Rockstar Launcher stuck on update

[Shahvoudi]

I have been having this error since yesterday and I have already done everything. from reinstalling to changing DNS, disabling antivirus and firewall, everything!
I have contacted Rockstar support about three times and they seem to be unable to help.
here is the problem :
when I launch the game the Rockstar Lancher starts, then it goes to the updating page which is trying to get the latest version of Social Club when it fails and stuck on the update page. I can see in the address :
C:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Launcher\Redistributables\SocialClub
the file Social-Club-Setup.exe.swap has been created which means it is trying to download Social-Club-Setup.exe which is failing.
Can anyone upload the latest version of the social club on google drive or somewhere so I can place it there and fix the problem ?

[psykoteky]

The newest socialclubsetup I have in c / program files / rockstar games / launcher / redistributables.. matches the one in
steam / steamapps / common / gtav / redistributables

I'd straight up attempt to uninstall social club from
c / program files / rockstar games / social club if the uninstaller is there.
Delete the social club folder.
Manually install from the gta5 / redists folder installer (possibly as admin)

You should also be able to straight up delete the social club setup from the c / program files / rockstar games / launcher / redistributables folder and relaunching the launcher by itself should auto download (if R* isn't having issues). Just tested mine here and it worked without issue.

And hope you aren't having some other issue with my docs / rockstar games (rename -old), %appdata% / local / rockstar games (can also rename -old), lack of admin / permissions, c / programdata / rockstar games (can also rename -old) , onedrive, temp space, and on and on.

Many people screaming over on rdr2 about an error and some 'new' R* update -but certainly do not see it here. Have removed my launcher/social club, verified files, etc - and still comes back to the 1 / 23 / 2025 update.

and just because - https://ufile.io/wcl0llnq
social-club-setup - avail for 24 hours

/goodluck

[Shahvoudi]

you were right. the file didn't make any changes. I can't open the game. even when I reinstalled social club from Steamapps and again with the file you uploaded.
don't know what to do...

[Shahvoudi]

can you explain more about these :

And hope you aren't having some other issue with my docs / rockstar games (rename -old), %appdata% / local / rockstar games (can also rename -old), lack of admin / permissions, c / programdata / rockstar games (can also rename -old) , onedrive, temp space, and on and on.

[psykoteky]

*** edit - got back and did another test just to reconfirm the behavior on my end at least - knowing my end does work.... YMMV there.

Install R* launcher, uncheck at end to run it. DO NOT RUN IT.
Go to c / program files / rockstar games / launcher / redistributables
Create the 'socialclub' folder. Put the social-club-setup in it.
Then run the launcher.

On my end - it is not creating the .swap and redownloading the installer. Again, YMMV. I would certainly try this before reading all the rest (which is still valid).




Just smashing this out - got some things to go do. Likely missing/forgetting some things.

my docs / rockstar games is where the game, launcher, social club save info and could have access issues for various reasons causing a hang. Renaming 'wipes' all of that so it can 'cleanly' try to do what it needs.

%appdata% / local / rockstar games is just another folder similar to above 'with stuff'.

c / program data / rockstar games - again, same thing as above.

Lack of admin, installing/not as admin, running the installers, or apps themselves with rightclick run as admin - depending on pc setup - can cause issues with R* launcher, install process, writing files, etc. Same with permissions for said folders (hence renaming), Some users need to run the laucnher, or steam, or all, or none, as admin. Have to test.

onedrive can change default locations/cause the wrong locations to be updated, leaving the 'used' locations untouched, not saving settings, reverting them, etc. Only really important 'if' you are using onedrive, but don't have it on. If onedrive 'isn't installed' and certainly not being used - I definitely wouldn't turn it on like some people suggest. I don't have it on/installed and have had zero issues regarding that.

%temp% folder can sometimes have issues, become corrupt causing programs with social club installs in the past and may affect R* launcher, but that one is more outside the box thinking if your other things are checking out fine. Usually this is just changing the temp variable to a new folder to start from scratch but eh.

There's more like vcredists programs/corruption - also in the redistribs folder somewhere, hosts, antivirus/security or other 'internet' security apps/nonsense, and of course connectivity issues and what not. Changing dns of course doesn't guarantee that it will help. If you are able to use a different internet, isp, hotspot, or possibly even a vpn to get around that 'first install' download of social club - that might be all you need. In some cases - users on vpn may need to turn it off. Then of course the good old power modem/router of 5-10 miinutes and all that. There could even be regional issues but I digress.

In the past in relation to av/security - depending what is in use - that may not be enough to just disable. There's plenty of 3rd party av the years that disable did not fix it. Heck, even uninstalling didn't fix and required additional cleaning/tools to be rid of it. Or, running the av, and whitelist/exluding the various necessary game folders/folders. Even worse when you toss in a side of windows defender, and all its various options like mandatory aslr, controlled folder access blocking things, and other memory/exploit protection settings (that are usually default) --- causing odd issues when changed.

when I wipe my folder, and install social club, and then R* launcher - there is no redistribs / social club installer. Running the launcher creates the .swap once - and downloads the file. After that - it doesn't keep creating the .swap . Somewhere likely, the launcher believes it needs to be doing this as a 1 time/first launch update thing. Hence pointing at those other folder locations in case some of 'those' files aren't being updated. If you just 'reinstall' the launcher without uninstalling it and DO NOT RUN IT AT END OF INSTALL - it appears to be wiping the folders on this end. If I then 'create' the c / program files / rockstar games / launcher / redistributables / socialclub folder AND put the social-club setup exe in there BEFORE 'first launching' the R* launcher - it does not create the . swap. Likely a file comparison/version something somewhere.

Not willing to send 'those' various files but if you had a friend, or a 2nd laptop, pc, or in some user's cases you could just install the R* launcher/social club on a clean virtual pc/ box / install and if it works - then 'move' the files after the fact. Doesn't 'fix' the problem - but if it is some kind of connection issue, it could at least get it working.

As with most R* launcher / social club / gta5 problems - there are way.. way too many ways to have issues. Just kind of have to go through and narrow things down and rule them out. Sometimes repeatedly.

Again /goodluck - things to do, around later.
edit - \o/ yay walls.