Apex Legends crashing or not launching on PC (Windows 11)? EA’s official fixes for error code 23, DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_HUNG, 30005 and “Invalid game executable”

Apex Legends on PC can crash to the desktop (sometimes leaving an Apex_crash.txt), stop with error code 23 or DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_HUNG, fail its anti-cheat check with error 30005, or refuse to start with “Invalid game executable” or an r5apex.exe error. EA Help has an official answer for each of these. Here they are, as read on November 11, 2026. EA’s pages cover Windows 10 and 11. TricknFix did not test these steps; they are EA’s instructions, not a guarantee.

EA’s “Troubleshoot error messages in Apex Legends” guide (first published March 20, 2025, shown as “Updated 2 days ago” on November 11, 2026) says to begin with these steps for any in-game error:

• Check @PlayApex for reported issues and EA’s server status page for Apex Legends, EA and platform server problems. If servers are down, you have to wait for a fix.

• Restart Apex Legends and your system.

• Reinstall Apex Legends: EA says your progress will still be there after reinstalling.

For crashes, EA’s Apex guide sends you to two steps: follow its “fixing crashing and freezing” guide, then repair the game files (EA app > Library > Apex Legends > Manage icon, the three dots in the upper-right corner > Repair). If you play on Steam, EA links Steam’s own file-repair steps.

EA’s general “Troubleshoot PC, PlayStation and Xbox crashing or freezing” guide (first published March 18, 2025, shown as “Updated 4 months ago”) lists, for PC:

• Close background apps.

• Perform a clean boot to disable background tasks that might be interfering with the game.

• Reinstall the game and the EA app.

• Repair the game files in the EA app (Library > your game > Manage > Repair).

• Cap your frame rate, or enable V-Sync to match your display’s refresh rate. If the game has no V-Sync option, EA says you can find it in your graphics card’s software.

• Open the Start menu, type msconfig and press Enter to open System Configuration.

• In the Services tab, tick “Hide all Microsoft services”, then click Disable all.

• In the Startup tab, click Open Task Manager and disable each program listed.

• Close Task Manager, click OK in System Configuration and restart. To find the culprit, EA suggests re-enabling programs one at a time. EA warns these steps can harm your computer if done incorrectly and recommends asking a professional if you are not comfortable.

• Error code 23: EA gives outdated graphics drivers or missing or damaged game files as the cause. Its steps: make sure your EA Account settings (including language and region) match the EA app, update your graphics drivers, then press Windows + R, type appwiz.cpl, press Enter, and repair or reinstall the latest version.

• DXGI_ERROR_DEVICE_HUNG: EA says a background app is stuck and recommends fully restarting your system.

• “Invalid game executable”: according to EA, antivirus software might be blocking the game; add Apex Legends as an exception. EA’s Avast and AVG examples add C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\Apex\r5apex.exe, then repair Apex Legends in the EA app. (If your game is installed elsewhere, the path will differ.)

• Anti-cheat errors (Easy Anti-Cheat failing to launch or an integrity problem such as a corrupted file): EA says to repair the game files first.

• Error code 30005: go to C:\Program Files (x86)\EasyAntiCheat, delete the .sys file, then restart your PC.

• “The client failed Anti-Cheat runtime integrity check”: EA says you might need to wait for a fix.

• DirectX error 4294967287: do a clean boot.

• r5apex.exe error: repair the game files, then update Windows.

• EA says it does not recommend uninstalling your antivirus to fix installation errors.

• net and leaf: EA servers are not answering; restart your router, use an Ethernet cable and restart your device.

• shoe: restart your router and reinstall the game; on PC, lower your video memory in Settings > Video.

• “Out of Sync with server”: set Texture Streaming Budget to None in Settings > Video.

• Error code [type=null]: a temporary crash when seasons change; wait until the game has updated.

• EA’s pages are general guides: they do not link crashes to a specific Apex update, do not list affected PCs or graphics cards, and give no date for a fix to the “runtime integrity check” error.

• The EA pages only show relative update labels (“2 days ago”, “4 months ago”), so the exact date of the latest change is not stated.

• If your crashes started with the Godzilla event (November 10 to December 1, per EA) or after a Windows or driver update, say so in the discussion so others can compare.

Event context: the Apex Legends Godzilla event on TricknFix (https://tricknfix.com/articles/apex-legends-godzilla-event-november-10-december-1-2026/). More Apex news and discussions: the #apex-legends community (https://tricknfix.com/tags/apex-legends/); Windows 11 guides: #windows-11 (https://tricknfix.com/tags/windows-11/).

• EA Help, “Troubleshoot error messages in Apex Legends” (first published March 20, 2025; “Updated 2 days ago” on November 11, 2026), read November 11, 2026 (https://help.ea.com/en/articles/apex-legends/error-codes/).

• EA Help, “Troubleshoot PC, PlayStation and Xbox crashing or freezing” (first published March 18, 2025; “Updated 4 months ago”), read November 11, 2026 (https://help.ea.com/en/articles/platforms/fix-crashing-and-freezing/).

• EA Help, “How to clean boot your computer” (first published March 18, 2025; “Updated 7 months ago”), read November 11, 2026 (https://help.ea.com/en/articles/technical-issues/how-to-clean-boot-your-computer/).

• EA, “Survive a Godzilla attack in the Apex Legends | Godzilla Event” (November 5, 2026), read November 11, 2026 (https://www.ea.com/games/apex-legends/apex-legends/news/godzilla-event).

• Video “Apex Legends | Godzilla Event”, Apex Legends channel, November 5, 2026 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wb3rurFvECU).

• Image: official Godzilla event screenshot from EA’s November 5, 2026 news post (https://www.ea.com/games/apex-legends/apex-legends/news/godzilla-event), © Electronic Arts / Respawn, Godzilla TM & © TOHO.