Most of the time, this problem is caused by a bad mission script or a mod that’s doing something it shouldn’t. However, unstable RAM, memory leaks, or problems with memory settings can also cause this error. Now that you know what might be causing the issue, here are several methods that have helped other users fix the ‘Referenced Memory‘ error in Arma 3:
1. Reinstall Arma 3 & Remove Leftover Files
Let’s start by making sure there’s no file corruption in your Arma 3 installation. Many users have reported that their crashes stopped completely after reinstalling the game and deleting any leftover files from earlier installations. This suggests that the Referenced Memory error may come from corrupted data in the game folder. Note: Mods that were used with a previous version of Arma 3 can also cause this problem. Make sure to carefully follow this method, especially if you played with mods before. If the ‘Referenced Memory‘ error still appears, move on to the next method below.
2. Check Your RAM
Since this error can sometimes be linked to RAM issues, it’s a good idea to check your memory using MemTest86. The free version of this tool lets you test your computer’s memory and see if it’s starting to fail. Several users who encountered the ‘Referenced Memory‘ error in Arma 3 found that their RAM was defective after running MemTest86. If that’s the case for you, the only real solution is to replace the faulty RAM. If MemTest86 shows that your RAM is failing, you’ll need to replace it.
3. Increase the Virtual Memory File (Paging File)
Some users have found that the crash happens because Windows 10 does not have enough paging file (virtual memory) available to handle large files generated by Arma 3. Increasing the size of your paging file can help the game run more smoothly and avoid memory-related crashes. Many affected players have confirmed that enlarging the paging file solved the ‘Referenced Memory‘ error. If you still experience the same problem after this, move on to the next possible solution.
