GTA V not launching

[knawtilus]

I guess there are quite a few other people like me who also face the same problem as me. When I first downloaded the game, I first got an error signing in to Rockstar Launcher. When I crossed that hurdle, the game's ".exe" file wouldn't run. Somehow got through that too. But the game still doesn't want to start and this time Steam tells me there is one instance of the game already running due to which it cant load again.
I'm just a regular bloke here trying to enjoy a game that I've been wanting to play since a long time but fate seems to want to play games with me . Some help would be heaven-sent!

[Soosmokie]

https://socialclub.rockstargames.com/rockstar-games-launcher
to start, try reinstalling the launcher , then verify game files in steam. try and report back

[knawtilus]

I've already tried that before. These are the steps I've taken so far to try and navigate the issue :
1. Uninstalled the game and reinstalled it - didn't help.
2. Installed the Rockstar Launcher separately after deleting and reinstalling the game for the second time - still didn't help.
3. Kept everything as is and tried to verify file data - all checked out but the game still didn't work.
4. Accessed the Youtube library for help and tried various methods: a) running steam and GTA both as admin - but then steam wouldn't launch so had to abandon that idea. b) using a VPN hotspot shield - that solved the problem of not being able to sign in to rockstar social club, but the game still doesn't launch.
When I try to start the game(be it from steam or the Rockstar launcher), a message pops up asking if I want to allow the app to make changes, I click on Yes and then nothing happens.
The "Play on Steam" button on the Rockstar launcher goes grey for a few seconds as if some command is being executed in the background and then reverts back to its original state. The game never starts.

[Lunarus( ͡° ᴥ ͡° )]

same, it wont launch at all and the rockstar launcher is constantly loading. Been trying to launch it since yesterday

[psykoteky]

@op -There are many things that can screw up the startup of gtav - as you can see. There are many 'fixes' that can also screw up the startup of gtav depending on your setup. You had other issues (including needing to use a vpn to get through at least one), that you appear to have fumbled through, and depending how you did that - could of made things even worse too.

Why exactly is steam not starting as admin? That is one of the common/big ones related to gtav having issues. When you run it as admin, it may through up a box complaining, you can checkmark it to never show again and continue. Some users can get by with just steam set to run as admin. Others, may also need gta5.exe, and even others... may also need the R* launcher, and social club exe's too.

Then there are potential issues with vcredists (and their install), directx(corrupt/incorrect or missing files can also cause 'launch' issues), onedrive, controlled folder access if enabled, realtime av/security (possibly whitelist/exclusions), windows N/KN versions missing media feature packs (or adding 'those' files/wrong versions - which can cause the game to hang on startup), gpu drivers, usb devices, background programs, connectivity, and more.

Kind of need more details, on what exactly you did to 'get through' the other errors. The my documents / rockstar games / launcher / launcher.log may also give more info to your problem (it is large - preferably you use pastebin.com to put a link of it up). Else, you are back to ruling out the common issues.

Barring giving anymore details - there is also more info in the link below in relation to 'gtav already running' / game running for 2 seconds, etc - info I've used to fix hundreds of instances of these issues -
https://steamcommunity.com/groups/psyshelp/discussions/3/3055112985302542606/

[knawtilus]

I get what you say, there could be multiple reasons however I doubt it is a problem with something being corrupt or missing. My computer is brand new(just 30 days old now). Hence, all drivers by that thought are already up to date.
To be frank, when you speak of realtime av/whitelist/pastebin.com, I dont know what you're talking about. I may know a little of what I'm doing, but its still just a mere drop in the ocean, so we're already on different pages there. But it doesn't sound like something I'd do/take a chance without having spoken with a friend first.
I feel like pointing out that all other games I've downloaded (including steam, xbox app and ea lay store) have been running quite smoothly. It's just this one that has been giving me grief.

[psykoteky]

This one game has given many people grief since release. (and by that - I mean we also blame the game for issues created by - antivirus/security, os updates, driver updates, program updates, permissions/security, virus/malware, usb problems, overlay problems, background program problems, connectivity/updates issues, missing requirements like directx/vcredist or media feature pack if on N/KN (and all that infers), etc etc - not that R* isn't at fault, but they aren't the only ones). And, all of this while everything else on the system may work perfectly.

The computer being 'new' - means nothing in the grand scheme (unless a fresh format 30 minutes ago and only had steam/gtav installed.. and even then but I digress). We don't know anything at all that has happened on that pc (not blaming, just saying). Details details.

[knawtilus]

@lunarus - if you want you could try using a hotspot shield in order to get it to go further ahead. Only that is what worked for me. I was then able to sign in on my Social Club account and I dont require it to sign in anymore. But I'm no expert; just saying what worked for me
And it still doesnt allow me to start the game. Only cross the first step is all.

[Lunarus( ͡° ᴥ ͡° )]

No clue how to do that, I don't even know what the problem is cuz there is no error or anything. It just wont launch, it says it's running on steam but the app doesn't open and it's not even visible in task manager only the rockstar app. I don't have the brain power to try and fix this lmao

[knawtilus]

When you say details I'm assuming you want to know the components of my pc?
Also - is there any way i could send a message to you with those details instead of conversing here?

[brian5]

I have the same problem, but only on this my new system, GTA V launches and plays absolutely fine on my Laptop which is an Asus TUF Dash F15 Core i7 8GB 512GB SSD RTX 3060 15.6" Home Gaming Laptop which has been updated to Windows 11, it also played ok on my Old PC, which was a 9 year old i5 , with a GTX Titan.
It won't launch on my new system, which is a, less than a week old, AlphaSync iCUE RTX 3090 Core i9 12th Gen 32GB RAM 1TB SSD Gaming Desktop PC running the latest Windows 11, all drivers, and windows are up to date, I have added a second 1TB SSD, all Steam Games are installed on the second (D:) drive, ALL other steam games run fine, just GTA V, I have installed and uninstalled GTA V, Steam, Rockstar Launcher, I have ran all 3 as Administrator, all 3 in Compatibility mode in Windows 8, I have even been on a chat setup with "Jason" from Rockstar games, who talked me through the usual suspects, then after following some more leads, and a reboot of the system, I lost both the chat, and him.
I have spent literally DAYS trying to get this fixed, and nothing has worked so far.
Very strange that it's just this machine, and that it works fine on the laptop, which is less than a year old, and on a 9 year old system. The only thing I can see that's different is the Windows 11 setup, Laptop came with Windows 10, and has been updated to Windows 11, the PC came with a fresh Windows 11 setup.

[Croc]

So i have the same problem but how do i reinstall the launcher and where is it.

[ErnurWolf]

it just started today for me , i get a black screen with a rainbow light blurry in the middle for 3-5 minutes then game crashes . pc is fine over kill on the pc specs for gta v .

[brian5]

On your PC, go to control panel, uninstall a program, search down that list and you will see Rockstar Launcher and Rockstar Social Club.
Try uninstalling both, then try to start GTA V in Steam and it "should" download and install both programs itself, if it doesn't, just head over to rockstar games website and download the launcher from there, and THAT should automatically download and install social club too.

[brian5]

3-5 minutes?, lucky you, I click the green Play Icon, it immediately changes to a Blue Stop Icon, then within 5 seconds it just goes right back to the Green Play icon.

[Lunarus( ͡° ᴥ ͡° )]

my button doesn't even change it just stays on stop but it "GTAV.exe" doesn't show up in task manager the only way to make it go back to green is to close the rockstar launcher in task manager because clicking the "x" on the window does nothing I can't even minimize the rockstar launcher window.