**April2021? - Note -- some version of ghub are currently preventing gtav from closing correctly, possibly also keeping the launcher from closing correctly, possibly updating correctly - and making other troubleshooting issues worse. Force close, update, or uninstall it while testing. 2020.11.9270 <--- I am on this version without issue currently.
edit - some further testing on newer versions - going into ghub and turning off integrations for gta5, and disabling keyboard effects in the game settings has allowed my game to close properly while keeping ghub open. YMMV obviously / versions, os, etc.

#Pressing play does nothing, toggles to playing, and not playing, in seconds.
Launcher already running, gtav already running, etc. Launcher crashes. New - rockstar games library service failing to correctly work, install, start/stop, etc.
(also potential to fix 'infinite' launcher/sc loading)

(Yes, you can add me- and I can chat, answer questions, give directions (heavy preference you try first) - just add me on steam - there is no other way.. NOTE - FAR LESS LIKELY AFTER JAN 1, 2023 / profile note. Teamviewer is also off the table. I don't help like that anymore unless in 'extreme' circumstances, and I chose to. -.-

**Jun2022+ below are 2 quick things that are common 'recently' -
1-RENAME my documents / rockstar games to rockstar games-old. Do not use cloudsave/sync if/when it asks, use local saves. Test. If it works, you can try pulling your rockstar games-old/gtav/settings.xml, and profiles folder to the 'new' one the test recreated, and test again.

2-Open c / program files / rockstar games / launcher - rightclick launcher.exe, properties, compatability tab, put a check in run as admin. accept. test. Some users may need steam.exe as well. More info below regarding variations of this.

Otherwise - onward to the rest of the post -.-

There are a few different reasons to have this problem.
When I'm asked to teamviewer/fix it - I first make sure -
That mandatory ASLR in windows defender/exploit protection is OFF.
Then check/install media feature pack IF ON A N/KN windows version <-- click for info.
Then I then remove ANY files they put in gtav folder~ -.- <---click for instructions .
Then I check launcher.log /other logs, crash reports for extra details/narrowing of 'fixes'. Test. Check logs again for 'progress' / changes in errors and move forward.
After all that - I end up using an AIO (run as admin) to remove/clean/reinstall the vcredists (normal uninstall/reinstall does not always work). (not 'always' necessary - but since the release of the launcher this step alone has cured many issues with it) - One example - http://m.majorgeeks.com/mg/getmirror/visual_c_runtime_installer,2.html
or another -
https://m.majorgeeks.com/mg/getmirror/visual_c_redistributable_runtimes_aio_repack,2.html
Should also not discount the installation of the dx9 installer, or get an updated one from microsoft~

*March2022- some users reporting simply installing vcredist 2022, an AIO up to 2022, etc etc - as 'working'. Which is basically same concept as previous instructions - and signifying you had an issue with vcredists. The launcher is still only installing 2015-2019.

*also possible for links to be broken, removed, updated, so on. Can search site for files by name, recent/top downloads, google, find other tools, etc. -.-

^^*** - after running the above AIO/installers and no progress for 2 users, manually uninstalling, and reinstalling (run as admin) the c / program files / rockstar games / launcher / redistributables / vcred / x86 and x64 versions there - they started working.

*June-2022 --- 3+ instances now in last month where the AIO's 'worked' but upon closer inspection, were not. After attempting to manually uninstall all vcredists from apps/programs - and reinstall them. Some gave errors uninstalling, and others gave errors while installing. Both variations also were capable of adding/not removing their entry from the installed apps/programs list. You can try using this tool - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/fix-problems-that-block-programs-from-being-installed-or-removed-cca7d1b6-65a9-3d98-426b-e9f927e1eb4d to go in and fix/repair the install/uninstall of the various vcredists giving you issues. Personally, I'd straight up all of them. Run tool, try cleaning up the uninstalls first, then the installs. Then, either re-manually install them all, or run the AIO again. Some of the cleaning/fix process via this app looked like it froze and took 5-10 minutes. YMMV.

Verify cache. -.-
(and/or if there was any mod use ever - remove all mods, or atleast dinput8.dll if exist - which is quite literally the 3rd step I listed above. Remove the mods, rule that out)

Afterwards, (when I teamviewer as so many ask me to do) - I will do my usual - rename my docs / rockstar games to rockstar games-old. Then exit steam. Then bounce from all the .exe's (steam, r* launcher, gtav) involved and see what stuff is set as - run as admin, or not. Removing all 'run as admin' then test. Doesn't work? Then only running epic launcher (or steam(for steam version), or r* launcher (for R* version)) as admin, and go from there. Some users regardless of the 3 versions - need all gta5 .exe's to run as admin. Some also need R* launcher .exe's - and some even need social club .exe's. That 'usually' fixes it. Be aware I used plurals. Not just gta5.exe... but gta5, gtavlauncher, playgtav, etc.

In a few cases, have had to close other 3rd party apps, add the r* launcher, social club, and gtav folders to whitelists/exclusions in some av/security (including windows defender/controlled folders access, and search/defaulting exploit protection settings - especially 'mandatory ASLR' to OFF (on x2, off x1, on x4), or even manually remove or recreate some folders necessary for the game to save settings/info/etc (my docs / rockstar games doesn't always generate correctly like it should due to permissions - onedrive usually the issue with that one). Yep, this includes Onedrive screwing with my docs / rockstar games folder. Sometimes even a sfc /scannow via command prompt is necessary. Depending on what was done in this paragraph - possibly even starting this link of instructions over again.

**Note - for mandatory ASLR/exploit protection - overtighten your security, deal with the consequences. This is doubly to those that use the program settings tab and need/want to actually configure individual exploit protection configurations for these things. Remember that social club can/will update/install out of 2 locations:
steam/steamapps/common/gtav/installers
AND
c/programfiles/rockstargames/launcher/redistributables/socialclub

If you still have issues - you can also go through and delete:
program files / rockstar games / social club folder -
program files / rockstar games / launcher folder - and manually reinstall both social club and launcher as admin too from steam/steamapps/common/gtav/installers. You could also download the updated launcher from R* and try that (also as admin) - this is 'usually' the latest version, the steam one usually has to self-update (connection issues could cause more problems here). There is also a c / programdata / rockstar games folder to rename to -old - and users / <username> / appdata / local / rockstar games to also rename to -old. Usually when you take this route - you only install the launcher/social club, and never attempt to run gtav UNTIL after you've ran the launcher individually, and had it update itself, and CLOSED IT entirely (or restart pc), then - you restart and try gtav from steam.

Once the launcher reaches that point of causing issues (from a single launch) - you usually need to either restart the pc or use tasklist/taskkill in command prompt to force close it (which sometimes doesn't work). 'Sometimes' - you can close steam (for steam version -.-;; can't believe I have to specify this).

YMMV though - when I do this, everything seems to work. For others - may/may not - because who knows what else anyone has done/ (or skipped -.-), like leftover mods, missed .exe's, not installed/updated media feature pack for N/KN windows, missed programs that can interfere/etc, not restarted computer, and can also be from network/service related issues(which can appear, and disappear randomly), and more. Then toss in a side of audio drivers/device related issues, including wireless headset, software/audio devices, and more - that have been problematic since release. Stuff really hard to sort out when servers having issues. In general - just complete methodical thoroughness (or lack thereof -.-).

Yes, I can teamviewer and sort it out - when I have time. Just add me - been doing it for years. (and if you are a random coming from this thread - explain the issue.. blind invites = go nowhere unless I've directly msg'd with you.)

**Dec2021 - Some users having problems after the mid Dec update - and were resorting to creating a new windows user, giving it admin, and playing there. Of course, that shouldn't be necessary. Some stated 'after' doing that - they went back to original user and tried, and it still crashed. Others, said it 'crashed' but it still appeared to be loading, so they didn't hit anything, and the game eventually loaded fine - and was fine since. Others having the same exact issue after that update - I looked at/talked with/walked through some things and it was fixed without the windows user. YMMV - obviously.

**July2021 - Note -- Recent/potential issue since Tuner update? going around for some with the R* games library service resetting itself/needing to have an actual login/password(possibly administrator account - can even create one specifically for gtav) applied to the service on startup (services.msc, rockstar games library services, properties, logon tab, 'this account' / add details --- and/or changing the service to manual(I use manual)/automatic in case they disabled it while previously trying to cleanboot windows). Personally- not needed to use on anyone I fixed. Some others rumored to have been corrected after windows finished its updates (which could possibly be fixing corrupt system files mentioned below) - though that has been an issue/common knowledge on/off for years now. Some also claim the R* library service doesn't exist - although I've personally not been able to tv/look at/troubleshoot any of those to gather info. -.-

**May/Jun2020/recent issue (not the new 'Nov5/win7' issue)-
---- supposedly fixed -----
https://psteamcommunity.yuanyoumao.com/app/271590/discussions/0/2450469119947082025/#c2450469119947683880


Other recent/similar links/info -
https://psteamcommunity.yuanyoumao.com/app/271590/discussions/0/2450469119955082985/#c2450469119955133320

And the above is still just for 'immediate' launcher issues - still completely plausible to be crashing past the launcher, or with the game itself, and there is many more issues/reasons related to that in the info below.

...my usual copypasta when there isn't any info, logs, reports, error codes...
Here's a link that covers many -common- problems/fix AND a link with more steps for methodically cleaning/reinstalling various components - and info regarding log files/crash reports to further 'attempt' to help if that link/steps didn't resolve the problem.
https://psteamcommunity.yuanyoumao.com/app/271590/discussions/0/1368380934244197003/#c1368380934244499526

Of course - R* support, if you'd prefer they fixed it, or have issues with free time help-
https://support.rockstargames.com/categories/360002126893?step=13cce8c9
Webtickets, livechat, and even phone callbacks are available. The options may 'move' around and appear under different catagories. Poke around and /goodluck.

Original link -
https://psteamcommunity.yuanyoumao.com/app/271590/discussions/0/2253434652389187525/#c2253434652389483301