The Xbox app, a versatile hub for managing your gaming experience on Windows, has started plaguing some users with a new issue, leaving users frustrated and unable to access the app.

When users try to open the Xbox app, they are met with a message stating, "Xbox needs an update. We're getting Xbox ready for you." However, the app doesn't seem to be updating and remains stuck on this screen, even when no update is available in the Micrsosoft Store.

In this article, we delve into its root causes and provide some effective troubleshooting steps to restore the Xbox app to its former glory. Whether you're a seasoned gamer or an occasional enthusiast, this guide will help you resolve this problem and regain control of your gaming experience.

1. Check Xbox Server Status

Before you try to troubleshoot the issue with any of the below methods, just check whether the problem lies with your system or with Xbox servers themselves. Visit the official Xbox Live Status page to check the current status of Xbox services. If any of the necessary services are experiencing downtime, the runtime error could result from server-side issues. In that case, you don’t need to do anything, just wait until the services are back up and running.

2. Update Windows

If you are running an outdated version of Windows on your computer and are experiencing the ‘Xbox needs an update’ error while launching the Xbox app then updating Windows can be of help for you. Windows Update may include bug fixes and updates for the Xbox app.

  1. Launch the Windows Settings app and choose 'Windows Update'.
  1. Then, click the 'Check for updates' button.
  1. If you have any pending updates, download and install them. Then, restart your PC to apply the changes.

Restart your computer when prompted during updates, then return to the update window after startup to finish installing the remaining updates.

3. Reset/Clear Microsoft Store cache

If the Microsoft Store cache is corrupted, it can disrupt the functionality of UWP apps, including the Xbox app. To fix potential problems, try resetting or clearing the Microsoft Store cache.

  1. Open the Start menu, type ‘cmd’, and select 'Run as administrator' to open Command Prompt with administrator privileges.
  2. Click 'Yes' in the UAC dialog box, if prompted.
  3. In the elevated Command Prompt, type the following command:
WSRESET.EXE
  1. Once it's finished, close the Command Prompt and restart your computer.

4. Clear Xbox Cache

Over time, temporary files and cached data stored on your Windows 11/10 PC to improve gameplay might become corrupted, which can lead to issues with connectivity, updates, game freezes, or slow or unsuccessful game loads. To fix these issues, it is recommended to clear the Xbox cache regularly.

  1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the Xbox cache directory. To do that, paste the following path into the address bar:
C:\Users\UserName>\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.XboxIdentityProvider_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC\TokenBroker
  1. Replace <UserName> with your actual Windows username.
  2. Once you are inside the ToekenBroker directory, delete the 'Accounts' and 'Cache' folders.
  1. Then, close the File Explorer.

This will clear the Xbox cache on your Windows PC, potentially resolving the update error in the Xbox app.

5. Repair and Reset the Xbox, Microsoft Store, and Game Bar Apps

If you're encountering update errors, you can try repairing or resetting the Xbox, Microsoft Store, and Game Bar app. These apps can sometimes become corrupted and cause problems with Windows Update. Repairing or resetting the apps can help to clear any issues and resolve the update error.

It's always a good idea to try repairing an app before resetting it, so you don't have to lose your app data and settings. You can find the repair and reset option for these apps in the Settings app.

If repairing an app doesn't work, you can then try resetting it. Don't worry resetting the Windows Store will not uninstall apps installed through the Microsoft Store. Resetting the Windows Store will only clear the store's cache and data.

  1. Open the Windows Settings app, head to 'Apps', and then select 'Installed apps'.
  1. Then, scroll down to the bottom of the settings page and click the three dots next to the 'Xbox'.
  1. Then, select 'Advanced apps'.
  1. On the Xbox settings page, click the 'Repair' button.
  1. After that, click the 'Reset' button and click 'Reset' again in the confirmation box.

Several users have claimed that repairing and resetting the Xbox app has resolved the issue. After resetting the Xbox app, try updating it again to see if it works. If not, go ahead and reset and repair the Windows Store and Game Bar as well.

Resetting Game Bar service. According to some users, the Game Bar services may interfere with the Xbox app's ability to update. So resetting the service might help.

The Windows Store and Game Bar settings are no longer listed under the Installed apps section, as they have been moved to the System tab in the Settings app.

  1. Go back to the main settings page, head to the 'System' tab and click on 'System Components'.
  1. Then, click the three dots next to 'Game Bar' and choose 'Advanced options'.
  1. Now, click 'Repair' to repair the app first. Then, click 'Reset' to clear the app's cache and user settings.

6. Reinstall the Microsoft Gaming Service Package

Reinstalling Microsoft Gaming Services can also work as an effective solution for Xbox errors, as it can help resolve issues related to any potential corruption within the Gaming Services package. To reinstall Microsoft Gaming Services using PowerShell, follow these steps:

  1. Type 'PowerShell' in the search bar. Right-click on the PowerShell result and select 'Run as administrator' to launch PowerShell with administrator privileges.
  2. Type the following command into the PowerShell window and press Enter:
Get-appxpackage Microsoft.GamingServices | remove-Appxpackage -allusers
  1. Once the above command uninstalls the Gaming Service, run the following command in the PowerShell window to open the Microsoft Store page for Microsoft Gaming Services:
start ms-windows-store://pdp/?productid=9MWPM2CQNLHN
  1. Once the Gaming Services MS Store page opens, click on the 'Get' button to download and install Microsoft Gaming Services.

If you do not reinstall Microsoft Gaming Services using PowerShell, the Xbox app may prompt you to download it when you launch it.

7. Restart the Xbox Services and Change their Startup Settings

If the key services that the Xbox App relies on aren't enabled or working correctly, you might run into different issues in the app. In this situation, try restarting all Xbox services and make sure the below-mentioned services are set to the default settings for Windows.

  1. Type services.msc in Windows Search and open the Services console.
  2. In the Services window, scroll down and find 'Xbox Accessory Management Service'. Then, double-click it to open its settings.
  1. Click on the 'Startup type' dropdown and choose how the service starts up. Set it to 'Manual'.
  1. Click the 'Start' button if it's not already running. If it is, click 'Stop' and then 'Start' again to refresh it.
  2. Then, click 'Apply' and then 'OK' to save your changes.

Repeat the process for the rest of the Xbox services:

  • Xbox Live Auth Manager
  • Xbox Live Game Save
  • Xbox Live Networking Service

Just follow the same steps for each one: double-click, set the 'Startup type', start if needed, and save.

After configuring those services, find and double-click 'Microsoft Store Install Service'.

Then, set it's 'Startup' status to 'Automatic' and restart the service again.

8. Flush the Domain Name System (DNS) Cache

The Xbox Update error can sometimes come from internet connectivity issues caused by outdated or corrupted DNS data. To fix this, consider flushing the DNS cache using the Command Prompt.

  1. Launch Command Prompt as administrator.
  2. In the Command prompt window, type in the following command and hit Enter
ipconfig /flushdns
  1. Once you run this command, your DNS cache will be flushed.

9. Manually Update the Xbox App without the Microsoft Store

If the Xbox app isn't updating properly or if you have trouble updating the app through the MS Store, you can update it manually using a third-party website like Store.rg-Adguard.

Store.rg-adguard.net is a reliable third-party website that enables you to download Microsoft Store apps directly from Microsoft's servers. It's a safe and trusted website for individuals who are unable to download or update apps directly from the Microsoft Store, such as those on enterprise networks. Follow these steps to learn how to use this service:

  1. Open the Microsoft Store and search for the 'Xbox' app. Then, select the app from the result to open its app page.
  1. On the Xbox app page, click the 'Share' at the bottom of the left pane.
  1. Then, click the 'Copy link' button on the Share link window to copy the Xbox app's URL.
  1. If you can't access the Microsoft Store app, you can find the app's URL on the Microsoft Store website. Search for the app and copy its URL from the app's page.
  1. Alternatively, you can copy the app's ProductId from the URL. The ProductId is a series of letters and numbers at the end of the URL. For example, the ProductId for the app "Microsoft Xbox" is "9MV0B5HZVK9Z".
  2. Once you have the URL or ProductId, go to the Store.rg-adguard.net website.
  3. Paste the 'URL' or 'ProductId' into the search bar and select the appropriate option from the drop-down menu (URL or ProductId).
  1. Select 'Fast' from the drop-down menu on the right and click the 'tick' button.
  1. Scroll down the list of apps and locate the latest version of the app you want to download. Xbox app is listed as 'Microsoft GamingApp'.
  2. Click the download link that ends in '.appxbundle', '.msixbundle', or '.appx'. Do not download files with the extensions .eappxbundle, .emsixbundle, or .blockmap.
  1. If the download doesn't start automatically, right-click the link and select 'Save link as..'. Then, click 'Save' to download the app.
  2. If the download fails, temporarily disable Windows Defender or any other antivirus programs you're using. Also, disable security extensions in your browser. If your browser warns you about potential security risks, click the 'Allow' or 'Keep' button to proceed with the download.
  3. Once the app has been downloaded, double-click the downloaded file (.appxbundle, .appx, or .msixbundle) to install the app.
  1. Then, click 'Update' in the windows that appear to update the Xbox app.

If updating the Xbox app alone doesn't fix the problem, you can also update the Game Bar and Xbox Live apps.

10. Reinstall the Xbox App

If resetting or manually updating the Xbox app didn't resolve anything, reinstalling it might fix it. Reinstalling the Xbox app will refresh all its files and potentially fix any underlying problems. Here's how to uninstall and reinstall the Xbox app:

  1. Open Windows Settings, head to the Apps section, and select 'Installed apps'.
  1. Scroll down and click the three-dot menu button next to the 'Xbox' app and select 'Uninstall'.
  1. Then, click 'Uninstall' again to confirm,
  1. After uninstalling the app, restart your PC.
  2. Then, open up the Microsoft Store, search for the Xbox app, and install it on your PC.

If you have trouble reinstalling the app through the Microsoft Store, use the above method to install it manually.

You’ll probably be able to install Game Pass titles via the Xbox app again after applying the potential error fixes above.

Reinstalling and resetting the Xbox app and its related service are two of the most effective ways to resolve Xbox app issues without contacting Xbox customer support.

11. Update Xbox App with Xbox Insider Hub

Another potential solution is to install the Xbox Insider Hub on your PC, which is a separate app from the main Xbox app. It app allows you to participate in the Xbox Insider Program and explore console, game, and app previews before they become available to the general public. Installing the Xbox Insider Hub may force the Xbox app to install its latest updates, bug fixes, and other updates.

  1. Open the Microsoft Store and search for 'Xbox Insider'. Click on the 'Get' button to download and install the Xbox Insider app.
  1. Once the Xbox Insider app is installed, launch it. Click on the 'Join' button to join the Xbox Insider program.
  1. Next, click 'Accept' to continue.
  1. In the Xbox Insider app, navigate to the 'Previews' section and select 'PC Gaming' from the right pane.
  1. Then, click on the 'Join' button.
  1. After selecting the PC Gaming preview, wait for a few minutes for your membership to be activated.
  1. After joining the Xbox Insider program, launch the Microsoft Store app, and click 'Library' on the left-side corner.
  1. Then, click the 'Get updates' button on the top.
  1. After checking for updates, click 'Update all' to install available updates. This should force an update on the Xbox app.

By following the troubleshooting steps outlined in this guide, you should be able to resolve the "Xbox needs an update" error and enjoy uninterrupted gaming on your Windows 11 PC.