Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) provide new insights into the photodegradation pathways of the cytotoxic complex cis,trans,cis-[Pt(N3)2(OH)2(NH3)2] allowing assignment of 1LMCT transitions in the visible region of the UV-Vis spectrum; upon excitation to these low-energy 1LMCT states, release of one N3− ligand is facilitated, and on triplet formation, the dissociation of both NH3 and N3− groups trans to each other is promoted with no apparent reduction of the PtIV centre.