Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThis guide covers Microsoft Gaming Services on Windows 10 and Windows 11—the package and services used by the Xbox app, PC Game Pass and Microsoft Store games. It does not repair Steam, Epic, Battle.net, Ubisoft Connect or an Xbox console. Start with the reversible fixes below; use PowerShell only if the supported repair paths fail.
Quick fix: follow this order
- Restart Windows, install pending Windows updates, then update Microsoft Store apps.
- Repair, then reset Gaming Services, Xbox and Microsoft Store.
- Run Microsoft’s Gaming Services Repair Tool for PC.
- Reset the Store cache with
wsreset.exe. - Only then remove and reinstall Gaming Services with elevated PowerShell.
Success means the Xbox app stays open, the Store no longer repeatedly requests Gaming Services, and the affected game launches or starts installing. A service merely showing “Running” is not proof that the repair worked.
What “Gaming Services” actually means
Three related components are often confused:
- Gaming Services package: a Microsoft Store/AppX package shown in Settings as Gaming Services.
- Windows services:
GamingServicesandGamingServicesNet. They can be Manual or trigger-started and need not remain Running constantly. - Xbox app: a separate app that can fail because Gaming Services is damaged, but can also have its own cache, account, Store framework or Windows App Runtime problem.
Xbox Live Auth Manager, Xbox Live Game Save, Xbox Live Networking Service, Xbox Accessory Management Service, IP Helper and Microsoft Store Install Service may also be involved. Do not force every one to Automatic.
Use the symptom to choose the likely area
| Symptom | More likely area |
|---|---|
| Xbox app opens and closes | Xbox app data, Store framework, Windows App Runtime, account or Gaming Services |
| “Gaming Services is required” | Missing, corrupt or incorrectly registered Gaming Services package |
| Store repeatedly displays Gaming Services | Store cache, package registration, account or AppX deployment |
| Installation stalls at “Preparing” or “Gaming Services” | Store/AppX deployment, Gaming Services, drive permissions or network |
| Service starts then stops | Package corruption, dependency failure, damaged Windows components or policy/security interference |
0x80070422 |
Often a disabled required service; identify which service before changing settings |
0x80073D26 or 0x8007139F |
Historically associated with Gaming Services installation/startup failures, especially on Windows 10 |
| All Microsoft Store apps fail | Broader Store, account, Windows Update, AppX or system-component failure |
1. Restart and update Windows and Store
- Select Start → Power → Restart.
- Open Settings → Windows Update, install available updates and restart again if requested.
- Open Microsoft Store → Library → Get updates (or Check for updates).
A pending update or required restart can prevent Store apps from installing. Microsoft’s current Store guidance covers Windows 11 and Windows 10: fix problems with apps from Microsoft Store.
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2. Repair, then reset the apps
Windows 11
- Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps.
- Find Gaming Services, select its three-dot menu, then Advanced options.
- Select Repair, restart Xbox and test.
- If it still fails, return to the page and select Reset.
Repeat Repair and, if necessary, Reset for Xbox and Microsoft Store.
Windows 10
Use Settings → Apps → Apps & features → [app] → Advanced options. Menu names vary by build and language. Repair attempts to preserve app data; Reset returns the app to a default state and may remove its app data. Microsoft documents these choices in Repair apps and programs in Windows. Some builds do not expose Repair or Reset for Gaming Services; move to the official repair tool instead of assuming the package is absent.
3. Run Microsoft’s Gaming Services Repair Tool
Open the Xbox Support Gaming Services Repair Tool for PC and follow the controls shown there. Microsoft can change its interface or availability, so use the current labels on that page. This first-party tool is preferable to unofficial “Gaming Services fix” utilities.
4. Reset the Microsoft Store cache
- Press Windows key + R.
- Enter
wsreset.exeand select OK. - Wait for the blank Command Prompt window to close and Microsoft Store to reopen.
- Try the Gaming Services installation or update again.
The window commonly closes after about ten seconds, but timing varies. See Microsoft’s Store installation guidance at I can’t find or install an app from Microsoft Store.
5. Reinstall Gaming Services with PowerShell
Use this only after the preceding steps. It requires an administrator account and removes the package registration so Windows can install it again. Record game-library locations and back up saves first; package removal should not ordinarily erase installed games, but it can affect how they are discovered.
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- Search Start for PowerShell.
- Right-click it and select Run as administrator.
- Run:
Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers Microsoft.GamingServices | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers- Restart Windows.
- Open Microsoft Store and search for Gaming Services, or open Xbox and follow its installation prompt.
- Install the package, restart once more and test the affected game.
Package names and command behavior vary between Windows builds, and deployment-level damage can make the command fail. Do not take ownership of C:Program FilesWindowsApps, delete folders manually or remove registry keys as a routine follow-up. Microsoft used a similar workflow for the Windows 10 issue documented at KB5004327; that 2021 guidance is not a universal Windows 11 fix.
6. Check services without forcing them to run permanently
- Press Windows key + R, enter
services.mscand select OK. - Inspect Gaming Services, Gaming Services Net, Xbox Live Auth Manager, Xbox Live Game Save, Xbox Live Networking Service, IP Helper and Microsoft Store Install Service.
- If a required service is explicitly Disabled, restore its normal default or Manual/triggered setting where known.
- Try Start or Restart and record the exact error.
For a read-only overview in PowerShell, use:
Get-Service *gaming*,*xbox* | Select-Object Name,DisplayName,Status,StartTypeDisplay names and service names can differ by build. A stopped Manual service may be normal until an app requests it.
7. Verify account, Store and installation prerequisites
- Sign in to Microsoft Store and Xbox with the intended Microsoft/Xbox account.
- Confirm the account owns the game or has the required subscription.
- Check whether work or school policy, family settings, region or compatibility restrictions block the app.
- Make sure Windows has restarted after major updates, and check date, time and region.
- Confirm the destination drive has free space and is accessible.
Microsoft lists account type, organization policy, region, compatibility and pending restarts among reasons Store apps may not install: Store installation requirements.
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If the repair tool or Store cannot download Gaming Services, temporarily test without a VPN or proxy and check DNS filtering, firewall rules and endpoint-security policies. Do not permanently disable antivirus or Windows Firewall. On a managed PC, ask the administrator; if possible, test from an ordinary home network. Community reports mention blocked Microsoft domains as a possibility, but this is diagnostic evidence rather than a universal cause.
9. Repair Windows components when several apps fail
If multiple Store apps are broken or PowerShell reports AppX deployment errors, open an elevated Command Prompt or PowerShell window and run:
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DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannowLet each command finish, restart, then repeat the Store/Xbox repair sequence. These tools repair Windows components; they are not a guaranteed Gaming Services-specific fix.
10. Isolate software conflicts with a clean boot
A clean boot can reveal interference from third-party antivirus, VPN clients, overlays, system tweakers, hardware monitors or corporate management software. Treat it as a temporary diagnostic state. After testing, re-enable services and startup items methodically.
Error-code guide
| Code | How to interpret it |
|---|---|
0x80073D26 |
Historically documented by Microsoft as a Windows 10 Gaming Services installation/startup issue. Use current Windows Update and reinstall procedures rather than assuming the 2021 remedy applies to Windows 11. |
0x8007139F |
Paired with the same historical Windows 10 Gaming Services issue in Microsoft’s KB5004327 article. |
0x80070422 |
Often means a required service is disabled. Identify the named service in the error, Services console, Event Viewer or installation log. |
0x80070426 |
A nonspecific service/account startup clue; inspect the exact failing component instead of changing every Xbox service. |
0x00000001 |
A generic failure code that does not identify one cause. Continue with package, Store, account, network and Windows-component checks. |
If Gaming Services is missing from Settings
The package may not be installed, its registration may be damaged, the Store may be blocked or unavailable, or the Windows build may use different labels. Try the official repair tool and wsreset.exe before PowerShell removal. If Repair and Reset controls are missing, that is normal for some apps and builds.
If Xbox still will not open
Once Gaming Services installs normally, stop repeating its removal. Repair or reset Xbox and Microsoft Store again, then investigate Windows App Runtime, Microsoft account authentication, gaming-profile services, overlays, security software and Windows component corruption. Reinstalling Xbox alone does not necessarily repair Gaming Services.
If games are on another drive
The library may remain on the drive but need to be rediscovered. Drive permissions, a changed default install location or protected-folder ownership can prevent Xbox from using it. Do not alter WindowsApps ownership as a routine fix.
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When Windows 10 is involved
Microsoft ended general Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025. These procedures may still work, but unsupported-system limitations remain; plan a move to a supported Windows 11 installation where the hardware permits. The historical 0x80073D26/0x8007139F fix should be read in that dated Windows 10 context.
Last-resort recovery
- Try an in-place Windows repair installation that preserves files and apps, where supported.
- If the Store/AppX layer remains broadly damaged, use Reset this PC → Keep my files.
- Back up saves, credentials, important files and game-library paths first.
These options have a much higher time cost than app repair. Microsoft’s broader recovery guidance is available at Fix problems that block programs from being installed or removed.
What not to do
- Do not download unofficial Gaming Services installers or paid registry-cleaner utilities.
- Do not manually delete WindowsApps folders or registry keys copied from old forum posts.
- Do not set every Xbox service to Automatic.
- Do not assume reinstalling Xbox repairs the underlying package.
- Do not confuse a subscription or account problem with a service-startup failure.
- Do not permanently disable Windows Security.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will these steps delete my installed games?
Repair and Reset affect app data differently, and PowerShell removes the Gaming Services package rather than normally deleting the game library. Back up saves and record install locations because games may need to be rediscovered.
Do I need Xbox Game Pass?
No. Gaming Services is also used for Microsoft Store games and Xbox app functions. A Game Pass subscription is only relevant to games obtained through that subscription.
Should Gaming Services always show Running?
No. GamingServices and GamingServicesNet can be Manual or trigger-started and may run only when an Xbox or Store operation requests them.
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Can I fix this without PowerShell?
Usually. Restart and update Windows, repair or reset the apps, run Microsoft’s Gaming Services Repair Tool and reset the Store cache before considering PowerShell.
Is it safe to delete Gaming Services registry keys?
No routine guide should recommend that. Registry deletion and protected-folder ownership changes can damage Windows; use Microsoft’s supported repair paths or Support.
Why does Microsoft Store keep opening?
The Store may be trying to install or register Gaming Services. Repair/reset Store and Gaming Services, run the official repair tool and use wsreset.exe.
What if the issue began after a Windows update?
Complete the pending update, restart, update Store apps and retry Repair/Reset. If several apps broke at once, investigate Windows component or AppX corruption rather than Gaming Services alone.
Quick Recap
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