If a Game Pass game will not install on Windows, do not treat the Xbox app as the only possible cause. PC installation can depend on the Xbox app, Microsoft Store, Gaming Services, Windows Update, your Microsoft account, and the destination drive. Work through the checks below in order, starting with the least destructive fixes.
Identify what is failing
The symptom usually points toward the right fix:
- No Install button: Check your account, subscription, region, family settings, and whether the title has a Windows PC version.
- Queued, stuck at 0%, or “Preparing”: Restart Windows, update the relevant apps, then repair the Xbox app and Gaming Services.
- The download starts and stops: Check storage, the destination drive, network stability, sleep settings, and permissions.
- Repeatedly redirected to Gaming Services: Gaming Services may be missing, damaged, or unable to update.
- Only one game fails: Investigate that title’s availability, PC edition, compatibility, and storage requirements before resetting system-wide components.
- Every Xbox or Microsoft Store game fails: Prioritize Windows Update, Microsoft Store, account authorization, Gaming Services, and possible service problems.
Record any numeric error before changing anything. Microsoft specifically documents Gaming Services errors 0x80073D26 and 0x8007139F in a Windows 10 troubleshooting article.
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Try these quick fixes first
- Close the Xbox app and reopen it.
- Restart Windows, even if Windows Update does not explicitly request a restart.
- Confirm that the Xbox app and Microsoft Store use the intended Microsoft account.
- Check that your Game Pass subscription is active and includes the PC entitlement needed for the game.
- Confirm that the installation drive has enough free space for the game, updates, and temporary files.
- Try the installation again.
Microsoft’s general Store guidance recommends updating Windows, updating Microsoft Store, troubleshooting the affected app or game, and using the app repair and reset controls. See Microsoft’s Microsoft Store troubleshooting guide.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors1. Confirm the account, subscription, and game eligibility
In the Xbox app, sign in with the Microsoft account that has the Game Pass subscription. Then check Microsoft Store as well. Using different Microsoft identities in Xbox and Store can produce missing install options or authorization failures.
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- MODERNIZED DESIGN — Experience the modernized design of the XBOX Wireless Controller with sculpted surfaces and updated geometry that enhances comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
- PRECISION PERFORMANCE — Stay on target with a hybrid D-pad and textured grips on triggers, bumpers, and back case for improved accuracy and handling.
- SHARE BUTTON: Seamlessly capture and share content such as screenshots, recordings, and more with the new Share button.
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY — Connect via USB-C for plug-and-play on console and PC, or quickly pair and switch between supported devices with XBOX Wireless and Bluetooth support.
- BUILT-IN AUDIO SUPPORT — Plug in compatible headsets using the 3.5mm audio jack for direct voice chat and immersive in-game sound.
Also verify:
- The subscription is active.
- The specific title is included in your current plan and region.
- The title has a Windows PC version. A game available for Xbox console or cloud play is not necessarily available for local PC installation.
- The game has not left the Game Pass catalog or been removed from your region.
- Family or child-account settings are not blocking the title.
- Your PC meets the title’s listed operating-system and hardware requirements.
Search for the game directly in Microsoft Store. If you own it or have access through another Microsoft device, check Microsoft Store > Library. Microsoft lists region restrictions, family settings, incompatibility, removal, and account authorization among possible reasons an app or game cannot be found or installed; see Microsoft’s Store availability guidance.
On a work- or school-managed PC, an administrator may have disabled Microsoft Store. A local Windows account can also limit Store availability. Microsoft explains these restrictions in its guidance on Microsoft Store availability.
2. Update Windows, Xbox, and Microsoft Store
A pending Windows restart or an outdated Store component can prevent a Game Pass installation from starting.
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Windows 11
- Open Settings > Windows Update.
- Select Check for updates.
- Install everything available.
- Restart the PC.
Windows 10
- Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
- Select Check for updates.
- Install the updates and restart Windows.
Then update Microsoft Store. In current Windows 11 versions, open Microsoft Store > Library > Get updates. Install updates for Microsoft Store, Xbox, Gaming Services, and any related components that appear. Windows 10 may use a different Store layout or legacy update path, so the labels can vary slightly.
Rank #2
- MODERNIZED DESIGN — Experience the modernized design of the XBOX Wireless Controller with sculpted surfaces and updated geometry that enhances comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
- PRECISION PERFORMANCE — Stay on target with a hybrid D-pad and textured grips on triggers, bumpers, and back case for improved accuracy and handling.
- SHARE BUTTON: Seamlessly capture and share content such as screenshots, recordings, and more with the new Share button.
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY — Connect via USB-C for plug-and-play on console and PC, or quickly pair and switch between supported devices with XBOX Wireless and Bluetooth support.
- BUILT-IN AUDIO SUPPORT — Plug in compatible headsets using the 3.5mm audio jack for direct voice chat and immersive in-game sound.
Retry the game after the restart and Store update. Microsoft notes that a recently updated PC may not be able to install Store apps until it has been restarted.
3. Check the installation drive
Make sure the destination drive is connected, mounted normally in File Explorer, and has more free space than the game’s advertised size. Large games may also need room for temporary files and later updates.
- If you are using an external drive, keep it connected throughout the installation.
- If the external or secondary drive fails, try the system drive temporarily. This helps distinguish a drive or permissions problem from an Xbox problem.
- Do not change drives repeatedly while an installation is queued.
- Check where Windows saves new apps. Depending on the Windows version, open Settings > System > Storage > Advanced storage settings > Where new content is saved, or Settings > System > Storage > Change where new content is saved.
If the Xbox app does not offer the intended drive at all, the issue may be Windows app-install configuration rather than your Game Pass subscription.
4. Repair or reset the Xbox app
Repair is the safer first choice because it is designed to fix the app without clearing as much local state.
Rank #3
- MODERNIZED DESIGN — Experience the modernized design of the XBOX Wireless Controller with sculpted surfaces and updated geometry that enhances comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
- PRECISION PERFORMANCE — Stay on target with a hybrid D-pad and textured grips on triggers, bumpers, and back case for improved accuracy and handling.
- SHARE BUTTON: Seamlessly capture and share content such as screenshots, recordings, and more with the new Share button.
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY — Connect via USB-C for plug-and-play on console and PC, or quickly pair and switch between supported devices with XBOX Wireless and Bluetooth support.
- BUILT-IN AUDIO SUPPORT — Plug in compatible headsets using the 3.5mm audio jack for direct voice chat and immersive in-game sound.
Windows 11
- Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Find Xbox.
- Select the three-dot menu, then Advanced options.
- Select Repair.
- Open Xbox and retry the installation.
- If Repair does not help, return to the same screen and select Reset.
Windows 10
Use Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Xbox > Advanced options, then choose Repair and, if necessary, Reset.
Resetting can clear local app data and require you to sign in again. It may also remove queue or local preference state, so do not present it as a guarantee that every app setting will be preserved. It is still preferable to immediately uninstalling Xbox or deleting installed games.
5. Repair or reset Gaming Services
Gaming Services is a separate Windows component used by Xbox PC installations. A repeated prompt to install Gaming Services, or a Gaming Services error, makes this component a more likely suspect.
- Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Search for Gaming Services.
- Open its three-dot menu and select Advanced options.
- Select Repair.
- Restart Windows and retry the game.
- If Repair fails, return to the same screen and select Reset, then restart again.
The controls may not appear on every Windows build. If Gaming Services is missing, Xbox or Microsoft Store may offer to install it when you attempt the game installation.
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- BOLD STYLE, BUILT TO PERFORM — Define your swagger with a wild, head-turning design. Stay elegantly on target with textured triggers built for every moment.
- RUBBERIZED GRIPS — Hold on to the action with rubberized grips on the back cases, designed for comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
- UP TO 40 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — Get up to 40 hours of battery life so you can keep playing without stopping to recharge.
- PLAY ACROSS EVERY SCREEN — Quickly pair with, play on, and switch between devices including console and PC. Stream games across mobile, gaming handhelds, Smart TVs, and supported VR headsets with XBOX Cloud Gaming.
6. Reset the Microsoft Store cache
Use Microsoft’s Store-cache reset when Store pages, updates, or downloads appear stuck:
- Press Windows key + R.
- Enter
wsreset.exe. - Select OK.
- Wait for the blank Command Prompt window to close and Microsoft Store to open automatically.
- Sign in if prompted.
- Open Library > Get updates, then retry the Xbox installation.
Microsoft says the blank window normally closes after roughly ten seconds. wsreset.exe resets the Store cache; it does not uninstall a game or reinstall Windows. See Microsoft’s instructions for Store cache and installation problems.
7. Reinstall Gaming Services for the documented error scenario
Use this only after Windows and Store updates, a restart, Xbox repair/reset, Gaming Services repair/reset, and wsreset.exe have failed. Microsoft’s documented workaround targets Windows 10 failures involving 0x80073D26 or 0x8007139F. It is not a universal fix for every Xbox installation problem, and the cited article is an older Windows 10 knowledge-base article—not a statement that its historical build requirements apply to current Windows 11.
The procedure removes the Gaming Services package and two Gaming Services registry entries. It requires administrator privileges and modifies the registry. Create a restore point or use another suitable recovery precaution before proceeding, and do not run it casually for an unrelated error.
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Microsoft’s documented PowerShell script is:
Get-AppxPackage *gamingservices* -allusers | remove-appxpackage -allusers
Remove-Item -Path "HKLM:SystemCurrentControlSetServicesGamingServices" -Recurse
Remove-Item -Path "HKLM:SystemCurrentControlSetServicesGamingServicesNet" -RecurseMicrosoft’s sequence is to save these commands as a .ps1 file, run the script as administrator, restart the PC, open Xbox, and select Install when Xbox offers to reinstall Gaming Services. Follow the current Microsoft article rather than copying commands from an unofficial source: Gaming Services error guidance.
8. Check network and security conditions
These are general diagnostics rather than a guaranteed Microsoft-documented cause:
- Temporarily pause a VPN or third-party proxy, then retry.
- Try another network or a wired connection if possible.
- If other downloads also fail, restart the router.
- Set Windows date, time, and time zone to automatic.
- Check whether ordinary Microsoft Store apps can download.
- Test third-party security software only according to its vendor’s instructions. Do not permanently disable antivirus or firewall protection.
If several Microsoft services or many users are affected, check Microsoft’s official service-status channels before making destructive changes. A service outage cannot be repaired by resetting the Xbox app.
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Do not reset every Xbox component immediately. Search for the title directly in Microsoft Store and check its current PC listing, system requirements, available edition, add-ons, region, and Game Pass status. A console-only or cloud-only title may not have a local Windows installation.
If other Game Pass games install normally, the problem is more likely to be title-specific, catalog-related, or connected to that game’s package and requirements. Check the publisher’s or Xbox title support page for a known outage before changing system-wide settings.
10. When every fix fails
Before contacting Microsoft or Xbox Support, record:
- The exact error code and message.
- Windows 10 or Windows 11 and its build.
- The game title and whether other Store games install.
- The Microsoft account and Game Pass plan involved, without sharing your password.
- The target drive and available free space.
- Which updates, repairs, resets, and cache reset you completed.
Use Microsoft Support when Microsoft Store cannot install ordinary apps, Gaming Services repeatedly fails after the targeted recovery, or multiple titles fail across more than one drive. Avoid registry cleaners, unofficial Gaming Services tools, paid “PC repair” utilities, and a full Windows reset unless Support directs you and your data is backed up.
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What not to do first
- Do not assume every Game Pass title has a PC-installable version.
- Do not uninstall all games as an opening troubleshooting step.
- Do not run the Gaming Services registry script for an unrelated symptom.
- Do not assume a missing Install button is a download problem; it may indicate account, region, family, catalog, or compatibility restrictions.
- Do not treat changing the installation drive as a guaranteed fix; it is mainly a useful diagnostic.
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