How to Fix: Microsoft Edge STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION error

The number of browsers with the underlying Chromium Source code is constantly rising. And there are no complaints from the user either, as they are getting all the Chrome goodies without limiting themselves to the resource-hungry Chrome browser.

However, there was always a concern- if a significant issue gets into this source code, all the browsers might get bugged simultaneously. And this seems to have been going on for a few months.

The complaints started pouring in from Chrome users regarding the STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION error.

Then it was only a matter of time before other Chromium browsers joined this list of affected browsers. Unfortunately, Microsoft Edge soon became a part of this issue as well. Many users voiced their concerns to the Microsoft Tech Community forum regarding this issue without much success.

However, a few workarounds have been known to fix this Microsoft’s Edge STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION error. And this guide shall make you aware of just that. So without further ado, let’s get started.

Disable Renderer Code Integrity

Google recently enabled the Renderer Code Integrity, which was quickly adopted by other Chromium browsers as well. This integrity is responsible for verifying all the codes the webpage loads and allowing only the signed ones to proceed.

However, in some instances, it could raise a false positive and block the rendering of codes from a trustworthy site. So if you think that same is the case, consider disabling Renderer Code Integrity. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Select Microsoft Edge’s desktop shortcut link.
2. Right-click for the context menu and select Properties.
3. Switch to the Shortcut tab, and add the below string at the end of the existing Target field:

   --disable-features=RendererCodeIntegrity

   

4. Your target field should now look something along the lines of:

   "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application\msedge.exe" --disable-features=RendererCodeIntegrity

5. Click on Apply and then OK.
6. Launch the browser using this shortcut.

Now try loading the page. You have an access violation issue. Disabling code integrity might have fixed the problem.

Alternatively, if you wish to carry out this task manually using Registry Editor, you can follow these steps:

1. Launch Registry Editor in Windows OS,
2. Navigate to Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge location.
3. Create a new DWORD (32-Bit) Value.
4. Name the file RendererCodeIntegrityEnabled and assign it a 0 Value data.
   
5. Hit the OK command button to save.

Disabling ‘Renderer Code Integrity’ could be risky because you are turning off an important security feature. So while this feature is disabled, make sure you don’t visit non-secure sites, such as those still following HTTP or the ones that don’t have a valid SSL Certificate.

Rename executable file

Some users could spell success by assigning a random name to the Edge’s EXE file. Here are the steps to locate and rename the Edge executable file:

1. Launch File Explorer on your Windows PC and go to the below location:

   C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge\Application

2. Select the msedge.exe file.
3. Right-click on the file and select Rename from the context menu.
   
4. Rename something else, such as edge.exe, and save the changes.
   

Now launch Microsoft Edge using this EXE file and check if it fixes the STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION error

Switch to Beta version

Besides your stable version, Microsoft also runs a Beta build. BETA is mainly used for testing experimental features, but at the same time, it might not get bugged with issues that the stable build seems to go through.

Some users rectified the STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION error after switching to Microsoft Edge’s Beta build. Download and install the Edge’s Beta Channel onto your Windows PC to try it out.

Launch Edge browser, sign in to your account (optional), and try accessing the page. See if it can fix the underlying issue.

Disable Javascript Extensions

If you use a third-party extension that deals with scripts, you recommend disabling them immediately.

While the extensions part of this domain allows you to add and modify web pages, they seem to be the root cause of this issue. So it would be best if you considered disabling them as of now. Here are the steps to disable:

1. Launch the Microsoft Edge computer browser.
2. Click on More for menu options.
3. Select the Extensions menu from the list.
   
4. Disable the toggle next to the extension that deals with scripts.
   
5. Restart the Edge browser and see if this tweak worked out for you.

If disabling the extension rectifies the issue, you shouldn’t consider trying out its alternatives because the problem isn’t with a particular extension but seems to stem from an add-on that deals with JavaScript.

So it’s better to stay away from these extensions for quite some time until the patch is deployed in the next Edge update.

Bottom Line

With that, we conclude the guide on how you could fix Microsoft Edge’s STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION error. We have shared four different methods, each of which should work out in your favor.

For me, disabling the Renderer Code Integrity was the savior. However, since keeping it disabled could prove a risky bet, turn it back on as soon as you are done working with the concerned site.

On that note, we round off this tutorial. Do let us know in the comments section which method managed to fix the issue with Microsoft Edge. Also, please share anything else you’ve tried and worked on improving the issue.

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