously can cause memory conflicts. Enable only what you actually need.

Save your game before activating new cheats. Use a real in-game save (not just a save state) before testing a new code. If the game crashes, you can reload from your save. Learn how to use both save types in our guide on how to save and load states in My Boy.

Disable cheats before saving. Some cheats permanently alter game data if left active while saving. Always turn off cheats before using an in-game save point.

Here are some of the most searched cheat types by game. You will need to find the specific codes for your game version from a reputable cheat database.

Pokémon FireRed / LeafGreen

  • Wild Pokémon modifier
  • Infinite Master Balls
  • Walk through walls
  • All badges

Pokémon Emerald

  • Shiny Pokémon encounter
  • Rare Candy in PC
  • Infinite money

Metroid Fusion

  • Infinite missiles
  • All items

Mario Kart Super Circuit

  • All cups unlocked
  • Infinite lives

For Pokémon-specific features like trading and link play, see our guide on how Pokémon trading works in My Boy.

How to Delete or Disable a Cheat

To temporarily disable a cheat, go to Cheats from the menu and uncheck the box next to it. The code stays saved but inactive.

To permanently delete a cheat, long-press the cheat entry in the list. A delete option will appear. Confirm and it will be removed.

Why Are My Cheats Not Working?

If a cheat code is not doing anything after you activate it, here are the most common reasons:

Wrong cheat type selected. A CodeBreaker code entered as GameShark will not work. Double-check the format.

Missing Master Code. Many code sets require a Master Code at the top. Check whether the source you got the code from mentions one.

Wrong game version. Region matters too — a US code will not work on a European ROM.

ROM integrity issue. A corrupted or improperly patched ROM may not respond to cheats correctly. If you are experiencing broader issues, check our guide on how to fix My Boy APK not loading ROM files.

Game already past the trigger point. Some cheats only activate at specific moments (e.g., before entering a wild battle). Try reloading or starting a new area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use cheats with save states?
Yes, but be careful. Save states capture the exact memory state including active cheats. If you save a state with a cheat active and then disable the cheat, reloading the state may cause issues. Keep cheats consistent around your save state usage.

Do cheats sync if I transfer saves to another device?
No. Cheat codes are stored in the emulator’s cheat database, not in the save file itself. If you move your game to another phone, you will need to re-enter your cheats. See our guide on how to transfer GBA saves between Android devices for save file transfer help.

Is there a limit to how many cheats I can add?
My Boy! (paid) does not impose a hard limit on the number of cheats, but as noted above, activating too many simultaneously can cause instability.