Red Dead Redemption 2 Stuttering, Lags and Freezing on PC (Fixed)

Red Dead Redemption 2 is an action-adventure video game developed by Rockstar Games and released in 2018. It is the third installment in the Red Dead series and serves as a prequel to the 2010 game Red Dead Redemption. The game can be played on Windows, PS4, Xbox One, and Google Stadia platforms. However, many players have reported experiencing stuttering or lagging issues while playing the game on PC. Despite the game’s developers working on it for several years, initial player and critic responses were not very positive. Fortunately, recent patch updates have resolved many issues.

It’s important to note that no video game is entirely free from errors or bugs, regardless of the device being used. Lags and stutters are common issues for PC games, including Red Dead Redemption 2. We expect developers to release more patch updates in the future to address other issues. However, we have compiled a list of possible workarounds below that may help alleviate these issues. Without further ado, let’s take a look.

Fix: Red Dead Redemption 2 Stuttering or Lagging on PC

It’s worth mentioning that there are a couple of possible reasons behind such an issue which should be fixed manually. Sometimes compatibility issues, in-game settings, or even issues with the game files may cause stuttering or lagging issues on the PC. It’s better to check out all the steps below.

Watch Video Troubleshoot:

Our latest video tutorial provides a comprehensive guide on how to fix the problem of stuttering or lagging in Red Dead Redemption 2 on a PC. By following the detailed troubleshooting steps outlined in the video, you can effectively resolve this issue and enjoy uninterrupted gameplay in Red Dead Redemption 2.

Watch Video Tutorial

1. Use Launch Options

• Open your Steam client > Go to Library > Right-click on the Red Dead Redemption 2.
• Select Properties > On the General tab, you’ll find Launch Options.
• Enter the launch options -fullscreen = Forces the engine to start in fullscreen mode.

2. Update Graphics Drivers

• Right-click on the Start Menu to open up the Quick Access Menu.
• Click on Device Manager from the list.
• Now, double-click on the Display adapters category to expand the list.
• Then right-click on the dedicated graphics card name.
• Select Update driver > Choose Search automatically for drivers.
• If there is an update available, it’ll automatically download and install the latest version.
• Once done, make sure to reboot your computer to change effects.

3. Run the game as an administrator

Make sure to run the game exe file as an administrator to avoid user account control regarding privilege issues. You should also run the Steam client as an administrator on your PC. To do this:

• Right-click on the Red Dead Redemption 2 exe shortcut file on your PC.
• Now, select Properties > Click on the Compatibility tab.
• Make sure to click on the Run this program as an administrator checkbox to checkmark it.
• Click on Apply and select OK to save changes.

4. Set High Priority in Task Manager

Make your game priority in the higher segment via the Task Manager to tell your Windows system to run the game properly. To do this:

• Right-click on the Start Menu > Select Task Manager.
• Click on the Processes tab > Right-click on the Red Dead Redemption 2 game task.
• Select Set Priority to High.
• Close Task Manager.
• Finally, run the Red Dead Redemption 2 game to check for the issue.

5. Verify Integrity of Game Files

If, in case, there is an issue with the game files and somehow it gets corrupted or missing, then make sure to perform this method to check for the issue easily. To do so:

Verify Game Files on Steam:

• Launch Steam > Click on Library.
• Right-click on Red Dead Redemption 2 from the list of installed games.
• Now, click on Properties > Go to Local Files.
• Click on Verify Integrity of Game Files.
• You’ll have to wait for the process until it gets completed.
• Once done, just restart your computer.

Verify Game Files on Epic:

1. Open the Epic Games Launcher: Start by launching the Epic Games Launcher on your computer.
2. Navigate to Your Library: Once the launcher is open, click on ‘Library’ in the left sidebar to view your list of games.
3. Locate the Game: Find the game whose files you want to verify from your list of installed games.
4. Access Game Settings: Click on the three dots under the game’s title to open a menu with more options.
5. Select ‘Verify’: In the menu, click on ‘Verify.’ This option will start the process of checking your game files.
6. Wait for Verification to Complete: The launcher will begin verifying the game files, which might take a few minutes depending on the game’s size and your computer’s speed.
7. Complete the Process: Once verification is done, any missing or corrupted files will be re-downloaded and replaced. After this, you should be able to launch your game without issues.

6. Change GPU Settings

Make sure to change the graphics card settings on the PC by following the steps below to check if the problem has been fixed or not.

For Nvidia:

• Open up Nvidia’s Control Panel > Right-click on the desktop screen.
• Click on Nvidia Control Panel > Click on Manage 3D Settings.
• Select Program Settings > Find ‘Red Dead Redemption 2’ and manually add the game if it’s not in the list:
  • Monitor Tech: G-Sync (If available)
  • Maximum Pre-rendered frames: 2
  • Threaded optimization: On
  • Power Management: Prefer Maximum Performance
  • Texture Filtering – Quality: Performance

For AMD:

• Monitor Tech: G-Sync (If available)
• Maximum Pre-rendered frames: 2
• Threaded optimization: On
• Power Management: Prefer Maximum Performance
• Texture Filtering – Quality: Performance

7. Disable Fullscreen Optimizations

Full-screen optimization and DPI settings are the default ones on Windows. You should try disabling it by following the steps below:

• Locate the Red Dead Redemption 2 game directory.
• Find and right-click on the GRIDLegends.exe file.
• Select Properties > Click on the Compatibility tab.
• Checkmark the ‘Disable Full-Screen Optimizations’ box.
• Now, click on the ‘Change high DPI settings button.
• Checkmark the ‘Override high DPI scaling behavior’ > Select ‘Application’ from the drop-down menu.
• Click on Apply and then OK to save changes.

8. Update Red Dead Redemption 2

If in case, you haven’t updated your Red Dead Redemption 2 game for a while then make sure to follow the steps below to check for updates and install the latest patch (if available). To do this:

Steam Users:

• Open the Steam client > Go to Library > Click on Red Dead Redemption 2 from the left pane.
• It’ll automatically search for the available update. If there is an update available, make sure to click on Update.
• It may take some time to install the update > Once done, make sure to close the Steam client.
• Finally, reboot your PC to apply changes, and then try launching the game again.

This is how you can easily fix Red Dead Redemption 2 Stuttering and Lags on the PC.

Epic Launcher Users:

• Open the Epic Launcher client > Go to Library > Look for Red Dead Redemption 2 from the left pane.
• On your Red Dead Redemption 2 application, you have to tap on the three-dot icon.
• Make sure to check the auto-update to get a new update installation automatically.
• It’ll automatically search for the available update. If there is an update available, make sure to click on Update.
• Finally, reboot your PC to apply changes, and then try launching the game again

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