Minecraft Java Edition – How to Fix EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION Crashes with ig4dev32.dll or ig4dev64.dll

minecraft-java-edition

When I try to launch Minecraft 1.7.4 or newer, the game crashes on startup, and the game output screen says this:

#  EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION (0xc0000005) at pc=*, pid=*, tid=*
#
# JRE version: Java™ SE Runtime Environment (7.0_51-b13) (build 1.7.0_51-b13)
# Java VM: Java HotSpot™ Client VM (* mixed mode, sharing windows-* )
# Problematic frame:
# C  [ig4dev32.dll+0x3e88]
OR
# C  [ig4dev64.dll+0x55ec]
OR
# C  [ig4icd32.dll+0x104a77]
OR 
# C  [ig4icd64.dll+0x84930a]

This happens with both Java 7 and 8.

What causes this error, and what can I do to fix the issue?

Best Answer

Your graphics card does not support newer versions of Minecraft.

If you have another GPU in your computer, try running Minecraft with that: right mouse button on the executable → Run With → (something other than "integrated"). Dedicated GPUs tend to have better supported/more compatible drivers than integrated ones.

If you do not have another GPU, then there is nothing you can do about this error, short of replacing your (presumably quite old) graphics card, or even your entire computer.

From the support pages on minecraft.net regarding this issue:

Intel 4 Series Chipsets

Some chipsets in the Intel 4 Series, most notably the Intel 965 Express Chipset are known to have issues with OpenGL support, that may throw an access violation.

All Intel GPUs using the ig4dev32.dll and ig4dev64.dll drivers are prone to this issue. A full list of affected devices can be found here.

Solution

This error currently only affects all versions past 1.7.4 - and will likely affect all future versions of Minecraft.

As such, you may work around this error by using a version prior to 1.7.4, such as 1.7.2. To play 1.7.4 or later versions, you will need a new computer. Alternatively for desktop users, you can buy a new GPU, but the fact that your computer has an Intel 965 Chipset means that your computer is likely to be very old, and a new computer may be a better way to go.