Can you play gta online and story mode simultaneously?

GTA Online and GTA Story Mode operate as separate game sessions within Grand Theft Auto V. To access GTA Online, you must first be in the single-player Story Mode, where you can then 'join GTA Online' from the pause menu. Starting or joining GTA Online automatically logs you out of Story Mode, and vice versa. This means you cannot have both modes running at the same time, even on different devices or accounts. Progress in GTA Online (such as character level, money, and missions) exists independently from Story Mode, so switching between them is a session change, not a simultaneous experience. This design is consistent across all versions of GTA V, including PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms.