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Start with the platform where Sea of Thieves is installed: Windows via Microsoft Store or the Xbox app, Steam, or an Xbox console. The fixes differ. First note whether the update will not download, the game fails to open, it hangs on a black screen, or it displays an error code; then follow only the matching steps below.
Before troubleshooting, identify where launch fails
Write down your platform or storefront, when the update occurred, any exact error text or code, and the point where startup stops. If the problem began immediately after a newly deployed update, check the official Sea of Thieves support site for a current known issue. The detailed launch procedures below come from support pages last updated between 2021 and 2024, so they are useful baseline steps, not confirmation that a current patch has a known fault.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Sea of Thieves: Standard Edition – Xbox One | $38.87 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Sea of Thieves Xbox One (Renewed) | $30.14 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![Sea of Thieves: Standard Edition – Xbox One [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41RiuntPiNL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Sea of Thieves: Standard Edition – Xbox One [Digital Code] | $35.19 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Sea of Thieves - Xbox One/PC - Full Game - Key Card | $57.90 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Sea of Thieves Xbox One | $76.41 | Buy on Amazon |
Fully close the game and its launcher, then restart the device before trying repairs. This is a low-disruption diagnostic step, not a guaranteed or platform-wide fix.
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Install pending Windows updates
Open Windows Update, install available updates, and restart the PC. Rare’s Windows launch guide, last updated June 23, 2023, calls an up-to-date Windows operating system its most common fix for the black-screen, stuck, or crash-shortly-after-startup reports covered by that guide. That wording describes the guide’s cases; it does not establish the cause of every post-update failure.
#1 Best Overall
- 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
Prompt a Microsoft Store game update
If the Microsoft Store version’s update is not starting, open Microsoft Store, search for Sea of Thieves, and visit the game’s product page. Rare’s PC force-update article, last updated February 17, 2021, says this can prompt the client update. If it does not, run wsreset, then repeat the Store steps.
Use the scoped reinstall advice for the February 2024 Store issue
Rare’s notice about the February 2024 update says a complete reinstall may be needed if Microsoft Store could not update the game. If the Store does not offer the download after uninstalling, the notice suggests resetting the Store; it also says the game can be installed through the Xbox app. This advice is specific to that incident, not a universal requirement after every update.
Rank #2
- 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.
Follow the dedicated guidance for Game Pass error codes
If 0x8007139F or 0x00000001 appears while installing, updating, or launching through Game Pass on Windows, use the dedicated Xbox Support troubleshooting. Rare’s article on these codes, last updated June 22, 2023, says a recent Windows update may be involved; preserve the exact code when seeking help.
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Rare’s Windows guide also lists these possibilities. Change one thing at a time so you can tell whether it helped:
Rank #3
- 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?
- Sign in to a local administrator account and try launching again.
- Reset or reinstall the game. Reinstallation is more disruptive, so leave it until less invasive checks have failed.
- Update the graphics driver.
- Check that Microsoft Store is using the intended account and that offline permissions are set as required.
- Check Windows date and time settings.
- Investigate possible conflicts involving a VPN, antivirus software, MSI Afterburner, Nahimic, or Readyboost. Temporarily changing security or background software can affect protection or other applications; restore your normal settings after testing.
- As a later diagnostic, try the guide’s region or language settings suggestion. Restore your original settings if it does not resolve the launch problem.
Fix the Steam version on Windows
Verify the installed game files
In Steam, open Library, right-click Sea of Thieves, choose Properties, then Local Files and Verify Integrity of Local Game Files… Rare lists this Steam-specific check before reinstalling in its launch article, last updated June 23, 2023.
Continue with Windows and compatibility checks
If verification does not help, install available Windows updates and restart. Rare’s Steam guide also lists reinstalling, checking date and time and region settings, updating graphics drivers, and checking potential conflicts such as Nahimic, VPN, antivirus, or MSI Afterburner. The named software is a set of possibilities to investigate, not proof that any one of them caused your issue.
Fix launch problems on an Xbox console
Hard reset the console
With the console powered on, hold its power button for 10 seconds, let it shut down, and then reboot. Rare’s Xbox One launch guide, last updated June 23, 2023, says this clears the console cache and may resolve launch problems.
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Rare’s guide points to Xbox troubleshooting steps that include resyncing cloud data and trying to launch with a different profile. If those do not help, contact Xbox Support. For a client/server version mismatch or Lavenderbeard error, Rare has a separate article advising Xbox users to hard reset and redownload the client when a newer game version has been deployed. Check that the error and update context match that older guidance before following it.
Best Value
- 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.
PlayStation 5 and Battle.net users
Do not apply Windows Store, Xbox app, or Steam procedures to these versions. Rare’s official support index lists PlayStation 5 install/crash guidance and Battle.net support material, but the available platform-specific listings do not establish a general post-update launch procedure for either platform. Find the current article for your platform through the official Sea of Thieves support site and follow its instructions for the exact symptom or error.
Choose the least disruptive step that matches the problem
| Platform or situation | First targeted action | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Windows startup failure | Install pending Windows updates and restart | Black screen, stuck startup, or crash shortly after launch; Rare Windows guide last updated June 23, 2023. |
| Microsoft Store update not starting | Open the Sea of Thieves Store product page; if needed, run wsreset and retry |
Store update is not downloading; Rare force-update article last updated February 17, 2021. |
| Steam startup failure | Verify Integrity of Local Game Files… | Steam installation; use Steam’s file-check procedure before reinstalling. |
| Xbox console startup failure | Hold the powered-on console’s power button for 10 seconds, shut down, and reboot | Xbox console; Rare says the hard reset clears cache and may help. |
| Game Pass error 0x8007139F or 0x00000001 | Use the dedicated Xbox Support guidance | Windows install, update, or launch through Game Pass; Rare article last updated June 22, 2023. |
| PlayStation 5 or Battle.net | Use the current platform-specific support article | No general post-update launch fix is established by the listed platform support material. |
Keep the exact error code and the stage of failure when escalating to platform support. The cited support guides do not publish measured success rates, so a listed “common fix” should not be read as a guaranteed result.
Quick Recap
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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