How to Open the Console in HOI4

Hearts of Iron IV ships with a built-in debug console you can open at any time during a game — no launch options, mods or external tools required. Cheats are enabled by default in single-player games that are not in Ironman mode, so opening the console is the first step before entering any command on this site.

How to open the console in HOI4

Start or load a single-player game that is not in Ironman mode.
While in the game (not the main menu), press the ~ (tilde) key, found just below Esc on most keyboards.
A text box appears at the top-left of the screen. Type a command and press Enter to run it.
Press ~ again to close the console.

Console keys by keyboard layout

The tilde key does not exist on every keyboard. If ~ does nothing, try one of these instead:

~ (tilde) — US / UK layouts
` (grave / backtick) — the key left of 1
Shift + 2 or Shift + 3
§ / ½ — Scandinavian and German layouts
Alt + 2 + 1 on the numpad — a universal fallback when nothing else works

Console won't open? Troubleshooting

You are in Ironman. The console is permanently disabled in Ironman saves. Start a normal game to use cheats.
Wrong keyboard layout. Switching your Windows input language to English (US) makes the ~ key behave as the game expects.
The window isn't focused. Click inside the game first, then press the console key.

Cheats and achievements

Using any console command flags your save, which disables Steam achievements for the rest of that game. Console commands are also unavailable in Ironman games. Start a normal single-player game if you want to cheat freely without worrying about either restriction.

Next steps

With the console open, browse the full list of console commands, or jump straight to popular cheats like adding equipment, switching country and instant research.

Frequently asked questions

What is the console key in HOI4?

The default key is the tilde (~) just below Esc. Depending on your keyboard layout you may need the grave/backtick (`) key, the § key on Scandinavian keyboards, or Shift+2 / Shift+3. Tap it again to close the console.

Why won't the HOI4 console open?

The most common reason is that you are in an Ironman game, where the console is permanently disabled. Outside Ironman, the cause is almost always your keyboard layout — try the backtick, §, Alt+2+1 on the numpad, or change your Windows input language to English (US). Make sure the game window has focus and you are in a running game, not the main menu.

Do console commands disable achievements in HOI4?

Yes. The moment you enter any console command, Steam achievements are disabled for that save for the rest of the game. If you want achievements, play without the console or in Ironman mode.

Can you use cheats in HOI4 multiplayer?

Only the host can run most console commands, and many are blocked or desync clients in multiplayer. Cheating is generally a single-player, non-Ironman activity.