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How to Update Sea of Thieves on PC: Steam, Microsoft Store, and Xbox App

Update Sea of Thieves on PC through the storefront where you installed it. Use these Steam, Microsoft Store, and Xbox app steps to fix missing or stuck updates.

By VGSources Team 6 min read
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Update Sea of Thieves through the storefront where you installed it: Steam for the Steam version, Microsoft Store for a Store installation, and the Xbox app for a Game Pass installation. For Xbox app installs, Microsoft Store and Gaming Services may also need attention. There is no single PC updater that works for every copy.

Before you update: identify your version

Open the launcher where Sea of Thieves appears in your library. Rare documents separate PC installation routes for Microsoft/Xbox Store and Steam; use the same storefront to update the installation you already have.

Where the game appears Where to update it
Steam Library Steam
Microsoft Store Library Microsoft Store
Xbox app → My Library, including Game Pass Xbox app first; check Microsoft Store and Gaming Services if needed

Do not try to update a Steam installation through Microsoft Store or the reverse. Those are separate installations with different files and update services. If you are unsure which copy is installed, check the launcher’s library and the game’s installation location. Rare’s PC installation guide describes the available routes.

Update the Steam version

  1. Close Sea of Thieves and open Steam.
  2. Go to Library, select Sea of Thieves, and let any pending update download.
  3. If nothing starts, open Steam’s Downloads view and check for a paused, queued, or failed job. Restart Steam and check again.
  4. If the game still will not launch or its files appear damaged, right-click the game in your Library and select Properties → Installed Files → Verify integrity of game files. Wait for Steam to finish checking and replacing files.

Verification repairs missing or damaged local files; it is not a replacement for Steam delivering the current game build. If Steam has not received the update, file verification alone cannot supply it. Steam’s official troubleshooting steps also recommend restarting Steam and verifying files for games that are unavailable or will not launch.

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#1 Best Overall
Sea of Thieves: Standard Edition – Xbox One
  • A shared-world adventure game by acclaimed UK developer Rare Ltd. Xbox Live Gold required to play (sold separately)
  • Live the essential pirate life in a world rich with Rare’s irreverent charm. Sail and fight together, hunt treasure and create your own legends
  • A fantastical world of unspoiled islands, mythical monsters and mouth-watering loot. Total freedom to decide how you approach the world and its players
  • Xbox One Console exclusive
  • Battery: no battery used;Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Content Description: Crude humor, use of alcohol, violence

Update the Microsoft Store version

  1. Exit the game and open Microsoft Store from the Windows Start menu.
  2. Select Library, then choose Get updates or Check for updates. Microsoft’s Store guidance uses Check for Updates; the wording can vary by Store view.
  3. Let updates for Sea of Thieves, Xbox, and Gaming Services finish, then try the game again.

If no update appears, search Microsoft Store for Sea of Thieves, open its product page, and leave it open briefly. Rare recommends this as a way to prompt the PC client update when automatic updating has not started. Microsoft says Store apps and games may update automatically, but you can also check manually. See Rare’s force-update instructions and Microsoft’s Store update guide.

Reset the Store cache if the download will not start

  1. Press the Windows key, type wsreset, and run it.
  2. Wait for the black window to close and Microsoft Store to reopen.
  3. Return to the game’s Store page or Library and check for updates again.

Rare lists wsreset as a Store-cache troubleshooting step. If the download remains stuck, check free space on the installation drive, Windows updates, and whether your date, time, and time zone are set correctly. Rare’s Microsoft Store troubleshooting guidance covers these checks and additional Store-specific recovery steps.

Rank #2
Sale
Sea of Thieves Xbox One (Renewed)
  • A shared-world adventure game by acclaimed UK developer Rare Ltd. Xbox Live Gold required to play (sold separately)
  • Live the essential pirate life in a world rich with Rare's irreverent charm. Sail and fight together, hunt treasure and create your own legends!
  • A fantastical world of unspoiled islands, mythical monsters and mouth-watering loot
  • Total freedom to decide how you approach the world and its players
  • Available on the Xbox One family of devices and Windows 10 PCs. Supports Xbox Play Anywhere and cross-platform play** (**Play on one device at a time. PC hardware requirements may vary for games on Windows 10).The Hungering Deep, the first major Sea of Thieves content update landing May 2018, brings with it an exciting new threat to the Sea of Thieves world. Work together with other crews on a completely new adventure with gameplay enhancements and unique rewards.The May kick-off of the Sea of Thieves weekly events programme also introduces fun new ways to play with weekly events and rewards.

Update the Xbox app or Game Pass version

  1. Close the game and open the Xbox app.
  2. Open Sea of Thieves from your library or its game page. Look for an update, download, or pending-download control; the labels and layout can change between Xbox app releases.
  3. Start or resume the update and allow it to finish. If the Xbox app does not offer one, open Microsoft Store and select Library → Get updates.
  4. Restart the Xbox app and, if the update still does not appear or launch, restart Windows.

The Xbox app may rely on Microsoft Store and Gaming Services for installs and updates, so an error there does not automatically mean the game files themselves are corrupt. If Microsoft Store and Xbox app use different accounts, check that you are signed into the account that owns the game or has the relevant Game Pass access. PC Game Pass access depends on the subscription and catalog availability; it is not permanent ownership. Xbox notes that availability varies by region, plan, platform, and time on its PC Game Pass page.

If the update is missing, stuck, or keeps failing

Work through these steps from least disruptive to more involved, choosing only the steps for your storefront.

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Rank #3
Sale
Sea of Thieves: Standard Edition – Xbox One [Digital Code]
  • Sea of Thieves offers the essential pirate experience, from sailing and fighting to exploring and looting – everything you need to live the pirate life and become a legend in your own right.
  • Whether you’re voyaging as a group or sailing solo, you’re bound to encounter other crews in this shared-world adventure – but will they be friends or foes, and how will you respond?
  1. Refresh the launcher. Close the game, quit and reopen Steam, Microsoft Store, or Xbox app, then check its Library or Downloads view.
  2. Check the queue and account. Look for a paused or failed download, confirm you are using the correct storefront account, and make sure you are not checking a different installation than the one you launch.
  3. Restart Windows. This can clear a launcher or Gaming Services process that has stalled.
  4. Check the official service status. If the game reports an outdated client or cannot connect despite no pending update, review Sea of Thieves status for service incidents, maintenance, and current release-note links. A local update problem and server availability are separate issues.
  5. For Store-based installs, reset the cache. Run wsreset as described above, then check the Store Library again.
  6. For Steam installs, verify files. Use Properties → Installed Files → Verify integrity of game files; this checks local files but does not force Steam to publish an update.
  7. Check Windows and graphics drivers. If the download or launch fails after an update, install available Windows updates and current graphics drivers. Rare’s Windows launch troubleshooting guide includes driver and Store/library troubleshooting.
  8. Repair or reinstall only after the platform-specific steps fail. Reinstallation is disruptive and is not the first fix for a missing update. Rare has recommended it for a particular Microsoft Store update incident, but that was incident-specific rather than a general requirement; see Rare’s notice for that case.
  9. Contact Rare Support if the same failure persists, and include the exact error code, launcher, and what troubleshooting you have tried.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Common update and launch errors

Game Pass errors 0x8007139F or 0x00000001

Rare associates these errors with installing, updating, or launching through Game Pass on Windows, including cases involving Gaming Services or a recent Windows update. Follow Rare’s guidance for these error codes rather than running unrelated repair scripts.

Beard error or version mismatch

An outdated client can cause a version mismatch. Check the correct storefront’s Library or Downloads view, install any pending update, and then retry. If the launcher reports no update, restart it and check the official status page before assuming that reinstalling is necessary; rollout timing or a service incident may be involved.

Queued, “Preparing,” 0%, or 99% download

For Microsoft Store or Xbox app installs, try wsreset, confirm there is enough free space on the selected drive, check Windows updates and automatic system time, and restart the PC. For Steam, inspect Downloads for a failed or paused job, restart Steam, and verify the game files if needed. A large download can occur even when patch notes look small; do not rely on an old size estimate for a current update.

Black screen or crash after updating

Restart Windows, update graphics drivers, and disable nonessential overlays or background programs while testing. Use Steam verification for a Steam copy, or the Store/Xbox repair options available for your installation. If the problem remains, consult Rare’s Windows launch guide and send Rare Support the exact error and platform.

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Best Value
Sea of Thieves Xbox One
  • A shared-world adventure game by acclaimed UK developer Rare Ltd. Xbox Live Gold required to play (sold separately)
  • Live the essential pirate life in a world rich with Rare's irreverent charm. Sail and fight together, hunt treasure and create your own legends!
  • A fantastical world of unspoiled islands, mythical monsters and mouth-watering loot
  • Total freedom to decide how you approach the world and its players
  • Available on the Xbox One family of devices and Windows 10 PCs. Supports Xbox Play Anywhere and cross-platform play** (**Play on one device at a time. PC hardware requirements may vary for games on Windows 10).The Hungering Deep, the first major Sea of Thieves content update landing May 2018, brings with it an exciting new threat to the Sea of Thieves world. Work together with other crews on a completely new adventure with gameplay enhancements and unique rewards.The May kick-off of the Sea of Thieves weekly events programme also introduces fun new ways to play with weekly events and rewards.

How to confirm the update worked

  • Your storefront shows no pending Sea of Thieves download.
  • The game reaches its title or sign-in screen without an outdated-client or version-mismatch message.
  • The official status page has no relevant outage that would explain a connection failure.
  • After entering the game, the available content aligns with the current official release notes linked from the status site.

There is no build number stated here: a current version number needs to be checked against the release notes at the time you update, and platform rollout timing should not be assumed to be identical.

Should you reinstall the game?

Reinstall only after refreshing the correct launcher, checking its queue, restarting Windows, and using the relevant Store-cache reset or Steam file verification. If you reinstall, use the same storefront that owns your copy. Online progress is tied to your player account, but local settings, cached data, screenshots, and custom files may not all be preserved, so do not assume a reinstall keeps every local preference.

Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Sea of Thieves: Standard Edition – Xbox One
Sea of Thieves: Standard Edition – Xbox One
Xbox One Console exclusive
$38.87
SaleBestseller No. 2
Sea of Thieves Xbox One (Renewed)
Sea of Thieves Xbox One (Renewed)
A fantastical world of unspoiled islands, mythical monsters and mouth-watering loot; Total freedom to decide how you approach the world and its players
$30.14
Bestseller No. 5
Sea of Thieves Xbox One
Sea of Thieves Xbox One
A fantastical world of unspoiled islands, mythical monsters and mouth-watering loot; Total freedom to decide how you approach the world and its players
$39.90

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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