How to Fix Error 0x00000001 When installing GamePass Games on Windows 11

Some Windows 11 users are experiencing a weird issue where every game that they attempt to install from the GamePass lineup ends up failing with the same 0x00000001 error code. This issue was originally present on Windows 10, but now it’s resurfacing massively with the launch of Windows 11.

We’ve investigated this issue thoroughly and realized that there are a lot of potential causes that might be responsible for this behavior on Windows 11. Here’s a list of culprits that are known for causing the 0x00000001 on a Windows 11 computer:

Now that we went through every potential culprit that might be responsible for this issue, let’s go over every fix that other affected users have successfully used to get to the bottom of this issue:

1. Reset the Gaming Services & App Installer apps

Since the most common underlying cause of this issue are bad temp files generated by the Gaming Services or the App Installer apps, the first thing you should do if you’re currently struggling with the 0x00000001 error on Windows 11 is to use the Installed apps menu to reset both of these apps and remove any temporary files associated with them.

You can do this by opening up the main Settings app, then going to the Apps & Features menu and resetting both apps via the Advanced Options menu.

Note: Depending on your Windows 11 version, you might find that the App Installer app is deprecated – in this case, ignore it and just reset the Gaming Services.

If you’re looking for specific step-by-step instructions on resetting the Gaming Services & App Installer apps via the Settings menu, follow the instructions below:

1. Press Windows key + I to open up the main Settings menu on Windows 11.
2. Once you’re inside the main Settings menu, click on Apps from the vertical menu on the left. in case the vertical menu is not visible by default, click on the action icon (top-left corner of the screen).

   

3. Next, from the dedicated Apps menu, click on Installed Apps.
4. Once you’re inside the Installed Apps menu, use the search function at the top to search for ‘gaming services‘.
5. From the list of search results, click on the action icon associated with Gaming Services and click on Advanced Options from the context menu.

   

6. Once you’re inside the Advanced Options menu, scroll down to the Reset tab and click on the Reset button below.
7. At the confirmation prompt, click Reset once again to start this procedure.

   

8. Once the operation is complete, repeat steps 4 to 7 with the App installer app too.
   Note: If the App installer app is deprecated and you can’t find it when you search, let it go and skip to the next step.
9. Restart your Windows 11 computer and see if you are now able to install GampePass games without seeing the same kind of 0x00000001 error.

If the same problem is still occurring, move down to the next method below.

2. Reinstall the Microsoft Gaming Services

If the first method did not work in your case, the next thing you should troubleshoot for is a potential corruption issue that affects the Microsoft Gaming Service.

If you’re actually dealing with some type of corruption issue instead of a problem mainly caused by temporary files, the 0x00000001 error won’t be resolved with a simple app reset.

In case you find yourself in this scenario, the next thing you should do is use a series of elevated Powershell commands to uninstall the Microsoft Gaming service package and then reinstall it once again.

Several affected users have confirmed that the issue was finally resolved once they followed the instructions below to resolve a potential case of Gaming Services corruption:

1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Next, type ‘wt’ inside the text box and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open up the Windows Terminal app with admin access.

   

2. When you’re prompted by the User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to grant admin access.
3. Once you’re inside the Windows Terminal app, type or paste the following Powershell command inside and press Enter to effectively uninstall the entire Microsoft Gaming Services infrastructure:

   get-appxpackage Microsoft.GamingServices | remove-AppxPackage -allusers

4. Wait until the command is processed successfully. This process might take a few minutes depending if you’re using a traditional HDD or an SSD.
5. Next, once you get the success message, use the same elevated window to run the following command in order to reinstall the same Microsoft Gaming Service package that you previously uninstalled using the command above:

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

6. Once the second command is successfully processed, reboot your PC.

Once your Windows 11 computer boots back up, attempt to install the same game that was previously failing with the same 0x00000001 and see if the problem is now fixed.

If the same error code is still appearing, move down to the next potential fix below.

3. Install the game from the Microsoft Store (if applicable)

Keep in mind that in some cases, you can circumvent the apparition of the error entirely by forcing the game to download from the Microsoft Store instead of from the Xbox App.

Several affected users that we’re only experiencing the 0x00000001 error when installing games via the Xbox app have confirmed that the problem was no longer occurring once they tried downloading via Microsoft Store.

Note: If you manage to download the game via the Microsoft Store, you will see it appearing inside the Xbox App too.

If this scenario is applicable, follow the instructions below to install the game from the Microsoft Store and avoid the 0x00000001 error:

1. Press the Windows key to open up the start menu.
2. Type ‘store’, then click on Microsoft Store from the list of available options.

   

3. Once you’re inside the Microsoft Store menu, use the search function at the top to search for the GamePass listing that is showing the 0x00000001 error when you try to install it via the Xbox App.
4. When you manage to find the correct listing, follow the instructions to download it locally and see if this allows you to circumvent the error.

In case the same kind of issue is still appearing, move down to the next method below.

4. Reset the Microsoft Store & Xbox App

Keep in mind that the main Gaming service is not the only component that might be responsible for producing temp files that might ultimately cause the 0x00000001 error.

Keep in mind that regardless of the place where you attempt to download the GamePass game when you’re seeing the error (Microsoft Store or Xbox App), both of these components are interconnected.

This is why the next step you should do (in case the first two methods above failed) is to reset bo the Microsoft & Xbox app from the same Installed Apps menu.

Note: Resetting these components is a different procedure than repairing. Resetting will also clear the temp file folders (on top of reinstalling the app’s files).

Follow the instructions below for the complete guide of resetting the Microsoft Store & Xbox app:

1. Make sure that both Microsoft Store and the Xbox App interface are closed and not running in the background.
2. Press Windows key + I to open up the Settings app on Windows 11.
3. Once you’re inside the Settings app, click on Apps from the menu on the left. If this menu is hidden by default, click on the action icon at the top to make it visible.

   

4. Once you’re inside the Apps menu, click on Installed Apps.
5. Inside the Installed apps menu, start by searching for ‘Microsoft Store’, then click Enter.
6. Next, from the list of results, click on the action button associated with Microsoft Store and then click on Advanced Options.

   

7. Inside the Advanced Options menu of the Microsoft Store, scroll all the way down to the Reset function, then click on Reset once again to effectively reset the Microsoft Store.
   
8. At the confirmation prompt, click Reset once again to initiate the procedure of resetting the Microsoft Store component.
9. Repeat steps 4 to 7 with the Xbox App too.
10. Reboot your PC and see if you’re still encountering the same 0x00000001 error when you attempt to download GamePass games locally.

If the problem is still not fixed, move down to the next fix below.

5. Recreate the Xbox app installation folders (if applicable)

If you noticed that this problem started occurring immediately after you added a new HDD or SSD to your PC, you will be able to fix the issue by forcing your Xbox app to create (or recreate) the WindowsApps and ProgramsFiles for the new drives that you just connected.

Note: In order to do this, you will first need to uninstall then reinstall the Gaming service (follow Method 2 in this article).

After you’ve given the Gaming service app a fresh start, follow the instructions below to re-create the Xbox app installation folders:

1. Open the Xbox App and navigate to the listing of the game that fails with the 0x00000001 error and click on Install.
2. At the next installation prompt, click on Change (don’t choose the drive that’s preselected).

   

3. Next, select the drive that you want to recreate the two-folders on and wait for 5 seconds or more – during this time, the app will re-create the folders).

   

   Note: You’ll notice the green checkbox appearing when the operation is complete.

4. Finally, click on Install to re-attempt to download the GamePass game.
   Note: If the procedure was successful, you should no longer encounter the 0x00000001 error.

In case this method was not applicable, move down to the next potential fix.

6. Install the Windows Update KB5004476 (if applicable)

As it turns out, you can also expect to deal with this particular issue in a scenario where the Windows 11 installation is missing an optional update (KB5004476) that’s actually a key Windows Store component when you want to play games from the GamePass library.

Normally, you can install this update easily by accessing the Windows Update screen and installing every pending update.

However, this might not be enough in some scenarios since some affected users have confirmed that in their case, the KB5004476 update was not available inside the Windows Update screen.

If you also find yourself in this scenario, you can always use the Microsoft Update catalog to manually download and install the problematic update.

Follow the instructions below for the full guide of installing the KB5004476 update via the Microsoft Update Catalog:

1. Open your default browser and navigate to the official Microsoft Update Catalog page.
2. Once inside, use the search function (top-right corner) to search for ‘KB5004476’.
3. Next, look at the list of results and see which of the listings is compatible with your Windows installation – look at the architecture type and the Windows version. and click the Download button once you’ve found a match.

   

4. From the list that just appeared, click on the hyperlink to start the download.

   

5. Once the update files are downloaded locally, navigate to the location where the update was downloaded, then double-click on the .ini file to initiate the update installation.
6. Follow the remaining prompts to complete the Windows update installation, then reboot our PC and see if the operation is complete.

If the same kind of issue is still occurring or this particular method was not applicable, move down to the next method below.

7. Flushing the DNS

In case you’re encountering this issue on and off, the issue might be related to a network inconsistency facilitated by a bad DNS (Domain Name System) range that ends up disconnecting the connection between your PC and the Microsoft Download server.

Usually, if a bad DNS range is to blame for the 0x00000001 error, you can typically fix it by opening an elevated Command Prompt to clear the DNS cache.

This method is confirmed to be effective for both Windows 11 and Windows 10 users.

If you’re looking for step by step instructions on how to clear your current DNS cache, follow the instructions below:

1. Open up a Run dialog box by pressing Windows key + R. Next, type ‘cmd’ inside the text box and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open up an elevated Command Prompt.
   

   

2. When you see the User Account Control prompt, click Yes to grant admin access.
3. Once you’re inside the elevated CMD Prompt, type the following command and press Enter to effectively flush the DNS cache on your PC:

   ipconfig/flushdns

   Note: What this will essentially do is it will remove any information that is currently stored in the DNS cache – this will force the router to assign a brand new DNS range.

4. Once the operation is successful, close the elevated CMD prompt and attempt to download the GamePass game once again.

In case your attempt at re-downloading the game ends with the same 0x00000001 error, move down to the next potential fix below.

8. Allow ‘settings-win.data.microsoft.com’ in DNS Filtering software (if applicable)

Keep in mind that the action of installing GamePass games now requires the Telemetry host / IP to be reachable. This is a new change that Microsoft introduced with Windows 11.

Of course, this is not a problem for the vast majority of users, but if your DNS ends up blocking settings-win.data.microsoft.com, expect to see this error every time you attempt to download something via the Xbox App or Microsoft Store app.

So in case you’re using a filtered DNS or a software solution like PiHole, all you need to do is allow the host (at least while you install the games).

Note: After the games install successfully, you can use your filtered DNS solution to disallow the host once again.

Of course, the exact instructions on allowing allowing ‘settings-win.data.microsoft.com’ in your DNS filtering software will be different depending on the tool that you’re using.

If this method was not applicable or you already ensured that the DNS filtering software is not interfering with the download, move down to the next potential fix below.

9. Uninstall ZoneAlarm Antivirus + Firewall (if applicable)

If you’re using a 3rd party antivirus that is overseeing your entire network (antivirus + firewall), you should also make sure that it’s not interfering with the Xbox App attempts at downloading GamePass games.

This is not an issue with the built-in security tool (Windows Defender) or the major 3rd party utilities like BitDefender or Norton, but there are smaller security suites like Zone Alarm (Antivirus + Firewall) that are known for causing the 0x00000001 error on Windows 11.

If you’re using Zone Alarm Antivirus + Firewall or a similar third-party tool, the only solution to exclude the possibility of an interference si to temporarily uninstall it and remove any remnant data belonging to it.

Note: Simply disabling the real-time protection won’t be enough since the same security rules established by your firewall will remain in place.

Follow the instructions below to temporarily uninstall the problematic firewall suite and see if this fixes the 0x00000001 on Windows 11 for you:

1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Next, type ‘appwiz.cpl’ and press Enter to open up the Programs and Features menu.

   

2. Once you’re inside the Programs and Features menu, identify the 3rd party security suite that you want to uninstall, then right-click on it and choose Uninstall from the context menu that just appeared.
   
3. Next, follow the on-screen instructions to carry on the uninstallation of the problematic antivirus/firewall suite.
4. Before restarting your PC and checking if the issue has been resolved, you should also take the time to clear any remnant data left behind by your firewall.
5. Reboot your Windows 11 PC and see if you are now able to download the GamePass games that we’re previously failing with the 0x00000001 error.

10. Perform DISM and SFC scans

If you’ve come this far without a result and you’ve followed every potential fix above, you should seriously start to consider a potential system file corruption issue that might be affecting dependencies used by the Xbox App or Microsoft Store app.

In this kind of scenario, the least intrusive approach is to use a couple of built-in tools (SFC and DISM) to eliminate every case of system file corruption and make sure that no Windows dependency is affected by corruption.

If you decide to go this route, the first thing you should do is perform a simple System File Checker scan from an elevated CMD prompt.

Note: The SFC scan uses a locally stored archive to replace every corrupted file with a healthy equivalent. You don’t need to be connected to the internet in order to perform this type of scan.

Once the System File Checker scan is complete, reboot your PC once again and deploy an elevated DISM (Deployment Imaging Servicing and Management).

Note: Although DISM will also replace corrupted system files with healthy equivalents, it does things differently. Instead of using a local archive, it uses a sub-component of Windows Update to download healthy copies for the system files that need to be replaced. Make sure you have a stable Internet connection before initiating a DISM scan.

Once you manage to run both DISM and SFC commands, do one final restart and see if you are now able to download the GamePass Game without encountering the same error.

If the problem is still persisting, move down to the next potential fix below.

11. Perform a Repair Install or Clean Install

If you’ve come this far and you’re still unable to download GamePass games as you’re still getting the 0x00000001 error (even after following every method above), chances are you’re dealing with some kind of system file corruption that cannot be solved conventionally.

In this case, you have two ways forward:

Option 1: Perform a clean install – This operation will refresh your entire fleet of Windows system files and fix the majority of system file corruption. But the downside is that you will lose any data that is currently stored on the same partition as your OS (if you don’t back it up in advance)

Option 2: Perform a repair install – Although this process is a little more tedious, you can perform a repair install (in-place repair) procedure to resolve every instance of system file corruption without using any of your personal data. You get to keep all your applications, games and personal media currently present on the OS drive.