Encountering errors while logging into online games is a common issue, and GTA Online is no exception.

There are several reasons that result in the inaccessibility of online sessions. While some errors with specific error codes are trivial to deal with, a few of them pose a true problem.

In this post, we’ll provide you with a list of 18 common errors you might encounter while entering GTA Online and how to fix each of them.

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All 18 GTA Online Launching Errors & Solutions

This list highlights 18 common errors you might encounter when attempting to enter GTA Online.

There could be more errors beyond these 18, so if you experience something not listed here, please leave us a comment.

Please note that these errors occur when joining GTA Online sessions from the official game on Steam, Epic Games, or consoles. Our solutions provided below may not apply if using a cracked version.

Without further ado, let’s see what these errors are:

1. “Online sign in failed” Error

• Error: Offline sign in failed. We were unable to fallback to offline sign in because you have not previously signed in on this machine. Offline play is only available for accounts that have previously signed in on this machine (with “Remember me” ticked) while connected to the Internet and while Social Club Services are available.

This error occurs when there is an issue with the connection between your PC and Rockstar Game Services. There are 3 ways to fix this error, including:

1. Check the Rockstar Games Service Status

Firstly, visit this link to check the current status of Rockstar Games Service. If the status shows as “Down”, there’s nothing to do but wait until the service is functioning properly again.

2. Refreshing Your Local Profile

In case the server is Up but you’re still unable to log in, this problem might come from your side. In that case, you can try this solution:

1. Open Rockstar Games Launcher
2. Select Settings
3. Select Account Information
4. Select “Delete local Profile” and click Delete
5. Sign in again

Your profile will be restored after you log in to Social Club again.

3. Delete Social Club Folder

The final way to fix this problem is to delete the Social Club folder, requiring it to be downloaded and set up again.

1. Go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Rockstar Games.
2. Locate and delete the “Social Club” folder.

3. Install and activate the VPN app, then open the Rockstar Games Launcher and log in again.

Similar to the above, your profile will be restored once you re-enter Rockstar Games Launcher.

2. “Failed to Connect To The Rockstar Games Library Service” Error

• Error: Failed to connect to the Rockstar Games Library Service. If you continue to see this message, please contact Rockstar Games Customer Service at https://support.rockstargames.com.

This error typically occurs for Windows 10 users due to the pausing or stopping of the Rockstar Games Launcher Library Service in the Windows service.

Here’s how to fix it:

1. Run Rockstar Game Library Service Manually Via Command

1. Open the Windows Run command, then type in “services.msc”.
2. Find the Rockstar Games Library Services, right-click, and select “Properties”.
3. Open the Startup Type drop-down list, then choose Manual.
4. Click on Start to open the Rockstar Games Launcher.

2. Run Rockstar Game Library Service Manually Via System Configuration

1. Go to Windows Search and search “System Configuration”.
2. Move to the Services tab, then find Rockstar Game Library Service.
3. Tick on the Rockstar Game Library Service, click “Apply” then select “OK”.
4. Re-open the Rockstar Games Launcher.

3. “Connection to the session lost due to an unknown network error” Error

• Error: Connection to the session lost due to an unknown network error. Please return to Grand Theft Auto V and try again later.

This error occurs due to a poor connection on both sides. The problem probably originates from your side, but some GTA players reported that it’s likely because of outages from Rockstar Gamer servers.

Here’s how to fix it:

1. Check the Rockstar Server Outage Frequency

Firstly, visit this link and check whether there have been high GTA Online outage reports in the last 24 hours. If so, the Rockstar Games server might be undergoing maintenance, so you should wait until it’s fixed.

2. Reset the Router or Change the Internet Connection

On top of that, the error might be due to your current internet connection causing poor speed.

If this is the case, try restarting your router or accessing GTA Online using a different internet connection.

4. “You’re attempting to access GTA Online servers with an altered version of the game” Error

• Error: You are attempting to access GTA Online servers with an altered version of the game. Return to Grand Theft Auto V.

This error occurs when you enable GTA V mods while trying to play GTA Online. Due to the modified RPF files, you are unable to access GTA Online.

The only way to fix this error, without uninstalling the entire game, is by disabling any installed mods.

Check out this post for detailed instructions on how to accomplish this.

5. “You have been banned from Grand Theft Auto Online permanently” Error

• Error: You have been banned from Grand Theft Auto Online permanently. Return to Grand Theft Auto V.

It seems more like an announcement than a mistake. This pop-up might mean your GTA Online account got permanently banned.

It’s for trying to cheat, using mods, abusing the game mechanic without permission, or being reported by others.

All your characters, in-game properties, weapons, and achievements will be permanently deleted afterward.

Currently, Rockstar has no way to unban a banned account, so please be aware of this.

6. “You have been banned from Using Social Club Services” Error

• Error: You have been banned from using Social Club Services and are not permitted to enter Grand Theft Auto Online permanently. Return to Main Menu.

This error typically occurs on console devices (PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series) when accessing GTA Online through the character wheel rather than the landing page.

In that case, exit the game and rejoin the Online session by using the button on the landing page.

7. “You have been suspended from Grand Theft Auto Online until <Date>” Error

• Error: You have been suspended from Grand Theft Auto Online until <end of suspension>. In addition, your Grand Theft Auto Online character(s) will be reset. Return to Grand Theft Auto V.

Just like the banned alert, this notification indicates a violation of Rockstar Games’ rules while playing GTA 5. The reason might be similar to the banned error but with less severity.

There’s currently no way to bypass this alert. Therefore, you’ll have to wait until the suspension period ends to regain access to GTA Online.

Please note that all your characters, in-game properties, and achievements will be reset after this suspension.

8. “Files Required To Play” Error

• Error: Files required to play GTA Online could not be downloaded from the Rockstar Games service. Please return to Grand Theft Auto V and try again later.

This error is due to the poor connection between your IP address and Rockstar Games Service.

Check out this post to learn all the methods to solve this error.

9. “Unable to connect to game session” Error

• Error: Unable to connect to the game session. Please return to Grand Theft Auto V.

This error occurs after playing GTA Online for a while.

It’s often because of a poor connection between the two sides but it can also result from lag on Rockstar Games’ servers. In that case, try restarting your router or using a different internet connection.

If the methods above don’t work, you can try this trick to access GTA Online:

1. Open GTA V as usual, then press “ESC” to pause the game and open the Game menu.
2. Select the “Online” tab, then go to “Play GTA Online” => “Invite Only Session“.

3. Wait until you join the GTA Online session.

10. “Your NAT type is strict” Error

• Error: Your NAT type is strict. This can cause issues such as increased latency (lag), difficulty connecting to other players, and disconnections. Please visit HTTP://rsg.ms/nattype for information on how to improve your experience.

Although this error might not prevent you from joining GTA Online, it’s pretty annoying as it increases the lag while experiencing the game and takes more time to join missions that require connections between many players.

Here’s how to fix it:

1. Contact the Internet Supplier

First, you can contact your internet supplier and ask them about the possibility of opening the NAT (Network Address Translation) for gaming purposes.

2. Activate UPnP on Your Router

You can change your NAT status by enabling Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) in your router settings. This is considered the easiest way to modify your NAT, provided you have access to your router settings.

The process to activate UPnP varies depending on your internet service provider. In that case, search for instructions on the internet to acquire a step-by-step guide on how to change them.

3. Change NAT Style using Port Forwarding

Additionally, you can use the port forwarding method to alter the NAT status for specific games. Although this process might be a bit more complex than UPnP, it offers better security.

Search the Internet or your router’s website to adjust the settings. Since there are various router brands, we are unable to cover them all. In this case, you’ll need to determine which router you’re using and how to access the port forwarding feature.

Here are the additional ports to forward for GTA Online:

• TCP Ports: 80, 443
• UDP Ports: 6672, 61455, 61456, 61457, and 61458

11. “Rockstar Game service unavailable” Error

• Error: The Rockstar game services are unavailable right now. Please return to Grand Theft Auto V and try again later.

If you come across this error, it’s similar to the #3 error. Applying the solution from #3 might help resolve this issue as well.

12. “GTA Online session is having trouble” Error

• Error: The GTA Online session is having trouble syncing important catalogue data with the server. Please try again and check www.rockstargames.com/support for information about outages and scheduled maintenance. If the issue persists, please check out our GTA Online Connection Troubleshooting at HTTP://rsg.ms/connect. Please return to Grand Theft Auto V.

This error can occur due to maintenance or temporary outages of Rockstar Games Services.

Here’s how to fix it:

1. Check the Rockstar Games Service Status

You can check the Rockstar Games Service status here.

Similar to the #1 error, in case the status of “Rockstar Games Launcher” or “Grand Theft Auto Online” is limited or down, then you have to wait for Rockstar Games to fix it.

2. Accessing GTA Online Via “Crew Member” Session

Many players have reported that this trick might help bypass the error. However, it doesn’t work for everyone all the time.

Here’s how to try out this trick:

1. Open GTA V then go to Story mode.
2. Press “ESC” while idling to enable the Setting menu.
3. Select the “Online” tab, then go to “Play GTA Online” => “Invite Only Session“.
4. Press “Enter” if there’s an alert like this image above, then you are forced to join the GTA Online session.

13. “The Social Club failed to load” Error

• Error: The Social Club failed to load due to an incomplete installation (Code 1). Please exit the game and re-install the latest version of the Social Club: https://support.rockstargames.com.

This error indicates that there might be an interruption while updating Social Club, resulting in an incomplete installation.

At present, Rockstar Games hasn’t provided an official solution for this error. Yet, some players have found success by using a VPN or altering their internet connection.

Alternatively, uninstalling the Rockstar Games Launcher might also be worth a try:

1. Open Windows Search, then type in “Control Panel” to open Control Panel.
2. Select “Programs” => “Uninstall Program”, then find and uninstall Rockstar Games Launcher and Rockstar Games Social Club.
3. Go to this link and click on “Download for Windows” to re-download Rockstar Games Launcher.
4. Install Rockstar Games Launcher, and you’re good to go.

14. “A newer version of the Social Club is required” Error

• Error: A newer version of the Social Club is required. The updater may have failed. Please exit the game and install the latest version of the Social Club: https://support.rockstargames.com.

This error typically happens when there’s a problem updating your Social Club patch. To address this, consider following these steps to resolve the issue:

1. Delete the Social Club folder, which is located at “C:\Users\Admin\Documents\Rockstar Games\Social Club”.
2. Uninstall Social Club Launcher via Control Panel.
3. Re-download and install Social Club Launcher from this link.

15. “Social Club failed to initialize” Error

• Error: Social Club failed to initialize. Error code: 1014. Press OK to view an online support article to help resolve this issue. Press CANCEL to exit.

This error can occur due to a poor connection between your IP address and Rockstar Games Launcher.

In that case, uninstalling Rockstar Games Launcher and removing the Social Club folder can help.

1. Open Windows Search, then type in “Control Panel” to open Control Panel.
2. Select “Programs” => “Uninstall Program“, then find and uninstall Rockstar Games Launcher and Rockstar Games Social Club.
3. Go to this link and click on “Download for Windows” to re-download Rockstar Games Launcher.
4. Install Rockstar Games Launcher, and you’re good to go.

16. “There has been an error joining a session” Error

Error: There has been an error joining a session. Please return to Grand Theft Auto V.

This error tends to occur when you’re playing GTA Online and your friends leave their sessions or missions, or when attempting to transition into GTA Online directly from GTA V’s single-player mode.

Here’s how to fix it:

1. Clear Grand Theft Auto Cache

The first solution you can try is to verify the integrity of your GTA V installment.

Assume that you’re playing GTA Online via Steam, then you can follow these steps to clear the cache:

1. Open Steam, find your Grand Theft Auto V, right-click on it, and select “Properties”.
2. Click on the “Installed Files” tab.

3. Select “Verify integrity of game files”.
4. Wait until the process is complete, then re-open the game.

2. Enable UPnP In A Router

Similar to the #10 error, you should try to enable Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) in your router settings.

The process to activate UPnP varies depending on your internet service provider. In that case, search for instructions on the internet to acquire a step-by-step guide on how to change them.

17. “Fail to fetch an essential asset” Error

• Error: Unfortunately, we failed to fetch an essential asset. Please try again later.

This error occurs when the Rockstar Games Launcher is unable to retrieve the CAPTCHA configuration from the Rockstar Games Launcher Services.

Here’s how to fix it:

1. Use VPN

One quick way to fix this is by using a VPN to change your internet address. Then, open Rockstar Games Launcher again to see if the problem is fixed.

2. Reset your Winsock and IP address

If the solution above doesn’t fix your issue, you can try resetting the Winsock and IP address of your computer.

1. Go to the search box on the taskbar.
2. Type in the Command prompt, right-click on it, select “Run as administrator”, then Click Yes.
3. Enter the following commands in the order listed below:
   • netsh winsock reset
   • netsh int ip reset
   • ipconfig /release
   • ipconfig /renew
   • ipconfig /flushdns
4. Restart your PC.
5. Check to see if the issue is resolved.

18. “Offline play could not be verified” Error

• Error: The Rockstar Games Services are unavailable and offline play could not be verified (code 132). Please check your connection and try again later. Offline play is only available if the game has been launched recently while online on this computer. If you continue to have problems playing the game, please contact Rockstar Games Customer Service at HTTP://support.rockstargames.com. Code: 7002.1

This error often occurs when there is an update released for GTA V or GTA Online, but your game hasn’t been updated yet.

It’s crucial to ensure that your game is up-to-date with the latest patches and updates provided by Rockstar Games to avoid encountering this issue.

Here’s how to fix it:

1. Verify The Integrity of Game Files

The first solution you can try is to verify the integrity of your GTA V installment.

1. Open Steam, find your Grand Theft Auto V, right-click on it, and select “Properties“.
2. Click on the “Installed Files” tab.

3. Select “Verify integrity of game files”.
4. Wait until the process is complete, then re-open the game.

2. Delete the Social Club Folder

1. Go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Rockstar Games.
2. Locate and delete the “Social Club” folder.
3. Use a different Internet connection to open GTA V to re-download the update.