Xbox App Not Installing Games on PC? Fix Gaming Services, Store Errors, and Corrupted Cache

If the Xbox app on Windows will not install games, gets stuck at “Preparing,” shows errors from the Microsoft Store, or repeatedly asks you to install Gaming Services, the problem is usually not the game itself. In most cases, the failure is caused by a broken Microsoft Store component, damaged Xbox app cache, incorrect Windows services, or corruption in the Gaming Services package that handles PC Game Pass installations.

TLDR: First, make sure Windows, the Microsoft Store, Xbox app, and Gaming Services are fully updated. Then reset the Xbox app and Microsoft Store cache, repair or reinstall Gaming Services, and confirm that required Windows services are running. If installs still fail, check your selected install drive, permissions, system files, and Microsoft account sign-in state before reinstalling the Xbox app.

Why the Xbox App Fails to Install Games on PC

The Xbox app depends on several Windows components working together. It uses your Microsoft account, the Microsoft Store licensing system, Gaming Services, Windows Update, delivery optimization, storage permissions, and background services. When one of those parts is broken or out of sync, game installations may fail even if your internet connection is stable and your PC has enough free space.

Common symptoms include:

• Games stuck at 0%, Preparing, or Downloading.
• Error codes such as 0x80073D26, 0x80073D02, 0x80070005, or 0x87e00017.
• The Xbox app repeatedly opening the Microsoft Store page for Gaming Services.
• The install button doing nothing or instantly failing.
• Games installing on the wrong drive or not detecting available storage.
• Downloads failing after pausing, restarting, or changing networks.

Because the Xbox app is tightly integrated with Windows, the most reliable approach is to fix the platform components first, then address storage and account issues.

1. Restart the PC and Check Xbox Service Status

Before making deeper changes, restart your computer. This clears locked installation files and restarts background services that may be stuck. After rebooting, open the Xbox app and try installing a small game or app to test whether the issue is temporary.

You should also check whether Xbox services are experiencing an outage. If Microsoft’s servers are having problems, local troubleshooting may not help. Visit the official Xbox Status page and look for issues affecting Games and gaming, Store and subscriptions, or Account and profile.

2. Update Windows, Microsoft Store, and the Xbox App

Outdated Windows components are one of the most common causes of Xbox app installation errors. The Xbox app and Gaming Services are updated through the Microsoft Store, but they also rely on recent Windows updates.

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Windows Update.
3. Click Check for updates.
4. Install all available updates, including optional cumulative updates if they relate to Windows features or reliability.
5. Restart the PC.

Next, update Microsoft Store apps:

1. Open the Microsoft Store.
2. Select Library.
3. Click Get updates.
4. Install updates for Xbox, Gaming Services, Microsoft Store, and related Xbox components.

If the Store will not update apps, fix the Store cache first using the next section.

3. Clear the Microsoft Store Cache

A corrupted Store cache can prevent the Xbox app from verifying licenses, starting downloads, or detecting Gaming Services correctly. Microsoft includes a built-in command to reset this cache safely.

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type wsreset.exe.
3. Press Enter.
4. Wait for the blank command window to close and for Microsoft Store to open automatically.

After the reset finishes, open the Xbox app again and attempt the installation. If the app still fails, continue with app repair and Gaming Services repair.

4. Repair and Reset the Xbox App

Windows allows you to repair or reset Store apps without manually deleting files. Repair tries to fix the app while keeping its data. Reset removes local app data and returns the app to a fresh state.

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Apps > Installed apps.
3. Find Xbox.
4. Click the three-dot menu and choose Advanced options.
5. Click Repair.
6. If the issue continues, return to the same screen and click Reset.

Repeat the same process for Microsoft Store if it appears in your installed apps list. After resetting, sign back in with the Microsoft account that owns the subscription or game license.

5. Repair or Reinstall Gaming Services

Gaming Services is the most important component for installing many Xbox and PC Game Pass titles. When it is corrupted, the Xbox app may open the Store repeatedly, fail to install games, or show errors even after you reinstall the Xbox app.

Start with the safer repair method:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Apps > Installed apps.
3. Search for Gaming Services.
4. Open Advanced options.
5. Click Repair, then test the Xbox app.
6. If needed, click Reset and restart your PC.

If Gaming Services is still broken, reinstall it using PowerShell:

1. Right-click the Start button.
2. Select Terminal Admin or Windows PowerShell Admin.
3. Run the following command:

get-appxpackage Microsoft.GamingServices | remove-AppxPackage -allusers

Then reinstall Gaming Services from the Microsoft Store by running:

start ms-windows-store://pdp/?productid=9MWPM2CQNLHN

The Microsoft Store should open to the Gaming Services page. Click Install, wait for it to complete, then restart your computer. This step resolves a large number of persistent Xbox app installation problems.

6. Make Sure Required Windows Services Are Running

The Xbox app needs several Windows services to download and install games. If these services are disabled, installs may not start or may fail immediately.

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Type services.msc and press Enter.
3. Check the following services:

• Gaming Services
• Xbox Accessory Management Service
• Xbox Live Auth Manager
• Xbox Live Game Save
• Xbox Live Networking Service
• Microsoft Store Install Service
• Windows Update
• Delivery Optimization
• Background Intelligent Transfer Service

For each service, open its properties and make sure it is not disabled. If a service is stopped, click Start. For most users, the default startup type should be Manual or Automatic, depending on the service. Avoid disabling Xbox or Store services with so-called “debloat” tools, as this often causes installation failures later.

7. Check the Install Drive and Storage Settings

The Xbox app may refuse to install games if the selected drive has file system problems, restricted permissions, or an old WindowsApps folder from a previous installation. It may also fail if there is not enough free space for both the download and the unpacked game files.

Open the Xbox app and check the default install location:

1. Open the Xbox app.
2. Click your profile icon.
3. Go to Settings > Install options.
4. Select a valid internal drive with enough free space.

Then check Windows storage settings:

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to System > Storage.
3. Open Advanced storage settings.
4. Select Where new content is saved.
5. Make sure new apps are set to the drive you want to use.

If you are using an external drive, test with an internal SSD or HDD. Some external drives sleep, disconnect, or use file systems that do not work reliably with large Microsoft Store game packages. For best results, use an NTFS-formatted internal drive.

8. Sign Out and Sign Back In

Account mismatches can also block installs. This is especially common when Windows is signed into one Microsoft account, the Microsoft Store into another, and the Xbox app into a third. The account with the active PC Game Pass subscription or game license must be recognized correctly.

1. Sign out of the Xbox app.
2. Sign out of the Microsoft Store.
3. Restart the PC.
4. Sign into the Microsoft Store with the account that owns the game or subscription.
5. Open the Xbox app and sign into the same account.

If you are using a child account, work or school account, or family safety restrictions, check whether installation permissions are being restricted by policy.

9. Run Windows System File Repairs

If Store components, permissions, or Windows package files are damaged, repairing system files may help. Use these commands from an elevated terminal.

1. Right-click Start.
2. Choose Terminal Admin.
3. Run this command:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

When it completes, run:

sfc /scannow

Restart your computer after both commands finish. These tools do not delete personal files, but they can repair corrupted Windows components that affect app installation.

10. Remove Stuck or Partial Game Installs

A failed installation can leave behind partial files that confuse the Xbox app. First, cancel the download inside the Xbox app. Then restart your PC and try again. If the same game remains stuck, use Windows settings to remove it if it appears as an installed app.

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Apps > Installed apps.
3. Search for the game title.
4. If listed, choose Uninstall.

Do not manually take ownership of the WindowsApps folder unless you are experienced with Windows permissions. Changing ownership incorrectly can break Store apps and make the problem worse. Use built-in uninstall, reset, and storage tools first.

11. Reinstall the Xbox App as a Last Step

If the Store works, Gaming Services has been repaired, and Windows services are running, reinstalling the Xbox app may help clear persistent app-level corruption.

1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
2. Find Xbox.
3. Select Uninstall.
4. Restart the PC.
5. Open the Microsoft Store and reinstall Xbox.

After reinstalling, open the Xbox app, verify your account, confirm the install drive, and try a new installation. If possible, test with a smaller game first before downloading a very large title.

When Nothing Works

If none of the above fixes work, collect the exact error code and check whether it appears in both the Xbox app and Microsoft Store. Error codes involving permissions, such as 0x80070005, may point to account or folder access problems. Errors involving package deployment, such as 0x80073D26, often point back to Gaming Services or Store registration.

At that stage, it may be worth creating a new local Windows administrator account and testing the Xbox app there. If installations work in the new account, your original Windows user profile may be corrupted. If they fail in every account, the issue is more likely system-wide and may require an in-place Windows repair install.

Final Advice

Xbox app installation problems on PC are frustrating because the error message often points to the wrong component. A game may appear to be failing, but the real cause is frequently Gaming Services, the Microsoft Store cache, a disabled background service, or a damaged install location. Work through the fixes in order: update Windows, reset the Store cache, repair the Xbox app, reinstall Gaming Services, check services, and verify storage settings.

For most users, the most effective fixes are wsreset.exe, repairing or reinstalling Gaming Services, and making sure the Microsoft Store and Xbox app are signed into the same account. Once those components are healthy, PC Game Pass and Xbox game installations should begin normally again.