AMD Adrenalin 26.5.2 driver fixes Apex Legends crash

AMD has issued a targeted graphics-driver update for older Radeon cards that addresses a game-specific problem in Apex Legends. The company’s release notes for AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 26.5.2 for Polaris and Vega say the package fixes an “intermittent application crash” seen while playing Apex on Radeon RX 400 and RX 500 series products. AMD dated that release note May 21, 2026, and listed the package for Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems. ### Which cards does this update actually cover? AMD’s release notes identify 26.5.2 as a build “for Polaris & Vega,” which means this is not the mainline release aimed at newer RDNA cards. The fix is specifically called out for Radeon RX 400 and RX 500 series graphics products, which are part of AMD’s older Polaris generation. (amd.com) The separate general 26.5.2 release notes on AMD’s site cover broader Radeon support, but the Apex-specific crash fix in this case appears in the Polaris-and-Vega branch. That makes this update most relevant for players still running legacy Radeon desktop hardware rather than current-generation boards. (amd.com) ### What exactly did AMD say about the Apex Legends problem? AMD’s wording is narrow. In the “Highlights” section, the company says: “Intermittent application crash may be observed while playing Apex Legends on Radeon RX 400/500 series graphics products.” The same note presents that item under fixed issues, indicating the company considers the problem addressed in 26.5.2. (amd.com) AMD did not publish, in the release note excerpt available on its site, a longer explanation of what triggered the crash, how often it occurred, or whether the issue was tied to a specific Apex Legends patch. The company also did not list a separate Vega-specific Apex fix in the same highlighted text, even though the package itself is labeled for Polaris and Vega. (amd.com) ### Does this driver work on both Windows 10 and Windows 11? AMD’s installation guidance says Adrenalin Edition is supported on Windows 11 version 21H2 and later, and Windows 10 64-bit version 1809 and later, for compatible Radeon products. The 26.5.2 Polaris-and-Vega package is presented as a Windows driver download, and AMD’s support materials frame current Adrenalin installation around those two operating systems. (amd.com) That means players affected by the Apex crash on supported RX 400 or RX 500 hardware should be looking at Windows 10 64-bit or Windows 11 installations, not older unsupported Microsoft operating systems. ### Where do users get the update, and is there anything AMD says to do before rolling back? AMD says the 26.5.2 installation package can be downloaded from the release-notes page and from its broader drivers-and-support portal. (amd.com) The company’s Adrenalin software page also directs users to driver updates and software downloads for supported Radeon products. AMD also included one housekeeping note in the release document: when downgrading to a previous Adrenalin version, it recommends using the AMD Cleanup Utility. That instruction matters mainly for users who test 26.5.2 and later decide to revert to an earlier package. ### How does this fit into AMD’s broader 26.5.2 rollout? (amd.com) AMD published a standard 26.5.2 driver release for newer Radeon products earlier in May, with game support and fixes aimed at other hardware families. The Polaris-and-Vega posting shows AMD is still issuing separate maintenance updates for older cards when a specific compatibility problem surfaces. (amd.com) May 21, 2026 is the key date on AMD’s Polaris-and-Vega release note, and the next step for affected users is straightforward: download Adrenalin Edition 26.5.2 from AMD’s support pages and test Apex Legends on RX 400 or RX 500 hardware. (amd.com 1) (amd.com 2)