That said - since the new launcher, many others are finding they need to set all .exe's to run as admin. That includes gta .exe's, social club .exe's, AND R* launcher .exe's. You can test both ways - making sure to cover all of them, or remove all of them for testing.

Verify cache on your gtav install - rightclick, properties, local files, verify integrity. [R* version - use "gtavlauncher -verify"]

Open program files AND program filesx86 - delete rockstar games / social club folder. Open my documents / rockstar games - rename social club to social club-OLD [or my docs / rename rockstar games to rockstar games-old] Reinstall social club - steam/steamapps/common/gtav/installers - rightclick-run as admin. [or from here - sometimes outdated -.- //patches.rockstargames.com/prod/socialclub/Social%20Club%20Latest%20Setup.exe ] *** Some users have had luck UNINSTALLING social club, and not manually deleting it. Far easier for steam users, some R* users report it wants to uninstall gtav too. YMMV. [there is an uninstaller exe in the above mentioned socialclub folders]

***** Yep, since the new launcher - program files / rockstar games / launcher can be deleted too. programdata / rockstar games also exists/can be removed. Additionally, steam/steamapps/common/gtav/installers/ launcher installer can be run as admin. You can also download it from R*.

~IF GTAV DOES NOT RECREATE my docs / rockstar games after you renamed it.... [or my docs / rockstar games / gtav or my docs / rockstar games / social club...] Then you create it. Make a my docs / rockstar games folder. Go inside. Make a "gta v" and a "social club" folder. Try gtav again. It should place log files in each. [Onedrive enabled/disabled can also cause various issues with this]

~Try changing DNS servers from automatic to google,

OR BACK TO AUTO. [for tcp/ipv4..] Google IP's are 8.8.8.8 - 8.8.4.4 [restart pc after each dns change to be sure~] [YES, there are many other DNS you can use too - google has had problems too]

****Dns that R* suggests for Netherlands "region" *Nov2017 - Set both / enable both [tcp4/6] [Dec2017, now Jan2018- still functional] [*Yes, other regions can try this - why do I even have to type this? -.-] tcpv4 84.200.69.80 and 84.200.70.40 tcpv6 2001:1608:10:25::1c04:b12f and 2001:1608:10:25::9249:d69b

How to Change - //developers.google.com/speed/public-dns/docs/using

windows

There ARE other DNS servers you can try - google around~ Lazy/don't wanna read? There are tools like dnsjumper that you can use to also quickly change your dns. [yep, put at the bottom of the dns section because "reading". -.-]

~Some users had success with ipconfig /flushdns in an admin/elevated cmd prompt~ [or netsh winsock reset - but be warned it may remove custom settings..]

~Open windows/system32/drivers/etc - RENAME hosts to hosts.TEST Try gtav - if it now magically works, open the old hosts in notepad and figure out why. [or, giddily leave it as it as go play -.-]

Using Controlled Folder Access or mandatory ASLR in Windows Defender/exploit protection? Disable them- [temporarily to test...]... or- Allow gta5, gtavlauncher, subprocess.exe/socialclubhelper [program files/rockstar/socialclub] **** new rockstar launcher folder/exe's too Can even go as far as reseting those options back to default -.- More info:

If you used ANY mods at ANY point - EVER - [this link helps remove ALL of them]

Check windows firewall / advanced settings / OUTBOUND rules for gtav block - you can delete. [If you still have mods installed - do not delete outbound....] Check windows firewall / advanced settings / INBOUND rules for gtav - make sure green/check'd [yes, gta5.exe, gtavlauncher.exe, and subprocess.exe [or new socialclubhelper.exe]] [if you have 3rd party antivirus/firewall/security software - make sure it isn't blocking too] [If you've fussed with the firewall to block regions/whitelist - turn the firewall off to test -.-] [IF YOU USE 3rd PARTY AV/FIREWALL - ALLOW THERE INSTEAD... ugh] Same for windows defender - disable it, or add gtav files/folders to exceptions. This also counts for social club, and the new r* launcher. You can also disable the entire firewall - and TEST.

If there is a commandline.txt in your gtav folder with -scofflineonly in it - remove it. Do NOT remove it unless you are SURE your gtav folder is clean of mods.

~And.. for the heck of it... google adwcleaner from toolslib/malwarebytes and scan/clean. [Some updates to AV/security apps have caused issues with SC - possibly try with them temp sleep/disabled - a few even require uninstalling to completely remove for testing]

You can/and should also test - open msconfig. Services tab. Hide all MS services. Disable EVERYTHING ELSE

except R* related jfc -.-;;. Apply. Go to startup/taskmanager in msconfig. Same thing - disable EVERYTHING. Apply - restart computer - try again. [this is a place where some antivirus/security will not disable - uninstall them]

***~As of early Sept2017, there have been quite a few having connection problems from overseas locations. A few have had success USING vpn's - but YMMV - as it isn't the ideal solution to connection issues - just another way to skip around them. [typically 202 errors only -.-] *Feb2019 - Also of note - vpn usage has had differing results depending WHERE you set it to. Lately - much better results if you use a NA location. Also, many users have reported they could disable the vpn AFTER connecting - YMMV.

If you really know what you are doing - you could try resetting modem/router back to DEFAULT via holding buttons/restarting/etc. Obviously, reconfigure [or try at default].

**Oct2017 - 5, have fixed this by uninstalling, and updating/reinstalling their network drivers. YMMV.

** Using mobile hotspot, cell tethers "may" cause problems - depends on provider. Some ways to test, are trying diff isp, cell, friend's place, vpn, etc. There is even potential here for UDP to be blocked depending on your service/isp - you may need to contact them.

**As stupid as this is - unplug all non kb/mouse usb devices. 1 instance so far. -.-

*ps - Dear god stop using cloudsaves. Be responsible for your data. You also won't have to deal with horrible up/down speeds while simply trying to log into the game, issues with permissions reading/writing files, or get stuck when there are server issues.