Alex Ruben
How To Resolve the “Please Run Red Dead Redemption 2” Error from Rockstar Games Launcher
If you’re hitting that annoyingly stubborn error message saying “Please run Red Dead Redemption 2 from Rockstar Games Launcher” when trying to start the game, it’s pretty damn frustrating. Like, you bought the game, installed it, but somehow it refuses to launch outside the launcher. Sometimes it’s a permissions thing, other times a weird glitch. Luckily, there are a couple of ways to hack around it—without needing to reinstall or do any complicated stuff, mostly. This should help you bypass the launcher and get straight into the game.
How to Fix RDR2 Launch Issue Without the Rockstar Launcher
Method 1: Launch the Game Directly from the Executable
This one’s kind of weird, but launching the game directly often works, especially if the launcher’s acting up or if the game’s misreporting its status. Basically, instead of clicking the game icon or trying to start it via the launcher, you open the actual game file from its install folder.
- First, make sure the Rockstar launcher is completely closed. Sometimes it stays running in the background, which can mess things up. Check your system tray or Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and kill the Rockstar service if needed.
- Now, right-click on the Red Dead Redemption 2 desktop shortcut or, if you don’t have one, browse to your installation folder. Usually, it’s something like: C:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Red Dead Redemption 2.
- Find the file named
RDR2.exe. Double-click that to launch the game. On some setups, this will skip the launcher entirely.
Heads up: on some machines, the game still insists on the launcher on the first run, then it works fine afterwards. Worth giving a shot. If it doesn’t work immediately, try running as administrator (Right-click > Run as administrator).
Method 2: Modify the Game’s Shortcut or Desktop Link
If you prefer clicking a shortcut, you can tweak the game’s shortcut target to point directly at the executable. Here’s how:
- Right-click your desktop shortcut for RDR2 and select Properties.
- Under the Shortcut tab, look for the Target field.
- Add
-FULLSCREENor similar flags if you want, but most importantly, make sure it points directly to:C:\Program Files\Rockstar Games\Red Dead Redemption 2\RDR2.exe. - Click Apply and OK.
This way, clicking that shortcut runs the game directly, bypassing the launcher. Sometimes this minor tweak fixes weird launch issues caused by broken links or corrupted shortcuts.
Method 3: Adjust Compatibility and Administrative Settings
Another thing that’s helped others is setting the game to run with admin rights or compatibility mode. It’s kinda hit-or-miss, but hey, worth trying if the above fails. Here’s what to do:
- Right-click
RDR2.exein the install folder, then choose Properties. - Go to the Compatibility tab. Check Run this program as an administrator.
- Optionally, toggle Run this program in compatibility mode for and pick an older Windows version, like Windows 10.
- Hit Apply and OK.
This fix helps if some permissions or Windows security settings block the game from launching properly outside the launcher. Sometimes, Windows just makes it harder than necessary.
Additional Tips & Common Pitfalls
Make sure your graphics drivers (GPU) are updated, because outdated drivers can cause weird launcher or launch errors. Also, verify game files through Rockstar’s launcher or Steam (depending on where you bought it), because corrupted files can trigger false errors like that.
Another tidbit: game updates can sometimes fix or break these launch issues, so keeping the game fully updated is smart. If nothing helps, check for pending Windows updates or consider reinstalling if the situation is really stubborn.
Wrap-up
Hopefully, one of these methods gets you past that frustrating “Please run from Rockstar Launcher” message. Launching directly from the game’s executable tends to work sometimes, even if it’s a bit of a workaround. At the very least, it’s quicker than reinstalling or resetting everything.
Summary
- Close the Rockstar launcher completely before trying to launch manually.
- Find the game’s
RDR2.exein installation folder and run it directly. - Try tweaking shortcut targets or running as admin if needed.
- Update your drivers and verify game files to prevent deeper issues.
Final Thoughts
Not entirely sure why, but sometimes the launcher just refuses to cooperate, and the game’s files get a little overprotective. These fixes are kinda like a quick patch to bypass the hassle. If this gets one update working without the launcher, it’s a win. Fingers crossed this helps, at least for now.