When Rockstar Games Launcher is not working, check Rockstar's Service Status page before touching your PC: if Authentication or the Launcher is down, no local fix will help. If everything is up, the error code tells you where to go next. 6000.87 means sign-in failed, 7002.1 a launch error, 133 that offline play couldn't be verified, and "Library Service" usually a blocked update. Every step below comes from Rockstar's own support articles, opened on October 11, 2026.

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Rockstar Games Launcher not working: a dark monitor with an orange loading ring and an unplugged network cable on the desk

Short answer

  • Open support.rockstargames.com/servicestatus. Red there means wait, not reinstall.
  • 6000.87: Settings > Account Information > Delete local profile, then sign in again.
  • 7002.1: remove third-party mods, run the launcher as administrator, reset Winsock.
  • 133: launch the game while connected to the internet, without launch arguments.
  • Library Service: run as administrator, then a clean reinstall of the launcher.

Check Rockstar service status first

Rockstar's status page splits services into three groups. Grand Theft Auto Online has a line for each platform: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC. Online Services covers Authentication, the Rockstar Games Launcher and the Store. A third block covers Cfx (FiveM and RedM), useful if you play on community servers.

A healthy line reads "All services operational", and the page stamps the time of the last update. Open it yourself at the moment the launcher fails, because an old reading tells you nothing. If any line you rely on is not operational, Rockstar's advice in the 6000.87 article is simple: wait until services resume before trying to log in again. Reinstalling during an outage only adds a second problem.

If the status is green and the launcher still fails, run Rockstar's connection basics: a speed test (Rockstar's targets are 7.5 Mbps down, 1 Mbps up recommended, 0.5 Mbps up minimum) and, on Wi-Fi, a test over a cable.

Rockstar error codes table

Code or message What it means (per Rockstar) First step
6000.87 Online sign-in failed; no offline sign-in on this PC yet Delete local profile, sign in again
7002.1 Game launch error; connection problems or third-party mods Remove mods, run as administrator
132 inside 7002.1 Services unavailable, offline play not verified Check status, then network steps
133 Launched offline, or the account was offline too long Launch while online, no launch arguments
Library Service failure Launcher can't update: network or file permissions Run as administrator
Online Services unavailable (GTA Online, PC) Server outage or your network Status page, then ports, NAT and DNS

All of these share one network checklist, so we give it once, in the next section.

"Rockstar game services are unavailable"

This message shows up in three forms: as code 133, as code 132 inside error 7002.1, and as "Rockstar Games Online Services are unavailable right now" when you try to join GTA Online on PC. The causes Rockstar names are an outage on its side or a problem with your network.

For code 133, Rockstar explains that offline play only works if the game was recently launched online on that computer. Launch while connected. If the game needs to sync progress with the Rockstar Cloud, close it, temporarily remove any launch arguments in the launcher settings, and start it again.

For the other forms, Rockstar's network checklist, in its order:

  1. Ports: make sure these UDP ports are open: 6672, 61455, 61456, 61457 and 61458.
  2. NAT type: forwarding other ports can change it by accident. Check your router and firewall.
  3. DNS: Rockstar suggests 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 for IPv4, and 2001:4860:4860::8888 and 2001:4860:4860::8844 for IPv6, set in the adapter's properties.
  4. Router: unplug it for about 10 minutes, then restart the launcher.
  5. Another network: try a mobile hotspot. If the game connects there, the problem sits with your provider or router.

"Failed to connect to the Rockstar Games Library Service"

Rockstar says this happens when the launcher can't update, because of the network or file permissions. Steps, from lightest to heaviest:

  1. Run as administrator: right-click the launcher and choose Run as administrator.
  2. Pause Windows Security: in Virus & threat protection, switch Real-time protection off, restart the launcher so pending updates apply, then switch protection back on.
  3. Clean reinstall: close all Rockstar games, run uninstall.exe from C:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Launcher and leave "uninstall the game data" unchecked.
  4. Delete the leftovers: the Social Club and Launcher folders in Documents\Rockstar Games, C:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Launcher, and the Social Club folders in Program Files and Program Files (x86). Rockstar warns not to delete anything else.
  5. Reinstall: restart the PC, download the launcher from socialclub.rockstargames.com/rockstar-games-launcher, and let it scan for installed Rockstar games on first start.

GTA 5 won't launch from Steam or Epic

Error 7002.1 has three wordings, and one of them asks you to verify game files. Rockstar's general PC checklist for GTA V covers the rest:

  • Patch: launch the game online once so the latest update applies automatically.
  • Drivers: update NVIDIA or AMD graphics drivers.
  • Launcher: download and install the current Rockstar Games Launcher; Rockstar lists it as a standard step.
  • Verify files: in the launcher you bought from: Rockstar, Steam or Epic. Our Steam file check guide walks through the Steam side.
  • C++ and DirectX errors: run the installers in the game's Redistributables folder.
  • Antivirus: add GTA V as an exception or test with it disabled.
  • Logs: launcher.log in Documents\Rockstar Games\GTAV often names the cause.

Two more causes are worth ruling out. Rockstar's 7002.1 article lists third-party mods first; remove them and their folders completely. And GTA V Enhanced requires an SSD per its Steam page, so an install on a hard drive is outside the minimum spec. Our Enhanced vs Legacy guide compares both versions' requirements, and game crashes on startup covers Windows-side causes common to all games.

GTA Online stuck loading

If Story Mode works but Online won't load, go back to the status page and check the GTA Online line for your platform, then the network checklist above. On PC, Rockstar specifically names NAT type restrictions and closed UDP ports for the "Online Services are unavailable" message.

Rockstar's 7002.1 article also offers a Winsock reset when nothing else helps. Open Command Prompt as administrator and run, in order: netsh winsock reset, netsh int ip reset, ipconfig /release, ipconfig /renew, ipconfig /flushdns. Then restart the PC.

What usually goes wrong

  • Reinstalling during an outage. The status page shows a problem, the player reinstalls anyway, and now has a broken install on top. Check status first, every time.
  • Deleting the wrong folders. Rockstar lists five folders for a clean reinstall and warns that deleting anything else may lose game data. Stick to the list and keep "uninstall the game data" unchecked.
  • Windows Security left off. The Library Service fix asks you to pause real-time protection only until the launcher updates. Turn it back on right after.
  • Expecting offline mode to rescue you. Offline sign-in works only if you signed in on that PC before, with "Remember me" ticked, while online. On a new PC there is no fallback.
  • DNS changed and forgotten. Rockstar suggests public DNS as a step. One player on r/gtaonline found the opposite: a manually set DNS was the trigger, and switching back to automatic fixed it. If a custom DNS was already there, try automatic first.

Rockstar's steps never involve a region change or a third-party "fixer", and neither do ours. If the game launches but runs badly, the next stop is the GTA 5 FPS boost guide. If you play through Steam, also see Steam error codes and the cloud conflict fix. Back in the game, the GTA Online beginner guide covers your first hours, and the GTA hub lists everything else. If your keys act up in menus after a reinstall, our keyboard tester rules out hardware in seconds.

See also

FAQ

What does it mean when Rockstar Games Launcher says services are unavailable?

Either Rockstar's servers are down or your connection can't reach them. Check support.rockstargames.com/servicestatus first. If everything is up, Rockstar suggests checking ports, changing DNS and restarting the router for about 10 minutes.

What is Rockstar error code 6000.87?

Online sign-in failed, and the launcher couldn't fall back to offline sign-in because you haven't signed in on that PC before with Remember me ticked. Rockstar's fix: check service status, then delete the local profile in Settings > Account Information and sign in again.

How do I fix 'failed to connect to the Rockstar Games Library Service'?

Run the launcher as administrator. If that fails, turn off Windows Security real-time protection briefly, restart the launcher so updates apply, and turn protection back on. The last step is a clean reinstall.

GTA 5 won't launch from Steam: what should I check?

Rockstar's general PC checklist: launch online so the latest patch applies, update GPU drivers, install the Rockstar Games Launcher, verify game files in the store you bought from, and check your antivirus. Error 7002.1 can also come from third-party mods.

How do I check if Rockstar servers are down?

Open support.rockstargames.com/servicestatus. It lists GTA Online by platform plus Authentication, Rockstar Games Launcher and Store. A working line reads “All services operational” with a timestamp, so check it at the moment the error appears.

Does reinstalling the launcher delete my saves?

Not if you follow Rockstar's steps: leave 'uninstall the game data' unchecked and delete only the folders Rockstar lists. Deleting the local profile also keeps your account and saved games, per Rockstar.

Sources