You're standing on a sun-scorched sidewalk in Los Santos, playing as Franklin, and suddenly the map looks... empty. No letters, no icons, just a bunch of overpriced clothing stores and a car wash. It’s frustrating. You want to move the story forward, but the game seems to have hit a wall. Honestly, getting missions in GTA 5 isn't always as straightforward as walking up to a yellow marker and pressing a button. Rockstar Games designed this world to be reactive, which means sometimes the next beat of the story is gated behind a character switch or a specific phone call you haven't triggered yet.
Most people think the game is glitched. It's usually not. Usually, you’ve just missed a text message from Lester or forgotten that Michael is currently "laying low" while Trevor handles some business in Sandy Shores.
The Character Switch is the Real Key
If you see a number on the character wheel when you hold down the D-pad (or Alt on PC), that is your biggest clue. That number tells you exactly how many missions are available for that specific person. If Franklin has a "0" and Michael has a "2," stop driving around as Franklin. Switch to Michael.
Sometimes, the game requires all three protagonists to be in a certain state before the next big heist or "B" (Bureau) mission appears. For example, after the "Blitz Play" setup, you might find yourself wandering aimlessly. The game is waiting for you to complete the peripheral tasks. Check your map for "Hs." Those are heist setups. You can't rob the Union Depository if you haven't stolen the getaway van yet, right?
It’s also worth noting that some missions only trigger at specific times of day. If you're looking for a Strangers and Freaks encounter—those orange or green question marks—some of them are night-owls. Try finding a bed, saving the game to advance time by 6 or 8 hours, and seeing if the icon pops up on your radar.
Understanding the Map Icons and Colors
GTA 5 uses a color-coded system that most players ignore until they’re stuck. Green is Franklin. Blue is Michael. Orange is Trevor. If you see a giant "M" on the map but it’s blue, and you’re playing as Trevor, you can drive there all you want—nothing will happen. You have to be the right guy for the job.
Why Strangers and Freaks Matter
Don't ignore the question marks. While many of these are "side" content, some are actually required for 100% completion and can even bridge the gap between main story beats. Dom’s skydiving missions or Mary-Ann’s rage-filled triathlons might seem like distractions, but they populate the world.
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If you're wondering how to get missions in GTA 5 involving the property management side, you have to actually buy the businesses first. Once you buy the McKenzie Field Hangar as Trevor, missions start appearing there. They aren't "story" missions in the traditional sense, but they are the meat of the gameplay for many.
The "Stuck at 90%" Problem: The Phone is Your Friend
I’ve seen dozens of forum posts where players swear their game is broken because no more missions are showing up. 9 times out of 10, the player has a pending text message or an unread email in their in-game phone. Open it up. Check your "Brief" tab in the pause menu.
Sometimes, a mission requires you to wait for a phone call. This isn't instant. You might need to drive around for five or ten minutes of real-world time. Don't just stand still; the game’s internal clock and script triggers often rely on you moving through the world or completing a minor activity. Go to a barbershop. Get a tattoo. Usually, as soon as you step out of the shop, your phone will buzz with a call from Lester or Lamar.
The Heist Setup Bottleneck
The biggest "bottleneck" in the game occurs during heist preparations. If you’ve chosen a specific approach—like the "Silent and Sneaky" route for a job—you have to go out and find the equipment. If you don't see a mission marker, check your text messages. Lester often sends a "Go find a 4-door car and hide it in a discreet location" message. The game won't give you a waypoint for this. You have to find the car yourself, park it in an alley, and then use the phone to "Mark Getaway Location." Until you do that, the next main mission icon won't appear.
GTA Online: A Whole Different Animal
Now, if you're talking about how to get missions in GTA 5 Online, the rules change completely. In Online, missions are more about your rank and your properties.
- The Job List: Open your phone, hit the middle icon. This is your "Quick Job" or "Job List." Contacts like Gerald, Ron, and Martin Madrazo will send you invites here.
- The Pause Menu: You don't have to wait for a call. Go to Online > Jobs > Play Job > Rockstar Created > Missions. You can launch almost any contact mission from here as long as you meet the level requirement.
- Properties: To get the "big" missions—Heists, Contract work, or Drug Wars—you need the real estate. You want the Dr. Dre missions? You need an Agency. You want the Cluckin' Bell Farm Raid? Wait for a call from Vincent (this one is actually free and doesn't require a property).
The Infamous "Epsilon" and Long-Term Tasks
Some missions are deeply hidden. The Epsilon Program missions for Michael start on the in-game internet. You have to go to the "Epsilon Program" website, take a "Life Evaluation," and then wait. Eventually, a question mark appears in the canyon. This is a multi-step process that involves donating money and wearing a specific outfit for ten in-game days. It’s tedious. It’s weird. But it’s a series of missions nonetheless.
If you’re hunting for the "Last One" (the Bigfoot mission), you need 100% game completion first. It won't just "show up" because you finished the story. You have to do the stunt jumps, the under-the-bridge flights, and the collectibles.
Troubleshooting Missing Missions
If you've tried switching characters, checked your texts, and advanced the time, but the map is still empty, try these specific fixes:
- Force a Save: Pull out the phone, use "Quick Save," then immediately reload that save. This often forces the game script to "check" if a mission should be active.
- Check the Tonya Missions: For Franklin, the "Pulling Favors" (tow truck) missions are sometimes required to progress. If you ignored her, go back to the green "T?" near Franklin’s old house.
- The "Taxi" Trick: Sometimes calling a taxi and skipping the trip to a destination can "wake up" the game's mission handler. It’s an old speedrunner trick.
Actionable Next Steps to Resume Your Story
To get your game moving right now, follow this sequence. First, hold the character switch button and look for numbers next to the portraits; if any character has a number, switch to them immediately and check the map for their specific color. Second, open your phone and scroll through every single unread text message—specifically look for ones from Lester, Ron, or "Unknown" that ask you to find a vehicle or a specific item. Third, if no icons appear, go to Michael’s house and sleep for two full cycles to advance the game clock by 24 hours. This usually triggers any "time-delayed" phone calls that are holding up the narrative. Finally, check your "Brief" log in the pause menu under "Info" to see the last conversation you had; it usually contains the literal instructions for what to do next if the map icon is missing.