For those having issues with the Launcher stating it's already running -- Some tips

[Biff Timeline Casaulty]

Hi all,

After chatting with Rockstar for way too long this morning about this stupid launcher not working because it says it's already running, here's what finally made it work for me. Maybe it will help you too!

This is what support had me do:
1. Delete ALL instances of the RS Launcher folder (mine was in two places in the program files--Rockstar folder and also in Steam game directory, yours might be different location).
2. Delete GTA.exe and GTALauncher.exe from Steam GTA V game directory.
3. Verify all game files via Steam. Mine reported two files to redownload and did that.
4. Set the RS Launcher to open as an administrator.
5. I think this is the most important takeaway that got it finally to work:
a. Make sure Steam is NOT running and completely shutdown.
b. Right click on the Launcher in the Program Files --- Rockstar folder and run
*as an admin (they told me that you may not have to run as an admin always but first attempt try this to see if you have any 3rd party conflicts possibly).
c. Click Play on Steam on the Launcher and wait for Steam to open.

Only then was I able to load and play the game successfully.

Some additional notes: If you don't see the online selection at first in GTA main game interface, load the Story mode and then choose onine via the tab in Story mode. This happened to me. Once I loaded the online via Story, it was in the main interface to select, though I always load story first b/c it seems faster to go online this way.

Again, the huge take away for me was making sure Steam was completely closed and then launching the game from the RS Launcher. I know, I know, ridiculous but until or if RS fixes their stupid launcher this is how it works.

I hope this information helps some of you out there with the launcher issue b/c it took me forever to troubleshoot this issue.

Part of chat transcript:
Agent:[9/19/19 12:47:44 PM]Please launch only the Launcher as administrator
me:[9/19/19 12:48:09 PM]k, will I have to do this everytime now? open before Steam and as an admin?
Agent:[9/19/19 12:49:40 PM]Yes, before Steam and I am just requesting the admin rights as there should not be any other issue
Agent:[9/19/19 12:50:16 PM]Make sure Steam is not running in the background while you launch the game
me:[9/19/19 12:50:21 PM]I think this is very important information everyone should know b/c most people b4 the launcher used Steam to initiate a session
me:[9/19/19 12:50:28 PM]k, Launcher is open
Agent:[9/19/19 12:51:01 PM]Please pass this on to your Steam discussion groups as this will help other players as well

[LEE]

Thank you for this

[joeyeaglex]

it is a real ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. I paid this game and because of RS launcher I dont wanna deal this actions, aye?

[Mr.McCloud]

It did help, thanks a ton!

[Biff Timeline Casaulty]

No problem, so sad that RS didn't see fit to tell everyone this on their own. Glad to help!

[Bunny]

this launcher is their mess and they arent helping to fix it. great job rockstar

[Yevgi]

Спасибо тебе огромное!

[Bunny]

Originally posted by Mr. McCloud:

It did help, thanks a ton!

Welp didnt work for me, did absolutely nothing, spent the past hr doing this and nothing. The launcher still wont launch. I hope rockstar has a fix cuz this is some BS

[BlueSkiLLz]

Originally posted by Ice:

Originally posted by Mr. McCloud:

It did help, thanks a ton!

Welp didnt work for me, did absolutely nothing, spent the past hr doing this and nothing. The launcher still wont launch. I hope rockstar has a fix cuz this is some BS

Close the steam after you enter on launcher and click play on steam, wait and after that is work... for me only this work

[Siozen]

What a nuisance. Thanks for the run as admin tip. I hadn't thought of that after multiple errors on running the launcher install. My version isn't even via Steam and they're having problems. It finally worked, crashed after saying it had installed. Then the launcher only worked after installing Visual C++ redistributable file twice.

[Bunny]

Thanks i was finally able to get the game working with some messing around but i still cant launch the launcher to launch any thing from there or download the free san andreas copy

[DearFriend turn away frm ur Sins]

Before fixing if you want to open manually

Open steam - Let the RS Launcher open - Open GTA Launcher.exe - If fails - Click on Retry - Game is ON

[RecklessJay]

Im having the issue where my KEY is not working. "Rockstar Activation code already in use" any issues there??

[joeyeaglex]

Run RS game launcher as admin; steam should not be open, and play game. Since yesterday I have been plyaing like this.

[Forsaken]

Great gonna have to switch to a pirated version for this game now too. Last rockstar game I'm buying, had enough of this BS launcher crap that don't work.
At least the other version won't have these issue's they just work.

[Bunny]

It seems noone is understandting my problem, not even rockstar support
I can play gta but cant open the launcher
i cant open it or do anything with the launcher but can still play gta 5