MTA: San Andreas

MTA:SA fix guides

59 guides for MTA: San Andreas problems, written from MTA's own help pages, wiki and source code. Every step names where it comes from.

Every MTA:SA error code · Crash codes and offsets · The Fix tool

Install and other systems7

Which copy of the game works, other systems, old Windows and mods.

Problem	In short
Which GTA San Andreas works with MTA (Steam, Rockstar Store, Definitive Edition)	MTA:SA needs the classic PC GTA San Andreas from 2004 and 2005. Steam and Rockstar Store copies of that game work. The Definitive Edition (2021) and the Windows App Store version do not.
Play MTA:SA on Linux with Wine	MTA has no Linux version of the game client. It runs through Wine, and MTA calls its Linux support best effort. Use MTA 1.6 or newer, a 32-bit Wine prefix if you can, and three Windows fonts.
Play MTA:SA on a Steam Deck	MTA can run on SteamOS through Proton. MTA's own manual says it was written with limited testing, so expect some trial and error. A keyboard and mouse help.
MTA:SA on a Mac	There is no Mac version of MTA. MTA's wiki describes running the Windows client inside a Wine wrapper, and says that page is unfinished and meant for developers.
MTA:SA on Android or iPhone	MTA:SA is a PC program. Its official requirements start at Windows 7, and the only other systems MTA documents are Linux, macOS and the Steam Deck, all by running the Windows client. MTA offers no phone version of the game.
MTA on Windows 7, 8, XP or Vista	MTA 1.6 has two installers: one for Windows 10 and 11, and one for Windows 7 and 8. MTA has announced that the next version, 1.7, will not run on Windows 7, 8 or 8.1. Windows XP and Vista already cannot run current MTA.
Using GTA mods with MTA	MTA expects a clean GTA San Andreas. Single-player mods in the game folder can stop MTA starting, make it crash, or get you kicked from servers that check game files.

MTA will not start28

Messages and hangs before the game opens.

Problem	In short
CL29: client integrity warning at launch	Use the complete CL29 warning. It is different from the newer “terminated due to an integrity violation” message.
Another MTA or GTA instance is already running	A still-running game process can prevent the next launch.
MTA data files or core.dll are missing	Repair the MTA installation as a complete set of files.
MSVCR, VCRUNTIME or core.dll cannot load	When the error names a missing Microsoft runtime, install the matching official redistributable.
D3DX9 DLL is missing	GTA can need legacy DirectX components even when Windows already has a newer DirectX version.
CC50: Direct3D9 could not initialize	Check the graphics runtime and a resolution that GTA can actually open.
CL02: MTA cannot copy update files	An open process can keep an update file locked.
CL22: MTA could not start GTA:SA	Check whether GTA itself opens before changing permissions.
GTA executable or a required GTA file is missing	Point MTA at an installed classic GTA: San Andreas PC game and repair the named game file if necessary.
CL15: semicolon in the installation path	A semicolon in an MTA or GTA folder path can cause trouble.
CL12: MTA registry entries are missing	The official installer can recreate MTA’s installation entries.
MTA file version mismatch or incompatible network module	Replace mixed client files with one complete current installation.
CL31: a GTA file could not be opened	Use the filename shown by the error to distinguish an unavailable game file from a missing MTA module.
ASI plugins or a game-folder DLL block MTA	Test without the named third-party game modification while keeping a recoverable copy.
NVIDIA Optimus warning or hybrid-GPU startup trouble	Use this when MTA offers an Optimus startup choice on a compatible laptop.
GTA fails to open or crashes before MTA starts	If GTA single player also fails, test its saved preferences before changing MTA resources.
MTA reports low disk space	Free space on the drive actually named by the warning.
MTA cannot find required Windows fonts	Repair the specific missing font reported by MTA.
MTA installer says the download is incorrect	Replace the failed installer download from the official source.
MTA will not start and shows no clear error	Start with the game installation, then follow any specific error that appears.
Black screen or frozen logos when MTA starts	MTA stays on a black screen, or the GTA logo screens never end. Give the game some input first, then check GTA's own settings file and anything that blocks MTA.
Clock manipulation detected	MTA shows this when the computer's date or time is wrong. Set them again. If the clock resets itself after every restart, the battery on the motherboard may be the cause.
loader.dll error 126	MTA cannot load its own loader.dll. The MTA FAQ says antivirus programs, Avast and McAfee by name, have wrongly removed or blocked this file.
There was a problem validating your serial	MTA could not confirm the serial that identifies your computer. Update MTA first. Inside a virtual machine, or on Linux, Steam Deck or a Mac, MTA has one extra step for each.
MTA will not start in a virtual machine or sandbox	MTA could not start inside a virtual machine or a sandbox program. MTA's answer for both is the same: remove the restrictions you set, or run MTA outside it.
MTA says Windows is in Safe Mode	MTA does not run while Windows is in Safe Mode. Restart normally. If Windows keeps coming back in Safe Mode, turn off Safe boot in System Configuration.
MTA says it is incompatible with software on your PC	MTA names a short list of programs it does not work with. Remove them, or add exceptions in them for GTA and MTA.
MTA warns that it could not detect an anti-virus	This is a warning, not a block. MTA says an anti-virus is not needed to run it, but strongly recommends having one that is running and up to date.

Crashes and freezes6

MTA closes, freezes or loses the picture while it runs.

Problem	In short
MTA terminated due to an integrity violation	Update MTA, then check any overlay or antivirus block. These steps may help, but the message does not identify the cause.
CL44: GTA IMG archive is corrupt	The named game archive needs attention; a downloaded archive from a stranger is not a safe replacement.
CL34: GTA could not load a model	A model-load error can involve local game files or a server’s replacement model.
CL35: GTA could not add a vehicle upgrade	Use the specific vehicle and upgrade identifiers from the error.
MTA crashes or loses the picture after Alt-Tab	The official graphics guide recommends trying a borderless fullscreen mode.
MTA crashes, freezes or closes unexpectedly	Choose the steps that match when MTA crashes. A crash address alone does not show the cause.

Connection and downloads7

Joining a server, downloads, lag and the server list.

Problem	In short
CD20: server resource download failed	Check the message after CD20. It tells you whether the problem is a timeout, file save or server download.
CC23 / CD08: connection timed out	Check the full error message for another code, then try the connection steps.
Disconnected by an unknown protocol error	Client protocol errors have an official update check; they do not prove an account problem.
An in game browser page cannot load	An embedded web-page error is separate from a game connection error. Its full error text matters.
Server browser is empty or stuck on Loading	The list can take a while to fill. If it stays empty, you can still join a server directly with its address.
Lag, high ping or packet loss in MTA	Ping is the time your game and the server need to answer each other. Look at the real numbers first, then fix what you can on your side.
Fatal error or CRC mismatch when joining a server	A numbered Fatal error means the game and the server disagreed while you joined. Update MTA first. Some of these can only be fixed by the server's owner.

Picture, sound and controls8

FPS, mouse, controller, voice, resolution, keys and where MTA keeps its files.

Problem	In short
Mouse does not move the camera in MTA:SA	The mouse works in the menus but will not turn the camera in game. The official MTA fixes: press the Windows key once and click, or switch GTA's controls from Joypad to Mouse + Keys.
Low FPS or an FPS cap in MTA:SA	MTA runs at the lowest of four limits: the server's, the server scripts', your own (100 by default) and your screen's refresh rate when V-Sync is on. Check those first, then lower settings one at a time.
Controller or gamepad not working in MTA	MTA only uses the first controller Windows knows about. Make yours the first one, pick the joypad control style, and set the buttons in the Binds tab.
Voice chat in MTA:SA does not work	Voice chat only exists on servers that turn it on. Where it is on, you hold a key to talk (Z by default). CIT has no voice chat.
Screen resolution is missing or wrong in MTA	Your screen's resolution is not in the list, the picture is stretched, or only square shapes are offered. Most of it is on the Video tab of MTA's settings.
MTA settings are not saved	MTA writes its settings when you leave the game normally. After a crash they can be lost. Save them by hand, or let MTA make a new settings file.
Where MTA keeps screenshots, logs and settings	Everything is inside the MTA installation folder: screenshots in screenshots, logs in MTA\logs, and settings in MTA\config\coreconfig.xml.
Keys do nothing or do the wrong thing in MTA	Controls that worked in single-player act differently in MTA, or a key has lost its job. MTA has console commands to copy GTA's controls and to put the default binds back.

Anti-cheat, bans and your serial3

Kicks with a code, ban messages and the serial that identifies your computer.

Problem	In short
An AC, VF or SD kick appeared	Match the full identifier, then use only the checks that fit. A detection label does not establish intent.
A server or MTA ban message appeared	Use the issuer and displayed reason to find the responsible support process. There is no in the browser unban repair.
Your MTA serial: what it is and how to see it	A serial is the 32-character code MTA uses to recognise your computer. Servers use it for bans. You can read yours in the console.

On the CIT server32

These guides are about CIT's own settings and accounts. They open inside the Fix tool: type the problem into its search box.

Problem	In short
Minimap missing or black	Check whether Radar Image is empty, then follow the steps below.
Custom radar picture does not appear	Use the exact image filename and refresh the map.
Radar icons are in the wrong position	Misplaced blips can be caused by HUD aspect-ratio matching.
Houses, factories or other map markers are missing	F11 filters can hide a category and keep it hidden after reconnecting.
Distant buildings or objects disappear	Check adaptive view distance before increasing the draw distance.
Effects disappear when FPS drops	CIT can turn effects down automatically when FPS goes below a selected threshold.
FPS stays at 70, 36 or another limit	Racing and minimized MTA have different FPS ceilings.
Low FPS on CIT	Try turning off the listed effects, then check the same scene again.
My own shader stays visible after I disable custom textures	Your own textures remain visible by design.
The wrong character appears instead of my selected skin	CIT documents this symptom as a failed model download.
A large skin is partly invisible	Large skins can be partly hidden on your own screen to make aiming possible.
Could not draw vehicle reflection shader	Restart MTA first; report the exact error if it comes back.
A CIT setting does not save or apply	Commit the setting, check its value, then reconnect if needed.
A CIT shortcut key stopped working	Restore the specific CIT bind instead of resetting every key.
F11 or another normal MTA control is unbound	Set the missing control in MTA’s Binds tab.
Chatbox or a chat channel is missing	Restore the chatbox or enable only the missing channel.
No sound, or sound disappears at low FPS	Check the volume and the setting that matches when sound disappears.
A website inside MTA is blocked or incomplete	Check the permission for the specific website you intended to open.
Job or trucking containers are missing	Re-enter the job vehicle, then restart the mission if necessary.
A group, squad or MPCC spawn is missing	An active event or an ignored player can hide a spawn.
CIT says “Invalid password”	Check the account name before using more login attempts.
CIT account locked after too many login attempts	The documented ten-attempt lock lasts 24 hours.
Forgot my CIT password or account name	Use the in game email recovery flow.
Recovery failed, PIN forgotten or account stolen	Account Retrieval staff handle cases that need ownership review.
Device whitelist blocks my CIT login	Authorize the new device through your existing access or recovery.
Too many CIT accounts used on this PC	A documented one-time exception may help when the six-account limit blocks your main account.
I cannot create a CIT forum account	Create the account from inside CIT, using the Forum tab.
Forum linking fails or my forum password is wrong	Use the forum username and the separate forum password.
CIT blocks registration or early login while using a VPN	Registration and accounts below ten playtime hours have a specific VPN restriction.
CIT error 95 AC / AC95	Restart MTA once, then contact CIT General Support if the same error returns.
Another anti-cheat kick while playing CIT	Use the complete detector message to find the applicable MTA steps.
CIT ban, mute or limit: where to appeal	Read the current board instructions for the punishment shown in your message.

Still stuck? The Fix tool reads MTA's own log on your computer and points at the matching steps. Nothing is uploaded.

Open the Fix tool

Where this comes from

Each guide lists its own sources at the bottom of its page.

Read from these sources on 3 October 2026 and written in our own words here.