If League of Legends error code 0xc0000005 blocks the Riot Client from opening, start with Riot’s specific recommendation: close the client, then launch it as an administrator. If that does not work, Riot recommends reinstalling League after removing its related local files. The code alone does not identify one guaranteed cause, so use the steps below in order and avoid risky system tweaks that are not tied to your symptoms.
Windows defines 0xC0000005 as STATUS_ACCESS_VIOLATION, but that label does not prove your RAM is faulty or identify which file caused the problem. Riot’s League error-code guide says the cause is unknown and describes it as more of a Windows issue. The guide also says it can block access to the client. A LoL 0xc0000005 error is different from a Vanguard error that starts with “VAN.”
Exit the Riot Client from its menu and check the notification area near the clock for a Riot icon. If the client remains open, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, select any clearly League- or Riot-related process that is still running, and choose End task. Save work in other apps first, then restart Windows and try again. This clears a stuck client session without changing game files.
This is Riot’s first recommended fix for error code 0xc0000005. Use the Riot Client rather than applying compatibility-mode settings to several game executables. If the option is missing from the search result, open the folder containing the Riot Client shortcut, right-click that shortcut, and choose the administrator option there.
If administrator mode does not solve the League client crash, prepare for a clean reinstall. Your account and most game progress are tied to your Riot account, but local files may include settings, cache, screenshots, or replays. In particular, Riot says the League of Legends folder in Documents contains replays.
C:\Riot Games, %LOCALAPPDATA%\Riot Games, %PROGRAMDATA%\Riot Games, and Documents\League of Legends as leftover locations. Remove only the listed Riot files after backing up anything you need; check the exact folder before deleting it.Installation paths can differ if you chose another drive. Do not delete an entire drive or unrelated folders, and do not use registry cleaners for this error. If the cleanup instructions are unclear because you have multiple Riot games or a custom setup, stop before deleting shared files and ask Riot Support which folders are safe to remove.
Download the installer from the official League of Legends download page, install the game, restart Windows once installation finishes, and open the Riot Client normally. Test the client before changing graphics profiles, security settings, or other Windows options. If the client now opens, add back your backed-up local files selectively; avoid copying old cache folders into a clean installation.
If other games and apps work normally, keep troubleshooting with Riot rather than assuming Windows memory or hardware failure. If several unrelated programs also show access-violation crashes, install pending Windows updates and get graphics drivers from your GPU manufacturer. Riot’s driver guide explains how to identify your graphics card with dxdiag; NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel provide official driver pages.
If Windows itself is unstable or multiple apps are failing, Microsoft documents DISM and System File Checker as tools for repairing Windows components. Open Terminal or Command Prompt as an administrator, run these commands in this order, and allow each to finish:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannow
Restart Windows afterward. These commands are general Windows maintenance, not a confirmed League-specific cure for error code 0xc0000005.
If the crash began after installing or updating another program, a clean boot can help isolate a background-service conflict. Follow Microsoft’s Windows 10 or Windows 11 instructions carefully, hide Microsoft services before disabling anything, and record which startup items you change. When the test is finished, restore normal startup. A clean boot temporarily changes how Windows starts, so it should be a diagnostic test rather than a permanent setting.
If the administrator launch and clean reinstall do not clear the error, submit a ticket to Riot Player Support. Include the exact code, when it appears (opening the client, signing in, or launching the game), your Windows version, and the steps already tried. Riot’s Riot Repair Tool can gather logs for League; run it as administrator on Windows and attach the resulting ZIP to your ticket. Do not include passwords or authentication codes.
No. Windows maps the status code to an access violation, but the code by itself does not diagnose defective memory. Start with Riot’s client-level steps. Consider hardware testing only if other apps crash too or you see broader system symptoms.
No. Riot’s error-code guidance does not identify Vanguard as the cause of 0xc0000005. Vanguard-specific codes begin with “VAN,” so use the matching Vanguard guide only when that is the code you see.
Do not disable security tools as a routine fix for this code. Riot’s specific guidance points first to administrator mode and then a reinstall. If security software explicitly reports that it blocked a Riot file, follow the security vendor’s instructions or contact Riot Support before changing protections.
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