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How to Fix STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION Error in Chrome

Learn how to fix the STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION error message in the chrome browser. The error occurs due to the access request to the unspecified program code.

The Chrome error STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION occurs due to any program code requesting access to memory without proper permission. You can quickly fix the issue by following the easy tips like updating the web browser, renaming the executable browser files, switching to a stable version, disabling extensions, or, last resort, switching to different browsers.

Fix Error: STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION on Chrome browser

Mishandling of an error where an unspecified program code registers for memory without proper authority causes the STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION error in Chrome. The error is a mishandling of code management, so Google shut it down some time ago. However, the feature was enabled again on user requests, which might cause this error occasionally.

I have faced this error multiple times while surfing the web. An unexpectedly STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION error shows up, and the tab no longer works. In most scenarios, the issue goes away when you restart the browser or your PC. This problem seems to persist in browsers based on the Chromium engine.

STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION error in Chrome

If you are facing the same issue on Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers, such as Microsoft Edge, Opera, Brave, etc., do not panic. The error is not critical and is just a result of poor code management.

Here are some methods by which you can effectively fix this problem with an access violation error code on Chrome in no time.

Update Chrome Browser

This might be a bug that the devs fixed already. You may not have updated your browser. So you can try updating your browser first before you continue.

  1. Download the latest Chrome setup file.
  2. Double-click on it to Install and wait for it to complete.
  3. Check if the issue is solved.

Alternatively, you can check for updates from Chrome itself. Open chrome://settings in the URL bar, click About Chrome, let it check for updates, and download it for you.

About Chrome Update on Computer

Renaming Browser Executable File

Some people reported that renaming chrome.exe did fix the issue. So before you do anything, rename the executable using the methods below. This only works on Windows computers; macOS people can skip this.

Here are the steps to rename the browser executable:

  1. Right-click the Chrome icon on the desktop or search for the Chrome app under the Start menu.
  2. Select the Open file location command.
    Open File Location in Windows OS
  3. Now, in the location, find the Chrome.exe file and rename it to anything else.
    Rename Chrome Executable File
  4. Reopen the Chrome browser and check the website.

The issue should disappear if the chrome file data were the issue, and you shouldn’t be affected much after renaming the executable file.

Switch to a Stable Version

If you’re using Unstable or Canary versions of Chrome, you should consider switching to a stable version. The Canary version includes bleeding-edge features that often cause problems. So if you are using Canary, switch to the stable version.

Here are the steps to update the Chrome browser to the Stable channel:

  1. Open Run (Win + R) and type in appwiz.cpl.
    Run Application Wizard in Windows command
  2. Select Chrome Canary in the Control Panel, and click on the Uninstall to remove the unstable version of Chrome.
    Uninstall Google Chrome from Windows
  3. Download the latest version of the stable Chrome browser.
  4. Install the latest stable version and check if the issue vanishes.

Vice versa, if you’re already on stable, try the Beta or the Canary builds of Chrome. They may have a fix for this issue.

Disable Browser Extensions

Extensions can be very manipulative in terms of error generation. Since the STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION error is caused due to bad error handling in coding programs, the error may be caused due to any wrong Chrome extension.

And the best way to deal with this situation is to disable all your extensions and re-enable them individually. By this, you can figure out what extensions are causing the problem.

Here are the steps to disable the browser extensions:

  1. Launch Google Chrome on the computer.
  2. Click on More vertical 3dots icon for options.
  3. Hover on More Tools and select the Extensions tab.
    Chrome Browser Extensions Tab under More ToolsYou will see all your installed browser extensions.
  4. Toggle OFF the button to disable all installed extensions.
    Google chrome installed extensions

Now enable individual extensions one by one and see which extensions cause the STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION error. If you found the culprit, then uninstall that browser extension.

Switch to Different Browsers

As this is a browser-specific issue, you can try switching to other browsers. Some good alternatives are Microsoft Edge and Firefox. Although it is not a solution, at least you can get your work done.

Even Firefox lets you import data from Chrome so that you can start working fine without any hassle. On the other hand, Microsoft Edge is very similar to Chrome, so you can sign in with your Microsoft account and sync your data across different devices.

Firefox Import Data from Another Browser

Bottom Line

So as you can see, there are a few possible solutions for this issue. Many people reported this only on the latest build of the Chrome browser, but I have faced the same in the previous version as well.

Suppose you face the same issue repeatedly, even after following these methods. As a last resort, you can switch to another browser until this issue gets some solutions from the developers of Chrome. Before that, you can also try updating Windows; it may solve the issue, so try it.

Let us know how the access violation error fix has been for you. Also, ensure you’re using the latest version of the browser to access the site.

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

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Rahul Verma

Rahul is a Computer Science Engineer with a MBA degree. He is keenly interested in the field of tech and cryptocurrency. He has 6+ years of technical content writing experience, mainly experimenting with and troubleshooting computer and mobile operating systems. Connect him on LinkedIn.

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