GTA Online Error Code 0xc0000005: How to Fix It

Medium 30-90 minutes High Severity Verified June 2026
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Error Code
0xc0000005
Brand
GTA Online
Product Type
game
Severity
High
DIY Difficulty
Medium
Estimated Fix Time
30-90 minutes
Error code 0xc0000005 in GTA Online is an access violation crash, meaning the game attempted to read or write to a memory address it is not permitted to access. This typically points to corrupted game files, incompatible software (such as overlays or antivirus programs), outdated drivers, or faulty RAM. The crash is rated high severity because it prevents the game from running and can occur repeatedly until the root cause is resolved.
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Tools You'll Need

How to Fix Error Code 0xc0000005

  1. Restart Your PC and Relaunch the Game

    Make sure to save any other open work before restarting your PC.

  2. Verify and Repair GTA Online Game Files

  3. Disable Overlays and Third-Party Software

  4. Add GTA Online as an Exception in Your Antivirus

    Only add the game folder as an exclusion, not your entire system drive, to maintain security.

  5. Update Your GPU and System Drivers

    During a clean driver install, your screen may flicker or go black briefly — this is normal.

  6. Run GTA Online as Administrator

  7. Adjust Virtual Memory (Page File) Settings

    Ensure you have enough free disk space before increasing the virtual memory size.

  8. Test Your RAM for Errors

    Back up important data before running memory diagnostics, as RAM errors can occasionally cause data loss.

  9. Reinstall the Visual C++ Redistributables and DirectX

  10. Perform a Clean Reinstall of GTA Online

    Back up your GTA Online settings and saved Social Club data before uninstalling if possible.
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When to Call a Professional

If the Windows Memory Diagnostic or MemTest86 reports RAM errors, your RAM sticks may be defective and should be replaced — consult a PC repair technician if you are not comfortable handling hardware. Similarly, if the crash persists after all software steps and is accompanied by other system instability (BSODs, crashes in other programs), your issue may involve faulty RAM, a failing GPU, or motherboard hardware that requires professional diagnosis. Contact Rockstar Games Support if the problem appears isolated to GTA Online after all fixes have been attempted.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes GTA Online error 0xc0000005?
Error 0xc0000005 is an access violation error, meaning GTA Online tried to access a memory address it was not authorized to use. The most common causes are corrupted game files, antivirus or overlay software interfering with game memory, outdated GPU drivers, insufficient virtual memory, or physically faulty RAM.
Will verifying game files fix error 0xc0000005 in GTA Online?
Verifying game files fixes the error in many cases where the crash is caused by corrupted or missing files. However, if the cause is driver issues, conflicting software, or faulty hardware, you will need to follow the additional steps in this guide.
Can antivirus software cause GTA Online to crash with error 0xc0000005?
Yes. Antivirus programs can falsely flag GTA Online's memory operations as suspicious and block or terminate them, causing an access violation crash. Adding the GTA V installation folder to your antivirus exclusion list often resolves this.
Does error 0xc0000005 mean my PC has a hardware problem?
Not necessarily. In most cases it is a software issue — corrupted files, drivers, or conflicting applications. However, if software fixes do not resolve the error, faulty RAM is a possible hardware cause. Run the Windows Memory Diagnostic or MemTest86 to rule out RAM problems.
How do I stop GTA Online from crashing with 0xc0000005 permanently?
To prevent recurrence, keep your GPU drivers up to date, ensure your antivirus has GTA V excluded, disable all in-game overlays, and keep Windows and Visual C++ Redistributables updated. If the game updates and crashes return, re-verify game files immediately after each major patch.

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