# Additional Setup - If you're here after installing the archive or using the Setup Utility on Windows, **skip to optimal graphics settings**: If you're here after anything else (including installing the archive on Linux), start with the **launch options.** --- ## Launch options > [!TIP] > > **Setup Utility (**Windows only**)** > > The [Setup Utility]() can set up the launch options automatically for you. ### Manual instructions 1. Find the location for the game properties: - **Steam**: Right click the game in your library, press `Properties...` and locate the `Launch options` field. - **Rockstar Games Launcher**: Open the game page in your library, open settings and locate the `Launcher arguments` field. - **Shortcut**: Right click on the game shortcut, click `Properties` and locate the `Target` field. 2. Paste the following: ```text -norestrictions -nomemrestrict -managed ``` 3. If using **FusionFix**, enable `Windowed` and `Borderless Windowed` in `Settings` - `Game` in-game. 1. In the game folder, create a `commandline.txt` file. 2. Open the file. 3. Insert the following lines to it: ```text -norestrictions -nomemrestrict -windowed -managed ``` 4. If using **FusionFix**, `-windowed` can be removed in favor of the mod's in-game toggle. 5. If using **FusionFix** and/or **OpenPreCEPatch**, enable `Borderless Windowed` in `Settings` - `Game` in-game or `BorderlessWindowed` in `XLivelessAddon.ini` (or `ZolikaPatch.ini`) depending on which of the two you install. - **If you don't plan to install either of the mods, remove `-windowed`.** - If using both, only enable the option in **FusionFix**. > [!WARNING] > > **If using DXVK...** > > - Remove `-managed`. > - Add `-availablevidmem 3072.0` to the list of options. > > - This option is **UNNECESSARY** if **FusionFix** is installed. > - Replace the value with your VRAM value in MBs if you have less than 3 GB of VRAM. Don't make it higher, though. > - If using a version older than 1.0.8.0, this value is broken. Experiment manually to get as close to 3072 MB as possible (the value may looks something like 60.0, 80.0 etc). > - If the game doesn't allow you to use the correct resolution/refresh rate in the graphics settings, add `-width`, `-height` and `-refreshrate` with your monitor's native values. > > - If that still doesn't help, add `d3d9.forceAspectRatio = 16:9` to `dxvk.conf`. Change `16:9` with your *[exact]()* aspect ratio if you don't use a 16:9 monitor. > - If using Windows, make sure you disabled `Enable Shader Pre-caching` in `Settings` - `Downloads` on Steam. > [!NOTE] > > **Full list of available launch options** > > You can use these options for intensive tweaking or debugging. > > | Option | Description | > | ---: | :--- | > | \-help | Lists the available commands. | > | \-adapter | Uses the specified screen adapter. | > | \-autoconfig | Automatically adjusts the graphics settings depending on computer specifications. | > | \-availablevidmem | Sets the amount of available physical video memory. | > | \-benchmark | Launches the game in Benchmark mode and then quits it. | > | \-detailquality | Sets the game's detail distance (0-99). | > | \-disableimposters | Turns off imposter rendering for vehicles. | > | \-forcehighqualitymirrors | Unknown. | > | \-forcer2vb | Forces rendering to Vertex Buffer. | > | \-frameLimit | Sets the setting for V-Sync. | > | \-framelockinwindow | Forces framelock to work even in a window. | > | \-fullscreen | Forces fullscreen mode. | > | \-fullspecaudio | Forces high-end CPU audio footprint. | > | \-gpucount | Allows to manually set the GPU count if query fails. | > | \-height | Sets the vertical resolution. | > | \-managed | Uses D3D runtime managed resources. | > | \-memrestrict | Restricts the amount of available memory the game can use. | > | \-minspecaudio | Forces low-end CPU audio footprint. | > | \-no\_3GB | Disables 3GB memory support on 32-bit OSes which have been set to allow games and applications to use that much memory. | > | \-noBlockOnLostFocus | Prevents the game from blocking window updates during focus loss. | > | \-noprecache | Disables precaching of resources. | > | \-nomemrestrict | Disables memory restrictions. | > | \-nominimize | Disables the ability to restore the game from minimize and altering resolutions (reduces system memory footprint). | > | \-norestrictions | Disables restrictions on graphics settings. | > | \-noswapdelay | Disables sleep delay before Present (disables the hard present stalls fix). | > | \-notimefix | Disables Time Fix. | > | \-novblank | Disables vertical blanking for V-Sync. | > | \-percentvidmem | Percentage of video memory to be made available for the game. | > | \-refreshrate | Sets the refresh rate (values set must be supported by the monitor used). | > | \-reserve | Sets the amount of memory to be used by other programs. | > | \-reservedApp | Sets the amount of memory to be left available within application space. | > | \-renderquality | Adjusts anisotropic filtering (0-4). | > | \-safemode | Sets the game's graphics to the lowest setting possible. | > | \-shadowdensity | Adjusts night shadows (0-16). | > | \-shadowquality | Sets the shadow quality (0-4). | > | \-stereo | Sets game to support stereo rendering mode. What it currently does is unknown, it may not be implemented at all. | > | \-texturequality | Sets the game's texture quality (0-2). | > | \-unmanaged | Uses application managed resources. | > | \-usedirectinput | Allows DirectInput support alongside XInput support. | > | \-viewdistance | Sets the game's view distance (0-99). | > | \-windowed | Forces windowed mode. | > | \-width | Sets the horizontal resolution. | --- ## Optimal graphics settings > [!NOTE] > > Following settings are targetted for the [recommended spec sheet hardware](). > > If you came here from the archive, use the FusionFix tab. | Setting | Optimal setting | Description | | :---: | :---: | :---: | | Video Mode | Your native resolution (max option, usually) | This setting controls your monitor resolution or, if the `-windowed` launch option is set, the size of the game window. | | Aspect Ratio | Auto | This setting controls the aspect ratio of the screen relative to the resolution of your monitor. | | Texture Quality | High | This setting controls the resolution of all textures. | | Reflection Resolution | Very High | This setting controls the resolution of reflections (excluding water reflections). | | Water Quality | Medium | This setting controls the density and intensity of waves in the water, aswell as the resolution of water reflections.
***Medium* is recommended as it is less extreme, more realistic and most similar to the intended look on the consoles.** | | Shadow Quality | High | This setting controls the resolution and render distance of shadows.
**Medium** and **Low** rely too much on static shadows, making them look ugly.
***Very High* consumes too much performance for little gain and may appear broken at times.** | | Night Shadows | Medium | This setting controls how many local lights (e.g. car headlights) can cast shadows. Each quality level adds 4 additional shadow maps. This setting does not affect the resolution of dynamic shadows.
**Setting it above *Medium* is known to create artifacts.** | | Texture Filter Quality | Anisotropic x16 | This setting controls texture filtering. | | View Distance | Between 21 and 70 | This setting controls the main LOD render distance for things like buildings and vehicles. Also affects the render distance for props.
**Setting it above *21* causes pop-in, and above *70* is known to cause instability and artifacts, as well as a negative impact on framerate.** | | Detail Distance | Between 10 and 70 | This setting controls the secondary LOD render distance for props detail.
**Setting it above *10* causes pop-in, and above *70* is known to cause instability and artifacts.** | | Vehicle Density | Below 70 | This setting controls the number of cars on the road.
**Setting it too high can make driving too much of a hassle, especially with the unstable traffic AI, which can occasionally create random blocks even on straight roads and bridges.** | | Definition | On
Off if playing at 1280x720 | This setting controls depth of field and motion blur (**Off** is enabled, **On** is disabled).
**If playing above 1280x720, *Off* ends up blurring the image on PC and effects simply do not scale up with resolution - due to that, keep it *On* unless you play at that resolution.**
Can be quickly toggled by pressing P button in-game. | | VSync | Off if using DXVK
On | This setting controls vertical synchronization.
**If using [DXVK]() with configuration applied, keep the game's implementation *Off* in favor of DXVK's implementation. Also add d3d9.maxFrameRate = 60 to dxvk.conf or limit framerate with other methods you know to 60 or 30 to avoid timing-related issues.** AMD Fluid Motion Frames (if DXVK is used), [DLSS-IV]() Framegen or [Lossless Scaling]() can be used to artificially increase the framerate. | > [!WARNING] > > Following options require [FusionFix](). | Setting | Optimal setting | Description | | :---: | :---: | :---: | | Video Mode | Your native resolution (max option, usually) | This setting controls your monitor resolution or, if `Windowed` is enabled, the size of the game window. | | Aspect Ratio | Auto | This setting controls the aspect ratio of the screen relative to the resolution of your monitor. | | Texture Quality | High | This setting controls the resolution of all textures. | | Reflection Resolution | Very High | This setting controls the resolution of reflections (excluding water reflections). | | Water Quality | Very High | This setting *only* controls the resolution of the water reflections when using FusionFix. | | Shadow Quality | Very High | This setting controls the resolution and render distance of shadows.
**If the performance loss is too high, use *High* instead.**
Further tuning available in `GTAIV.EFLC.FusionFix.ini`. | | Night Shadows | Very High | This setting controls how many local lights (e.g. car headlights) can cast shadows and the shadows' resolution.
Further tuning available in `GTAIV.EFLC.FusionFix.ini`. | | Texture Filter Quality | Anisotropic x16 | This setting controls texture filtering. | | View Distance | Up to 70 | This setting controls the main LOD render distance for things like buildings and vehicles. Also affects the render distance for props.
**Setting it above *70* has diminishing results.** | | Detail Distance | Up to 70 | This setting controls the secondary LOD render distance for props detail.
**Setting it above *70* has diminishing results.** | | Vehicle Density | Below 70
100 with a custom popcycle (archive) | This setting controls the number of cars on the road.
**Setting it too high without any popcycle mods can make driving too much of a hassle, especially with the unstable traffic AI, which can occasionally create random blocks even on straight roads and bridges.** | | VSync | Off if using DXVK
On | This setting controls vertical synchronization.
**If using [DXVK]() with configuration applied, keep the game's implementation *Off* in favor of DXVK's implementation.** | | FPS Limiter | 60
30
Custom at -2 | This setting controls the FPS limit.
**Recommended to set to 60 or 30 to avoid [timing-related issues](), although the story can be beaten above 60 if ignoring bugs. You may want to lower it to 30 for some minigames.**
AMD Fluid Motion Frames (if DXVK is used), [DLSS-IV]() Framegen or [Lossless Scaling]() can be used to artificially increase the framerate.
Further tuning available in `GTAIV.EFLC.FusionFix.ini`. **If VRR is desired (and supported), set the limit to Custom and set the value to `-2` in the config file.** | | Anti-aliasing | SMAA | This setting controls the anti-aliasing method. | | Volumetric Fog | On
Preference | This setting controls custom-implemented volumetric fog that appears in distance, specific weathers and high heights. *Performance-heavy*. | | Sun Shafts | On
Preference | This setting controls custom-implemented godrays.
Further tuning available in `GTAIV.EFLC.FusionFix.ini`. | | Extended Sunlight Reach | On | This setting controls the ability of sunlight to reach places it couldn't before. May be performance-heavy. | | Tone Mapping | On | This setting controls custom-implemented tone mapping, which fixes highlight clips (things being way too bright, to the point the game can't really show how bright). | | Ambient Occlusion | On | This setting controls custom-implemented ambient occlusion, which creates shadows on the parts of objects that intersect with other objects (such as walls and ground). May be performance-heavy.
Further tuning available in `GTAIV.EFLC.FusionFix.ini`. | | Shadow Filter | CHSS
Preference | This setting controls how sharp the shadows look (as, in real life, shadows are pretty soft).
Further tuning available in `GTAIV.EFLC.FusionFix.ini`. | | Graphics API | Vulkan | This setting controls the Graphics API used. If possible, use Vulkan. | > [!NOTE] > > Following options are located in the `Display` tab. | Setting | Optimal setting | Description | | :---: | :---: | :---: | | FOV | Preference | This setting controls the game FOV in increments from the game's default value. | | Definition | On | This setting smoothes out stippled and dithered objects to reduce shimmering and aliasing. | | Console Gamma | Xbox 360 | This setting changes the gamma to match the Xbox 360 levels.
**The game was never supposed to be so whitewashed, so I recommend setting this to *Xbox 360*.** | | Console Auto Exposure | Preference | This setting controls whether the harsher console auto-exposure is applied (the "getting blinded" effect when leaving interior). | | Motion Blur | Preference | This setting controls the intensity of the motion blur effect. | | Depth of Field | Low
Preference | This setting controls the intensity of the distant blur and allows you to lock Depth of Field only to cutscenes. | | Tree Lighting | PC+
Preference | This setting controls the vegetation's ambient occlusion. If using *Console*, install Console Visuals' Console Vegetation to go along with this setting. | | Tree Alpha | PC+
Preference | This setting controls the vegetation's "transparency". If using *Console*, install Console Visuals' Console Vegetation to go along with this setting. | | Bloom | On | This setting controls bloom. | | Screen Filter | Default | This setting allows you to switch the timecyc file to match different screen filters (e.g. to have TBoGT filters in IV and vice versa). | | Distant Lights | Project2DFX | This setting controls whether the in-game's vanilla implementation of Distant Lights is used or integrated Project2DFX.
Further tuning for Project2DFX available in `GTAIV.EFLC.FusionFix.ini`. | > [!NOTE] > > Following options are located in the `Game` tab. | Setting | Optimal setting | Description | | :---: | :---: | :---: | | Windowed | On | This setting controls whether game is in Exclusive Fullscreen mode or (Borderless) Windowed.
Borderless is generally more recommended than Exclusive Fullscreen for multitasking purposes. | | Windowed Borderless | On if using `Windowed`Off | This setting controls if the game is a normal window or a Borderless Fullscreen window when the `Windowed` setting is **On**. | | Pause Game on Focus Loss | Off | This setting controls whether or not the game process will be locked when the window loses focus (alt-tabbing).
Recommended to turn off to avoid potential crashes. | | Extra Night Shadows | Lampposts | This setting controls whether lamppost and headlight shadows are enabled. Highly unstable, but if you miss the effect from vanilla IV you can set it to *Lampposts*. | > [!NOTE] > > **What are these settings?** > > These settings are adjusted for a Steam Deck or it's handheld PC equivalents, with a 800p 40-60 FPS target (tested on a Legion Go with SteamOS using the Balanced TDP mode by Not AJ) | Setting | Optimal setting | Description | | :---: | :---: | :---: | | Video Mode | 1280x800 | This setting controls your monitor resolution or, if `Windowed` is enabled, the size of the game window. | | Aspect Ratio | Auto | This setting controls the aspect ratio of the screen relative to the resolution of your monitor. | | Texture Quality | High | This setting controls the resolution of all textures. | | Reflection Resolution | High | This setting controls the resolution of reflections (excluding water reflections). | | Water Quality | High | This setting *only* controls the resolution of the water reflections when using FusionFix. | | Shadow Quality | High | This setting controls the resolution and render distance of shadows.
**Set to *Medium* for a small FPS increase.**
Further tuning available in `GTAIV.EFLC.FusionFix.ini`. | | Night Shadows | High | This setting controls how many local lights (e.g. car headlights) can cast shadows and the shadows' resolution. **Turn off for a slight FPS increase.**
Further tuning available in `GTAIV.EFLC.FusionFix.ini`. | | Texture Filter Quality | Anisotropic x16 | This setting controls texture filtering. | | View Distance | 25 | This setting controls the main LOD render distance for things like buildings and vehicles. Also affects the render distance for props. | | Detail Distance | 31 | This setting controls the secondary LOD render distance for props detail. | | Vehicle Density | Below 50
100 with a custom popcycle (archive) | This setting controls the number of cars on the road.
**Setting it too high without any popcycle mods can make driving too much of a hassle, especially with the unstable traffic AI, which can occasionally create random blocks even on straight roads and bridges.** | | VSync | Off | This setting controls vertical synchronization. | | FPS Limiter | 60
30 | This setting controls the FPS limit.
**Recommended to set to 60 or 30 to avoid [timing-related issues](), although the story can be beaten above 60 if ignoring bugs.**
AMD Fluid Motion Frames (if DXVK is used), [DLSS-IV]() Framegen or [Lossless Scaling]() can be used to artificially increase the framerate.
Further tuning available in `GTAIV.EFLC.FusionFix.ini`. | | Anti-aliasing | SMAA | This setting controls the anti-aliasing method. | | Volumetric Fog | On
Preference | This setting controls custom-implemented volumetric fog that appears in distance, specific weathers and high heights. **Turn off for a slight FPS increase.** | | Sun Shafts | On
Preference | This setting controls custom-implemented godrays.
Further tuning available in `GTAIV.EFLC.FusionFix.ini`. | | Extended Sunlight Reach | Off
Preference | This setting controls the ability of sunlight to reach places it couldn't before. May be performance-heavy. | | Tone Mapping | On | This setting controls custom-implemented tone mapping, which fixes highlight clips (things being way too bright, to the point the game can't really show how bright). | | Ambient Occlusion | Off | This setting controls custom-implemented ambient occlusion, which creates shadows on the parts of objects that intersect with other objects (such as walls and ground). May be performance-heavy.
Further tuning available in `GTAIV.EFLC.FusionFix.ini`. | | Shadow Filter | Sharp
Preference | This setting controls how sharp the shadows look (as, in real life, shadows are pretty soft).
Further tuning available in `GTAIV.EFLC.FusionFix.ini`. | | Graphics API | DirectX 9 | This setting controls the Graphics API used. Counter-intuitive, but you actually want to set this to DirectX 9 to let the system use DXVK on its own (if on Windows, use Vulkan) | > [!NOTE] > > Following options are located in the `Display` tab. | Setting | Optimal setting | Description | | :---: | :---: | :---: | | FOV | Preference | This setting controls the game FOV in increments from the game's default value. | | Definition | Off | This setting smoothes out stippled and dithered objects to reduce shimmering and aliasing. According to Not AJ, setting this to `On` makes the image too jagged. | | Console Gamma | Xbox 360 | This setting changes the gamma to match the Xbox 360 levels.
**The game was never supposed to be so whitewashed, so I recommend setting this to *Xbox 360*.** | | Console Auto Exposure | Preference | This setting controls whether the harsher console auto-exposure is applied (the "getting blinded" effect when leaving interior). | | Motion Blur | Preference | This setting controls the intensity of the motion blur effect. | | Depth of Field | Low
Preference | This setting controls the intensity of the distant blur and allows you to lock Depth of Field only to cutscenes. | | Tree Lighting | PC+
Preference | This setting controls the vegetation's ambient occlusion. If using *Console*, install Console Visuals' Console Vegetation to go along with this setting. | | Tree Alpha | PC+
Preference | This setting controls the vegetation's "transparency". If using *Console*, install Console Visuals' Console Vegetation to go along with this setting. | | Bloom | On | This setting controls bloom. | | Screen Filter | Default | This setting allows you to switch the timecyc file to match different screen filters (e.g. to have TBoGT filters in IV and vice versa). | | Distant Lights | Project2DFX | This setting controls whether the in-game's vanilla implementation of Distant Lights is used or integrated Project2DFX.
Further tuning for Project2DFX available in `GTAIV.EFLC.FusionFix.ini`. | > [!NOTE] > > Following options are located in the `Game` tab. | Setting | Optimal setting | Description | | :---: | :---: | :---: | | Windowed | On | This setting controls whether game is in Exclusive Fullscreen mode or (Borderless) Windowed.
Borderless is generally more recommended than Exclusive Fullscreen for multitasking purposes. | | Windowed Borderless | On | This setting controls if the game is a normal window or a Borderless Fullscreen window when the `Windowed` setting is **On**. | | Pause Game on Focus Loss | Off | This setting controls whether or not the game process will be locked when the window loses focus (alt-tabbing).
Recommended to turn off to avoid potential crashes. | | Extra Night Shadows | Off | This setting controls whether lampmpost and headlight shadows are enabled. Highly unstable, but if you miss the effect from vanilla IV you can turn it on. | > [!NOTE] > > **What are these settings?** > > These settings are identical to the console versions of the game. > > I don't really recommend playing with these settings, so this list is more for pure reference. > [!WARNING] > > Following options require [FusionFix](). | Setting | Console-identical setting | Description | | :---: | :---: | :---: | | Video Mode | 1280x720 on X360
1152x640 on PS3 | This setting controls your monitor resolution or, if `Windowed` is enabled, the size of the game window. | | Texture Quality | Medium | This setting controls the resolution of all textures. | | Reflection Resolution | Medium | This setting controls the resolution of reflections (excluding water reflections). | | Water Quality | Medium | This setting *only* controls the resolution of the water reflections when using FusionFix. | | Shadow Quality | Medium (?) | This setting controls the resolution and render distance of shadows. | | Night Shadows | Off | This setting controls how many local lights (e.g. car headlights) can cast shadows and the shadows' resolution. | | Texture Filter Quality | Tri-Linear | This setting controls texture filtering. | | View Distance | 21 | This setting controls the main LOD render distance for things like buildings and vehicles. Also affects the render distance for props. | | Detail Distance | 10 | This setting controls the secondary LOD render distance for props detail. | | Vehicle Density | 33 | This setting controls the number of cars on the road. | | FPS Limiter | 30 | This setting controls the FPS limit. | | Anti-aliasing | N/A | This setting controls the anti-aliasing method.
The game used SSAA 2x on the Xbox 360 and QAA on the PS3, neither of which are avaialable on PC. If you want to replicate it, set your resolution to 2x of your monitor's using external means. | | Volumetric Fog | Off | This setting controls custom-implemented volumetric fog that appears in distance, specific weathers and high heights. | | Sun Shafts | Off | This setting controls custom-implemented godrays. | | Extended Sunlight Reach | Off | This setting controls the ability of sunlight to reach places it couldn't before. | | Tone Mapping | Off | This setting controls tone mapping, which fixes highlight clips (things being way too bright, to the point the game can't really show how bright). | | Ambient Occlusion | Off | This setting controls custom-implemented ambient occlusion, which creates shadows on the parts of objects that intersect with other objects (such as walls and ground). | | Shadow Filter | Soft | This setting controls how sharp the shadows look. | > [!NOTE] > > Following options are located in the `Display` tab. | Setting | Console-identical setting | Description | | :---: | :---: | :---: | | FOV | Default (lowest) | This setting controls the game FOV in increments from the game's default value. | | Definition | Off | This setting smoothes out stippled and dithered objects to reduce shimmering and aliasing. | | Console Gamma | On | This setting changes the gamma to match the Xbox 360 levels. | | Console Auto Exposure | On | This setting controls whether the harsher console auto-exposure is applied (the "getting blinded" effect when leaving interior). | | Motion Blur | Very High (?) | This setting controls the intensity of the motion blur effect. | | Depth of Field | Very High (?) | This setting controls the intensity of the distant blur. | | Tree Lighting | Console | This setting controls the vegetation's ambient occlusion. Install Console Visuals' Console Vegetation to go along with this setting. | | Tree Alpha | Console | This setting controls the vegetation's "transparency". Install Console Visuals' Console Vegetation to go along with this. Install Console Visuals' Console Vegetation to go along with this setting. | | Bloom | On | This setting controls bloom. | | Screen Filter | Default | This setting allows you to switch the timecyc file to match different screen filters (e.g. to have TBoGT filters in IV and vice versa). | | Distant Lights | Default | This setting controls whether the in-game's vanilla implementation of Distant Lights is used or Project2DFX. | > [!NOTE] Following options are located in the `Game` tab. | Setting | Optimal setting | Description | | :---: | :---: | :---: | | Extra Night Shadows | Off | This setting controls whether lampmpost and headlight shadows are enabled. Highly unstable. | --- ## Removing Rockstar Games Launcher from Complete Edition (1.2.0.59) If you're annoyed by the Rockstar Games Launcher every time you launch the game, you can bypass that with RGLess. > [!WARNING] > > - This is only for the Steam edition of the game. > - This disables achievements. > - This method moves your savefile directory from Documents to a save folder inside of your game folder ## Installation 1. Download RGLess from [Mediafire](), [MEGA]() or [Internet Archive](). 2. Extract the `RGLessIV.zip` archive into the game folder - Backup `GTAIV.exe`, `PlayGTAIV.exe` and `binkw32.dll` if you want to reverse this later. ## Navigation - If you came here after installing the archive, **congratulations - you are done here!** - If you are going through the guide manually step-by-step, continue with **Essential Modding**.