How to Fix the “Xbox needs an update” Issue in Windows 11 Xbox App

Many Windows 11 users rely on the Xbox app to access their favorite games and services. However, some have encountered an issue where the app displays a message saying, “Xbox needs an update. We’re getting Xbox ready for you.” Even after waiting, the app doesn’t update and remains stuck on this screen. Fortunately, there are several methods to resolve this problem and get the Xbox app functioning properly again.

Repair and reset the Xbox, Microsoft Store, and Game Bar apps

Corrupted app files can cause update issues with the Xbox app. Repairing or resetting the Xbox, Microsoft Store, and Game Bar apps can fix these problems by restoring the apps to their proper working states.

Open the Windows Settings app by pressing Windows + I. Navigate to Apps in the left pane, then select Installed apps.

Scroll down to find the Xbox app. Click the three-dot menu icon next to it and select Advanced options.

In the advanced options, scroll to the Reset section. Click Repair to fix any issues without affecting app data.

If repairing doesn’t help, click Reset, then confirm by clicking Reset again. This will reset the app to its default state.

After resetting the Xbox app, try launching it to see if the issue is resolved. If not, proceed to repair and reset the Microsoft Store and Game Bar apps, as they are interconnected with the Xbox app’s functionality.

Resetting the Game Bar service: The Game Bar service may interfere with the Xbox app’s updates. Resetting it can help eliminate potential conflicts.

In the Settings app, go back to the main menu and select System. Then, choose System Components.

Locate the Game Bar app, click the three-dot menu next to it, and select Advanced options.

Scroll to the Reset section and click Repair. If issues persist, click Reset and confirm.

Reinstall the Xbox app

If repairing and resetting didn’t fix the problem, reinstalling the Xbox app can help by rebuilding its files from scratch.

Open the Settings app and go to Apps, then select Installed apps.

Find the Xbox app, click the three-dot menu, and choose Uninstall. Confirm the uninstallation when prompted.

Restart your computer to ensure all components are fully removed.

Open the Microsoft Store, search for the Xbox app, and click Install to reinstall it.

If you encounter issues reinstalling from the Microsoft Store, you can manually install the app using the method described in the “Manually update the Xbox app without the Microsoft Store” section.

Reinstall the Microsoft Gaming Service package

Corrupted gaming services can prevent the Xbox app from updating correctly. Reinstalling the Microsoft Gaming Service package can resolve such conflicts.

Right-click the Start button and select Windows PowerShell (Admin) to open PowerShell with administrative privileges.

In the PowerShell window, type the following command and press Enter to remove the gaming services:

Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.GamingServices | Remove-AppxPackage -allusers

After the command executes, run the following command to reinstall the gaming services:

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

This command will open the Microsoft Store page for Gaming Services.

Click the Get button to download and install the Gaming Services package.

Once installed, restart your computer and try launching the Xbox app again.

Clear Xbox cache

Accumulated cache files can become corrupted over time, causing issues with app updates or performance. Clearing the Xbox cache may resolve the update problem.

Open File Explorer by pressing Windows + E. Navigate to the Xbox cache directory by entering the following path in the address bar, replacing <UserName> with your Windows username:

C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.XboxIdentityProvider_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AC\TokenBroker

In the TokenBroker folder, delete the Accounts and Cache folders.

Close File Explorer and restart your computer.

This process will clear the Xbox app’s cache, potentially resolving any issues caused by corrupted temporary files.

Reset or clear Microsoft Store cache

A corrupted Microsoft Store cache can affect the functionality of Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps, including the Xbox app. Clearing the cache may fix the update issue.

Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box. Type wsreset.exe and press Enter. This command will reset the Microsoft Store cache.

WSRESET.EXE

After the command completes, the Microsoft Store will open automatically. Restart your computer to apply the changes.

Update Windows

Running an outdated version of Windows can cause compatibility issues with apps like Xbox. Ensuring your system is up to date can resolve such problems.

Open the Settings app and select Windows Update from the left pane.

Click the Check for updates button to search for available updates.

If updates are found, download and install them. Restart your computer when prompted to complete the installation.

Keeping your system updated ensures compatibility with the latest apps and services.

Restart the Xbox services and change their startup settings

The Xbox app relies on certain services to function correctly. If these services are disabled or not running properly, you may experience issues. Restarting these services and adjusting their startup settings can help.

Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box. Type services.msc and press Enter to open the Services console.

In the Services window, locate Xbox Accessory Management Service. Double-click it to open its properties.

In the Startup type dropdown menu, select Manual. If the service is not running, click Start. If it is running, click Stop and then Start to refresh it.

Click Apply and then OK to save the changes.

Repeat these steps for the following services:

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

Locate Microsoft Store Install Service, double-click it, and set its Startup type to Automatic. Restart the service if necessary.

Flush the Domain Name System (DNS) cache

Outdated or corrupted DNS cache can interfere with network connectivity, affecting app updates. Flushing the DNS cache can resolve such issues.

Open the Command Prompt as an administrator by typing cmd in the search bar, right-clicking Command Prompt, and selecting Run as administrator.

In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:

ipconfig /flushdns

After the command executes, close the Command Prompt and restart your computer.

Manually update the Xbox app without the Microsoft Store

If the Xbox app isn’t updating through the Microsoft Store, you can manually download and install the latest version using a third-party website like Store.rg-adguard.net.

Open the Microsoft Store and search for the Xbox app. Click on it to open the app page.

Click the Share button and select Copy link to copy the app’s URL.

Go to Store.rg-adguard.net. Paste the copied URL into the search bar, select URL from the dropdown menu, and click the checkmark button.

Scroll down to find the latest version of the app, listed as Microsoft.GamingApp. Click the link ending with .msixbundle to download it.

If the download doesn’t start automatically, right-click the link and choose Save link as.... Save the file to your desired location.

Disable any antivirus or browser security features if the download is blocked. After downloading, double-click the file to install the app.

Update Xbox app with Xbox Insider Hub

Joining the Xbox Insider Program can force the Xbox app to update by granting access to the latest app previews and updates.

Open the Microsoft Store, search for Xbox Insider Hub, and click Get to install it.

Launch the Xbox Insider Hub and click Join to participate in the program. Accept the terms when prompted.

Navigate to the Previews section and select PC Gaming. Click Join to enroll in the preview.

Wait a few minutes for your membership to activate. Then, open the Microsoft Store and click Library on the left side.

Click Get updates and then Update all to install any available updates, including the Xbox app.

Check Xbox server status

Sometimes, issues with the Xbox app may be due to server-side problems. Verifying the Xbox server status can save time troubleshooting local issues.

Visit the official Xbox Live Status page to check if any services are experiencing downtime.

If the servers are down, you may need to wait until Microsoft resolves the issue. If all services are running normally, proceed with other troubleshooting methods.

By applying these solutions, you should be able to fix the update issue with the Xbox app on your Windows 11 PC and get back to enjoying your games and services without interruption.