0xc0000005 Fortnite

Fortnite Crash Without Error Message - Exit Code 0xc0000005 Fix Guide

📅 Published: 2026-02-05 🔄 Updated: 2026-02-05 👥 Reports: 6 ⚡ Severity: 🟢 Low

🎯 Quick Answer

Reinstall the Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) service to resolve the STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION error (0xc0000005) that causes Fortnite to crash silently during launch.

SECTION 1: OVERVIEW

This error constitutes a silent crash of the Fortnite client process (FortniteClient-Win64-Shipping_EAC.exe) triggered by a Windows exception. The primary diagnostic indicator is exit code 0xc0000005 (STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION) logged in FortniteLauncher.log, accompanied by a generic fatal error code 3221225477 (the decimal equivalent). The crash occurs exclusively on the Windows platform during the initial launch sequence, after the launcher spawns the main game executable with anti-cheat parameters. This is a common launch-time failure with high severity, as it prevents the game from starting entirely. The error is frequently linked to the Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) subsystem, evidenced by log entries checking the "eac installation status" and a warning that the system "could not open eac registry path."

SECTION 2: SYMPTOMS

The application terminates abruptly during the startup sequence, typically after the Epic Games Launcher transitions to the Fortnite game window or during the initial splash screens. No error dialog or crash reporter appears on screen. The process exits silently to the desktop or back to the Epic Games Launcher. The FortniteLauncher.log file concludes with the lines "error running fortnite: exit status 0xc0000005" and "error running fortnite: 3221225477". The launcher itself remains running but reports the game process has stopped.

SECTION 3: COMMON CAUSES

Category: Anti-Cheat Corruption Specific technical explanation: The Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) service installation is missing, corrupted, or has an invalid registry configuration. The log shows "could not open eac registry path", indicating the launcher cannot locate or read the necessary EAC keys in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\EasyAntiCheat. Why this causes the problem: The game executable (FortniteClient-Win64-Shipping_EAC.exe) requires a functional EAC kernel-mode driver to load. A corrupted installation causes an access violation when the game attempts to initialize the anti-cheat handshake. Category: Software Conflict Specific technical explanation: Security or system optimization software (e.g., overclocking utilities, aggressive antivirus, or other kernel-level drivers) interferes with the Easy Anti-Cheat driver's operation. Why this causes the problem: EAC operates at a privileged system level. Conflicting software that hooks into similar system calls or memory spaces can trigger a memory access violation (0xc0000005) as the anti-cheat tries to assert control. Category: Game File Corruption Specific technical explanation: Critical game binaries or the Easy Anti-Cheat module files within the Fortnite installation directory are damaged or incomplete. Why this causes the problem: The FortniteClient-Win64-Shipping_EAC.exe file or its dependent .dll files are invalid. Attempting to execute corrupted code results in an access violation exception. Category: Graphics Driver Issue Specific technical explanation: Outdated or faulty GPU drivers, particularly versions with known memory management bugs (e.g., NVIDIA 531.x series), cause instability during DirectX 12 initialization. Why this causes the problem: Fortnite uses DirectX 12 by default. Faulty drivers can corrupt memory allocations that the game or anti-cheat attempts to access, leading to the STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION. Category: Operating System Corruption Specific technical explanation: Critical system files (DLLs, the C++ Redistributable packages, or DirectX runtime components) required by both the game and EAC are missing or damaged. Why this causes the problem: The game and its anti-cheat rely on shared Windows system libraries. A missing vcruntime140.dll or ucrtbase.dll, for example, can cause a fatal access violation on startup. Category: Configuration Error Specific technical explanation: Incorrect or corrupted user configuration files in %LOCALAPPDATA%\FortniteGame\Saved\Config\WindowsClient force the game into an unstable state on launch. Why this causes the problem: Settings like RenderDirectX12 in GameUserSettings.ini that are incompatible with the hardware or driver can cause immediate crashes during engine initialization.

SECTION 4: SOLUTIONS

Solution 1: Repair Easy Anti-Cheat Installation

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 5 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: None Steps:

Navigate to the Fortnite Easy Anti-Cheat directory: C:\Program Files\Epic Games\Fortnite\FortniteGame\Binaries\Win64\EasyAntiCheat.
Locate and execute the EasyAntiCheat_Setup.exe file with Administrator rights (Right-click > Run as administrator).
In the setup dialog, ensure the installed game is listed as "Fortnite." If it is not present, use the dropdown or select it.
Click the Repair Service button. Wait for the process to complete.
Close the setup window and attempt to launch Fortnite.

Technical Explanation: This process reinstalls the Easy Anti-Cheat kernel driver and repopulates the correct registry keys (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\EasyAntiCheat), resolving the "could not open eac registry path" error and ensuring a clean handoff from the launcher to the game executable. Verification: Check the FortniteLauncher.log file after a subsequent launch attempt. The warning about the EAC registry path should be absent, and the log should proceed past the "running fortnite:" entry without the 0xc0000005 error.

Solution 2: Perform a Clean Graphics Driver Installation

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 10 minutes Success Rate: High Prerequisites: Internet connection to download driver Steps:

Download the latest graphics driver from the manufacturer's website (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel).
Download and run the Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) tool from www.guru3d.com.
Boot Windows into Safe Mode. Restart your PC, and during startup, press F8 (or use System Configuration > Boot > Safe boot).
Run DDU in Safe Mode. Select your GPU type and click "Clean and restart."
After Windows restarts normally, install the previously downloaded graphics driver. Choose "Custom Installation" and check "Perform a clean installation."

Technical Explanation: A clean installation removes all previous driver files and registry entries, eliminating conflicts or corrupted shader caches that can cause memory access violations during DirectX 12 initialization. Verification: The Device Manager (devmgmt.msc) should show the correct, latest driver version under Display adapters with no warning symbols. Fortnite should initialize the rendering engine without fault.

Solution 3: Verify Fortnite Game Files via Epic Games Launcher

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 15-30 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Epic Games Launcher installed Steps:

Open the Epic Games Launcher.
Navigate to your Library and locate Fortnite.
Click the three dots (...) under the Fortnite tile and select Manage.
Click the Verify button. The launcher will compare local files with the official manifest and download/replace any missing or corrupted files.
Allow the process to complete, then relaunch the game.

Technical Explanation: This process repairs or replaces damaged binaries, including the FortniteClient-Win64-Shipping_EAC.exe and associated anti-cheat modules, which are the most likely targets of the access violation. Verification: The Epic Games Launcher will display a "Verified successfully" message. A new FortniteLauncher.log will be generated upon the next launch attempt.

Solution 4: Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 5 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: Internet connection Steps:

Open Windows Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
In the search bar, type "Microsoft Visual C++ 20".
For each instance from 2015 through 2022 (both x86 and x64), select it and click Uninstall. Confirm all prompts.
Download the latest Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package from the official Microsoft website. Ensure you get both the x64 and x86 versions.
Install the x64 version first, then the x86 version. Restart your computer.

Technical Explanation: Fortnite and Easy Anti-Cheat are built using Visual Studio and require these specific runtime libraries. Corrupted or missing DLLs like vcruntime140.dll cause immediate access violations when the executable loads. Verification: The libraries will reappear in the Apps & features list. The game will successfully load its dependent DLLs without throwing a runtime exception.

Solution 5: Configure Antivirus and Windows Security Exclusions

Difficulty: Medium Time Required: 5 minutes Prerequisites: Administrator access Steps:

Add Fortnite and Epic Games directories to your antivirus exclusion list. Key paths include:

* C:\Program Files\Epic Games\Fortnite\ * C:\Program Files\Epic Games\Launcher\ * %LOCALAPPDATA%\FortniteGame\

For Windows Security:

* Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection. * Click "Manage settings" under Virus & threat protection settings. * Scroll to Exclusions and click "Add or remove exclusions." * Add folder exclusions for the paths listed above.

Additionally, add an exclusion for EasyAntiCheat.sys and FortniteClient-Win64-Shipping_EAC.exe as executable files.

Technical Explanation: Real-time scanning can interrupt or lock memory pages that the anti-cheat service attempts to access or modify, triggering the STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION (0xc0000005). Verification: Monitor your antivirus logs to confirm it is no longer scanning the excluded folders or files during game launch.

Solution 6: Reset Fortnite User Configuration

Difficulty: Easy Time Required: 2 minutes Success Rate: Medium Prerequisites: None Steps:

Press Win + R, type %LOCALAPPDATA%\FortniteGame\Saved, and press Enter.
Rename the entire Config folder to Config_Backup.
Rename the Saved folder (in the same directory) to Saved_Backup.
Launch Fortnite. The game will generate fresh, default configuration files.

Technical Explanation: Corrupted or incompatible settings in GameUserSettings.ini or Engine.ini can force the game to attempt unstable rendering paths or invalid memory allocations on startup, causing a crash. Verification: New Config and Saved folders are created upon launch. The game starts with default settings, including running in DirectX 11 mode if DirectX 12 was the cause of instability.

Solution 7: Perform a System File Check

Difficulty: Advanced Time Required: 10-15 minutes Success Rate: Low (but critical if issue is systemic) Prerequisites: Administrator access Steps:

Open Command Prompt as Administrator (search for cmd, right-click > Run as administrator).
Execute the command: sfc /scannow
Allow the scan to complete (100%). If it finds and repairs corruptions, restart your PC.
If issues persist, run the Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool. In the same Admin Command Prompt, execute: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
After DISM completes, run sfc /scannow again. Restart the computer.

Technical Explanation: The System File Checker (SFC) repairs corrupted protected Windows system files. DISM repairs the Windows component store. This resolves missing/corrupted system DLLs that underlie both the game and anti-cheat operations. Verification: The Command Prompt will report "Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them." A subsequent game launch will not fail due to a missing system dependency.

SECTION 5: PREVENTION

Maintain a regular schedule for graphics driver updates, opting for clean installations when possible. After any major Windows Update, verify the Easy Anti-Cheat service integrity by running the EasyAntiCheat_Setup.exe repair function. Keep the Epic Games Launcher running in the background to allow for automatic game updates, preventing file version mismatches. Configure permanent antivirus exclusions for the Fortnite installation directories to prevent future scanning conflicts. Periodically clear the %TEMP% directory to remove stale Hyperion crash dumps or temporary files that may interfere with launch diagnostics.

SECTION 6: WHEN TO CONTACT SUPPORT

Contact Epic Games Support if all solutions fail and the 0xc0000005 error persists in the log. Escalation is required when the crash occurs across multiple fresh Windows user profiles, indicating a deep system-level conflict. Prepare to provide the full FortniteLauncher.log file, your DxDiag report, and a detailed list of installed security and system utility software. Official support channels are accessible via the Epic Games Help Center at `epic