Fix Red Dead Redemption 2 in this order: identify whether you have multi-second stalls, an ERR_GFX_STATE launch crash, another startup failure, or consistently low frame rates; update the graphics driver; remove custom launch arguments; then tune the game with its benchmark. For ERR_GFX_STATE, switch from Vulkan to DirectX 12, and if needed run RDR2.exe as administrator with fullscreen optimization disabled. For low FPS, reduce MSAA, reflections, water, and volumetric settings before sacrificing texture quality.
Start with the symptom, not a random graphics preset
Red Dead Redemption 2 problems that look similar often have different causes. A several-second freeze is usually a driver or launch-argument issue, while an immediate ERR_GFX_STATE message points to the graphics API or executable settings. A game that launches normally but stays below your target frame rate needs measurement and graphics tuning rather than crash fixes.
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| What you see | Most useful first action | Where to continue |
|---|---|---|
| Stalls lasting several seconds during play | Update the GPU driver and remove every custom launch argument | Several-second stutters |
ERR_GFX_STATE at launch |
Change Graphics API from Vulkan to DirectX 12 | ERR_GFX_STATE |
| Another launch or crash failure | Update Windows, the launcher and drivers; check AMD cleanup and profile recovery | Other crashes |
| Game runs but FPS is consistently low | Run the built-in benchmark, then lower the most expensive settings | Low FPS and frame-time instability |
Do not assume a single “best” setting exists. Rockstar notes that the performance effect of each setting depends on the system configuration, and its official material does not publish a universal average-FPS result.
Do these checks before changing graphics options
- Confirm which GPU is actually running the game if the PC has integrated and discrete graphics.
- Install the latest driver for your NVIDIA, AMD or Intel GPU. Reboot after installation.
- Install the latest Windows Update and update the Rockstar Games Launcher.
- Close overlays, recording tools and other software temporarily while diagnosing. Re-enable them one at a time after the game is stable.
- Write down the current Graphics API and key settings so you can undo a change.
- If you use custom launch arguments, remove them first. Old arguments can continue forcing an unstable mode after a driver or game update.
These checks are deliberately conservative: they change the software environment without asking you to buy hardware or install an unverified “FPS booster.”
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Fix several-second stutters and stalls
Rockstar has identified a specific issue in which certain NVIDIA graphics drivers cause “significant stalls of several seconds” on systems with four-core and six-core CPUs. If your game freezes for multiple seconds and then resumes, start with the two actions below rather than lowering every visual setting.
1. Update the graphics driver
Install the current driver supplied for your GPU model and operating system, then restart Windows. A driver update is the first step because the documented stall condition is driver-related. If a normal update leaves old AMD components behind, use the AMD Cleanup Utility described in the crash section below and then install the current AMD driver.
2. Remove launch arguments in Rockstar Games Launcher
- Open Rockstar Games Launcher and choose Settings.
- Select Red Dead Redemption 2 under My Installed Games.
- Scroll to Launch arguments.
- Delete every argument so the field is empty.
- Launch the game again and test the same area where the stall occurred.
Do not leave a single argument “just in case.” The goal of this test is an unmodified launch. If the stalls disappear, add back only a known-required argument, one at a time, so you can identify the trigger.
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Epic Games Launcher users
- Open Epic Games Launcher and go to Settings.
- Select Red Dead Redemption 2.
- Enable the additional-command-line-arguments area if it is hidden.
- Remove every command-line argument.
- Return to the main menu and relaunch the game.
Test after both the driver update and argument removal. If you still see multi-second stalls, continue with the Windows, launcher and driver cleanup steps under other launch or crash failures; do not treat a low average FPS reading as proof that the stall issue is solved.
Fix ERR_GFX_STATE at launch
The most direct documented fix is to change the game from Vulkan to DirectX 12. You must be able to open the game far enough to reach its graphics menu; if it crashes before that point, use the executable compatibility steps in the next subsection.
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Switch the graphics API to DirectX 12
- Launch Red Dead Redemption 2.
- Open Settings > Graphics > Advanced Settings.
- Set the advanced settings control to Unlocked.
- Change Graphics API from Vulkan to DirectX 12.
- Save the change when prompted, but choose not to restart immediately if the game offers that choice.
- Return to the main menu, exit the game completely, and launch it again.
The save-without-restarting sequence matters because it lets the new API selection be written before the next launch. If the game continues to display ERR_GFX_STATE, perform the executable steps below.
Run RDR2.exe as administrator and disable fullscreen optimization
- Open the installation folder that contains
RDR2.exe. - Right-click
RDR2.exeand choose Properties. - Open the Compatibility tab.
- Enable Run this program as administrator.
- Enable Disable fullscreen optimizations.
- Apply the changes and start the game again.
Rockstar provides installation-specific navigation for its launcher, Steam and Epic versions, but the compatibility settings themselves are applied to the game executable. If you later change installation folders, repeat the check for the executable in the new folder.
Why DirectX 12 is the first test
DirectX 12 is not a guaranteed highest-FPS mode for every PC. It is recommended here because Rockstar specifically documents the API switch for ERR_GFX_STATE. After stability is restored, compare APIs with the built-in benchmark rather than changing back during a crash investigation.
Handle other launch and crash failures
If the error is not ERR_GFX_STATE, use this sequence. Make one change at a time and restart the launcher or Windows when the step calls for it.
Remove legacy AMD driver information
On systems that have repeatedly changed AMD graphics drivers, legacy driver details can remain even after a normal upgrade. Run AMD Cleanup Utility when this applies, restart Windows, and install the current AMD driver. This step is for AMD hardware; it is not a general replacement for NVIDIA or Intel driver maintenance.
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Update all three software layers
- GPU driver: install the current NVIDIA, AMD or Intel package for your card.
- Rockstar Games Launcher: allow it to update before starting the game.
- Windows: install the latest available Windows Update and reboot.
A mismatch between an old launcher, an old operating-system component and a new graphics driver can produce failures that a graphics preset cannot fix.
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Temporarily disable antivirus protection only long enough to test whether the game starts, then turn protection back on. If the game launches only while protection is disabled, create an appropriate game or launcher exception according to your security software’s instructions instead of leaving protection off.
Delete the local Rockstar Games Launcher profile
Rockstar’s general checklist includes deleting the local launcher profile. This signs you in again, but it does not delete your Rockstar account or saved games. Expect to enter your credentials after the profile is removed. Use this step when launcher authentication or local profile data appears to be the failing component, not as a routine FPS tweak.
Fix consistently low FPS and unstable frame times
Low FPS requires a measurement loop. First let the game evaluate the PC, then benchmark, then change the settings that cost the most performance on your hardware.
Start with the quality slider
In the graphics settings, the quality slider analyzes the PC and adjusts background parameters for the selected resolution and for the chosen performance-versus-quality preference. Use it as a starting point, not as a final verdict. It can establish a stable baseline before you make targeted changes.
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Run the built-in benchmark
- Open Settings > Graphics.
- Choose Run Benchmark Test.
- Let every scene complete without switching windows or changing settings.
- Record the average result and note whether the problem is low FPS, sudden dips or uneven frame pacing.
- Change one group of settings, run the benchmark again and keep the change only if it improves the result without unacceptable image quality.
Use the same resolution and API for each comparison. A single benchmark run is not a universal promise for every area of the open world; it is a repeatable way to compare your own settings.
Lower the most expensive settings first
| Setting group | Why it is an early target | How to evaluate the trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| MSAA | Multisample anti-aliasing can impose a large GPU cost. | Lower or disable it, then check edges and benchmark frame time. |
| Reflection Quality | Reflections can be expensive in scenes with glossy surfaces and water. | Reduce it before lowering textures if you want to preserve material detail. |
| Water Quality | Water simulation and rendering can affect demanding scenes. | Compare river, lake and rain scenes as well as the benchmark. |
| Volumetric Quality | Fog, haze and light shafts can create heavy GPU workloads. | Lower it and inspect distant atmosphere, interiors and night scenes. |
| Near Volumetric Resolution | Near-camera volumetric detail can affect frame time. | Reduce it if close fog or light shafts cause dips. |
Rockstar’s recommended order then moves through temporal anti-aliasing, textures, lighting, shadows, ambient occlusion, anisotropic filtering, volumetric lighting, triple buffering, global illumination, particles, mirrors and far-volumetric settings. Adjust those only after testing the first group, because texture and filtering changes can affect image clarity more than the same FPS gain elsewhere.
Preserve quality where the performance cost is low
Do not reduce every slider at once. Keep a change log such as “MSAA off, reflections medium, water high,” run the benchmark, and compare the result with the previous run. If a setting changes visual quality but does not improve frame time, restore it and test another candidate. The goal is consistent frame delivery, not merely a larger number in one scene.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Vulkan versus DirectX 12: how to choose
Use crash stability, frame-time smoothness, average FPS and GPU vendor as the comparison axes. Rockstar specifically recommends DirectX 12 for ERR_GFX_STATE. Intel documents a different performance pattern for Arc hardware, so the result cannot be generalized to NVIDIA or AMD systems.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors| Situation | First API to test | Reason | What to measure next |
|---|---|---|---|
ERR_GFX_STATE launch crash |
DirectX 12 | Rockstar’s documented recovery sequence changes Vulkan to DX12. | Whether the game launches repeatedly and maintains smooth frame times. |
| Intel Arc with Vulkan FPS lower than expected | DirectX 12 | Intel says Vulkan FPS is lower than DX12 in this scenario. | Benchmark results after updating the game and Intel driver. |
| NVIDIA or AMD system without a crash | Benchmark both if necessary | No universal winner is published for every configuration. | Average FPS, dips and visual quality on your PC. |
Switch APIs only after recording the current result. Changing the API and several quality settings simultaneously makes it impossible to know which change helped.
Intel Arc-specific guidance
Intel’s support guidance, last reviewed February 21, 2025, reports that Red Dead Redemption 2 can deliver lower FPS with Vulkan than with DirectX 12 on Intel Arc. Intel also reports drops at night, with many areas reaching 63 FPS under the described Arc/Vulkan condition. That figure is a vendor-specific observation, not a universal RDR2 benchmark or a target for NVIDIA and AMD cards.
- Update Red Dead Redemption 2 to game version 1.32.
- Install the latest Intel graphics driver.
- Restart Windows and run the built-in benchmark with Vulkan.
- Change to DirectX 12 and repeat the same benchmark.
- Keep the API that provides better frame-time consistency for your resolution and settings.
If your Arc system has a different symptom, such as an immediate crash, follow the symptom-specific procedure above rather than assuming the 63-FPS observation explains it.
A controlled troubleshooting workflow
When several problems overlap, use this order so each result is interpretable:
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
- Classify the symptom as a stall,
ERR_GFX_STATE, another crash or low FPS. - Update Windows, the launcher and the GPU driver.
- Remove all custom launch arguments.
- For
ERR_GFX_STATE, switch to DirectX 12 and apply the executable compatibility settings if necessary. - For other crashes, test antivirus interference, clean legacy AMD details when applicable, and reset the local launcher profile.
- For low FPS, use the quality slider and run the benchmark.
- Lower MSAA, reflections, water, volumetrics and near-volumetric resolution one group at a time.
- Record the working API and settings before making further changes.
This sequence separates startup stability from rendering performance. A game that no longer crashes but still has low FPS has moved to a different problem; continue with benchmarking rather than repeating launch repairs.
Common mistakes that make troubleshooting harder
- Changing ten settings at once: you cannot identify the costly option or restore a known-good configuration.
- Keeping old launch arguments: an argument written for an earlier driver or API can preserve the failure you are trying to remove.
- Comparing different scenes: night, fog, water and crowded areas stress the renderer differently. Use the benchmark and repeatable locations.
- Calling a crash an FPS problem: a launch failure needs API, executable and software checks before graphics tuning.
- Treating Intel Arc results as universal: Intel’s Vulkan-versus-DX12 guidance applies to its documented Arc scenario, not every GPU.
- Leaving antivirus disabled: use a short test, then restore protection and configure a proper exception if required.
What success looks like
A successful repair has a repeatable result: the game launches without ERR_GFX_STATE, the previous multi-second stalls no longer occur in the same test area, or the benchmark shows smoother frame delivery after a documented setting change. Keep the final API, driver date and graphics settings noted somewhere safe. If a later update reintroduces the symptom, you can return to that known-good baseline instead of starting from an unknown configuration.
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