Last Updated: October 2023 (Relevant for Windows 10 & 11)
If you are a PC gamer trying to revisit the exoskeleton-fueled chaos of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (2014), you have likely slammed into a frustrating digital brick wall: The "5MB Error."
Officially, the error message usually reads: “Not enough free space on disk where the game is installed. Required at least 5MB.”
Nothing kills nostalgia faster than a pop-up claiming you don’t have 5MB of free space when you have a 2TB SSD with 1.5TB free. This error has plagued Sledgehammer Games’ title for nearly a decade, but thankfully, the community has reverse-engineered the issue. It is rarely about actual storage space.
In this guide, we will dissect exactly what causes the "5MB" error and provide nine proven solutions—from basic permission tweaks to advanced registry edits.
If you’ve been kicked from a multiplayer match or prevented from joining a server in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare with a message mentioning “5 MB” (often reading: “Server only allows cvars with size below 5 MB” or similar), you are likely dealing with a modded game file conflict or a corrupted game cache.
Here is the definitive guide to fixing this error and getting back into the action.
In rare cases (specifically with NVIDIA RTX cards), the 5MB error is a false flag caused by a rendering timeout. The save system crashes because the GPU driver crashed half a second earlier.
For PS4:
For PS5:
Corrupted settings can trigger the 5 MB error.
Documents\Call of Duty Advanced Warfare\players\config.cfg and config_mp.cfg| Symptom | Likely Cause | Solution | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | "Less than 5MB" message on startup. | Corrupted Multiplayer Profile file. | Delete MP Profile from Storage. | | "Less than 5MB" message after update. | Cache conflict. | Clear System Cache (Xbox) or Restore File System (PS3). | | Error persists after deleting saves. | Failing Hard Drive sector. | Rebuild Database (PS3 Safe Mode) or replace HDD. | | Error only in Exo Survival. | Corrupted Mode Save File. | Delete Exo Survival specific save file. |
Last Updated: 2025 Platforms Covered: PC (Steam), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
If you are a fan of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, you have likely experienced the dreaded "5MB Error" (often appearing as error code 0x0 or a simple text box stating "Not enough storage space to save. Requires 5MB"). Despite the game launching over a decade ago, this persistent bug continues to plague players, particularly those on PC and last-gen consoles.
The irony is infuriating: Modern hard drives have terabytes of free space, yet the game insists you are missing a measly 5 megabytes. Today, we are going to kill this error permanently.
Would you like step-by-step commands for Windows (file locations, CHKDSK, DNS change) or for a specific platform?
(Invoking related search suggestions.)
The "insufficient free disk space" error (requesting 5MB) in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
is often a false positive that appears even when hundreds of gigabytes are available. cod advanced warfare 5mb error fix
Here are the most effective fixes reported by the community and PCGamingWiki:
Run in Compatibility Mode: Locate the game's executable (S1_sp64_ship.exe or S1_mp64_ship.exe), right-click it, select Properties, and set Compatibility Mode to Windows 7 or Windows 8.
Adjust Folder Permissions: Navigate to your Steam installation folder (usually Steam/steamapps/common). Right-click the Call of Duty Advanced Warfare folder, go to Properties > Security, click Edit, and grant "Full Control" to all listed users/groups. Manage Windows Page File:
Disable the page file entirely, reboot, then re-enable it and set it to System Managed.
Alternatively, manually set a size of at least several gigabytes to ensure the game has enough virtual memory to offload data.
Lower Graphics Settings: High or Ultra texture settings can trigger memory-related crashes. Use the GeForce Experience tool to set all game settings to Low before launching, then gradually increase them once the game is running.
Reduce Virtual Memory Scale: Go to the game's players2 folder and open config.cfg with a text editor. Search for the line seta r_videoMemoryScale "1" and change the value from 1 to 0.5.
Windows Security (Controlled Folder Access): If using Windows 10/11, go to Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Manage ransomware protection. Either turn off Controlled folder access or add the game as an "allowed app".
"Insufficient free disk space" error (often specifically requesting Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
is a known bug that occurs even when players have hundreds of gigabytes of free space. It typically stems from folder permission issues or incorrect system memory (pagefile) settings rather than actual storage shortages. Steam Community Method 1: Adjust Folder Permissions (Most Effective)
Locked permissions can prevent the game from writing temporary files, triggering the "disk full" message. Steam Community Navigate to your game installation folder (e.g.,
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Call of Duty Advanced Warfare Right-click the folder and select Properties tab and click Select your user profile and check the box for Full Control Repeat these steps for the Call of Duty Advanced Warfare folder located in your Method 2: Reset the Windows Pagefile
The game may misinterpret your system's virtual memory as storage space. Open the Windows Start Menu , type "Performance," and select Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows tab and click under the Virtual Memory section. Steam Community Automatically manage paging file size for all drives Select your primary drive, choose No paging file , and click Restart your computer. Return to the same menu and re-check Automatically manage paging file size for all drives
(or set it to "System managed size") to reset the memory cache. Steam Community Method 3: Troubleshooting Files and Network If the issue persists, try these secondary fixes: Run as Administrator : Right-click the game's file, go to Properties Compatibility , and check Run this program as an administrator Disable UPnP : Some users report success by turning off
(Universal Plug and Play) in their router settings, as network handshake errors can occasionally trigger this specific disk error. Verify Files : Use the Steam client's Verify Integrity of Game Files tool to ensure no core files are corrupted. Steam Community Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare General Discussions
How to Fix the "Insufficient Free Disk Space (5MB)" Error in CoD: Advanced Warfare
Nothing kills a gaming session faster than a confusing error message, especially one that claims you’re out of space when you have hundreds of gigabytes free. If you’re seeing the
"Error: Insufficient free disk space. Please free at least 5mb of free space on game drive" Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare The Ultimate Fix for the Call of Duty:
, you aren't alone. This is a notorious legacy bug often tied to how the game handles virtual memory or file permissions rather than your actual hard drive capacity. Steam Community
Here are the most effective community-tested fixes to get you back into the match. 1. Reset and Manage Your Pagefile
The most common culprit for this error is the Windows Pagefile (virtual memory). Even if you have plenty of RAM, Advanced Warfare
sometimes triggers this error if the pagefile is disabled or incorrectly configured. Steam Community
Search for "Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows" in your Start menu. tab and click under the Virtual Memory section. Check the box for "Automatically manage paging file size for all drives"
Some users find success by first disabling it, rebooting, then re-enabling "System Managed" and rebooting again to "reset" the allocation. 2. Adjust In-Game Texture Settings
Higher texture settings can sometimes trigger a memory leak that the game misinterprets as a lack of disk space. Lower your Texture Quality from "Extra" or "Ultra" to "Cache Sun Shadow Maps" "Cache Spot Shadow Maps"
in the Advanced Video settings, as these can hog memory resources. 3. Grant Full Folder Permissions
Sometimes the game throws this error because it doesn't have the "write" permissions it needs to create temporary save files or shader caches. Steam Community Navigate to your game installation folder (usually Steam/steamapps/common/Call of Duty Advanced Warfare Right-click the folder and select Properties tab, click Select your user profile and check the box for Full Control , then apply the changes. Steam Community 4. Edit the Config File
For a more technical fix, you can manually adjust how the game allocates its memory through the configuration files. folder within your game directory. config.cfg with a text editor like Notepad. Find the line seta r_videoMemoryScale and change the value to Save the file and relaunch the game. 5. Quick Workarounds
If you’re still stuck, try these smaller "sanity check" steps:
The "5MB free space" error in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (AW) is a notorious legacy bug that has plagued players since its 2014 launch. Despite the message claiming a lack of disk space, it is almost never a literal storage issue; players with hundreds of gigabytes free still encounter the prompt. Instead, this error is often a "catch-all" dialogue triggered by deeper system conflicts, particularly related to virtual memory management and file permissions. The Illusion of Insufficient Space
The error message—"Insufficient free disk space. Please free at least 5MB free space on game drive"—frequently appears at random or specifically after cinematic sequences finish loading. Technical analysts and community members suggest that developers likely reused a generic error dialogue for various system-level failures, leading to the misleading instruction. Primary Fixes for PC
Because the error is rarely about physical space, solutions focus on how the OS interacts with the game:
Adjust Windows Page File: The most successful fix often involves the system's virtual memory (page file). Users recommend setting the paging file to System Managed on the drive where the game is installed.
Modify Folder Permissions: Navigate to the game's installation folder (typically Steam/steamapps/common/Call of Duty Advanced Warfare), right-click it, and under the Security tab, grant Full Control to all users.
Run in Compatibility Mode: Setting the game's executable to run in compatibility mode for Windows 7 or 8 has resolved the crash for many.
Graphics Settings Adjustments: High or Ultra texture settings can sometimes trigger memory leaks that manifest as this error. Lowering textures or disabling "Shader Preload" in the video options can alleviate the strain. The game encounters a failed update/download or corrupted
Video Memory Scaling: Some users find success by editing the config.cfg file in the players2 folder, changing seta r_videoMemoryScale from "1" to "0.5" to prevent the game from over-allocating VRAM. Fixes for Console and Other Solutions
While more common on PC, similar installation errors on consoles can sometimes be bypassed by:
Digital Installation via Disc: On Xbox, some users fix installation hangs by inserting the disc but selecting the digital version from the Microsoft Store to download the full game data while using the disc as a license.
Network Conflicts: There are reports that disabling UPnP on your router or clearing Windows Firewall rules for the game can occasionally resolve the "5MB" prompt, as it may be triggered by a failed handshake with multiplayer servers. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare General Discussions
Fixing the 5MB Error in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, developed by Sledgehammer Games and published by Activision, is a popular first-person shooter game released in 2014. Despite its engaging gameplay and impressive graphics, some players have encountered a frustrating error that prevents them from enjoying the game – the 5MB error. This error typically occurs when the game's installation files are corrupted or incomplete, causing issues with the game's launch and overall performance. In this essay, we will discuss the causes of the 5MB error in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare and provide step-by-step solutions to fix it.
Causes of the 5MB Error
The 5MB error in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare is usually related to issues with the game's installation files. Some common causes of this error include:
Solutions to Fix the 5MB Error
Fortunately, there are several solutions to fix the 5MB error in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. Here are some step-by-step solutions:
Solution 1: Verify Game Files
Solution 2: Check for Updates
Solution 3: Update Graphics Drivers
Solution 4: Increase Disk Space
Solution 5: Reinstall the Game
Conclusion
The 5MB error in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare can be frustrating, but it can be fixed with the right solutions. By verifying game files, checking for updates, updating graphics drivers, increasing disk space, and reinstalling the game, players can resolve the issue and enjoy a smooth gaming experience. If you are still experiencing issues, you may want to contact Activision support or seek additional help from the gaming community.
Here’s a proper write-up on fixing the “5 MB error” in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (typically encountered on PC/Steam when the game fails to allocate enough memory or misreads available VRAM).