Alex Ruben
How To Fix Access Violation Error 0xc0000005 in Deathloop
Facing that annoying “access violation occurred in the thread” error (0xc0000005) when trying to launch or play Deathloop? Yeah, it’s kinda frustrating, especially when you just wanna get into the game. This isn’t some polished tutorial—is more like what someone who’s been there and done that would share. So, here’s how to troubleshoot this mess step by step without pulling your hair out.
Prerequisites
Before messing around, make sure:
- Your graphics drivers are up to date. NVIDIA GeForce users especially, since that’s what this primarily targets.
- You’ve got admin rights—because of course Windows has to make it harder than it needs to be.
- Any sketchy overlays or performance tools (like Razer Cortex, Discord overlays, or GeForce Experience overlay) are temporarily disabled or turned off. Sometimes they get in the way.
Method 1: Tweak NVIDIA Control Panel Settings
Again, this is mostly for NVIDIA folks, but it helps because the game can get tripped up with some graphics settings. The logic here is to make sure nothing conflicts with Deathloop’s rendering or frame management. On some machines, the game crashes immediately until you fix these.
- Right-click on your desktop and select NVIDIA Control Panel. If it’s not there, make sure your drivers are installed properly. Otherwise, this step is pointless.
- Go to Manage 3D Settings in the left sidebar.
- Switch to the Program Settings tab, and click Add. Browse to find Deathloop.exe (probably in your installation folder, like
C:\Program Files\Deathloop\Deathloop.exeor wherever you installed it). - Set these options:
- Maximum Frame Rate: Whatever feels smooth for you, I’ve seen 120 work fine.
- Low Latency Mode: Turn it Off. It might seem counterintuitive, but sometimes it triggers conflicts.
Relauch the game after this. Sometimes this alone saves the day.
Method 2: Disable Overlays & HDR
Overlays and HDR are notorious for causing conflicts. When you get that error, they’re suspect.
- Disable overlays from NVIDIA GeForce Experience: open GeForce Experience, go to Settings (gear icon), then toggle off In-Game Overlay. Same goes for Steam, Discord, or any other overlay. Sometimes the game just doesn’t like multiple overlays trying to talk at once.
- To turn off HDR, go to Settings > System > Display in Windows. Find HDR and advanced color and toggle it off.
After this, try launching again. It’s not foolproof, but on one setup it worked, on another… not so much. Oh well.
Method 3: Clear Files & Uninstall Conflicting Apps
If the above didn’t fix anything, maybe the game files got corrupted or some background app is messing with things.
- Navigate to your save game folder (this varies). Usually, it’s in This PC > C > Users > [Your Username] > Saved Games > Arcane Studios > Deathloop. In there, look for files like
config.cfg. Delete it—game will make a new one next time it launches. - Uninstall any app you think might be conflicting. Razer Cortex, game boosters, CPU or GPU optimizers, etc. Some of these temporarily cause chaos during startup.
After cleanup, relaunch the game. Might not fix everything, but it’s worth a shot.
Extra Tips & Common Roadblocks
Here’s where it gets weird—sometimes a Windows update, or lack thereof, causes issues. Keep Windows itself updated, and run the game as Administrator: right-click Deathloop.exe, choose Properties, go to Compatibility, then check Run this program as administrator. Not sure why, but this helps on some systems.
What’s Happening — Why Does This Happen?
Basically, the game’s trying to access some memory location or system resource that Windows or graphics drivers are blocking or conflicting with. Overlays, outdated drivers, corrupted config files—you name it. When something isn’t right at that low level, Windows throws the 0xc0000005 error in protest.
When to Seek More Help
If none of these work, it might be time to check for more concrete solutions or wait for an official patch. Sometimes this error is caused by a particular Windows update or driver version that’s wonky. Forums, Reddit, or even the official support page for Deathloop might have some fresh ideas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes the Deathloop error 0xc0000005?
Mostly conflicts with graphics settings, overlays, or corrupted game files. Can also happen if Windows security blocks some memory access.
Can I fix this without reinstalling?
Most of the time, yeah. Troubleshooting steps like driver updates, overlay disables, or config resets do the trick. Reinstallation is a last resort or if files are really hosed.
Is deleting the config file safe?
Yup, totally. The game recreates it fresh at launch. It just resets some personal preferences that could be causing issues.
Summary
- Keep your GPU drivers fresh and up to date
- Turn off overlays and HDR temporarily
- Reset or delete game config files
- Run the game as admin — it’s surprisingly helpful sometimes
- Check for conflicting apps or antivirus blocking access
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Sometimes forcing Windows or drivers into a better state is just about trial and error, but hey, it’s better than smashing your keyboard in frustration.