Grand Theft Auto Launcher has stopped working

Here is a full guide on how you can fix the Grand Theft Auto Launcher has stopped working error on Windows 11/10 PC. Grand Theft Auto V or GTA V is an action-adventure game developed by Rockstar Games. It is quite popular among gaming enthusiasts. However, some gamers have reported experiencing the “Grand Theft Auto V Launcher has stopped working” error. While some users have encountered this error when launching the game, some experienced it when downloading an update. If you are one of those getting the same error, this post is for you. In this article, we will discuss multiple working fixes to resolve the error.

Before discussing the solutions, let us try to understand why this error occurs.

What causes GTA Launcher has stopped working?

These are the possible reasons for the GTA V Launcher has stopped working error:

• The problem might be with the corrupted installation of the Social Club application which triggers this error.
• Corrupted or missing GTA V game files can be another reason for this.
• Outdated graphics and sound drivers can also cause this error.
• In a few instances, using the Steam beta client can also result in this error.

How do I fix the GTA Launcher error?

You can fix the GTA V launcher has stopped working error by reinstalling the Social Club application, running the game in compatibility mode and with administrator privileges, verifying the integrity of game files on Steam, or updating your drivers. We have listed all these fixes below for your review.

Grand Theft Auto Launcher has stopped working

Here are the methods to try if you keep getting the “Grand Theft Auto V Launcher has stopped working” error:

1. Reinstall the Social Club application.
2. Run the game in Compatibility Mode and as an administrator.
3. Update your graphics and sound drivers.
4. Verify integrity of game files (for Steam users).
5. Opt-out of Steam Beta.
6. Reinstall the game.

Let us discuss the above solutions in detail now!

1] Reinstall the Social Club application

In a few instances, the problem may be caused by a corrupted installation of the Social Club application. You can try reinstalling the Social Club application to see if the issue is resolved. To do that, you will first have the uninstall the application. Simply open the Settings app using the Windows + I hotkey and go to the Apps > Apps & features section. Now, scroll down and locate the Rockstar Games Social Club application in the list. Select it, then click the Uninstall button to remove it. After that, ensure there are no remnants or leftovers from its installation. You can manually look for the Social Club folder at the following locations for the non-Steam installation:

C:\Users\<USERNAME>\Documents\Rockstar Games

C:\Program Files (x86)\Rockstar Games

C:\Program Files\Rockstar Games

Once you have finished deleting the files, download the latest version of the Social Club application from the official website. Then, install it on your PC. See, if you are able to launch and use GTA V properly now.

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2] Run the game in Compatibility Mode and as an administrator

You can also try running GTA V in compatibility mode for Windows 7 as it has proven to be effective for affected users. Other than Windows 7, you can also check with other versions of Windows and see if it helps you fix the “Grand Theft Auto V Launcher has stopped working” error. In addition to that, launching the game with administrative privilege may also help you get rid of the error. Here is how to do that:

1. Firstly, launch the Steam client, go to the Library menu, and then locate the GTA V in your list of games.
2. Now, right-click on the game, select the Properties option, go to the Local Files tab, and tap on the Browse Local Files option. This will open the game’s location on your system. You can also manually search for the game’s location in the File Manager.
3. Next, you need to click on the GTAV.exe file and choose the Properties option.
4. After that, navigate to the Compatibility tab in the Properties window and enable the checkbox called “Run this program in compatibility mode for” and then select Windows 7 or some other Windows version from the menu.
5. Then, select the “Run this program as an administrator” checkbox present under the Settings section.
6. Finally, press the Apply > OK button to save changes and try relaunching the game.

Hopefully, this method will help you get rid of the “Grand Theft Auto V Launcher has stopped working” error. If not, you can move ahead with the next potential fix.

Read: Fix Age of Empires Definitive Edition not launching or working.

3] Update your graphics and sound drivers

It is always essential to keep your graphics and other drivers up-to-date to get the best gaming experience. So, if you haven’t updated your graphics drivers and sound drivers, it is time to update them.

You can easily update your drivers via the Optional Updates feature present inside the Settings > Windows Update section. Additionally, you can visit the official website of the device manufacturer to obtain the latest driver versions. Or, use a free driver updater to automatically update your drivers.

After updating your drivers, relaunch GTA V and see if the error is fixed now.

4] Verify integrity of game files (for Steam users)

If you have purchased and installed GTA V through Steam, you can try checking and repairing corrupted or missing game files. Damaged or missing game files associated with the game installation might be a reason that you are getting the “Grand Theft Auto V Launcher has stopped working” error. Steam provides a nice feature that automatically scans and repair corrupted game files from their server. You can use it and see if it helps you fix the problem.

Here are the steps to verify the integrity of GTA V game files on Steam:

1. First, launch the Steam client and go to the Library menu.
2. Now, from the list of games, locate and select the GTA V game.
3. Next, right-click on the game and select the Properties option.
4. After that, go to the Local Files tab and press the Verify Integrity of Game Files button.
5. When the game verification process is complete, try relaunching GTA V, and hopefully, you won’t get the same error anymore.

Read: Grand Theft Auto 5 (GTA V) crashing on Windows PC.

5] Opt-out of Steam Beta

In the Steam Beta program, you get to enjoy the latest game updates before general users. However, it is unstable and may cause game crashes. Now, if you have opted into the Steam beta program, try opting out and see if the GTA V game runs fine. To do that, try the steps below:

1. Firstly, launch Steam and click the Steam option in the top-most menu bar.
2. Now, click Settings, then go to the Account tab.
3. Next, you will see a Beta participation option in the right-side panel. Simply tap on the Change button.
4. Then, click on the drop-down button present next to Beta participation.
5. After that, select the “NONE – Opt-out of all beta programs” option from the options that appear.
6. Finally, press the OK button and close the Settings window.

You can try relaunching GTA V and see if the error is fixed now.

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6] Reinstall the game

If none of the above solutions work for you, the last resort is to reinstall the game. Therefore, uninstall and then reinstall the game on your system.

The Social Club / Non-Steam users can easily uninstall GTA by using the Settings > Apps > Apps & features section. After removing the game, make sure you also delete the remnant files by going to this (default) location: C:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Grand Theft Auto V. When done, download the game from an official source and reinstall it on your system.

The Steam version users can follow the steps below to uninstall and then reinstall the GTA V game:

1. Firstly, open the Steam client and click the Library option from the menu bar.
2. Now, from your list of games, select GTA V, then right-click it.
3. After that, choose the Uninstall option to uninstall the game.
4. Next, you need to delete leftover files by going to this default location in File Explorer: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Grand Theft Auto V\
5. When done, search for the GTA V game on the Steam Store and install it back.

Note: The reasons behind the crashing of GTAVLauncher.exe may vary from person to version. The common causes of this error are damaged or corrupted game files, outdated drivers, problematic installation of the Social Club app, or DirectX version mismatch. It may also occur if you are using Steam’s Beta participation feature.

Hope this helps!

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