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If the Xbox app opens but will not sign in, work through Windows’ least disruptive fixes first: verify the Microsoft account and service status, install Windows and Store updates, clear the Store cache, and use Xbox’s Repair and Reset controls. If Gaming Services is missing or produces errors such as 0x80073D26, run Microsoft’s Gaming Services Repair Tool when available. Only then use the elevated PowerShell workaround that removes Gaming Services and its service entries, restart Windows, and reinstall the component from the Xbox prompt.

What is probably preventing sign-in?

The Xbox app depends on Microsoft Store components and the Gaming Services package. A stale Store cache, an outdated Windows build, a damaged Xbox app registration, stopped Xbox services, or an incomplete Gaming Services installation can all leave the app stuck at sign-in. An Xbox service outage can look similar, so check the service status before changing anything on your PC.

The procedure below applies to Windows 10 and Windows 11. Settings names can differ slightly by build; choose the equivalent Installed apps, Advanced options, Library, or service-management label that appears on your system.

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Choose the repair level before you start

Action What it changes Administrator needed? Restart required? Relative risk
Windows and Microsoft Store updates Updates the operating system and Store-delivered components No, unless Windows requests approval Only if Windows requests it Lowest
Store cache reset with wsreset.exe Clears the Microsoft Store cache and reopens Store No No Low
Xbox app Repair Attempts to fix the app without deleting its stored data No No Low
Xbox app Reset Reinitializes the app and removes its local app data No No Moderate; you may need to sign in again
Gaming Services Repair Tool for PC Uses Microsoft’s first-party repair workflow; available controls depend on the current Xbox app build Follow the tool’s prompts Follow the tool’s prompts Lower than manual package removal
Manual Gaming Services reinstall Removes the all-user Gaming Services package and the GamingServices and GamingServicesNet service registry entries Yes; elevated PowerShell Yes Most invasive step in this guide

Do the actions in order. Repair is reversible and least disruptive; the manual script is a documented workaround for particular Gaming Services failures, not a routine first step. If you are working on a shared PC, tell other users before removing an all-user package, because the change affects every Windows account on that machine.

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Before you change anything

  • Write down the exact error code and whether it appears while opening Xbox, signing in, installing Gaming Services, or launching a game.
  • Save open work before Windows Update, a service change, or the required restart.
  • Use an account that can approve administrator prompts for the manual reinstall; ordinary app repair does not normally need elevation.
  • Do not delete game folders while troubleshooting. The steps below target the Xbox app, Store cache, Gaming Services package, or its service entries, not your installed game libraries.

Recording the error and the point of failure prevents you from repeating increasingly invasive steps when the actual problem is an account or service outage.

1. Check the account, updates, and Xbox service status

Use the same Microsoft account in Store and Xbox

Open Microsoft Store and Xbox and confirm that both are signed in to the Microsoft account that owns your games or subscription. If one app is using a different account, sign out and sign in with the same account in both places. Do not proceed on the assumption that a local Windows account and a Microsoft Store account are interchangeable. A successful Windows login does not prove that Store licensing and Xbox authentication are using the intended identity.

Install Windows updates

Open Settings > Windows Update, select Check for updates, install every available update, and restart if Windows requests it. Microsoft’s current Store-app guidance places Windows updates before app repair or reinstall. If the update process requires more than one restart, complete the cycle before testing Xbox.

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Update Microsoft Store apps

Open Microsoft Store > Library and select Get updates. Let the Store finish downloading updates before launching Xbox again. A Gaming Services or Xbox update that is waiting in the Store can prevent sign-in from completing. Keep the Store window open until the download and installation indicators finish; closing it early can leave the component only partially updated.

Check for an Xbox service outage

Review the Xbox status page in a browser. If Microsoft reports an outage affecting account, authentication, or gaming services, local package changes will not restore sign-in; wait until the incident is resolved and then try Xbox again. An outage check is especially important when more than one device shows the same sign-in failure.

2. Clear the Microsoft Store cache

A corrupted Store cache can stop Xbox dependencies from downloading or registering. This operation does not remove your installed games.

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  1. Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog.
  2. Type wsreset.exe and press Enter.
  3. Wait while the command runs. A blank command window may appear briefly; do not close it.
  4. Microsoft Store should open automatically when the reset completes. Close Store, launch Xbox, and test sign-in.

The command may take a few moments without showing progress. That pause is expected. If Store does not reopen, restart Windows once and open Microsoft Store from the Start menu before testing Xbox. Continue to the app repair step if the sign-in problem remains.

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3. Repair and then reset the Xbox app

Run Repair first

  1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps. On some Windows 10 builds this is labeled Apps & features.
  2. Find Xbox, select its three-dot menu, and choose Advanced options.
  3. Select Repair and wait for Windows to report completion.
  4. Open Xbox and try to sign in.

Repair is the non-destructive choice: it attempts to correct the app installation without deliberately clearing the app’s local data. Because it does not remove the app, it is the sensible first test after updates and the cache reset.

Use Reset only if Repair did not work

  1. Return to Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Xbox > Advanced options.
  2. Select Reset and confirm the warning.
  3. Reopen Xbox and sign in again.

Reset reinitializes Xbox and clears its local app data, so the app may forget its sign-in state and preferences. It does not uninstall games stored elsewhere on your drive. Treat Reset as more disruptive than Repair, and expect to authenticate again even if the underlying Gaming Services package was healthy.

4. Try Microsoft’s Gaming Services Repair Tool

Microsoft provides an official Gaming Services Repair Tool for PC. Use that first-party tool before editing the registry manually. Open the official Xbox Support page for the tool, or use the repair entry exposed by your current Xbox app build, and follow the buttons and prompts shown there.

The available interface can change with Xbox app versions, and Microsoft’s published page does not establish a universal set of button labels or a guaranteed result. Do not assume the tool performed a manual package removal unless it explicitly reports that action. When it finishes, restart if requested, open Xbox, and test sign-in. If the tool reports that no repair is needed, continue with the ordinary app and service checks rather than immediately deleting registry entries.

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5. Reinstall Gaming Services with Microsoft’s PowerShell workaround

Use this section only after the account, update, cache, Xbox Repair/Reset, and official repair-tool steps. Record any displayed error code first. The commands come from Microsoft’s KB5004327 workaround and remove Gaming Services for all users plus two service registry keys. They require an administrator account and a restart.

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Prepare the script

  1. Open Notepad.
  2. Paste the following three commands exactly:
Get-AppxPackage *gamingservices* -allusers | remove-appxpackage -allusers
Remove-Item -Path "HKLM:SystemCurrentControlSetServicesGamingServices" -recurse
Remove-Item -Path "HKLM:SystemCurrentControlSetServicesGamingServicesNet" -recurse
  1. Save the file as RepairGamingServices.ps1. In Notepad’s Save dialog, set Save as type to All files so the filename does not become .ps1.txt.
  2. Keep the file in a location you can find, such as your Desktop.

Run it with elevation

  1. Right-click RepairGamingServices.ps1 and choose the available PowerShell run option. If Windows does not offer one, open Windows PowerShell or Terminal as administrator, change to the folder containing the script, and run it from that elevated window.
  2. Approve the User Account Control prompt. Without elevation, package removal or registry-key deletion can fail.
  3. Allow the commands to finish. Do not close the administrator window while they are running.
  4. Restart Windows. The restart is required by Microsoft’s workaround so the removed services and package state are reloaded cleanly.

Install Gaming Services again

After Windows starts, open Xbox. Microsoft says the app should display a blue banner explaining that Gaming Services is needed and offering Install. The prompt’s wording is: “This app needs an extra component. Gaming Services is needed for playing some games. Administrator approval required. Install.” Select Install and wait for the installation to complete before trying to sign in or launch a game.

If the banner does not appear, open Microsoft Store, go to Library, select Get updates, and then reopen Xbox. If Gaming Services still cannot be installed, continue with the service checks and error-code guidance below rather than repeatedly deleting registry entries. Repeating the script is not a substitute for checking elevation, updates, or a Microsoft service incident.

6. Verify the three Xbox services

A disabled Xbox service can block authentication or game licensing even when the app itself is installed.

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  1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
  2. Find Xbox Live Auth Manager. Open its properties, set Startup type to Automatic, and select Start if it is stopped.
  3. Repeat for Xbox Live Game Save.
  4. Repeat for Xbox Live Networking Service.
  5. Close Services, restart Windows, and test Xbox sign-in.

Microsoft’s June 21, 2026 External Staff moderator guidance specifically lists these three services and the Automatic startup setting. Do not change unrelated services while troubleshooting this issue. If a service refuses to start, note the exact Windows message instead of deleting additional service keys.

7. Reinstall the Xbox app

If Gaming Services is present and the three Xbox services are running but Xbox still will not open or sign in, reinstall the Xbox app itself.

  1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
  2. Select the three-dot menu beside Xbox, choose Uninstall, and confirm.
  3. Restart Windows if prompted.
  4. Open Microsoft Store, select Library, locate Xbox, and choose Install. If it is not listed, search Microsoft Store for the Xbox app and install the Microsoft-published app.
  5. Launch Xbox, sign in with the same Microsoft account used in Store, and allow any Gaming Services installation prompt to complete.

Uninstalling the app is separate from uninstalling games. Check each game’s installation location before removing anything else. Reinstalling the app updates the Store-delivered application, but it does not guarantee that an account outage or a separate Gaming Services failure has been resolved.

What error codes 0x80073D26 and 0x8007139F mean here

Microsoft KB5004327 documents Windows 10 cases in which opening or installing an Xbox Game Pass game redirects to the Gaming Services Store page and produces 0x80073D26 or 0x8007139F. Microsoft lists the June 11, 2021 update KB5004476 as the resolution for the affected Windows 10 builds.

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That history matters because the PowerShell package-removal commands are described by Microsoft as a workaround, not the primary fix for those historical errors. If you are on an affected Windows 10 build, install the applicable Windows update before resorting to manual removal. On a current, fully updated system, continue through the reversible steps and use the manual workaround only when Gaming Services remains damaged or missing.

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Troubleshooting branches after the sequence

Xbox opens but returns to the sign-in screen

  • Confirm Store and Xbox use the same Microsoft account.
  • Complete Windows Update and Microsoft Store Library > Get updates.
  • Run wsreset.exe, then use Xbox Repair followed by Reset if necessary.
  • Check Xbox service status online before repeating local repairs.

Xbox says Gaming Services is missing

  • Run Microsoft’s official Gaming Services Repair Tool if your build exposes it.
  • If that does not restore the component, use the elevated PowerShell workaround, restart, and select Install on the blue Xbox banner.
  • Return to Microsoft Store Library > Get updates if the banner does not appear.

The PowerShell commands report an access or path error

  • Verify that PowerShell or Terminal was opened with Run as administrator.
  • Check that the script was saved as RepairGamingServices.ps1, not RepairGamingServices.ps1.txt.
  • Do not improvise replacement registry paths. Restart Windows and use the documented commands exactly if you need to run them again.

Sign-in still fails after reinstalling both components

At that point, confirm that Windows and Store updates are fully installed, the three Xbox services remain set to Automatic and running, and Xbox status shows no account outage. Preserve the exact error code and the step at which it occurs when contacting Microsoft Support; that information distinguishes an account or service incident from a local installation failure.

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When to stop changing the installation

Repeatedly running the removal script can make diagnosis harder and does not establish that the underlying account, network, or Xbox service is healthy. Once Gaming Services installs successfully, leave the registry alone and test the normal flow: open Xbox, sign in, and launch a game that requires Gaming Services. If the app reports a new error, use that code and the current Windows build when seeking support rather than deleting additional packages.

Quick decision guide

If you want the shortest safe route, use this decision sequence:

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  1. If Xbox status shows an incident, wait and retest later.
  2. If Store or Xbox uses the wrong account, correct the account match.
  3. Install Windows updates, restart when requested, then run Store Library > Get updates.
  4. Run wsreset.exe, then Xbox Repair.
  5. Use Xbox Reset only if Repair fails.
  6. Run Microsoft’s Gaming Services Repair Tool when available.
  7. Only for a persistent missing or damaged Gaming Services installation, run the elevated KB5004327 commands, restart, and select Install in Xbox.
  8. Check the three Xbox services and reinstall Xbox itself only if the component and services are healthy but the app still fails.

This order separates reversible app recovery from the all-user package and registry change. It also gives Microsoft Support a useful record of what was tried and which error appeared.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why won’t the Xbox app sign in even though Windows is signed in?

Windows, Microsoft Store, and Xbox can use different account sessions. Confirm that Store and Xbox are signed in to the same Microsoft account that owns the game or subscription, then install Windows updates and Store updates before repairing the app.

How do I reinstall Gaming Services on Windows 11?

Try the official Gaming Services Repair Tool first. If Gaming Services is still missing or damaged, run Microsoft’s three-command workaround in elevated PowerShell, restart Windows, open Xbox, and select Install on the blue Gaming Services banner.

Is it safe to run the Gaming Services PowerShell commands?

They are Microsoft-documented, but they are the most invasive step here: they remove the all-user Gaming Services package and two service registry entries. Use administrator elevation, save the exact error first, restart afterward, and do not treat the commands as a routine first fix.

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What should I do about error 0x80073D26?

For the historical Windows 10 cases documented by Microsoft, install the applicable June 11, 2021 KB5004476 update. Microsoft describes package removal as a workaround, so update Windows before using the manual script.

Will Xbox Repair or Reset delete my installed games?

Repair does not deliberately clear local app data. Reset clears Xbox’s local app data and may require another sign-in, but these actions do not uninstall games stored elsewhere on your drive.

What if the Gaming Services install banner never appears after the script?

Open Microsoft Store, choose Library, select Get updates, and reopen Xbox. If installation still fails, verify that the script ran with administrator privileges, restart Windows, check the three Xbox services, and avoid repeatedly deleting registry entries.

Which Xbox services should be running?

In services.msc, check Xbox Live Auth Manager, Xbox Live Game Save, and Xbox Live Networking Service. Microsoft’s June 21, 2026 guidance lists all three with Startup type set to Automatic.

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Should I reinstall Xbox before Gaming Services?

No. Follow the escalation order: updates, Store cache reset, Xbox Repair and Reset, the official Gaming Services Repair Tool, and only then the manual Gaming Services workaround. Reinstall Xbox near the end if Gaming Services and the three services are healthy but the app still will not launch or sign in.

The Bottom Line

Start with the same Microsoft account, Windows and Store updates, Xbox status, wsreset.exe, and Xbox Repair. Reset next, then use Microsoft’s Gaming Services Repair Tool. Reserve the elevated KB5004327 PowerShell workaround for a persistent Gaming Services failure, restart as required, reinstall from Xbox’s blue banner, and verify the three Xbox services before reinstalling the Xbox app.

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