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Xbox error 0x80073CFC means that an application cannot be started. On a Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC, the usual culprit is a damaged or incorrectly registered Gaming Services installation, although Xbox, Microsoft Store, game files, Windows updates, account permissions, or the game-library drive can also be involved. Work through the fixes below from least destructive to most involved; do not reset Windows or delete personal files as a first step.
What error 0x80073CFC means
Microsoft’s Game Development Kit defines 0x80073CFC as “The application cannot be started.” In the Xbox PC ecosystem, that application could be the Xbox app, a Game Pass game, Gaming Services (also called Gaming Runtime Services), or a Microsoft Store-delivered component.
The code does not prove that a game executable is corrupt. It identifies the startup failure, not one guaranteed root cause.
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 errorsIs this a console or Windows PC error?
This code is most commonly encountered when Xbox app or PC Game Pass software runs on Windows 10 or Windows 11. The Windows PowerShell procedures in this guide do not apply to Xbox console hardware. Console users should use the normal restart, update, game-reinstall, and support steps on the official Xbox error page.
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Quick fix sequence
- Restart Windows using Start > Power > Restart.
- Install updates from Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates and from Microsoft Store > Library > Get updates.
- Repair Gaming Services, Xbox, Microsoft Store, and the affected game.
- Run
wsreset.exeto clear the Microsoft Store cache. - Run the Xbox app’s Gaming Services Repair Tool for PC, if your build provides it.
- Reinstall Gaming Services with elevated PowerShell if several Xbox games fail or Gaming Services will not start.
- Reinstall only the affected app or game after the shared components have been repaired.
Fix 0x80073CFC step by step
1. Restart the PC
Choose Start > Power > Restart, rather than merely shutting down and turning the computer back on. A restart completes pending Windows updates and reloads Gaming Services after package changes. Microsoft notes that a recently updated PC may need a restart before Store apps can install.
2. Update Windows, Store, Xbox, and the game
Open Settings > Windows Update and install every available update. Then open Microsoft Store > Library > Get updates. Update the Xbox app, Gaming Services, Xbox-related Store components, and the affected game. Labels differ slightly between Windows 10, Windows 11, and Store versions. Microsoft’s Store guidance recommends updating before repair or reinstall steps (Microsoft Store troubleshooting).
3. Repair the installed apps
On Windows 11, go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps. On Windows 10, use Settings > Apps > Apps & features. For each listed item, open its menu, choose Advanced options, and select Repair:
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- Gaming Services
- Xbox
- Microsoft Store
- The game that displays 0x80073CFC
Restart and test after repairing. If an app still fails, return to the same page and choose Reset. Repair is intended to preserve app data; Reset can remove local settings or cached credentials, so you may need to sign in again. Microsoft documents this Repair/Reset sequence in its installed-app troubleshooting guidance.
4. Clear 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.
- Restart Windows, then try Xbox or the game again.
Microsoft says the blank window normally closes automatically after about ten seconds. This clears Store cache data; it does not uninstall games or erase personal files (Microsoft Store cache and installation guidance).
5. Run Gaming Services Repair Tool for PC
Open the Xbox app and look in its profile, settings, support, or help area for Gaming Services Repair Tool. Run it, allow it to finish, restart Windows, and test the game. The exact location and availability vary by Xbox app build and Windows configuration. Microsoft’s tool documentation is at Gaming Services Repair Tool for PC. If your app does not show the tool, continue with the manual procedure below.
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6. Reinstall Gaming Services with PowerShell
Use this targeted fix when several Xbox PC games fail, the Xbox app repeatedly asks for Gaming Services, or the service is missing from Installed apps.
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Basic removal and reinstall
- Sign in with an administrator account.
- Close Xbox, Microsoft Store, and all games.
- Open Windows PowerShell as administrator.
- Run this command exactly:
Get-AppxPackage *gamingservices* -AllUsers | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers- Restart Windows.
- Open Microsoft Store, search for Gaming Services, and select Get or Install.
- Restart Windows again, open Xbox, and test the game.
Microsoft has used this removal approach in its Gaming Services recovery guidance for related installation and startup failures (Microsoft Gaming Services procedure). That article addresses 0x80073D26 and 0x8007139F, not every 0x80073CFC case, so treat this as a targeted recovery step rather than a universal diagnosis.
Advanced Microsoft-documented cleanup
Only use this if the basic removal does not work. In elevated PowerShell, Microsoft’s procedure also removes two Gaming Services registry entries:
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Get-AppxPackage *gamingservices* -AllUsers | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers
Remove-Item -Path "HKLM:SystemCurrentControlSetServicesGamingServices" -Recurse
Remove-Item -Path "HKLM:SystemCurrentControlSetServicesGamingServicesNet" -RecurseRestart, open Xbox, and reinstall Gaming Services when prompted. Copy the commands exactly, use an elevated window, and stop if PowerShell reports access or path errors. Registry cleanup is an advanced, last-resort step—not an early fix.
7. Reinstall the Xbox app only when it is the failing component
If Xbox itself will not start, first try Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Xbox > Advanced options > Repair, then Reset. If it still fails, uninstall Xbox, restart, and reinstall it from Microsoft Store. Reinstalling Xbox alone does not necessarily repair Gaming Services or Microsoft Store, because these are separate packages. Microsoft recommends reinstalling Store apps through the Store Library after repair and reset attempts (Microsoft Store app recovery).
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →8. Reinstall one affected game
Do this after platform components are healthy. Before uninstalling, verify the Microsoft account, available disk space, installation location, and whether cloud saves are synchronized. Uninstalling removes the local game installation; it is not the same as removing Gaming Services.
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Choose the path that matches the symptom
| Symptom | Priority checks |
|---|---|
| One game fails | Repair/reset that game; check updates, drive, free space, and then reinstall the game. |
| Several Xbox games fail | Repair Gaming Services; run the Repair Tool; reinstall Gaming Services; then repair Xbox and Store. |
| Xbox and Microsoft Store both fail | Update Windows, restart, run wsreset.exe, repair/reset Store, and verify account and Windows health. |
| Game launches but later crashes | Investigate game files, graphics drivers, overlays, mods, antivirus, hardware requirements, and game-specific logs; 0x80073CFC may describe only the initial startup failure. |
Check the game-library drive and permissions
After moving a game, inspect the drive and installation path. Common causes include a disconnected or failing drive, a changed drive letter, insufficient space for updates and temporary files, an incomplete move, or manually renamed/deleted WindowsApps or XboxGames folders. An external drive must be attached and available before launch.
Microsoft’s GDK documentation notes that package-directory placement and sharing permissions can affect Gaming Runtime behavior, including startup failures (GDK PC-launch documentation). Do not take ownership of WindowsApps or broadly alter permissions unless Microsoft Support directs you; those changes can create additional Store-registration problems.
Confirm account, region, and compatibility
- Xbox and Microsoft Store are signed in to the intended Microsoft account.
- Your Windows account is allowed to install Store apps.
- Windows is activated, supported, and fully updated.
- The game is available in your region and is not blocked by family settings.
- The PC meets the game’s requirements.
Microsoft lists account authorization, region, family settings, compatibility, and a pending restart among reasons Store apps may not appear or install correctly (Microsoft Store availability guidance).
General Windows repair for system-wide failures
If Microsoft Store, Xbox, Gaming Services, and unrelated Store apps all fail, check Windows component integrity from an elevated Command Prompt:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannowThese are general Windows repair commands, not a guaranteed 0x80073CFC fix. Restart when they finish and retest.
When to contact Microsoft Support
- Gaming Services will not reinstall.
- Microsoft Store will not open or install any apps.
- PowerShell reports access, registry, or package-deployment errors.
- Several unrelated Store apps fail.
- The error remains after a clean Gaming Services reinstall and reinstalling the affected game.
A Windows reset is disproportionate while the problem is limited to one game or the Xbox platform. Consider it only after backups and Microsoft Support guidance.
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