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If the Xbox app installer remains on “Making Things Awesome,” work through Windows and Microsoft Store repairs before repeatedly launching it. Install all pending Windows updates and restart, verify the PC meets the published baseline, run the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter, repair (then reset) Microsoft Store, restart Windows Installer, and check system files with sfc /scannow. If Store delivery is the failing path, retry with the installer from the official Xbox PC app website. The message is a progress screen rather than a diagnostic code, so no single cause applies to every PC.
What does “Making Things Awesome” mean on the Xbox installer?
“Making Things Awesome” is a status screen shown while the Xbox installer is preparing or obtaining components. It does not identify a particular error, corrupted file, account problem, or hardware failure. Troubleshooting guides from MiniTool, WindowsReport, and The Windows Club associate stalls at this screen with several possibilities, including an outdated Windows build, Microsoft Store faults, incompatible hardware, misconfigured services, blocked connections, and damaged system files.
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There is no reliable prevalence percentage for this problem. Descriptions such as “common issue” and “several users” are publisher observations, not a measured Microsoft failure rate. Treat the screen as evidence that installation has stopped progressing, not as proof of one specific cause.
What should I try first when the Xbox installer is stuck?
Use this order: update and restart Windows, check compatibility, run the Store troubleshooter, repair Microsoft Store, reset it only if necessary, restart Windows Installer, run a system-file check, then switch to the official Xbox web installer. Each step moves from low-risk, Store-scoped checks toward more disruptive or system-wide changes.
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| Step | What it changes | Data risk | Privileges or conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Update and restart | Refreshes the operating system and pending components | Low | Internet connection; restart required |
| Compatibility check | Confirms the PC is within the published baseline | None | Know your CPU, RAM, GPU, storage, and display details |
| Windows Store Apps troubleshooter | Checks common Store configuration faults | Low | Windows 11 Settings path; follow its proposed changes |
| Microsoft Store Repair | Repairs the Store app without the full reset operation | Low | Settings access |
| Microsoft Store Reset | Reinitializes Store app data | Moderate; Store app data can be removed | Use only after Repair |
| Restart Windows Installer | Restarts the Windows Installer service | Low | Service-management access may require administrator approval |
sfc /scannow |
Checks protected Windows system files | Low | Elevated Command Prompt |
| Official Xbox web installer | Changes the download and delivery path | Low | Use the official Xbox PC app page |
How do I update Windows and restart correctly?
WindowsReport lists Windows 10 or Windows 11 version 22H1 or later among its requirements and recommends checking Windows Update before other fixes. The exact supported build can change, so use Windows Update as the current authority rather than treating 22H1 as a permanent guarantee.
- Open Settings.
- Choose Windows Update (on some Windows 10 installations, this is under Update & Security).
- Select Check for updates and install every available update that Windows offers.
- Restart the PC, even if Windows does not immediately insist on a restart.
- Launch the Xbox installer again once you are back at the desktop.
A restart matters because a downloaded update may not become active until Windows reloads its services. Repeatedly running the installer before completing this step can leave the same outdated component in place.
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Could my PC be below the Xbox app’s published requirements?
WindowsReport’s October 4, 2023 troubleshooting article lists the following baseline for the Xbox PC installation and related gaming use. These figures are that publisher’s stated requirements, not a timeless Microsoft specification; recheck current Microsoft requirements if your Windows build or Xbox app has changed.
| Component | Published baseline | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 or Windows 11, version 22H1 or higher | Install pending feature and quality updates before testing again. |
| Processor | Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5, quad-core or better | A lower-tier or older dual-core CPU may fall outside this stated baseline. |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | Check installed memory, not just free memory at the moment of installation. |
| Graphics | Radeon RX 560 or GeForce GTX 1050 | The listed class is a graphics baseline; integrated graphics may not meet it. |
| Graphics API | DirectX 12 | Use Windows’ DirectX diagnostic information to identify the installed API level. |
| Free storage | 150 GB | Keep this space available on the drive used for the installation; the requirement may change with the title or app. |
| Display | 1080p | This is the display target stated by the guide, not a claim that every monitor below it blocks installation. |
Do not buy a graphics card, storage device, or other hardware solely because this status screen appears. The documented remedies are software and service checks; compatibility is something to verify before spending money.
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How do I run the Windows Store Apps troubleshooter?
On Windows 11, the built-in troubleshooter is at Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters. Windows Store Apps is the relevant entry. Run it and apply or note the findings before trying the installer again.
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Select System, then Troubleshoot.
- Open Other troubleshooters.
- Find Windows Store Apps and select Run.
- Let the diagnostic complete. If it proposes a change, read the explanation and accept it only if it matches the Store problem you are seeing.
- Close Settings and retry the Xbox installer.
This is a low-risk, Store-focused check. It may report that it found nothing; that result does not prove the installer is healthy, only that this diagnostic did not identify a matching fault.
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Repair first. Reset is the second choice because it reinitializes Microsoft Store and can remove Store app data. The labels differ slightly between Windows releases, but the path is normally through Installed apps or Apps & features.
Repair Microsoft Store
- Open Settings.
- Go to Apps > Installed apps. On some Windows 10 builds, use Apps > Apps & features.
- Find Microsoft Store, open its three-dot menu (or app entry), and choose Advanced options.
- Select Repair and wait for Windows to finish.
- Retry the Xbox installer.
Reset Microsoft Store only if Repair fails
- Return to Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Microsoft Store > Advanced options.
- Select Reset and confirm the warning.
- Allow the Store to reinitialize, then restart Windows before another installation attempt.
Repair is the less disruptive option. If you reset, expect Microsoft Store app data to be cleared and be prepared to sign in or restore Store preferences afterward.
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How do I restart the Windows Installer service?
A stalled or misconfigured Windows Installer service can prevent setup work even when the Store itself opens normally. Restarting the service is a built-in check and may require administrator approval.
- Press Windows + R, type
services.msc, and press Enter. - In the Services list, locate Windows Installer.
- If its status is stopped, right-click it and choose Start. If it is running, choose Restart when that command is available.
- Close Services and launch the Xbox installer again.
Do not change unrelated service startup types while troubleshooting this symptom. If Windows refuses the action, use an administrator account or have an administrator approve the UAC prompt.
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System File Checker can identify and repair damaged protected Windows files. The Windows Club groups SFC with DISM for system-file problems, but the result depends on what the command reports; do not assume a repair occurred without reading its final message.
- Open the Start menu and type Command Prompt.
- Right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.
- At the elevated prompt, enter
sfc /scannowand press Enter. - Wait for the scan to reach 100 percent. Do not close the window midway.
- Read the completion message, restart Windows, and retry the installer.
SFC is a diagnostic and repair operation, not a guarantee that the Xbox app will install. If it reports that it could not fix some files, record that message before seeking further Windows repair guidance rather than claiming the scan solved the stall.
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Should I use the Xbox website instead of Microsoft Store?
Yes, when the Store route appears to be the failing part. WindowsReport recommends downloading the Xbox app from the official US Xbox PC app page and running that installer. This changes the delivery path; it does not bypass Windows compatibility or system-file requirements.
- Open the official Xbox PC app page in a trusted browser.
- Download the current installer offered there.
- Close any stalled Store installer window before launching the downloaded file.
- Run the installer and follow its prompts.
- If Windows displays a security or administrator confirmation, verify that the file came from the official Xbox site before approving it.
If the web installer succeeds while the Store installer does not, the evidence points toward Store delivery or Store configuration rather than proving that every Windows component is healthy.
Can security software cause the installer to hang?
The Windows Club notes that antivirus or other security software can block connections to Microsoft services. Test this possibility only briefly: use a trusted network, pause protection long enough to retry, and turn protection back on immediately afterward.
- Do not leave antivirus protection disabled while browsing or downloading unrelated files.
- Do not add permanent exclusions based only on this one screen.
- If the installer works only while protection is paused, restore protection and consult the security product’s event log or support documentation for a narrowly scoped rule.
- If there is no change, keep protection enabled and continue with the other fixes.
Is relaunching XboxInstaller.exe worth trying?
It is a low-risk extra retry, but not a current guarantee. A 2019 Gamepur walkthrough described one first-attempt stall that cleared after closing and relaunching XboxInstaller.exe, and it also described a required Windows update. That article warns that it may be outdated, so use relaunching only after updating Windows and closing the stalled process normally.
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- Close the installer window.
- Open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc and confirm no Xbox installer process is still running; end it only if it is clearly the stalled installer.
- Launch the installer once more.
If the same screen returns, move to the documented Store, service, system-file, and alternate-installer steps instead of repeating the launch indefinitely.
What if none of these fixes works?
Record which delivery path failed and what each command or troubleshooter reported. That distinction helps separate a Store-only problem from a broader Windows problem.
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- Store installer fails, web installer succeeds: concentrate on Microsoft Store repair, reset, and Store diagnostics.
- Both installers fail before downloading: recheck Windows updates, compatibility, Windows Installer, and system-file results.
- The service or SFC command is inaccessible: obtain administrator approval before changing system settings.
- Security software logs a blocked Microsoft connection: restore protection and investigate a specific event rather than leaving protection disabled.
- The PC misses the published baseline: understand that software repairs cannot make unsupported hardware meet a requirement.
Keep the exact Windows edition and build, the installer source, error text, and the date of each attempt. Those details are more useful to Microsoft or Xbox support than saying only that the screen was stuck.
What should I remember before trying the installer again?
- Install pending Windows updates and restart before repeated installation attempts.
- Use Repair before Reset; Reset can remove Microsoft Store app data.
- Restarting Windows Installer and running SFC are built-in checks, but neither promises a successful installation.
- Use the official Xbox website when Microsoft Store delivery is the failing route.
- Do not purchase hardware just to address this software installation symptom.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will resetting Microsoft Store uninstall my installed PC games?
The documented effect is that Reset clears Microsoft Store app data; the troubleshooting guidance does not establish a universal outcome for every installed game. Before resetting, note your Store sign-in details and any settings you may need to restore.
Do I need an administrator account for every fix?
No. Windows Update, the Store troubleshooter, and Store Repair normally start from regular Settings access. Services changes and an elevated Command Prompt for SFC can trigger administrator or UAC approval.
Can a slow internet connection alone cause this screen?
The status screen does not identify network speed as the cause. Because security software and Store connectivity are reported possibilities, retry on a trusted, stable connection and compare the Store installer with the official web installer rather than assuming bandwidth is solely responsible.
Is this a problem with my Xbox account?
“Making Things Awesome” is not an account-specific error code. The published troubleshooting material points first to Windows, Store, service, compatibility, and system-file checks, so complete those checks before treating account changes as the solution.
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