Windows Error 0xC0000005 — Access Violation

Windows error 0xC0000005 is an access violation error meaning a program tried to access memory it's not allowed to use. Here's how to fix it.

What was happening when this appeared?

A specific program crashed with this code

The program has a memory access bug or is incompatible with your system configuration.

Next step: Update the program to the latest version. If it's an older game or app, right-click → Properties → Compatibility and try 'Run this program in compatibility mode'.

During a software install

Antivirus is blocking the installer from accessing memory it needs.

Next step: Temporarily disable your antivirus real-time protection, run the install, then re-enable protection. Only do this for installers from trusted official sources.

Randomly during normal use

RAM is failing or a driver has a bug that causes illegal memory access.

Next step: Run Windows Memory Diagnostic (search it in Start → 'Restart now and check for problems'). Also update all drivers, especially your GPU and chipset drivers.

Frequently asked questions

What does Windows Error 0xC0000005 'Access Violation' mean?
A program tried to access memory it doesn't have permission to use. This is a fundamental software bug — the program read from or wrote to a memory address that belongs to another process or to protected system memory.
Is Windows Error 0xC0000005 a virus?
The error itself is not caused by a virus — it's a programming fault. However, certain malware can intentionally trigger access violations to crash programs. If it happens across many programs simultaneously, run a malware scan.
How do I stop Windows Error 0xC0000005 from recurring?
If one program causes it: update or reinstall that program. Check for known compatibility issues with your Windows version. If it's system-wide: run Windows Memory Diagnostic to check for faulty RAM, and update all drivers (especially GPU and chipset).
Upload your screenshot for a specific explanation →