How to Edit RPF Files in GTA V: Complete Guide

What Are RPF Files?

RPF stands for Rage Package File. It's the archive format that GTA V uses to bundle game assets — models, textures, audio, scripts, metadata, and map data are all stored inside RPF archives. Every modding workflow eventually touches an RPF file.

GTA V uses the RPF7 variant of the format, introduced with the RAGE engine update for the game's release. The files use the .rpf extension and can be found throughout the game directory, with the largest ones living in x64a.rpf through x64w.rpf, update/update.rpf, and inside DLC folders.

How RPF7 Archives Are Structured

An RPF7 file starts with a 16-byte header containing a magic number (0x52504637), the table of contents size, entry count, and encryption flags. After the header comes a table of entries — each 16 bytes — that define every file and folder inside the archive.

File names are stored as null-terminated ASCII strings immediately after the entry table. Each entry stores an offset (as a page number multiplied by 512 bytes), the file's compressed and uncompressed sizes, and flags indicating whether the data is compressed or encrypted.

GTA V archives use three encryption states: none, AES, and NG (Next Generation). The encryption type is determined from header flags. Compressed entries use raw deflate compression.

You don't need to memorize any of this to mod the game, but understanding the structure helps when something goes wrong — like when a file extraction produces garbage data because the tool misread the encryption flags.

RPF Files You'll Encounter Most

Not all RPF files are equally important for modding. Here are the ones you'll work with most often:

update/update.rpf — Contains the latest versions of game files. When Rockstar patches the game, updated files go here. This is where you'll find the most current handling.meta, vehicles.meta, and other commonly edited files.

x64e.rpf — Contains most vehicle models and textures. If you're replacing car models or liveries, you'll spend a lot of time in this archive.

x64a.rpf through x64w.rpf — The main game asset archives, each containing different categories of content. Maps, props, peds, weapons, and other assets are spread across these files.

DLC RPFs — Found in update/x64/dlcpacks/. Each DLC (both official and add-on) has its own RPF containing all assets for that content pack.

mods folder RPFs — If you use a mods folder (recommended), you'll have copies of the above RPFs in a mods/ directory. This lets you keep your original game files untouched.

How to Open and Browse RPF Files

To open an RPF archive, you need a tool that understands the RPF7 format. You can't just rename the file to .zip and extract it — the format is proprietary to Rockstar's RAGE engine.

ModWorks includes a built-in RPF explorer that opens any GTA V archive, including compressed and encrypted files. It displays the full directory tree, lets you inspect individual entries (file sizes, compression state, offsets), and handles nested archives — RPFs inside RPFs, which GTA V uses extensively.

To open an RPF in ModWorks:

Launch ModWorks and open the RPF Explorer
Browse to your GTA V installation or drag the RPF file into the window
Navigate the tree structure to find the file you need

Extracting Files from RPF Archives

Extracting is the process of pulling a file out of the archive so you can edit it externally — in a text editor, image editor, or 3D modeling tool.

When extracting, pay attention to whether the file is in a raw binary format (like .ydr, .ytd, .yft) or a text-based format (like .meta files, which are XML). Binary files need format-specific tools to edit, while meta files can be opened in any text editor.

To extract files with ModWorks, right-click any file in the RPF explorer and choose Extract. You can extract individual files or entire folders. ModWorks handles decompression and decryption automatically.

Replacing Files Inside RPF Archives

Replacing a file is the reverse of extraction — you take a modified file and put it back into the archive. This is how most mods are installed.

The key rules for replacement:

Match the format exactly. If the original file was a DXT5 texture at 1024x1024, your replacement needs to be the same format and dimensions. Mismatched formats cause crashes or invisible textures.

Watch the file size. Replacing a file with one that's significantly larger can cause issues. The RPF entry has size fields, and while good tools update these automatically, dramatically larger files can push the archive past streaming limits.

Use a mods folder. Never edit the original game RPFs directly. Copy them to a mods/ folder first. This way, verifying game files through Steam or the Rockstar Launcher restores the originals without affecting your modded copies.

Back up before you replace. Even when using a mods folder, keep backups of your modified RPFs before making additional changes. One bad replacement can corrupt the archive.

Common Problems and Fixes

"Invalid RPF" or "Can't Open Archive"

The file is either corrupted, from a different game (GTA IV uses RPF6, Red Dead uses RPF8), or was partially downloaded. Verify you have the complete file and that it's actually from GTA V.

Extracted Files Are Empty or Garbled

The extraction tool likely misidentified the encryption type. Try a different tool or verify that your tool supports the specific encryption variant. ModWorks auto-detects encryption from header flags, which handles most cases.

Game Crashes After Replacing a File

The replacement file is incompatible. Common causes: wrong texture format, wrong model version, or a meta file with XML syntax errors. Check the crash troubleshooting guide for detailed diagnostics.

"ERR_FIL_PACK" Errors

This error means the game detected something wrong with an RPF archive during loading. The archive may be corrupted, the table of contents may be invalid, or a file inside has an incorrect size entry. Restore from backup and try the replacement again.

Tips for Working With RPF Files

Learn the file tree. Spend some time just browsing the game's archives to understand where different asset types live. This makes finding files much faster later.
Use search. ModWorks lets you search across the entire archive by filename. If you know the name of the file you need (e.g., adder.ytd), search for it instead of navigating manually.
Understand nesting. GTA V nests RPFs inside RPFs. A vehicle texture might be at x64e.rpf/levels/gta5/vehicles.rpf/adder.ytd. You need to navigate through each layer.
Check file dates. When the game updates, files in update.rpf override files in the main archives. Always check update.rpf first for the most current version of any file.