How to Downgrade GTA San Andreas from v2 to v1 with GTA Downgraders

Updated

To downgrade GTA San Andreas from v2 to v1, download the "v2 to v1" downgrader from GTA Downgraders, extract it into your GTA San Andreas directory, run install.bat, and wait until the window closes. Then launch the game through GTA-sa.exe instead of the Rockstar Games Launcher or Steam. Installing SilentPatch afterward is recommended to avoid compatibility issues such as the mouse not working.

What you need before starting

  • A working installation of GTA San Andreas v2 (the version typically sold through the Rockstar Games Launcher or Steam).
  • The "v2 to v1" downgrader package from GTA Downgraders.
  • Write access to your GTA San Andreas install folder, since the installer writes files directly into the game directory.

Step-by-step downgrade

  1. Download the v2 to v1 downgrader. On GTA Downgraders, this is listed separately from the "RGSC/Steam to v1" option, so pick the one labeled for v2.
  2. Extract the package into your GTA directory. Point the extraction at the folder that contains GTA-sa.exe, not a subfolder.
  3. Run install.bat. Double-click it and wait. The window blinks briefly for about a second and then disappears — that is the expected behavior, not a failure.
  4. Install SilentPatch (recommended). The site specifically recommends this to get rid of compatibility issues like the mouse not working.
  5. Launch via GTA-sa.exe. Do not use the Rockstar Games Launcher or Steam to start the game after downgrading.

Expected result

After install.bat finishes, your game files are replaced with v1 versions. Launching GTA-sa.exe directly runs the downgraded game, and with SilentPatch installed the common input and compatibility problems are resolved.

Common points where people get stuck

  • The installer window vanishing instantly. This is normal. The site describes the window as blinking for a second before closing, so don't re-run it assuming it failed.
  • Launching through the wrong executable. Starting via the RGSC launcher or Steam can undo or bypass the downgrade. Always use GTA-sa.exe.
  • Skipping SilentPatch. Without it, you may hit issues like a non-working mouse. It's listed as recommended rather than strictly required, but installing it avoids the most common post-downgrade problems.

Related downgrades on the same site

GTA Downgraders covers the same process for other titles, and the pattern is nearly identical:

Game Source version Launch executable Notes
GTA III RGSC to v1 GTA3.exe Install SilentPatch and/or Cleo to remove the "insert CD2" message
GTA Vice City RGSC to v1 GTA-VC.exe Same SilentPatch/Cleo note as GTA III
GTA San Andreas RGSC/Steam to v1 GTA-sa.exe SilentPatch recommended for compatibility issues
GTA San Andreas v2 to v1 GTA-sa.exe SilentPatch recommended for compatibility issues

For all of these, the core steps are the same: extract to the GTA directory, run install.bat, wait for the window to close, then launch the game's own .exe rather than a launcher.

Recommended mods to install afterward

The site lists a set of mods that pair well with a downgraded copy of GTA III, Vice City, or San Andreas:

  • Widescreen Fixes
  • Ginput
  • SkyGFX
  • Radio Restoration mod (for GTA IV Complete Edition, a separate tool with its own installer)

If you also want to restore radio content in GTA IV Complete Edition, that uses a different process: extract all files from GTAIVCERADIORESTOREINSTALLER.zip into an empty folder, run IVCERadioRestorer.exe, follow the installer's instructions, and launch via Steam or the Rockstar Games Launcher. That tool requires Fusion Fix, which the installer can download automatically.