HoI4 Console Commands and Cheats List (2026)

This HoI4 console commands list is built for single-player testing, sandbox saves, mod debugging, and recovery from broken runs. Console commands can remove challenge from Hearts of Iron IV very quickly, so use them on a throwaway save before changing a campaign you care about.

Table of Contents

• How to open the console in HoI4
• How to use HoI4 console commands
• Best HoI4 console commands
• HoI4 console commands list
• Debug mode and IDs
• Troubleshooting
• FAQ

How to Open the Console in HoI4

Start or load a non-Ironman single-player save, then press the console key for your keyboard layout. Common keys include Shift+2, ALT+2+1, Shift+3, ~, `, ^, and §. If one key does not work, try another layout option before assuming the console is disabled.

The console is not meant for Ironman achievement runs. If you want achievements, keep Ironman on and do not use console commands. If you want to test strategies, fix a save, inspect tags, or accelerate a learning campaign, use a separate non-Ironman save.

How to Use HoI4 Console Commands

Type the command, add any required amount, country tag, state ID, province ID, or equipment name, then press Enter. A command such as pp 500 adds 500 political power. A command such as tag ENG switches your controlled country to the United Kingdom. Use tdebug to reveal the IDs and country tags you need by hovering the map or interface.

Best HoI4 Console Commands

These are the commands most players want first because they solve common sandbox problems: political power, XP, equipment, research, construction, manpower, country switching, and war control.

Command	Effect	Example	Notes
help	Shows command help in the console.	help annex	Use this first when syntax changes after a patch.
helplog	Writes available console commands to the game log.	helplog	Useful when you want a searchable local command list.
tdebug	Toggles debug tooltip details.	tdebug	Use it to find country tags, state IDs, province IDs, and database keys.
pp [amount]	Adds political power.	pp 500	Negative values can reduce political power.
xp [amount]	Adds army, navy, and air experience.	xp 300	Good for testing templates, ship designs, and aircraft designs.
cp [amount]	Adds command power.	cp 100	Command power is capped by normal game limits.
st [amount]	Adds stability.	st 20	Use a negative amount to lower stability.
ws [amount]	Adds war support.	ws 25	Some builds also accept add_war_support.
manpower [amount]	Adds manpower.	manpower 1000000	Large values can make the campaign unrealistic immediately.
add_equipment [amount] [equipment]	Adds equipment to stockpiles.	add_equipment 10000 infantry_equipment_1	The equipment usually needs to be researched first.
add_latest_equipment [amount]	Adds the latest researched equipment variants.	add_latest_equipment 5000	Faster than typing many equipment IDs.
research all	Researches all technologies.	research all	Very disruptive in a normal campaign.
research_on_icon_click	Researches technologies when clicked.	research_on_icon_click	Run again to turn it off.
instantconstruction	Toggles instant construction.	instantconstruction	Can affect AI too, so pause before using it.
annex [tag]	Annexes a country.	annex FRA	Use tdebug if you do not know the tag.
tag [tag]	Switches the country you control.	tag GER	Save first before switching countries.
yesman	Makes AI countries accept diplomatic offers.	yesman	Run again to return to normal behavior.
whitepeace [tag] [tag]	Forces white peace between two countries.	whitepeace GER SOV	Can produce odd border states in complex wars.
fow	Toggles fog of war.	fow	Can also target a province ID in some builds.
savegame	Forces a save.	savegame	Use before risky tests.

HoI4 Console Commands List

This list focuses on practical commands that are useful for players, modders, and test saves. Some internal developer commands exist but are not useful for normal play.

Country, War, and Diplomacy Commands

Command	Effect	Example	Notes
tag [country tag]	Switches player control to another country.	tag ITA	Use tag carefully because AI may alter your original country.
observe	Switches to observer mode.	observe	Good for AI simulations and hands-off testing.
ai	Toggles the AI.	ai	Can freeze AI decision-making while testing.
human_ai	Lets AI control the current player country too.	human_ai	Use in simulations, not normal play.
allowdiplo	Allows diplomatic actions without normal restrictions.	allowdiplo	Also known by aliases in some builds.
instant_wargoal	Toggles instant war goal justification.	instant_wargoal	Run again to disable it.
annex [country tag]	Annexes the target country.	annex POL	Can reshape wars and peace conferences abruptly.
whitepeace [tag] [tag]	Creates white peace between two countries.	whitepeace JAP CHI	Best used on a test save.
winwars	Adds maximum war score in active wars.	winwars	Usually used before a peace deal.
civilwar [ideology] [tag]	Starts a civil war in a country.	civilwar democratic GER	Common ideologies include fascism, democratic, neutrality, and communism.
add_party_popularity [ideology] [amount]	Adds ideology popularity.	add_party_popularity fascism 20	Use with set_ruling_party for political tests.
set_ruling_party [ideology]	Changes the ruling ideology.	set_ruling_party c	Short forms often include f, d, n, and c.
add_opinion [source] [target]	Adds opinion from one country to another.	add_opinion ENG USA	Syntax may vary by build, so confirm with help.
add_autonomy [tag] [amount]	Adds or removes autonomy.	add_autonomy RAJ 500	Negative values reduce autonomy.
add_interest [tag]	Adds a country to your interest list.	add_interest TUR	Useful for monitoring test scenarios.
remove_interest [tag]	Removes a country from your interest list.	remove_interest TUR	Reverses add_interest.

Resources, Production, and Research Commands

Command	Effect	Example	Notes
pp [amount]	Adds political power.	pp 150	Useful for laws, advisors, and decisions.
xp [amount]	Adds army, navy, and air XP.	xp 200	Use for design and template testing.
gain_xp [amount]	Adds XP to a selected leader.	gain_xp 500	Select the general or admiral first.
cp [amount]	Adds command power.	cp 50	Caps still apply.
st [amount]	Adds stability.	st 15	Use negative values to test instability.
ws [amount]	Adds war support.	ws 30	Some versions accept add_war_support.
manpower [amount]	Adds manpower.	manpower 250000	Does not automatically equip divisions.
add_equipment [amount] [equipment]	Adds a specific equipment type.	add_equipment 1000 support_equipment_1	Exact equipment IDs matter.
add_latest_equipment [amount]	Adds latest researched equipment.	add_latest_equipment 2000	Convenient for quick army setup.
addfunds	Adds funds to military industrial organizations.	addfunds	Relevant when MIO systems are enabled.
research [slot/all]	Researches a slot or all technologies.	research all	Use a slot ID for narrower testing.
research_on_icon_click	Instantly researches clicked technology.	research_on_icon_click	Run again to toggle off.
instantconstruction	Toggles instant construction.	ic	ic is a common alias.
allowtraits	Allows free trait assignment.	allowtraits	Useful for testing leaders.
allowideas	Allows selecting ideas without normal restrictions.	allowideas	Use on a test save.
add_ideas [idea]	Adds a national idea.	add_ideas war_economy	Find exact idea IDs with files or debug tools.
remove_ideas [idea]	Removes a national idea.	remove_ideas war_economy	Good for mod testing.

Map, State, Unit, and Interface Commands

Command	Effect	Example	Notes
setowner [tag] [state id]	Changes ownership of a state.	setowner GER 64	Use tdebug to find state IDs.
setcontroller [tag] [province id]	Changes controller of a province.	setcontroller GER 6521	Useful for border and occupation tests.
add_core [state id] [tag]	Adds a core state to a country.	add_core 64 GER	Can affect compliance, manpower, and claims.
remove_core [state id] [tag]	Removes a core state from a country.	remove_core 64 GER	Use carefully on active saves.
teleport [province id]	Teleports selected units.	teleport 6521	Select units first; tp may work as an alias.
moveunit [unit id] [province id]	Moves a specific unit.	moveunit 100 6521	Use debug info to find IDs.
spawn [unit] [province id] [amount]	Spawns units.	spawn infantry 6521 3	May require the -debug launch option.
deleteallunits [tag]	Deletes all units for a country.	deleteallunits SOV	Destructive. Use only on test saves.
nuke [amount]	Adds nuclear bombs.	nuke 10	You still need delivery conditions unless debug nuking is active.
debug_nuking	Allows nuking regardless of normal conditions.	debug_nuking	Run again to toggle.
fow [province id]	Toggles fog of war.	fow	Without an ID it toggles global fog of war.
weather	Toggles weather simulation.	weather	Useful for performance and combat tests.
reloadweather [seed]	Reloads and regenerates weather.	reloadweather	Mostly useful for testing.
mapnames	Toggles map names.	mapnames	Interface/debug command.
reloadinterface	Reloads the interface.	reloadinterface	Helpful when working on UI mods.
reloadtechnologies	Reloads the technology database.	reloadtechnologies	Used in mod testing.
updateequipments	Updates the equipment database.	updateequipments	Useful after equipment edits.
updatesubunits	Updates the subunit database.	updatesubunits	Useful after unit file edits.
run [file]	Runs commands from a file.	run test.txt	Useful for repeatable test scripts.
error	Prints errors from the log.	error	Useful after mod or script changes.

Focus, Decision, and Event Commands

Command	Effect	Example	Notes
event [event id] [tag]	Fires an event.	event germany.4 GER	Event IDs depend on game files and mods.
focus.autocomplete	Completes focuses instantly when clicked.	focus.autocomplete	Can affect AI if left on.
focus.nochecks	Ignores focus requirements.	focus.nochecks	Use with caution in focus trees.
focus.ignoreprerequisites	Ignores focus prerequisites.	focus.ignoreprerequisites	Can create invalid focus paths.
decision.nochecks	Ignores decision requirements.	decision.nochecks	Run again to turn it off.
trigger [scripted_trigger]	Tests a scripted trigger.	trigger my_trigger	Modding/debug use.
effect [scripted_effect]	Executes a scripted effect.	effect my_effect	Advanced use; confirm syntax first.
trigger_docs	Writes trigger and effect documentation to logs.	trigger_docs	Useful for modders.

HoI4 Debug Mode and IDs

The most important HoI4 helper command is tdebug. After you run it, hover countries, states, provinces, national spirits, focuses, technologies, and interface items to reveal internal IDs. These IDs are required for commands such as tag, setowner, setcontroller, event, add_ideas, and add_equipment.

For equipment commands, the visible name is often not the same as the internal ID. For example, infantry equipment commonly uses IDs such as infantry_equipment_1, while support equipment commonly uses support_equipment_1. If a command fails, check that the equipment is researched and that the ID matches your current version or mod.

HoI4 Console Troubleshooting

• The console will not open: confirm the save is not Ironman, then try the alternate keyboard shortcuts for your layout.
• A command does nothing: run help [command], check spelling, check required IDs, and confirm the command exists in your game version.
• add_equipment fails: research the equipment first or use the exact equipment ID from the game files.
• Instant construction helps the AI too: pause the game, run the command, queue your construction, then run the command again before unpausing.
• Your save behaves strangely after testing: reload a save from before the command or restart the game.

HoI4 Console Commands FAQ

Can you use HoI4 console commands in Ironman?

No. The console is intended for non-Ironman play. If you want achievements, use a clean Ironman save and do not use console commands.

What is the best HoI4 command for country tags and IDs?

Use tdebug. It turns on debug tooltips that reveal country tags, state IDs, province IDs, and many internal database names when you hover the relevant item.

How do you add political power in HoI4?

Open the console and type pp [amount]. For example, pp 500 adds 500 political power.

How do you add equipment in HoI4?

Use add_equipment [amount] [equipment id]. For example, add_equipment 10000 infantry_equipment_1 adds infantry equipment if that equipment is available in your current build and has been researched.

What command gives HoI4 manpower?

Use manpower [amount]. For example, manpower 1000000 adds one million manpower to your pool.

How do you research everything in HoI4?

Use research all. If you only want targeted research, use research_on_icon_click, click the technologies you want, then run the command again to turn it off.

Can HoI4 commands break a save?

Yes. Commands that change ownership, tags, wars, focuses, and technologies can create strange outcomes. Save first and test commands on a duplicate save.

Where should I go next?

Use the Console Commands hub for more cheat sheets, the HoI4 hub for Hearts of Iron IV guides, or compare this with the EU5 console commands list.