Last Updated on August 5, 2023 by Jake
Atomic Heart is a narrative FPS set in a utopian world. The PC version of the game is well-optimized and runs really. However, errors and crashes are common among PC video games and Atomic Heart is no exception as players experience Fatal error, Unreal Engine 4 crash, and more. Now, some PC players report experiencing the Unhandled Exception: EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION error when they launch Atomic Heart. In this Atomic Heart guide, I will list fixes that will help PC players resolve the Unhandled Exception: EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION error.
Atomic Heart Unhandled Exception Error Fixes You Can Try
Atomic Heart recently received a small update, and following that, a lot of PC players are reporting an Unhandled Exception: EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION error. There are multiple reasons for this error and the following are the fixes that will resolve it.
Run SFC Scan
Corrupt or missing system files is one reason why Atomic Heart Unhandled Exception error is occurring on your PC. This can be fixed by running the SFC scan, which is a built-in tool in Windows that scans and downloads corrupt or missing system files. Open CMD (Command Prompt) and run it as an administrator, type sfc /scannow, and press enter. Let the scan complete. After that, restart your PC, launch Atomic Heart, and it’ll work without crashing.
Disable Anti-Virus
Your third-party anti-virus software is blocking the game executable or other important file which is causing the Unhandled Exception error. Either disable the anti-virus’ real-time protection or exclude the game folder from the anti-virus, I recommend the latter. After that, verify games files by right-clicking Atomic Heart in Steam library > properties > installed files > Verify integrity of game files.
If you are playing Atomic Heart through the Xbox client on PC, right-click the game in Xbox > Manage > Files > Verify and repair.
Disable Overclock
Owning a PC has its advantages like having the ability to overclock PC components like CPU and GPU to squeeze the most out of them. While it can boost performance, overclocking can make playing video games an unstable experience with crashes and errors. Overclocked GPU is why Atomic Heart is crashing with an Unhandled Exception: EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION error. Revert the GPU or the CPU, whichever you have overclocked, back to its default clocks, and the error will be fixed.
In case your GPU is factory overclocked, enable Debug mode through Nvidia Control Panel, which forces the GPU to use reference clocks recommended by Nvidia. Open Nvidia Control Panel > Help > Debug mode. Launch Atomic Heart and the EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION error won’t pop up again.
Remove Third-Party Peripherals
Another reason for the Atomic Heart Unhandled Exception error is the use of third-party peripherals like HOTAS, HTC Vive, and controllers. These third-party peripherals often have their own driver/software which can interfere with the game or the system, resulting in the Unhandled Exception: EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION error. Remove any third-party peripheral you have plugged into your PC and the error will be fixed.
Disable Third-Party Software
Third-party tools and software like MSI Afterburner, Discord, software/driver for peripherals, and more are the reasons behind the Atomic Heart Unhandled Exception error. Disable all third-party tools or software installed on your PC and the error will be fixed.
That is all for our Atomic Heart fixes for the Unhandled Exception: EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION error. If you are facing errors and issues with other PC games or your PC then also see our hub for commonly occurring PC errors and their fixes.