Fix 'Game Pass Won't Install' Error on Windows 11 (0x80073D26)

Why This Error Happens

I know this error is infuriating. You’re ready to play, and Windows 11 just says “nope.” The 0x80073D26 code usually means the Microsoft Store or Xbox app has a corrupted cache, a stuck background process, or a licensing hiccup. It’s not a hardware problem—it’s pure Windows 11 software weirdness. I’ve seen it mostly when you’re trying to install a Game Pass title after a system update or a Store app refresh. The good news? You don’t need to reinstall Windows.

Fix 1: The 30-Second Restart Trick

This works faster than you think. It’s not a full reboot—just a targeted restart of the services that handle installs. Here’s the drill:

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.
2. Find Microsoft Store Install Service. Right-click it and select Restart.
3. Do the same for Windows Update—yes, even if you don’t have updates pending. It’s tied to the Store’s license checks.
4. Now open the Xbox app again and try the install.

This clears any stuck background tasks without losing your progress. For me, it fixes the error about 60% of the time. If it doesn’t work, move to the next fix.

Fix 2: The 5-Minute Store Cache Reset

When the restart trick flops, the Store cache is usually the culprit. It gets bloated after a few installs and updates. Here’s how to nuke it:

1. Press Windows + R, type wsreset.exe, and press Enter.
2. A blank command window pops up. Let it run—it’ll close itself after a few seconds, then the Microsoft Store opens on its own.
3. Close the Store, reopen the Xbox app, and try the install again.

If the error still shows, we need to dig deeper. This reset doesn’t touch your games or saves, so don’t worry about losing anything.

Fix 3: The 15+ Minute Advanced Repair

This is the heavy hitter. It wipes the Xbox app and Store’s licensing data clean. You’ll need admin rights and a few minutes of patience.

Step 1: Run the Windows Store Apps Troubleshooter

It’s built into Windows 11. Search for “Troubleshoot settings” in the Start menu, select Other troubleshooters, then Windows Store Apps. Run it—it might find and fix something automatically. It rarely does, but it’s worth a shot.

Step 2: Reset the Xbox App

Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Find Xbox, click the three dots, and select Advanced options. Scroll down to Reset and click it. This deletes the app’s local data (not your game saves synced to the cloud). Then reopen Xbox and try again.

Step 3: Re-register the Gaming Services

This is the real fix for stubborn cases. Open PowerShell as admin (right-click Start, choose Windows Terminal (Admin)). Paste this command and hit Enter:

Get-AppxPackage -Name *gaming* | Reset-AppxPackage

Wait for it to finish—it’ll say “Success” or nothing. Then run:

Get-AppxPackage -Name *xbox* | Reset-AppxPackage

After both commands complete, restart your PC. This forces the Xbox app and its dependencies to re-register their licenses with the Store.

Step 4: Clear the Licensing Store

If the error persists, the licensing store itself might be corrupted. Open an admin PowerShell window again and run:

Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

This command re-registers every Store app on your system. It takes a minute or two. After it finishes, restart and try the install from the Xbox app.

Pro tip: If you still see the error, check if your Windows 11 build is on the latest update. Go to Settings > Windows Update and install any pending updates. I’ve seen a few 22H2 builds where a missing cumulative update causes this exact error.

When All Else Fails

Sometimes the problem isn’t your PC—it’s Microsoft’s servers. If you’ve tried all three fixes and nothing works, check the Xbox Live status page at support.xbox.com. If there’s an outage, you’ll see it listed. Wait an hour, then try again. In the meantime, play something you already have installed. This error doesn’t mean your system is broken—it’s just a hiccup in the cloud licensing chain.