GTA V Not Launching or Opening on Windows

If GTA V isn’t launching or opening, it can really mess up your day. We understand how frustrating this can be.

Here is a complete guide on how to fix the issue when the game is not launching. So, let’s get started and solve the problem.

Why is Grand Theft Auto V Not Launching?

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Here are some common reasons why GTA is not launching:

Lack of Administrative privileges – Sometimes, certain game files need elevated permissions to run properly.
Outdated or incompatible graphics drivers – Outdated or incompatible graphics drivers can cause issues.

Corrupted or missing game files – These corrupted or missing game files can prevent the game from launching.
Firewall or Antivirus – Sometimes, antivirus software can interfere with game files. Temporarily disable your antivirus and try launching the game.

What To Do If GTA V Is Not Launching Or Opening?

Now follow the methods below when GTA is not launching or opening to fix the issue.

1. Rename the Rockstar Games Folder

When GTA V is not launching or opening rename the Rockstar Game Folder. Follow the steps to do so:

Find the Rockstar Games folder. It is usually in Documents by default.
Select the folder without opening it.

Click on the name or right-click to reveal the “rename” option. There should only be one folder if you have this issue.
Rename the Rockstar Games folder to “Rockstar Games1”, or “Rockstar Games2”.
Launch the game via Rockstar Game Launcher just to make sure. You can try using a game launcher like Steam or Epic Games to launch it, as well.

2. Run the Game and the Game Client as Administrator

Next, you can provide administrative privileges to GTA V to run on Windows 11. Here is how to do that:

Go to the GTA V game installation folder.
Open the “Redistributables” folder.

Right-click on the Social Club setup file and select “Run as administrator.”

Follow the installation instructions: click “Next,” accept the license agreement, and click “Install.”

Wait for the installation process to complete.

3. Restart the Game and Your PC

When you cannot launch the game on your PC, restart your computer. This can fix minor bugs and glitches that can be responsible for the issue. Follow the steps to do so:

Ctrl + Shift + Del to launch Task Manager.

Go to the Processes tab and right-click on the game.
Select the End task option to close all the processes related to the game and Steam.

Now restart your PC. Once your system restarts, try launching the game.

4. Re-install Rockstar Games Social Club

The next thing you can do is reinstall Rockstar Games Social Club. Follow these steps to do so:

Type Control Panel in the Windows search box and click on the first option.

Set View by to small or large icons.
Click on Programs and Features and find Rockstar Games Social Club.
Right-click on it and select Uninstall. Click on Yes to confirm.

Wait until the app is uninstalled.
Now, go to the GTAV game installation folder.

Open the Redistributables folder.
Right-click on the Social Club setup file and select Run as administrator.
Follow the installation prompts.

Click Next.
Accept the license agreement and click Install.

Wait for the installation to complete.

5. Add the Game to the Exclusion List

Another potential cause of this issue could be firewall interference. So, you can check that by allowing the game through Firewall and your antivirus program. You can also disable Firewall temporarily but that is not recommended.

Here we are showing how to allow the game through Windows Security:

Open the Windows Security app using the Search Menu.
Now, click on the Firewall and network protection option.
After that, tap on the ‘Allow an app through firewall’ option from the right-side pane and then press the Change settings button.

Next, click on the Allow another app button and then press the Browse button to select the game exe file or Steam exe file.

Click on ‘Open’ and then click on the ‘Add’ button.
You will now see the game under the list of Allowed apps and features.
Check the box associated with the game or Steam and enable it on both Public and Private networks.

Once done, you can press the OK button to save changes.

Finally, you can re-launch the game file and check if it is loading properly.

6. Launch GTA from the Installation Folder

Sometimes launching the game from the game launcher can cause the game to crash or freeze.

So, launch the game from the game installation folder.

Follow these steps to do so:

Open Steam and right-click on the game.
Go to Properties.
Select Installed Files and click on Browse.

This should take you to the game installation folder.
Try launching the game from here.

7. Verify The Game Files

Missing or corrupted game files can also cause crashing or freezing issues while playing GTA. So, verify the game files.

Here is how you can verify the integrity of the game files from the Steam platform.

Head to Steam or the game installation file.
Right-click on the game and open its Properties.

Go to the Installed Files tab and click on the Verify the Integrity of the Game files option.

Wait till Steam verifies the game files and download the missing file or fix the corrupted game files. Once done launch the game and check.

8. Update Graphics Drivers and Run The Game On The Dedicated Graphics Card

Make sure to update the device drivers, especially the graphics drivers before you start gaming. This should help you avoid issues while gaming and boost your gaming experience.

Here is how you can update your graphics drivers:

Open Device Manager using Windows Search.

Go to the Display Adapters section and expand it.
Right-click on your Graphics driver and choose Update Driver option.

From the next window, select the Search Automatically for Drivers option.
Follow the onscreen instructions to download and install the latest driver.
You can also visit the official websites of your Graphics Card manufacturer to update your graphics drivers.

Here are the website links:

https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/drivers/

https://www.amd.com/en/support

Now, download the latest drivers for the graphics card installed on your computer from these websites. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the driver installation process.
Once done, restart your PC.
When the device restarts, open the app again to check for updates.

Download and install the available updates. You can follow this guide to learn how to update NVIDIA Graphics drivers.
If you have multiple GPUs for your computer, then make sure you use the one exclusively for gaming. This ensures a better gaming experience.
So, using the dedicated GPU for gaming can avoid issues while playing games like GTA.

Here is how you can check if you’re running the dedicated graphics card. However, this depends upon your operating system and the graphics card you are using.
Open Device Manager.
Expand the Display Adapters section.

Here you will find the two adapters – one for your dedicated graphics card and the integrated graphics card.
The dedicated graphics card should have a longer and more specific name than the integrated one.
The dedicated graphics card may also have a higher memory size listed. So, run the game with the dedicated graphics card.

9. Install The Correct Version Of Direct X

Many games, including GTA, require a specific version of Direct X to run properly.

If you have an outdated or incompatible version, it will cause issues.

The latest version of DirectX ensures the game’s improved performance.

Search “DirectX runtime download” on Google and open the first result from Microsoft.com.
Select the installer language you prefer and click on Download.

Wait for the Download to finish & then run the installer.
Complete the installation and wait for the installation to finish.
After the installation completes, restart your PC.

10. Install Visual C++ Redistributable

Installing Visual C++ redistributable can be helpful while playing GTA since it includes a set of libraries that helps the game rely on and function normally.
If these libraries are missing or outdated, it leads to loading screen issues.
To install Visual C++ Redistributable, search for Visual C++ redistributable in Google.

Click on the first link of Microsoft.com.
Download the recently available Visual C++ redistributable.
Ensure you download for the correct architecture, like x64 for 64-bit systems and x86 for 32-bit systems.

Install the downloaded file and restart your PC.

Wrapping Up

So, there you have it! Hope the methods given here, could fix the issue when GTAV is not launching. If you have further queries, please turn up in the comments section provided below and we shall revert ASAP. We are always eager to hear back from you.