Fix: GTA 5 Steam Deck Crashing or Not Launching

2013’s Grand Theft Auto V (GTA 5) is an action-adventure video game by Rockstar Games that has been doing overwhelmingly well across all platforms. It’s the 15th installment, which offers stunning players visuals and a gaming experience. But the chances are high that, as a Steam Deck user, you may encounter several issues with the GTA V game because several GTA 5 players have reported that the game on Steam Deck is crashing or not launching.

Now, if you’re also one of the victims of such an issue, don’t worry. Luckily, here we’ve shared a couple of possible workarounds that can help you easily resolve the startup crashing or the game not launching issue. It looks like Steam Deck users were too excited about the game to play, but the game’s performance didn’t come out fruitful, which is frustrating enough. Well, you can still follow the methods below to fix it completely.

Fix: GTA 5 Steam Deck Crashing or Not Launching

Whereas if you’re still encountering the startup crashing or the game not launching issue on Steam Deck, then follow this troubleshooting guide to resolve it. Here we’ve shared a couple of possible workarounds for you that should come in handy. So, without wasting any more time, let’s get into it.

1. Reboot Steam Deck

First, it’s better to restart your Steam Deck via the Software Updates section. Sometimes outdated system software can also cause issues with the game launching or performance. Make sure there is no temporary system glitch present on the Steam Deck. In some cases, temporary cache data issues can also trigger the game not to launch or crash. To do so:

• Press the Steam button on Steam Deck.
• Select Power > Choose Restart.
• Wait for the device to reboot and check for the issue again.

2. Force Reboot Steam Deck

Maybe a normal reboot might not work properly in all scenarios for everyone, and that’s why you should try force restarting the Steam Deck by following the steps below. It’ll clear out any potential glitches or system-related conflicts immediately. Sometimes you may need to use the force reboot method if your Steam Deck is powered on but becomes unresponsive or stutters a lot. To do this:

• Press and hold the Power button for at least 3 seconds. If it remains unresponsive, try long-pressing the Power button for around 10 seconds to reboot the system again forcefully.

3. Check for SteamOS Updates

An outdated SteamOS version can trouble you greatly regarding bugs, instability, security issues, etc. You should always manually check for SteamOS updates on Steam Deck updates by following the steps below.

• Press the Steam button on the left side of the Steam Deck.
• Go to Settings > Head over to the System tab.
• Select Check for Updates on the right side.
• If there is an update available, tap on Apply.
• Now, wait for the software update to complete.
• Then tap on Restart to apply changes.

4. Check for GTA 5 Updates

It can also be possible that the outdated game version conflicts with the system’s ability to run properly due to some bugs. You should check for the game update by following the steps below.

• Open your Steam Library > Under the GTA 5 library page, select Manage.
• Choose Properties > Select the Updates tab.
• Make sure to select Automatic Updates> Reboot the Steam Deck.
• Whenever a new update is available for GTA 5, it’ll automatically install.

5. Check Onboard Storage Space

You should also check for the available data storage space on your Steam Deck because low disk space can cause issues with the GTA 5 launching and performance. Press the Steam button on Steam Deck > Go to Settings > Choose Storage. If the available storage space becomes low, delete or uninstall unnecessary apps/games from the console to free up some space.

6. Reinsert the MicroSD Card

Sometimes a corrupted MicroSD card on the Steam Deck console can also cause multiple issues with the GTA 5 game crashing while startup. It’s worth mentioning that you should fully format the MicroSD card before starting to use it with your Steam Deck. To format a microSD card:

• Ensure to properly insert the MicroSD card into the memory slot on the bottom.
• Press the Steam button on Steam Deck > Go to Settings.
• Choose System > Select Format SD Card.
• It may take a couple of minutes to complete the format.

Note: Any UHS-I (class 3 or better) microSD card is supported. Steam Deck does not support UHS-II. If your MicroSD card is old enough or gets corrupted often, it’s time to get a new one.

7. Enable Steam Cloud Synchronization

If you have somehow disabled the Cloud Synchronization feature earlier on your Steam Deck, you should enable it right now to properly cloud sync the game with servers.

• Press the Steam button > Select the Steam menu at the top-left corner.
• Go to Settings from the list > Navigate to the Cloud tab.
• Checkmark the Enable Steam Cloud Synchronization box.
• Select OK to save the changes.
• Once done, restart the Steam Deck to apply changes.

8. Force Change Proton Version on Steam Deck

It’s also highly recommended to forcefully change the Proton version on the Steam Deck by following the steps below because it can greatly impact the game launching or performance.

• Select GTA 5 from the Library.
• Go to Settings of the game > Go to Properties.
• Choose the Compatibility option in the left sidebar.
• Make sure to tick mark the checkbox > Select Proton Experimental.
• You can now select the version you want to test out.

9. Ensure GTA 5 is Verified on Steam Deck

Sometimes, you must check whether Deck is verified for the GTA 5 game to play smoothly. The Steam ‘Deck Verified’ system has four categories to indicate how well games will work on it. If a game is Playable or Unsupported, you can see what requirements of Verified are not currently met by referring to the Steam Deck Compatibility section on the game’s Steam Store page.

• Verified: The game works great on Steam Deck by default. No additional modification is necessary.
• Playable: The game works, but the user may require manual configuration. This could include adjusting controller configurations or using a mouse or touchscreen to navigate a launcher.
• Unsupported: The game is currently not considered playable on Steam Deck.
• Unknown: We haven’t tested this game for compatibility yet. Feel free to try it, but we don’t know how it works.

10. Reinstall GTA 5

It’s better to uninstall and reinstall the GTA 5 game on your Steam Deck by following the steps below. The chances are high that reinstalling the game might fix several conflicts or issues with launching for sure.

• Press the Steam button on Steam Deck to open Settings.
• Scroll down in the sidebar and select Storage.
• Select the GTA 5 game that you want to uninstall.
• Now, press the X key to Uninstall the game.
• Wait for the game to be deleted completely.
• Once done, make sure to reinstall the GTA 5 game via the Steam Store again.

11. Factory Reset Steam Deck

You should also perform the factory reset method on Steam Deck to delete all the data and settings to the default state. It can also help you to fix crashing issues with the game. To do so:

• Press the Steam button on Steam Deck to open Settings.
• Under the System menu, scroll to the bottom and select Factory Reset.
• If prompted, make sure to confirm & proceed.
• The process may take some time to complete.
• Once done, go through the initial setup process for the first time.

12. Contact Steam Deck

If none of the methods worked for you well enough, then make sure to contact Steam Support to create a support ticket. The chances are high that Steam support will assist you further on it.

That’s it, guys. We hope this guide was helpful to you. For further queries, you can comment below.