Social Club Failed to Start: Installation Code 1 [Fix]

Several of our readers have reported The Social Club has failed to load due to an incomplete installation (code 1) error when the Rockstar Games Launcher refuses to open up on their PC.

If you are unable to access the Rockstar Games library due to the following error code, this guide has got you covered. 

Why do I get the failed to start error in Social Club? 

There can be several reasons why the Social Club may fail to start. Some of them are as follows:

• Incomplete installation – Incomplete installation of the Rockstar Games launcher can lead to installation code 1.
• Corrupt system files – Missing or corrupt system files or game installation files also prevent Social Club from loading. 
• Antivirus software – A third-party antivirus tool may wrongly consider the launcher as a threat and may block or delete the related files. 
• Outdated Games Launcher – An outdated version of Rockstar Games Launcher may be the reason why Social Club has failed to start because of an incomplete installation code 1 error. 
• Insufficient permissions – If the game launcher has insufficient permissions to access this directory, such errors are likely to occur. 

If you also run into installation code 1 when Social Club has failed to start on your computer, this guide will offer you the required help. 

How do I fix the Social Club failed to start error code 1? 

Before you try the advanced solutions, make sure to implement the following workarounds to bypass installation code 1. 

• Uninstall the Game launcher and then reinstall it again. 
• Scan your PC for viruses and malware using Windows Defender.
• Try disabling the real-time protection in Windows Defender or your third-party antivirus temporarily and see if the error persists.
• Check your internet connectivity or try an alternate network source. 

If none of these workarounds helped you, start performing the solutions below.

1. Run the Compatibility troubleshooter 

1. Navigate to the desktop, right-click the Rockstar Games Launcher, and select Properties from the context menu. 

   

2. Switch to the Compatibility tab of the Properties window and press the Run compatibility troubleshooter button. 

   

3. Press the Test the program button to see if the underlying issues causing the Social Club failed to start error are resolved.

   

    

If The Social Club failed to start: installation code 1 error is triggered due to compatibility issues, the program compatibility troubleshooter built into Windows will automatically diagnose such problems and present a solution.

2. Update your graphics driver

1. Use the Windows + R shortcut to launch the Run command window, type the following command in the text box, and press Enter to execute it. devmgmt.msc

   

2. Expand the Display adapters category to view the list of devices. 
3. Right-click the relevant graphic card and choose the Update driver option from the context menu. 

   

4. Choose the Search automatically for drivers option on the next window. 

   

Obsolete or corrupt graphic drivers of your Windows PC are also a possible reason why Social Club fails to start due to installation code 1. If so, updating the graphic drivers of your system should do the trick. 

If the best drivers are already installed on your PC, try the other methods to update the graphic drivers of your system.

Otherwise, you can also employ a dedicated driver update solution that can offer technical support and update any drivers without any issues.

⇒ Get Outbyte Driver Updater

3. Grant security permissions

1. Use the Windows + E shortcut key to launch the File Explorer window.  
2. Navigate to the installation folder of the Rockstar Games, right-click it, and choose Properties from the context menu. 

   

3. Switch to the Security tab of the Properties window and press the Edit button. 

   

4. In the Permissions for Rockstar Games window, select each of the users from the Group or user names section and enable the Allow checkbox for Full Control. 

   

5. Click Apply to save the changes and OK to exit the window. 

Misconfigured permission settings often restrict the apps from launching on Windows PC and cause them to run into an error. Hence, modifying the security settings of the Rockstar Games launcher should help alleviate the problem.

That’s it! Try these solutions to get past the Social Club failed because of an incomplete installation code 1 error. And for more Rockstar-related errors like 7002.1, see our detailed guide.

If you run into the error code 1002 in Social Club, follow the methods listed in this guide to resolve it quickly. 

Which of the workarounds listed in this guide helped you fix the problem, do let us know in the comments section.