Liberty Recompiled Android: How to Install It Step by Step

Short Answer

Liberty Recompiled Android is an unofficial fan port of GTA 4 for phones with a Snapdragon chip. You install one app, add your own copy of the Xbox 360 game files, and press Install. It is free, but it is rough and it does not work on every phone. This guide shows the phone requirements, the files you need, each install step, and the common fixes. Rockstar did not make this port and does not support it.

Quick Facts

What it is: A fan made Android port of the Xbox 360 version of GTA 4
Official status: Unofficial, not made or backed by Rockstar or Take-Two
Latest stable version: 0.5.7.5 (a newer pre-release, 0.5.7.8, also exists)
Android version: Android 10 or newer, 64 bit
Supported GPU: Qualcomm Adreno 6xx or 7xx (Adreno 8xx is experimental)
Free space needed: About 15 GB while installing
Frame rate: Capped at 30 FPS
Last checked: October 15, 2026

What Is Liberty Recompiled on Android?

Liberty Recompiled is a project that rebuilds the Xbox 360 version of GTA 4 into code that runs on other devices. This is called static recompilation. It is not an emulator, so it does not copy a whole console while you play.

The Android version is a separate fan port of that project, called LibertyRecompAndroid. It uses Vulkan graphics to draw the game on your phone. We explain the background in our GTA 4 on Android and Switch report. The port does not include any game files. You must bring your own.

Which Phones Can Run Liberty Recompiled?

This is the part most guides skip. The port only works on certain graphics chips.

Item	What the project says
Android	Android 10 (API 29) or newer, 64 bit
GPU	Qualcomm Adreno 6xx or 7xx. Adreno 8xx is experimental.
Not supported	Mali, Immortalis, Samsung Xclipse and PowerVR GPUs
Chip	Snapdragon 865 class or faster is recommended
CPU	arm64 with ARMv8.2-A. Older chips such as the Snapdragon 835 crash on start.
RAM	8 GB recommended. 6 GB is untested.
Storage	About 7 GB for the game, and about 15 GB free in total while installing
Controller	Xbox style gamepad recommended. An on-screen pad appears without one.

Phones with Google Tensor or MediaTek chips usually have Mali or Immortalis graphics, so they are likely not supported. Check your own chip before you start.The developer tested the port on one device, the Retroid Pocket 5. Results on other phones may differ.

How Do You Check Your Phone’s GPU?

Install a free app such as Vulkan Caps Viewer or AIDA64 from the Play Store.
Open it and look for the GPU or Device name.
If it says Adreno 6xx or 7xx, you can try the port.
If it says Mali, Immortalis, Xclipse or PowerVR, skip it.

What Game Files Do You Need?

You need two files from your own copy of the game. The project says they must be legally obtained.

The game disc image: An Xbox 360 GTA 4 file that ends in .iso. Only the USA (NTSC-U) release is verified. It is about 7.8 GB.
Title Update 8: Version 0.0.8.5. It can be an STFS package or a raw default.xexp file. The PAL update (0.0.8.6) is rejected.

We do not link to game files, and you should not download them from random sites. The project’s own guide explains how to make these files from your own console and disc.

How to Install Liberty Recompiled on Android Step by Step

Get the app. Open the project’s GitHub Releases page and download the latest LibertyRecompAndroid APK file.
Allow the install. Open the APK. When Android asks, allow installs from this source. The app appears as “Liberty Recompiled.”
Add the disc image. Open the app. Under Base game, choose your .iso file. Allow “All files access” when Android asks.
Check the message. A green “Detected” line means the disc is correct. A red line tells you the problem, such as a wrong region.
Add the title update. Under Title Update 8, choose the STFS package or the default.xexp file.
Press Install. Keep the app open until it finishes. The game takes about 6.5 GB.
Press Play. The Play button stays grey until the install is done.

The first launch can stutter. The game builds its shaders as you play and saves them for next time.

What If You Do Not Want to Give All Files Access?

Use the install folder instead. It works on all versions.

Launch the app once so it creates its folders.
Copy your disc image and title update into Android/data/com.libertyrecomp/files/install/ on your phone.
Name the disc file with .iso at the end. Any other name works for the title update.
Open the app and press Install.

Since Android 11, most phone file managers cannot write to the Android/data folder. Copying from a computer over USB is the easiest way.

How Does the Game Run?

The frame rate is capped at 30 FPS. In the busiest far views it can drop to about 25 to 29 FPS. The developer also warns about crashes back to the home screen, so save often. The Lost and Damned, The Ballad of Gay Tony and online play are untested on Android. One light effect is skipped because it hangs the GPU, so some lights are missing.

The developer says the port was made with AI help and may run poorly. Treat it as an experiment, not a finished game.

H2: How to Fix Common Problems

Problem	What to try
No usable Vulkan driver	Your GPU is probably not supported. Check the GPU steps above.
App closes right after launch	Your chip may be too old (ARMv8.0). Or delete the args.txt file and try again.
Installer says “Not selected”	The files are not directly inside the install folder, or the disc file does not end in .iso.
Title update rejected	You need the USA Title Update 8 (0.0.8.5). The PAL one does not work.
Black screen after changing settings	Delete args.txt and live_cvars.txt, then launch again.
Game closes after Play	Use the Share report button on the crash card and send it to the developer.

How Do You Update or Free Up Space?

Install the new APK over the old one. Your game, saves and settings stay. If Android says the signature does not match, you must uninstall first. Back up the LibertyRecomp/saves folder before you do, because uninstalling deletes it.After the game runs, you can delete the disc image and title update. This frees about 7.8 GB.

How to Stay Safe and Avoid Fake Downloads

Many sites now offer a “GTA 4 Android APK.” Some are ad traps and some may carry malware.

Download the app only from the project’s GitHub Releases page.
Be careful with pages that make you wait 30 seconds or click through a second site.
Do not trust any APK that already includes the full game. The real port includes no game files.
Never enter passwords or card details to “unlock” a download.
Check the project’s tested file hashes against your disc image if you want to confirm it.

Is Liberty Recompiled Legal?

The port is a fan project. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by Rockstar Games or Take-Two Interactive. GTA IV is a Take-Two trademark.

The project includes no game assets and asks you to use your own legally obtained copy. We are not lawyers, and neither company has commented on this port. Rules can differ by country.

Is GTA 6 Coming to Phones Too?

No. GTA 6 is confirmed for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on November 19, 2026. Rockstar has not announced a phone version. Read the GTA 6 PC release date report for the latest platform news, and visit our News Hub for updates.

FAQs

Is there an official GTA 4 Android app from Rockstar?

No. Liberty Recompiled Android is a fan made port. Rockstar has not released GTA 4 for Android.

Is Liberty Recompiled Android free?

The app is free on GitHub. You must own a copy of the Xbox 360 game and have the files for it.

Which phones support Liberty Recompiled?

Phones with Adreno 6xx or 7xx graphics and Android 10 or newer. Snapdragon 865 class or faster is recommended.

Does Liberty Recompiled work on Samsung Exynos, Pixel or MediaTek phones?

Probably not. Mali, Immortalis, Xclipse and PowerVR GPUs are not supported.

How much storage do I need?

About 15 GB free while installing. The game uses about 7 GB afterward.

Do I need a controller?

An Xbox style gamepad is recommended. Newer versions show an on-screen pad without one.

Can I use the PAL version of GTA 4?

Not yet. Only the USA release is verified, and the PAL title update is rejected.

Why does the game crash?

The port is early and unstable. Save often, and use the in-app crash report to tell the developer.

Is it safe to download?

Only from the project’s GitHub Releases page. Avoid third party APK sites.

Does it run at 60 FPS?

No. It is capped at 30 FPS.

Update Log

October 15, 2026: Page published. Latest stable version is 0.5.7.5. A pre-release, 0.5.7.8, is also listed.

About This Page

Written by the About GTA Editorial Team. We read the project’s own README and install guide before each update. Details can change as the port is updated.