Having issues getting Grand Theft Auto V to launch? You’re not alone. Many players report problems with GTA V not opening or crashing on launch. In this guide, I’ll walk you through some troubleshooting steps to get GTA V working again.
Step 1: Exclude GTA V Folders from Antivirus Scans
One common culprit for launch issues is your antivirus program. The antimalware software can sometimes falsely detect game files as a threat and block them from running.
To prevent this, we need to exclude the GTA V folders from scanning:
- Open Windows Security settings
- Go to Virus & Threat Protection > Virus & Threat Protection Settings > Manage Settings
- Scroll down and click “Add or Remove Exclusions”
- Click “Add an Exclusion” > Folder
- Navigate to your Rockstar Games/GTA V installation folder (usually in Program Files), select it, and click “Select Folder
This will stop your antivirus from scanning the GTA V files and potentially blocking the game.
Step 2: Update Graphics Drivers
Outdated graphics drivers can also cause launch crashes and failures. Go to your graphics card manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel etc.) and download+install the latest GPU drivers. This will help with compatibility and stability for modern games like GTA V.
Step 3: Validate Game Files
If the game still doesn’t open, validate your game files through Steam or the Rockstar Games Launcher. This scans for missing or corrupted files and re-downloads them to fix problems.
Open your game library in the launcher, find GTA V, and look for the “Validate” or “Verify Integrity” option. Let this process run – it may take a while. When finished, try launching again.
Step 4: Reinstall the Game
If you still have no luck, the nuclear option is to completely reinstall GTA V. This wipes and re-downloads fresh files in case there is an irreparable issue.
Follow standard uninstall procedures through Windows Settings or Control Panel. Then install again through your storefront of choice. With clean files, the game should work again!
I hope this guide helps get your GTA V running smoothly once more! Let me know in the comments if you have any other issues or questions. Happy gaming!
