Gray Zone Warfare EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION crash: what to try
Written by
Last checked
October 1, 2026
The UE-GZW Crash Reporter opens with "Unhandled Exception: EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION reading address 0x…", often at 100% loading or right as you join a server.
Also appears as: exception_access_violation, unhandled exception exception_access_violation reading address, gray zone warfare exception access violation, grey zone warfare exception_access_violation, gray zone warfare crash at 100 loading, gray zone warfare crash joining server
The game tried to read memory it couldn't, and Unreal Engine closed it. MADFINGER's help centre lists it with "GPU Crash Dump" as the two most common crashes, and gives the same checklist for both.
The address in the message changes from crash to crash, so don't search for it. In September 2026 threads, players with this crash said driver and clock changes didn't help everyone, so send the crash report to MADFINGER if the checklist doesn't fix it.
Fix it, step by step
Verify game files in Steam
Right-click Gray Zone Warfare in Steam > Properties > Installed Files > Verify integrity of game files. This is MADFINGER's first step for this crash.
Set Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling to match your upscaler
In Windows Settings > System > Display > Graphics > Change default graphics settings, turn it On with DLSS and Off with FSR, TSR or XeSS, per MADFINGER's help centre.
Clean-reinstall your GPU driver with DDU
Download the latest driver first, remove the old one with Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU), then install. MADFINGER suggests NVIDIA driver 576.88 if the newest one is the problem.
Close Razer Synapse, Logitech G Hub and other background apps
MADFINGER recommends closing them before launch to prevent memory conflicts.
Run CPU, GPU and RAM at stock settings
Turn off overclocks, undervolts, PBO and XMP or EXPO profiles in the BIOS. MADFINGER's 2024 troubleshooting guide names overclocking as a known cause of instability; a September 2026 reporter said it didn't fix theirs.
- NoteConfirmed
Let the crash reporter send its data, and open a ticket at support.madfingergames.com with your dxdiag file attached.
Sorted. Glad that worked.
Nothing worked. Here's what to do next.
You've ruled out every step on this page, which is useful. Send this to support or drop it in the community Discord so nobody makes you repeat yourself.
Hit this error? Leave a comment
Say where you are, what you see on screen, and whether any fix worked for you.
No links. Anonymous, no account. Keep it about the game.
What people are saying
Notes from players who've hit this one — no time limit, an answer from months ago is still an answer.
- Nothing reported here yet.
From isthisgamedownMatched on ""
From isthisgamedownMatched on ""
From isthisgamedownMatched on ""