Fix GTA 5 Enhanced Can’t Start Issue

Grand Theft Auto 5 or GTA 5 has received a whole new “Enhanced Edition”. It is a recent update in GTA 5 that adds improved graphics, new content, and stability enhancements. However, like any other GTA series, the Enhanced update is also not free from multiple bugs and errors. One of the common issues we found is that the game cannot start. If you are also suffering from the same issue, this guide has covered all possible solutions to resolve it.

How to Fix GTA 5 Enhanced Can’t Start Issue

According to reports, when players start a new mode in the Enhanced Version of GTA 5, the game starts crashing immediately. Thankfully, this issue can be fixed and here we will show you what steps you should take to resolve it.

1. Disable BattleEye

One of the first solutions shared by several players is to disable BattleEye. If you have no idea about it, BattleEye is an anti-cheat service used in GTA Online. However, many players report that it causes crashes while playing the game. Here is how to disable it.

1. Open the Rockstar Games Launcher
2. Go to Settings and find GTA V in the list
3. Look for an option related to BattleEye and disable it
4. If you cannot see an option to disable it, go to the game’s installation folder:
5. Default location: C:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\GTA V
6. Find the BattleEye folder and rename it (e.g., BattleEye_backup)
7. Once done, reboot your PC and try relaunching the game.

2. Run Game as Administrator

At times, the game requires certain permissions to run smoothly on your device. Here is how to provide administrator privileges to the game.

1. Go to the folder where the game is installed on your system (C:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\GTA V (or wherever it’s installed)
2. Find PlayGTAV.exe and right-click on it
3. Select Run as Administrator and check if the issue is resolved.
4. If this works, make it permanent:
5. Right-click PlayGTAV.exe >> Click Properties
6. Go to the Compatibility tab
7. Check Run this program as an administrator
8. Click on Apply 
9. Now, relaunch the game and check if it worked.

3. Try Launching Older Version First

Some players can’t start the game by launching an older version of GTA 5 before switching to the Enhanced Edition. Here is how you can do it:

1. If you have access to an older version of GTA 5, launch it first
2. Play for a few minutes and then exit the game
3. Now, try launching GTA V Enhanced Edition.

This might seem like a weird solution but worked for a few players so it might work for you too.

4. Move Rockstar Launcher Installation

If the above solutions don’t work then try moving the location of the Rockstar Launcher installation. Some users reported that changing the installation location can help to fix the issue. Here is how to do it:

1. Close the game completely
2. Open File Explorer and go to: 
3. C:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\
4. Cut the Rockstar Games Launcher folder and paste it to some other location
5. Then, reboot your PC
6. At last, run Rockstar Games Launcher from the new location and try launching the game.

5. Repair Game Files

Any missing or corrupted game files can be the root cause of this issue. So, try this classic solution to repair the game files. Here is how you can do it through Steam and Epic Games Launcher.

On Steam: Go to Steam Library >> Right-click on the game >> Properties >> Local Files >> Verify integrity of game files. Once the scanning process is done, relaunch the game.

On Epic Games Launcher: Open Epic Games Launcher >> Library >> Click on the three dots next to the game >> Click on Verify. Once the scanning process is done, relaunch the game.

6. Disable Antivirus or VPN

Some antivirus programs or VPNs interfere with the smooth function of the game. So, some players suggest disabling them can help to get into the game without the crashing issues.

7. Update or Downgrade GPU Drivers

Sometimes, new game updates may require updated GPU drivers, or sometimes a previous version works better. If your system has an older version, you might face several issues and errors with the game. So, try updating or downgrading GPU drivers. Here is how to do it:

Updating GPU Drivers:

1. Open Device Manager on your PC’s Settings
2. Expand Display Adapters
3. Right-click on your GPU (NVIDIA or AMD) >> Click Update Driver
4. Select Search automatically for updated driver software
5. Once updated, reboot your PC, and relaunch the game.

Rolling Back GPU Drivers:

1. Go to Device Manager
2. Expand Display Adapters
3. Right-click on your GPU >> Click Properties
4. Go to the Driver tab >> Click Roll Back Driver (if available)
5. Reboot your PC.

8. Delete Settings.xml File 

Just in case, if your previous settings are causing this issue then try deleting the settings.xml file. This will reset everything to default. Here is how you can do it.

1. Open File Explorer
2. Go to Documents >> Rockstar Games >> GTA 5
3. Find settings.xml and delete it
4. If you have a GTA5 Enhanced folder, open it and delete the settings.xml there too.
5. Reboot your PC and relaunch the game.

9. Change Language Settings in Rockstar Launcher

Some players suggest that switching the game’s language can help to fix the problem. This will force an update and fix their game crashing issue. Follow the below steps to do this:

1. Open Rockstar Games Launcher
2. Go to Settings
3. Find the game and change the language to something different like German or Spanish.
4. Wait for the update process to start
5. Once done, switch back to your preferred language
6. At last, restart the launcher and try relaunching the game.

10. Check for Windows Key Interference

Sometimes, it happens that the Windows key on your keyboard activates accidentally while you are using any other program. This is a common problem and occurs in most online games. This action can cause the game to crash. Here are the steps to disable it.

1. Open the Rockstar Games Launcher
2. Go to Settings >> General
3. Find the option Disable Windows Key and enable it
4. Save changes and relaunch the game.

11. Lowering Graphics Settings Before Launching

If your game is still crashing instantly after launching the game, it could be due to high graphics settings overloading your VRAM. To fix it, try lowering it and check if the issue is resolved. For this, go to in-game Settings >> Graphics and lower texture quality, shadows, and resolution. After doing it, save the settings and relaunch the game.

12. Disabling Discord Overlay

If you are using Discord, then it might cause the game crashing issue because sometimes, Discord interferes with the function of the game and so, disabling it might help to fix the game crashing issues. Follow the below steps to do that:

1. Open Discord
2. Click User Settings
3. Scroll down to Game Overlay
4. Turn off “Enable in-game overlay“
5. Once done, make sure to reboot your PC and try relaunching the game.

13. Close Unnecessary Background Applications and Programs

Some background applications and programs like MSI Afterburner, RTSS, NZXT Cam, Overwolf, GeForce Experience, etc. can interfere with online games including GTA 5. So, close all of them from the background process and then relaunch the game. You can do this from the Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), select the app one by one, right-click on it, and select End Task.

14. Removing Mods or Plugins

Just in case you are using any mods or plugins to enhance the gaming experience, they might cause the game to crash. So, try removing such things from the folder where the game is installed on your PC. You can also try renaming it once and check if the issue is resolved.

15. Reinstall the Game

Many players suggest that uninstalling the game completely from the device and then reinstalling it can be a big help to fix the issue. So, give it a try. The clean installation of the game will also help to fix any corrupted game files.

That’s all for this guide on how to fix the GTA 5 Enhanced Can’t Start issue.