Cheat Engine Guide: How to Use It

Cheat Engine is a free, open-source memory scanner and debugger that lets you modify single-player games by finding and changing values stored in RAM, such as health, ammo, or money. This guide explains how to install it, run your first scan, avoid common pitfalls, and stay safe while using it. You will learn the core workflow of attaching to a process, scanning for values, narrowing results, and writing new values back to memory.

Background: What Cheat Engine Actually Is

Cheat Engine was created by Eric Heijnen (known as Dark Byte) in the early 2000s as a tool for reverse engineering and game modification. It is not a single-purpose trainer; it is a full memory scanner that reads and writes the RAM of a running process. The software is legal to download and use, but its use may violate the terms of service of certain games, especially online multiplayer titles. The tool is designed for offline, single-player games, and using it in online matches can result in bans.

The program runs on Windows, with an experimental Linux build available. It requires administrator privileges to read and write kernel-level memory in some cases, though basic scanning works without them. The user interface has changed little over the years, so most tutorials from the last decade still apply to current versions.

How Cheat Engine Works: The Core Mechanics

At its heart, Cheat Engine works by scanning the memory space of a target process for a specific value you provide. When you enter a number like 100 (your health), the tool lists every memory address that currently holds that value. Then, when the value changes in the game (you take damage, health becomes 90), you do a “next scan” for 90, and the list shrinks to addresses that changed from 100 to 90. Repeating this process narrows the results to one or a few addresses, which you can then lock or modify.

Key features beyond basic scanning include:

• Pointer scanning: finds the base address of a value even when the game allocates new memory each launch.
• Code injection: lets you insert your own assembly instructions into the game’s code to alter behavior, such as making your character invincible.
• Speedhack: changes the speed at which the game’s internal timer runs, slowing or speeding gameplay.
• Memory view: a hex editor that displays raw bytes and disassembled code.

Step-by-Step: First Scan with Cheat Engine

Here is the standard workflow for changing a simple value in a single-player game:

1. Download Cheat Engine from the official website (cheatengine.org) and install it. Disable antivirus temporarily if the installer is flagged; the software is often falsely detected as malware because of its memory-editing nature.
2. Open the game you want to modify and note a value you can change, such as your character’s health or currency.
3. Launch Cheat Engine and click the Select a process icon (the computer monitor with a magnifying glass). Choose the game’s executable from the list.
4. Enter the current value in the “Value” box (e.g., 100), set the scan type to Exact Value and value type to 4 Bytes (most common), then click First Scan.
5. Change the value in the game (take damage, spend money). Enter the new value in Cheat Engine and click Next Scan.
6. Repeat step 5 until only one or a few addresses remain in the left panel.
7. Double-click the remaining address to add it to the bottom list. Double-click the “Value” column and type a new number, or check the “Active” box to freeze the value at a constant number.

If you get zero results, the value may be stored as a different type (float, double, or 8-byte integer). Try scanning with Float or Double for health bars that show decimals, or 8 Bytes for large numbers.

How to Choose the Right Scan Type

Cheat Engine offers several scan types, and using the wrong one is the most common reason a scan fails. The main types are:

• Exact Value: use when you know the precise number, like 50 coins.
• Bigger than / Smaller than: use when the value changes rapidly and you cannot type the exact new number; scan for “increased” or “decreased” instead.
• Changed / Unchanged: use when you want to find a value that changes (or stays the same) between scans, useful for finding flags or booleans.
• Unknown initial value: use when you have no idea what the starting number is; you then narrow by “changed” or “unchanged” repeatedly.

For health bars that display as a percentage (0-100), a 4-byte integer works. For values with decimals (e.g., 3.75 seconds cooldown), use Float or Double. For very large numbers (over 2 billion), use 8 Bytes.

Common Problems and Their Fixes

New users often hit a few predictable issues:

• Scan returns thousands of results that never narrow: you are likely scanning the wrong value type. Switch to Float or Double for fractional values, or use “Unknown initial value” and then “Changed” scans.
• Game crashes when you modify memory: you may have found a UI display value rather than the actual game variable. Freeze the value and see if the game logic responds; if not, scan again with a different type.
• Antivirus deletes the installer: Cheat Engine is frequently flagged as a “hack tool.” Add an exception in your antivirus, or use the portable version from the official site.
• Cannot find the process: run Cheat Engine as administrator, and ensure the game is not running in a protected mode (some anti-cheat systems hide processes).
• Value resets after restart: many games reallocate memory each launch. Use pointer scanning to find a static address, or simply redo the scan each session.

Cheat Engine vs. Trainers and Mods

Trainers are pre-made programs that modify memory with a single hotkey, but they are game-version specific and often become outdated after updates. Cheat Engine is more flexible because you can create your own scripts and save them as cheat tables (.CT files) that work across updates if you use pointers. Mods, on the other hand, alter game files directly (textures, models, code) and are more permanent but require the game to be moddable. Cheat Engine is the best choice when you want a quick, temporary change without modifying game files.

Safety, Legality, and Ethical Use

Cheat Engine is safe to download from the official site, but be cautious: many third-party download sites bundle adware or malware with the installer. Always verify the file hash if possible. Legally, using Cheat Engine on a single-player game you own is generally permissible, but it may breach the game’s EULA. Using it in online multiplayer is almost always prohibited and can lead to a permanent ban. Ethically, avoid using it in competitive games where it ruins the experience for others. Also, never use Cheat Engine on banking, shopping, or other sensitive software; it is a debugging tool and could cause data corruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cheat Engine a virus? No, the official version is not malware. However, because it can read and write memory, antivirus programs often flag it as a “hack tool.” Download only from the official site and whitelist it in your antivirus if needed.

Can I use Cheat Engine on any game? It works on most single-player Windows games, but not on games with strong anti-cheat systems like Vanguard or Easy Anti-Cheat, which may block the tool or ban you. It is not supported on consoles.

Why does my scan find no results? The value type is likely wrong. Try scanning with Float, Double, or 8 Bytes. Also ensure the game is the selected process and that you are typing the exact current value.

How do I save my cheats for later? After finding the correct address, right-click it and select “Add to the cheat table.” Then go to File > Save as and choose a .CT file. Load it later with File > Load.

What is a pointer and why do I need it? A pointer is a memory address that points to another address. Games often use dynamic addresses that change each launch. Pointer scanning finds the static base address so your cheat works every time.

Can I get banned for using Cheat Engine? In single-player games, no. In online games, yes—most anti-cheat systems detect memory modifications and issue permanent bans. Only use it offline.

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