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| {{Availability/row| Retail | | GFWL, Disc, Key, Activation | Additionally uses {{DRM|SecuROM|7}} for disc checking. | | Windows }} | | {{Availability/row| Retail | | GFWL, Disc, Key, Activation | Additionally uses {{DRM|SecuROM|7}} for disc checking. | | Windows }} |
| {{Availability/row| Amazon | B001BNFQKO | GFWL, Disc, Key, Activation | Retail version. | | Windows }} | | {{Availability/row| Amazon | B001BNFQKO | GFWL, Disc, Key, Activation | Retail version. | | Windows }} |
− | {{Availability/row| GamersGate | DD-GTA4S-GB | Steam, GFWL, Activation | {{store link|GamersGate|DD-GTA4CP-GN|Complete Edition}} also available. | | Windows }}
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− | {{Availability/row| Gamesplanet | 1687-1 | Steam, GFWL, Activation | {{store link|Gamesplanet|1687-5|Complete Edition}} also available. | | Windows }}
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| {{Availability/row| Humble | grand-theft-auto-iv | Steam, GFWL, Activation | {{store link|Humble|grand-theft-auto-iv-complete-edition|Complete Edition}} also available. | | Windows }} | | {{Availability/row| Humble | grand-theft-auto-iv | Steam, GFWL, Activation | {{store link|Humble|grand-theft-auto-iv-complete-edition|Complete Edition}} also available. | | Windows }} |
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Warnings
- For Games for Windows - LIVE on Windows 8 or later, install the latest Games for Windows - LIVE software.
Key points
- FusionFix fixes some issues not resolved in the official patches.
- Essentially the same as Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City in terms of its engine and performance.
- Extensive modding community, along with Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City. See Downgrading.
- Ability to import your music for your own custom radio station.
- Rockstar has removed music from the game due to expired licences. Same with Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City. See Restore Removed Music.
General information
- Rockstar Support
- GTA Modding - A wiki hosting mod information for the GTA series.
- GTAForums - Grand Theft Auto IV Discussion
- GTA Network - A huge network of fansites all dedicated to the Grand Theft Auto series
- Steam Community Discussions
Availability
- All versions require Games for Windows - LIVE and SecuROM PA DRM.[Note 1] Additionally, all non-retail versions require Steam DRM.
- Online features require Rockstar Games Social Club.
- Complete Edition includes Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City.
DLC and expansion packs
- DLC versions of the episodes are no longer available for purchase due to Games for Windows Live Marketplace being shut down[1][2]
Name |
Notes |
|
The Ballad of Gay Tony |
|
|
The Lost and Damned |
|
|
Essential improvements
Skip intro videos
Edit loadingscreens_pc.dat[4]
|
- Go to
<path-to-game>\GTAIV\common\data\
- Open
loadingscreens_pc.dat with Notepad
- Change the value of "duration" for sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 to 0.
|
Patches
- Patch 8 updates the game to the latest version. The Steam version is already patched.
- Patch 7 is also available (may be required for some mods, as much as Patch 4).
- Since Patch 6 Rockstar Social Club is no longer required to run the game.[5]
FusionFix
- This projects aims to fix some issues that weren't addressed in official patches.
- FusionFix · GitHub
Applying FusionFix[6]
|
- Download the GTAIV.EFLC.FusionFix.zip file.
- Extract the contents of the download.
- Move the
common , pc and plugins folders to <path-to-game> (replace the file(s) when prompted).
- If you have EFLC installed as DLC in the GTA IV folder, also move the
TBoGT folder to <path-to-game>\DLC\ (replace the file(s) when prompted).
- Requires ASI loader.
|
ColAccel
- Greatly reduces loading times
- Does not work for versions older than Patch 6
- If editing .IMG archives you need to delete
colCache.dat
and let it get re-created
Restore Removed Music
- Over 50 radio station tracks were removed from the game due to expired licenses in 2018.[8]
- Downgrading isn't required to install this mod.
Downgrading the Radio Stations[9]
|
- Download the downgrader.
- Unpack to the installation folder.
- Run
install.bat .
Notes
- If GTA IV was downgraded to Patch 4, don't extract and replace the "common" folder, as doing so will mess up all text in-game.
|
- Merges songs from EFLC into the base game.
- Does not work with versions older than Patch 6.
Game data
In-game general settings.
Configuration file(s) location
- Configuration files are encrypted. For an alternative, see Command line parameters.
Save game data location
-
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\XLive
must also be backed up as the save data is bound to the Games for Windows - LIVE profile.
Video settings
Template:Video settings
Input settings
In-game key map settings.
In-game keyboard/mouse settings.
In-game gamepad settings.
Template:Input settings
DirectInput Controller support
Option in Controller Settings[citation needed]
|
- In the game, go to
Options then Controls then Controller Options and click Enable DirectInput
- Added in patch 1.0.3.0[12]
|
PS3 Controller Buttons
If using a PS2/PS3 controller, you might want to change the Xbox 360 buttons to the PS2/PS3 buttons. In order to do so, follow the instructions below.
Audio settings
Template:Audio settings
- Commands responsible for audio in the game:
-fullspecaudio
: forces higher quality audio
-minspecaudio
: forces lower quality audio - good for low-end CPU's (e.g. radio cannot be heard outside car).
- Game uses DirectSound[13] which can be handled by Creative ALchemy (set duration to 10)[14]. Just run
LaunchGTAIV.exe
as admin in case of game crash.
Localizations
Network
- Social Club website stat tracking and leaderboards have been shut down. All other online features are unaffected.[15]
Multiplayer types
Connection types
Ports
Protocol |
Port(s) and/or port range(s) |
TCP |
53, 80, 3074 |
UDP |
53, 88, 3074 |
- Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) support status is unknown.
VR support
Issues fixed
- Game uses Games for Windows - LIVE. Make sure you are running latest version and refer to the concerning page if you have further problems.
Release Date Check Failure
Change Windows Date to any date before 28 June 2015[citation needed]
|
Error WS10
SecuLauncher: failed to start application. [2000] error
Fatal error WTV190
Fatal error WTV270
Fatal error RMN20
Run game in compatibility mode[citation needed]
|
- Go to the installation folder.
- Right click on
GTAIV.exe and enter its properties screen.
- Under the compatibility tab, set the compatibility mode to Windows Vista (Service Pack 2) and click
OK .
|
If using Windows 7, Vista or XP, update your Windows to the latest available service pack[17]
|
Game stuck at disclaimer screen or Rockstar logo on Windows 10
Disable fullscreen optimization[18]
|
- Go to the installation folder.
- Right click on
GTAIV.exe and enter its properties screen.
- Under the compatibility tab, tick
Disable fullscreen optimizations and click OK .
|
Large framerate drops on diverse parts of the city
Lower view distance to 20 or lower. Anything higher causes high drops in peformance impact when looking at the skyline for very little visual gain.
|
- You may also increase your peformance significantly while minimizing pop-in and graphical glitches by keeping distance detail between 10 and 40.
- If you are after very high framerates (144 FPS) and above disable shadows as they use a lot of cpu power and reduce vehicle density to around 40, (33 is the console default if you want a "vanilla experience"
|
Texture popping, stuttering and other performance issues after running the game for a while
Force maximum available memory[19]
|
- Create a file named
commandline.txt in your root installation folder.
- Depending on your texture quality, enter one of the following codes in to the newly created file:
- Low textures (256 MB VRAM):
-memrestrict 230686720
- Medium textures (512 MB VRAM):
-memrestrict 314572800
- High textures (1 GB+ VRAM):
-memrestrict 681574400
- Save the file and launch the game.
-
-reservedApp 0 is also worth a try for a 64-bit OS.[20]
- Keep in mind that the use of High Textures is not recommended for 32-bit Vista/7 or newer.[20]
- Forcing available memory with Patch 8 is not recommended as it will make the game unstable.
|
No recoil/bullet spread
- By default, recoil/bullet spread is only enabled when playing with a controller. This results in 100% shooting accuracy when using a keyboard and mouse.
Regular camera movement and handbrake camera are too slow
- This bug occurs if the frame rate is very high.
Cutscenes are too zoomed in
- This bug occurs if the frame rate is very high.
Game minimizes after clicking start
- If the game minimizes after selecting between GTA IV base and EFLC and can not be made full screen again it may be a problem with PunkBuster. It can be fixed by stopping it from running.
Stop PunkBuster[citation needed]
|
- Press Ctrl+⇧ Shift+Esc.
- Click
PnkBstrA.exe in Processes.
- Click
End task to stop it from running.
|
Game will load with minimal graphic settings and won't let you change them
- For video cards that have more than 2 GB or VRAM the game will run but won't let you change the graphics settings to anything better. In order to force the game to allow the changes, load the .exe with the extra parameter:
-norestrictions
.
Bypass graphics restrictions on Steam version[citation needed]
|
- Open your Steam library.
- Right-click on
Grand Theft Auto IV and select Properties .
- Press the
Set Launch Options... button.
- Enter
-norestrictions into the text field, press OK .
- Start the game.
|
Bypass graphics restrictions on other versions[citation needed]
|
- Go to
<path-to-game> .
- Create a new text file in this folder and name it
commandline.txt .
- Open it and add the string
-norestrictions to it.
- Save the file.
- Start the game.
|
Infinite loading loop
AMD/ATI Radeon Water Fix
- There is a problem where the water loses its features and details after a while. To fix this issue do this:
Replace the water shaders[citation needed]
|
- Download the fixed waterTex shader file.
- Go to
<path-to-game>\GTAIV
- Go to
common\shaders\win32_30_atidx10\
- Place your downloaded
waterTex.fxc shader file and replace the original.
- Go to
common\shaders\win32_30_low_ati\
- Place your downloaded
waterTex.fxc shader file and replace the original.
- Play!
Notes
- Don't forget to backup original files.
|
Invisible fonts glitch
- An invisible fonts glitch may occur which involves game menu text disappearing.
Instructions[citation needed]
|
- Download the files
fonts.dat and fonts_r.dat located here.
- Go to the installation folder.
- Drag and drop the files into
common\data\ in <path-to-game> .
|
2GB+ VRAM is wrongly recognized
- This is fixed in Patch 1.0.8.0.
Force increase video memory[28]
|
- Open
<path-to-game>\commandline.txt (create if it doesn't exist).
- Put
-availablevidmem 2 in a new line (or replace 2 with other number, it's a multiplier of already detected Vram by GTA IV engine).
|
Multiplayer: Login to Social Club failed
- This was fixed with Patch 8.
Override paul.dll[citation needed]
|
- Rename
<path-to-game>/paul.dll to paul.dll_old .
- Restart the game. It should load up directly.
- You must have completed GFWL setup first, then you can take this shortcut.
|
Frame rate drops after a short time in game (e.g. smooth 60 FPS to a choppy 45 FPS)
Launch game via LaunchGTAIV.exe
|
Other information
API
Technical specs |
Supported |
Notes |
Direct3D |
9 |
|
Shader Model support |
3 |
|
Executable |
32-bit |
64-bit |
Notes |
Windows |
|
|
|
Middleware
|
Middleware |
Notes |
Physics |
Bullet Physics Library, Euphoria |
|
Interface |
Adobe Flash |
|
Cutscenes |
Bink Video |
1.9r Used for ingame television |
Multiplayer |
Games for Windows - LIVE, Rockstar Games Social Club |
|
Downgrading
- Many mods for GTA IV won't work with the latest version
- The most supported versions for modding are Patch 4 and Patch 7
- Multiplayer will no longer work when downgraded
- Currently Steam version users can encounter problems with disabling auto update feature. It can be done by setting time of update: 12 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Install Patch 4 (1.0.4.0)[citation needed]
|
- Extract and run the installer
- Download the font fixes
- Place
fonts.dat and fonts_r.dat into <path-to-game>\common\data\
- Download and install XLiveLess
Notes
- An older version of ScriptHook is required for modding on Patch 4, found here
- This version is claimed to improve game performance[29][30]
- Some mods work only with Patch 4, while other mods, such as ColAccel, won't work with Patch 4 at all
|
Install Patch 7 (1.0.7.0)
|
- Extract the files anywhere on your computer
- Run
UpdateTitle.exe and install it
- Download and install XLiveLess
Notes
- Patch 7 has updated visuals, secondary keybindings, bug fixes, etc.
- Many have reported a performance decrease in comparison to Patch 4
|
- To get rid of the Social Club login screen, remove or rename "paul.dll" in the game's installation folder
XLiveLess / ASI loader
- XLiveLess removes Games for Windows - LIVE service.
- Save game data location changes to
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Rockstar Games\GTA IV\savegames\
- Save games made using XLiveLess are not compatible with native save games.
- Disables access to the multiplayer to prevent cheating.
- ASI loader is the tool that loads custom libraries with the file extension
.asi
.
XLiveLessAddon
- Skips intro videos and menu.
- Adds borderless windowed mode.
- Allows to launch
GTAIV.exe
directly.
- Includes Ultimate ASI Loader.
Ultimate ASI Loader
- Built-in XLiveLess.
Applying Ultimate ASI Loader[31]
|
- Download the Ultimate-ASI-Loader.zip file.
- Extract the contents of the download.
- Rename the
dinput8.dll file to xlive.dll .
- Move this file to
<path-to-game> (replace the file(s) when prompted).
|
XLiveLess
- Built-in ASI loader.
Applying XLiveLess[32]
|
- Download XLiveLess.
- Extract the contents of the download.
- Move the
xlive.dll file to <path-to-game> (replace the file(s) when prompted).
|
Modifications
- It is strongly recommended to make a backup of any files modifications may replace or amend in the event of corruption.
- Compatible with VR.
- Graphical modification that improves visuals [citation needed].
- Includes multiple presets suitable for low-end and high-end hardware.
- Compatible with all patches.
- Contains optional ASI loader.
- Contains optional trainer.
- Contains optional textures for roads and trees.
- Minor graphical bug on street lights when night shadows are enabled on patch 6 or later.
- Graphical improvement that includes HD textures for roads.
- Combine with an ENB modification for best results.
- Adds additional details and information on the world map while improving its look.
- Total conversion mod for Grand Theft Auto IV and The Episodes from Liberty City, which will bring back the good old San Andreas map.
- Total conversion mod for Grand Theft Auto IV, which will bring back the good old Vice City map.
Custom music
Grand Theft Auto IV allows users to play their own music on a custom radio station, Independence FM.[33]
- Simply place any audio files/folders or create shortcuts in the
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Rockstar Games\GTA IV\User Music\
folder, and tune into the station in-game.
- Supported formats are MP3, WMA, M4A. Other formats and extensions are not recognized.
- QuickTime or iTunes needs to be installed for M4A support.
- Use shortcuts to audio files/folders to save disk space and improve performance.
- Supports High-resolution audio files. Up to 96 kHz / 24 bit.
- Supports Surround audio files. Up to 6 channels.
- FLAC is not supported. Convert to WMA Lossless to use in-game.
- Monaural audio files not supported.
Launch Options
- By creating a file called
commandline.txt
and saving it to your root installation folder you can alter the way your game runs. Below is a list of all the parameters.
Parameter |
Description |
-help |
Lists the available commands |
-adapter |
Use the specified screen adapter |
-autoconfig |
Automatically adjust quality setting to maintain desired frame rate (15-120) |
-availablevidmem |
Set amount of physical Video Memory |
-benchmark |
Launches the game in Benchmark mode and then quits it |
-detailquality |
Set the detail quality of the game (0-99) |
-disableimposters |
Turn off imposter rendering for vehicles |
-forcehighqualitymirrors |
Enable 64 bit mirrors |
-forcer2vb |
Force Render to Vertex Buffer |
-frameLimit |
Limits your FPS to your refresh rate |
-framelockinwindow |
Force framelock to work even in a window |
-fullscreen |
Force fullscreen mode |
-fullspecaudio |
Force high-end CPU audio footprint |
-gpucount |
Lets you manually set the GPU count if query fails |
-height |
Sets the vertical resolution |
-managed |
Use D3D runtime managed resources |
-memrestrict |
Set the restriction the amount of available memory for the game |
-minspecaudio |
Force low-end CPU audio footprint |
-no_3GB |
Disable 32-bit OS with /3GB |
-noBlockOnLostFocus |
Don't block the window update when it loses focus. |
-noprecache |
Disable precache of resources |
-nomemrestrict |
Disable memory restrictions |
-nominimize |
Disables the ability to restore the game from minimize and changing resolutions (Reduces System Memory Footprint) |
-norestrictions |
Do not limit graphics settings |
-noswapdelay |
Disable sleep delay before Present (Disable fix for hard Present stalls) |
-notimefix |
Disable Time Fix |
-novblank |
Disables V-Sync |
-percentvidmem |
Percentage of Video memory to make available for the game |
-refreshrate |
Set the refresh rate (Must be supported by your monitor) |
-reserve |
Amount of memory to set aside for other applications |
-reservedApp |
Amount of memory to leave available within application space |
-renderquality |
Set the render quality of the game (0-4) |
-safemode |
Sets graphics setting to lowest setting |
-shadowdensity |
Set the number of lights that cast shadows (0-16) |
-shadowquality |
Set the shadow quality (0-4) |
-stereo |
Set game to support stereo rendering mode |
-texturequality |
Set the texture quality of the game (0-2) |
-unmanaged |
Use application managed resources |
-usedirectinput |
Allow DirectInput alongside XInput support. |
-viewdistance |
Set the view distance of the game (0-99) |
-windowed |
Force windowed mode |
-width |
Sets the horizontal resolution |
System requirements
Windows |
|
Minimum |
Recommended |
Operating system (OS) |
XP SP3 |
Vista SP1 |
Processor (CPU) |
AMD Athlon X2 64 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8 GHz |
AMD Phenom X3 2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4 GHz |
System memory (RAM) |
1.5 GB |
2.5 GB |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
16 GB |
18 GB |
Video card (GPU) |
ATI Radeon X1900 Nvidia GeForce 7900 256 MB of VRAM DirectX 9.0c compatible
| ATI Radeon HD 3870 Nvidia GeForce 8600 512 MB of VRAM |
Sound (audio device) |
5.1 Channel Audio Card | |
- Online play requires log-in to Games for Windows - LIVE.
Notes
References