Ways to Fix Red Dead Redemption 2 Crashing After Reinstalling

Jul. 09, 2025 / Updated by Seraphina to Gaming Solutions

fix-red-dead-redemption-2-crashing-after-reinstalling

Red Dead Redemption 2 is widely loved for its stunning visuals and rich storyline. However, some players encounter crashes, black screens, or sudden exits after reinstalling the game, which seriously affects gameplay.

This article explores the common causes of these issues and provides effective solutions to help you restore smooth game performance quickly.

**1. Symptoms of Red Dead Redemption 2 Crashes After Reinstallation**

Game crashes or closes immediately after launching
The loading screen gets stuck on a black screen or Rockstar logo
Error codes appear (e.g., "ERR_GFX_STATE")
Game becomes unresponsive or suddenly exits to the desktop
GPU driver errors or system blue screen (BSOD)

2. Causes of Crashes After Reinstalling Red Dead Redemption 2

Outdated or incompatible graphics drivers
Corrupted or missing game files
Missing runtime libraries (e.g., Visual C++, DirectX)
Game settings incompatible with hardware (e.g., ultra resolution or ray tracing)
Conflicts with antivirus, recording tools, or other background software
Game lacking administrator privileges or system permission issues

**3. Fixes for Red Dead Redemption 2 Crashes**

Method 1: Check and Update Graphics Drivers

Graphics drivers are critical for game stability. If outdated, crashes are likely. For users unfamiliar with manual driver updates, Driver Talent is recommended—it automatically detects and updates drivers, reducing the risk of errors.

Download Driver Talent

Download and install the latest version of Driver Talent.
Launch the tool and click "Scan" to detect outdated or missing drivers.
Find your graphics driver in the results and click "Update".

driver-update

Restart your computer to apply the update.

Method 2: Verify Game File Integrity

Open Steam.

Right-click Red Dead Redemption 2, then click "Properties".

Go to the "Local Files" tab and select "Verify integrity of game files".

verify-game-file-integrity

Steam will scan and repair any corrupted game data.

Method 3: Lower In-Game Graphics Settings

Set resolution to match your monitor.

Disable V-Sync, Anti-Aliasing, and Ray Tracing.

Use Borderless Windowed mode.

Disable built-in live streaming or recording features.

Method 4: Install Missing System Components

Ensure that the following are installed:

Latest version of DirectX

download-DirectX-End-User-Runtime

Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables 2015–2022
.NET Framework (e.g., version 4.8)

Download these from Microsoft's official website.

Method 5: Run the Game as Administrator

Right-click the game shortcut on your desktop.

Select "Run as administrator", or enable "Run this program as an administrator" in Properties.

run-as-administrator

Method 6: Disable Conflicting Software

Temporarily disable antivirus or firewall software.

Close background apps like NVIDIA ShadowPlay, MSI Afterburner, etc.

If this solves the issue, add the game to your firewall or antivirus whitelist.

Method 7: Reinstall the Game

Uninstall the game completely.

Reinstall it to a different drive path (avoid folders with non-English or special characters).

Ensure you have enough disk space and close large background apps during installation.

4. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What if the game still crashes after updating drivers?

Try fully uninstalling old drivers before reinstalling, or use System Restore to roll back to a stable point.

Q2: I'm using a laptop—how do I choose the right GPU?

Make sure Red Dead Redemption 2 is set to use the High-Performance NVIDIA Processor in the NVIDIA Control Panel.

Q3: The game always opens to a black screen and takes a long time to respond—what should I do?

Try deleting the configuration files: Documents\Rockstar Games\Red Dead Redemption 2\Settings