A simple file containing general info on how to play modded GTA IV in 2023 for better car driving and global bug fixes. The basic goals of my modding are
- fixing cars honking and crashing with Niko when stopped at red light
- adding light blinkers for turning left, right and warning lights (with controller support)
- adding gear boxes to the game (manual cars)
- global fixes (shadows, performance, draw distance, freezing, etc)
- recover old Vladivostok radio
- a moder trainer to have fun sometimes
- be able to use first person view for inmersion (after installing ZMenu look at this YouTube video to use first person view)
- possibility add snow to the city
- possibility to drive acab around the city
- add traffic crimes and better police tracking system so that they remember Niko's face and recent vehicles when committing crimes
- GTA IV Simple Modding Guide (January 2023)
- Table Of Contents
- Pre-requisites
- How to Install Mods
- Arrest Warrant Mod (Better Police) - Download Link
- Driving vehicles Quality Of Life Mods
- IVIndicators by pedro2555 - Legacy Download Link - Includes AdvancedHook.dll
- Overtaking Fix by pedro2555 - Latest Download Link
- BrakeLightsMod by Skorpro - Download Link
- PTS (Personal Transport Service mod) by Cyron43 (NO XBOX CONTROLLER SUPPORT) - Download Link
- IVMB Gearbox by iriedreadlock23 - Download Link
- Snowy New York with GTA IV Enhanced Snow Mod by BoubouV12 - Download Link
- Download These Mods and Installation files
- Other Links
- Steam GTA IV: Complete Edition or Rockstar Games Launcher GTA IV: Complete Edition ⚠ Latest version of GTA 4 does NOT support mods! You will have to downgrade to an older version ⚠
- Before everything, follow the guide over GTA Forums to downgrade GTA IV to desired version (I used 1.0.7.0 'cause I want the mods I put upwards)
- Be sure to uninstall AND delete the folder where GTA IV is located if you are doing a clean re-install in order to downgrage, since some files persist in the folder even when uninstalling from Steam or Rockstar Games Launcher, which may cause the downgrade to malfunction or fail the MD5 Hash test.
- While doing this,
ZMenuIVtrainer can be checked for installation as well asZPatchfor bug fixes. - you can also not check them an install them manually later using the links provided
- For GFWL (Games For Windows Live) activation of GTA 4 after having downgraded, follow this YouTube tutorial to activate the game
- In order to be able to load and save games with the steam version, GFWL needs to have a linked account. Be sure that your account does NOT have 2FA at the moment of logging in with GFWL, also your password needs to be less or equal to 16 characters. If not, you need to modify it to match those characters. You'll see that the password textbox only lets you input 16 characeters, else you'll always have "wrong password or non existant account" error.
Mods usually have a README file inside them explaining how to install them. The procedures below are generally used, but they are only there to give some general info and advice. Each mod may have different installation procedures, also for some of them you will need to learn how to activate or configure the mod, so you're better off reading the README anyways.
To avoid going trough the pain of reinstalling your whole modded GTA IV after you install a mod (specially an ENB mod), it's always a good idea to have a GTA IV vanilla backup in case something fails.
You can also have multiple installations of GTA IV and share your saves between them. For example a snow installation and a "normal weather" installation.
As a rule of thumb:
- Have a GTA IV non modded backup in case your modded one fails
- Have a Modded GTA IV installation
- Have another Modded installation for ENB (uninstallable) mods
.asi mods, which are mods that are contained inside files with the .asi extension, can be installed by being dragged and dropped into the root folder of GTA IV, they need the base scripthook (this also can installed if checked when installing GTAIVDowngrader)
.NET mods, which are mods that are files with .dll extension, need GTA4 .Net ScriptHook (DOWNLOAD LINK)
To install GTA4 .Net ScriptHook, download it from the website then drag and drop desired folders into GTA IV root folder (instructions in README.txt)
To install .NET MODS: drag and drop them into the scripts folder at the root of the GTA IV installation location, after having install GTA4 .Net ScriptHook. If this folder does not exist, create it manually.
Be careful, sometimes the mods may have wrong instllation instructions and may come with multiple dlls. PTS mod for example includes a .dll that needs ot be put in GTA IV's root folder - See this discussion for more info on this particular mod
ENB (Enhanced Natural Beauty) mods modify textures and game assets and need to be installed using Spark IV - Download Link
ENB mods replace base game files with new ones to introduce new textures, sounds, effects, lighting, and a long etc.
These mods are usually quite large (> 1GB) and change drastically the game assets, which mean they are most times hard/impossible to uninstall.
You could try copying the exact files you replaced from the vanilla or vanilla moded installation, but its risky since you if you forget or misplace a single file your whole installation will be dead (game will crash, or you will have unexpected bugs)
Arrest Warrant Mod (Better Police) - Download Link
This script adds a fairly intricate notoriety system similar to Assassin's Creed. It will make police recognize Niko and his vehicles when committing crimes. It also adds traffic crimes (not stopping at redlight, overspeeding, going agains traffic). It does have some known bugs so please read carefully before installing.
IVIndicators by pedro2555 - Legacy Download Link - Includes AdvancedHook.dll
Simple mod, adds blinkers so you can drive around Liberty City following traffic rules. Download from:
Overtaking Fix by pedro2555 - Latest Download Link
Simple mod, NPCS cannot drive past you while you are stopped at a redlight. Makes NPC's drive more realistically.
BrakeLightsMod by Skorpro - Download Link
This mod makes it so that when you stop your car, break lights turn on automatically like other NPC do.
KNOWN BUG: If you get a bike and wait for the helmet, player dismounts the bike and gets on bike again
PTS (Personal Transport Service mod) by Cyron43 (NO XBOX CONTROLLER SUPPORT) - Download Link
Mod for simulating being a taxi driver in Liberty City. In this mod you can set how much you will be paid for rides (about $80-$130 seems about right). You can drive any car you want, and choose which side the passenger gets in. Fun little mod for making Niko a chauffeur.
IVMB Gearbox by iriedreadlock23 - Download Link
Adds gear boxes to vehicles (no more same button for car breaks and reverse, which allows to properly stops at red lights like other NPCs do). Can also be achieved with less setup with the mod AUTOREVERS OFF FOR GTA 4 by byShein
Snowy New York with GTA IV Enhanced Snow Mod by BoubouV12 - Download Link
When wanting to simulate winter, makes Liberty City shine in snow. This mod combines GTA IV Snow Mod by jumbo0 (ENB mod) and GTA IV Realistic Snowfall by Flash.
He also advices to install along Realistic Snowfalls Mod v2.5 Photorealistic Edition for better quality
A created a mega.nz backup link of all these mods and installation files in case their original websites stop existing - MEGA BACKUP DOWNLOAD LINK