You can play GTA IV multiplayer on PC with GTA Connected, an independent multiplayer modification—not a Rockstar service. You’ll need a compatible GTA IV executable, the GTA Connected client, and access to a server. For the Complete Edition, GTA Connected’s setup guide recommends adding the retail 1.0.8.0 files in a separate Retail folder, then selecting that folder’s executable in the client.
Before you start: GTA Connected and GTA IV are separate software
GTA Connected describes itself as a scriptable multiplayer modification for GTA III, Vice City, San Andreas, and GTA IV. It supports online and offline play and states that it is not affiliated with Rockstar Games. Download the client from the official GTA Connected downloads page, which lists version 1.9.2 and says the client supports Windows XP or later. That is the client’s stated compatibility, not a replacement for GTA IV’s own requirements.
Rockstar’s GTA IV PC system requirements, last updated April 30, 2024, specify Windows 10 64-bit, an Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 at 2.40 GHz or AMD Phenom 9850 Quad-Core at 2.5 GHz, 2 GB of memory, a 512 MB NVIDIA 8600 or 512 MB ATI 3870 graphics card, and 22 GB of storage. Rockstar also says installation and online play require internet access and a Rockstar Games account login, with periodic entitlement verification. These are published minimums, not a performance guarantee; Rockstar notes that hardware compatibility and requirements may change.
Choose a compatible GTA IV executable
GTA Connected lists GTA IV versions 1.0.6.0, 1.0.7.0, and 1.0.8.0 in its Games & Versions compatibility documentation. For Steam and Rockstar Launcher installs, the documentation identifies retail 1.0.7.0 or 1.0.8.0 as the compatible patches. If you have the default Complete Edition installation, use the dedicated patching guide’s recommended retail 1.0.8.0 setup unless you have a reason to use its 1.0.7.0 option.
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| Retail patch | Compatibility guidance | Complete Edition guidance |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0.7.0 | Listed for Steam and Rockstar Launcher installs by GTA Connected’s compatibility documentation. | Offered as an option in the Complete Edition patching guide. |
| 1.0.8.0 | Listed for Steam and Rockstar Launcher installs by GTA Connected’s compatibility documentation. | Recommended by the Complete Edition patching guide. |
The Complete Edition patching instructions are for a clean Complete Edition installation. If your game is a different edition or distribution, follow the version guidance for that setup rather than assuming its files and paths match the Complete Edition.
Set up GTA Connected for GTA IV: The Complete Edition
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Install GTA IV: The Complete Edition, then download and install GTA Connected from its official downloads page.
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Open the GTA Connected patching guide and download its retail 1.0.8.0 patch. The guide also provides 1.0.7.0. Use the guide’s own patch links rather than third-party reuploads.
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Extract the patch archive. It creates a folder named
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Place the entire
Retailfolder inside the existingGTAIVfolder in your Complete Edition installation. Do not put it besideGTAIVin the parent folder, move its files out, or overwrite the existing game files. The expected path isGrand Theft Auto IVGTAIVRetailGTAIV.exe. -
In GTA Connected, open Tools → Game Settings, select GTA IV, then set Game EXE Path to
GTAIVRetailGTAIV.exe. The guide’s default Steam example isC:Program Files (x86)SteamsteamappscommonGrand Theft Auto IVGTAIVRetailGTAIV.exe; your installation location may differ.Rank #3
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Open Tools → Launcher Settings and set a player name.
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In the server browser, double-click a server to connect. Once the game is running in a server, press UP to open the in-game phone and choose Multiplayer → Games → Custom Match. Double-click an active lobby to join it. If double-clicking does not work, select the lobby and press DOWN, then ENTER.
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The guide says this arrangement keeps the original game files untouched, prevents Steam or Rockstar Launcher from overwriting the separate GTAIVRetail folder, and leaves the standard Complete Edition campaigns launchable normally. Rockstar identifies the Complete Edition as including GTA IV, The Lost and Damned, and The Ballad of Gay Tony on its store page.
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- 1000Hz Polling Rate: This ensures that your inputs are registered almost instantaneously, minimizing lag and maximizing your performance during competitive play.
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Connect to a server or join a lobby
The GTA Connected client manual describes several server-connection methods. In the launcher, the server list corresponds to the currently selected game; set the GTA IV executable in the game dropdown’s settings. You can then double-click a server row or right-click it and choose Connect. The Complete Edition guide’s in-game route is to connect to a server first, then use the phone’s Multiplayer → Games → Custom Match menu to find an active lobby.
If you already know a server’s address, the manual documents connecting from within an open game:
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Press T to open chat input.
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Enter
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Press ENTER to submit the command.
Use /reconnect to attempt to return to the last server you used since launching the game. Quick Match can connect directly when you already know which lobby is active; press Y to chat, as described in the Complete Edition guide.
Troubleshoot a connection problem
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GTA Connected does not launch the game: Recheck Tools → Game Settings and make sure the selected GTA IV executable is the compatible retail executable. For the Complete Edition setup, it should be inside
GTAIVRetail, not the original game folder. -
You cannot connect from the server browser: Confirm GTA IV is selected and the executable path is set. Try right-clicking the server row and choosing Connect, or use
/connect host:portin the game if you know the server address. -
Server-provided files may be stale or incomplete: In the launcher, choose Open → Caches and delete the cache contents so the files can download again. The client manual presents this as a troubleshooting suggestion, not a guaranteed fix.
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You cannot find an active lobby: Connect to a server first, then check Multiplayer → Games → Custom Match on the in-game phone. The setup guide’s Quick Match option depends on already knowing which lobby is active.
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