Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

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Proper way to play GTA:SA 1.0 and SA:MP through Steam. *UPDATED 2025
By dixon
A in-depth guide on how to play GTA:SA v1.0 and SA:MP through Steam.
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At first sight.
The Steam version of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas comes with limitations and changes compared to the original release, such as the removal of certain songs, bugs, and compatibility issues with mods. Downgrading the game allows you to access features and mods available in earlier versions.

Follow this guide to downgrade GTA: San Andreas to version 1.0, which is the most popular version for mods and stability.
Downgrading your game.
With that being said, lets hop on our way to downgrade the game


  • Step 1: You need to download this downgrader[mega.nz], which is used and shared by TJGM, a well known modder and youtuber.

  • Step 2 : Launch San Andreas on Steam, before replacing files. There is a posibility that Steam will automatically update your game files to its normal state (which is the Steam version).

  • Step 3: Open your San Andreas folder. You can find this by right clicking San Andreas in your Steam library, click “Properties…”, click “Local Files”, and then click “Browse”.


  • Step 4: Open the downgrader archive that you just downloaded. Copy all of the files from the archive, into your San Andreas game folder (this is where gta-sa.exe is located). Replace all of the files when asked.


SA:MP
(San Andreas Multiplayer) is a multiplayer modification for the PC version of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (GTA: SA).

It enables players to play GTA: San Andreas online with hundreds or even thousands of other players in a shared game world.

While GTA: San Andreas is primarily a single-player game, SA-MP
was developed to turn the game into a fully-fledged multiplayer experience, where players can interact, compete, cooperate, and explore the open world of San Andreas together.

How to install SA:MP
As you know, or not, SA:MP hasn't received major updates in recent years. The last official release was SA-MP 0.3.7, which came out in 2015. The lack of continued development could give the impression that it’s no longer active.

Also, the SA:MP official website got shut down, and their host tab in the client launcher, as well.

So, you have to download the launcher from a "unofficial" website.


  • Step 1: I strongly recommend you to download the launcher from here[www.sa-mp.mp].

  • Step 2 : Install SA:MP client in folder «..:\Steam\SteamApps\common\Grand Theft Auto San Andreas»;


    Also, there's a remade version of the SA:MP launcher, which is called open.mp

    After instaling SA:MP, download the open.mp launcher and install it. Rename the open.mp exe to sa-mp.exe so it gets detected in the launcher.

    (optional if having issues):





    That's it you have now SA:MP installed. ♥


Modified launcher
A launcher for GTA: San Andreas players on Steam that tracks playtime, even when using mods like SA-MP or MTA. It also provides a simple way to launch the game mods with just a click.

edit: for some reason, if you launch MTA through the launcher that I've mentioned above and try to join a server, you will get a temporary ban.
I don't know why this occurs.


How to install:

Step 1: Download it from here[www.mixmods.com.br]

Step 2: Extract "gta-sa.exe" to your game folder ( right click on Grand Theft Auto San Andreas in your Steam library, click “Properties…”, click “Local Files”, and then click “Browse”.)

Congrats, now you have your downgraded "Grand Theft Auto San Andreas" fully playable, either singleplayer or multiplayer.








End Of The Line
If this was helpful to you, please do not forget to Rate 👍 the guide, and add it to your Favorite







PS: If I get some reactions, I'll create a guide on how to add essential mods for GTA:SA 1.0 / SA:MP
10 Comments
dixon  [author] 8 Nov @ 3:02am 
Glad that it helped you! @Pro Jero. Also, if you don't mind, please add this guide on your favorite list and rate it with a :steamthumbsup:
Pro Jero 8 Nov @ 2:40am 
thx :steamthumbsup:
Cirilla 9 May @ 9:37am 
okay here some more. When i open directly from exe the game does open the game from launcher but when from steam icon it does not :alyx:
Cirilla 6 May @ 12:17pm 
@Ivnt I got it from mixmods. I did the same thing (just replace the gta-sa.exe) dont work. It used to work back then when rockstarnexus servers was up. Well I really liked trailer 2, I guess I have to leave it be :p2chell:
about openMP, I dont like new things
Anyway thanks for reply
dixon  [author] 6 May @ 12:03pm 
Also, you can download OpenMP Laucher as an alternative, and rename it to samp.exe, in order to be able to launch it through the launcher.
dixon  [author] 6 May @ 12:01pm 
@Вилл Вандом rename the .exe of launcher to "gta-sa.exe", so you can launch it through steam
Cirilla 6 May @ 11:44am 
Hi that's all awesome but the launcher does not launch ither no samp or single player. I did downgraded the game with Vadim full pack downgrader. The game and samp works fine. Normaly laucnher used to work but now any more. Any help?
Szelkoffa 21 Mar @ 10:20am 
Czyli SA:MP dalej działa ale MTA nie działa z tym launcherem ;d
dixon  [author] 28 Sep, 2024 @ 12:14am 
@SprN Depends on which server are you playing on. Some servers have custom health bar.
SprN 28 Sep, 2024 @ 12:02am 
thx for this guide.The only problem is resolution. Actually I solved it but there is a problem with the life bar interface in SAMP.