How to Fix: Aw, Snap! STATUS_INVALID_IMAGE_HASH error

Whether it is Google Chrome or Microsoft, Edge in Windows, the Aw, Snap! STATUS_INVALID_IMAGE_HASH error shows up whenever there is any configuration issue. Also, the error can be due to your Antivirus, which conflicts with your current Chromium-based browsers such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.

The error could happen when the browser cannot run an executable file image (not the photos, pictures, or images) due to an invalid hash security key. However, the issue with the web browser can be resolved using different ways discussed here.

We can manually add the registry key, disable the antivirus protection, and turn off the code integrity feature to avoid the STATUS_INVALID_IMAGE_HASH error.

The error is due to an invalid executable file image security hash you usually see while browsing the internet or on video streaming websites.

Note: Before following these methods, please try the basic browser troubleshoots, and restart your Chrome or Edge browser, as most of these errors may go away automatically after a simple restart.

Ensure you have updated your browser to the latest version, whether Chrome or Edge, since the error can sometimes be due to an outdated browser.

Adding a Registry Key

Though you can add the key using the Registry Editor, it is better and an easy process in the command prompt rather than in Registry Editor. However, before that, ensure that Google Chrome is not running in the background. You can launch the Task Manager and cross-check for the same.

Here are the steps to add the registry key in Google Chrome:

1. Windows search bar, type cmd, and search for it.
2. Select the command prompt and click the Run as Administrator option to run it as an Admin.
   
3. Type the following command and press the Enter button on your keyboard to enter the Retry Key.

REG ADD “HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome” /v RendererCodeIntegrityEnabled /t REG_DWORD /d 0

Once the process is complete, close the command prompt and launch Google Chrome to check whether the error has been fixed.

Similarly, you can also add the registry key to the Microsoft Edge browser. Just replace the path of Google Chrome’s HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE with Microsoft Edge HKLM.

Disabling Code Integrity

To resolve our Aw Snap! STATUS_INVALID_IMAGE_HASH issue, we need to turn off the integrity feature in Chrome. Here are the steps to disable the code integrity feature:

1. Right-click on the Google Chrome icon.
2. Select Properties from the quick menu.
   
3. Click in the input field beside the Target label.
4. Now, after the chrome.exe” section, press on the Spacebar to add a space.
5. Type or paste the following code mentioned below:

   --disable-features=RendererCodelntegrity

6. After that, click on the Apply button.
7. Click on the Continue button in the prompt to confirm the settings.
8. Then close it by clicking the OK button.

Now launch Google Chome, and check if the Aw, Snap! STATUS_INVALID_IMAGE_HASH error has been resolved.

Similarly, you can also edit for the Edge browser properties to turn off code integrity.

Renaming Edge to msedge.exe

It was a weird solution at first, but for most users, it worked. For this, you will have to rename the Edge application to msedge.exe. It can already be named msedge.exe, but you can name it again and try to see whether it works.

People have also done it similarly in Chrome, and it worked. Moreover, instead of msedge.exe, you can rename it to anything and check. You must first locate the Edge executable file. Here are the steps to do so:

1. Open up the File Explorer.
2. Go to This PC > Local Disk(C:) > Programs files(x86) > Edge > Application.
3. In the application directory, right-click on the Edge executable file.
4. Select Rename, then name it to msedge.exe.

Changing the Compatibility Settings

If none of the other methods work, you can try changing the compatibility settings of Chrome and Edge and check if it resolves the issue. Here are the steps to change the compatibility settings:

1. Locate the Chrome and Edge executable file in C:\.
2. Then right-click on it and select Properties.
3. Now, in the properties window, go to the Compatibility tab.
   
4. Enable the check box to Run this program in compatibility mode for option.
5. Select Windows 7, 8, or 10 from the drop-down and confirm it.
6. Hit the Apply button, select OK.

Relaunch Chrome and Edge and see if the error is fixed. If not, try other compatibility options.

Bottom Line

While browsing the internet, you may get similar errors like Aw, Snap! I got baffled when I saw this error for the first time, and I got scared since I did not know how to fix that back then.

The registry method is a permanent solution to this problem; you won’t see this error again. But if the error still appears, you can follow the other troubleshooting methods mentioned above.

If none of the above works, try reinstalling your Chrome browser or Microsoft Edge browser to see if it works.

Lastly, if you've any thoughts or feedback on How to Fix: Aw, Snap! STATUS_INVALID_IMAGE_HASH error, then feel free to drop in below comment box. You can also report the outdated information.