How to Fix the Windows 10 Error Code 0X87E10BC6?

The Error Code 0X87E10BC6 is known to appear in 3 main scenarios: when launching a game via the Xbox app, when trying to activate a Windows license or when trying to use Windows DVD player. Typically, this error code is signaling an issue with XBOX Live Core services or a DRM management issue. As it turns out, this problem seems to be exclusive on Windows 10.

Here is a list with potential culprits that might contribute to the apparition of the 0X87E10BC6 error code:

Method 1: Verifying for a server issue (if applicable)

In case you’re encountering the search support error 0x87E10BC6 when trying to launch a game on your PC via the XBOX App, you should investigate if the problem is not actually caused by a server issue that is beyond your control.

The ideal place to start is on the Microsoft server status page to see if any critical Xbox LIVE server is currently experiencing issues. To do this, visit this link (here) and see if any services are currently having problems.

Note: Keep in mind that even if this page appears to focus on Xbox console users, the majority of this infrastructure is shared on PC. So in the vast majority of cases, if there’s a server problem on Xbox Live, it will also occur for PC users.

While you’re troubleshooting for a server issue, you should also investigate the dedicated game server. If the investigation above reveals no server problems with Xbox LIVE, attempt to launch a different game through the same XBOX app and see if you still get the 0x87E10BC6 error code.

In case this error code only appears with this one game, keep in mind that this problem might not be related to XBOX Live – it might be happening outside Microsoft’s ecosystem. To investigate this particular scenario, use services like Downdetector or IsItDownRightNow.

In case the investigation you did above didn’t reveal a server issue with the game, or you’re encountering the 0x87E10BC6 error code in a different scenario, move down to the next method below.

Method 2: Using System Restore (if applicable)

In case you’re encountering the 0x87E10BC6 error when trying to use Windows DVD Media Player, your system might have operated some recent changes that ended up affected this function.

Some users that encountered this problem on their Windows 10 computer have confirmed that the issue was resolved after they used System Restore to revert their computer back to a healthy state.

Since there are a lot of different scenarios that might ultimately cause this issue, the best course of action is to simply use the System Restore utility and revert your computer back to a state in which this problem was not occurring and you were able to use the Windows DVD Media Player without issues.

Note: Keep in mind that if you didn’t modify the default behavior of System Restore, you should have plenty of snapshots to choose from.

If you decide on using System Restore, follow the instructions (here) to get rid of the 0x87E10BC6 error when opening Windows DVD Media Player.

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

Method 3: Running the Activation troubleshooter

In the event that you’re encountering the 0x87E10BC6 error after a failed license activation attempt, your Windows computer might be capable of troubleshooting the issue automatically. As it turns out, some users that we’re encountering this problem on Windows 10 have managed to fixed it by running the Windows Activation troubleshooter.

In case your problem is rooted in the mismanagement of the licensing description, running the Windows Activation troubleshooter should allow you to fix the problem and activate the license (as long as it’s valid).

Here’s a quick guide on fixing the 0x87E10BC6 error by running the Activation Troubleshooter on Windows 10:

1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Next, type ‘ms-settings:activation’ and press Enter to open the Activation tab of the Settings app.

   

2. Once you manage to get inside the Activation tab, move over to the right section, and scroll down to the Activate Windows Now section (on the bottom of the screen) and click on Troubleshoot.

   

   Note: Keep in mind that this button will only be visible in case your Windows license is not already activated.

3. Wait until the utility is opened successfully, then wait for the initial scan to complete. In case a familiar scenario is discovered and the utility thinks it knows how to fix it, you will be presented with a new window in which you can click on Apply this fix to get the issue resolved.

   

4. After the fix is successfully deployed, restart your computer, wait for the next booting sequence to complete, then see if the problem is now resolved.

In case this didn’t work for you, try the next fix below.

Method 4: Activating using SLMGR

In case you’re seeing this error code while trying to activate your Windows 10 installation (Home or PRO) and you are certain that the license key you’re trying to activate is valid, you might want to try doing the activation manually using SLMGR (Software Licensing Management Tool).

A lot of users have confirmed that this operation was the only thing that allowed them to activate their Windows 10 Home or PRO without encountering the 0x87E10BC6.

This is typically known to be effective in those instances where this Windows 10 license has resulted from an upgrade from Windows 7.

In case this scenario applies to your current situation, follow the instructions below to fix the issue by using the SLMR tool via an elevated Command Prompt:

1. Press Windows key + R to open up a Run dialog box. Next, type ‘cmd’ inside the Run’s text box and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open up a Run dialog box. When you see the UAC (User Account Control), click Yes to grant administrative privileges.

   

2. Once you manage to get inside the elevated Command Prompt, type the following commands and press Enter after each command:

   slmgr /ipk *License Key*
   slmgr /ato

   Note: *License Key* is only a placeholder in this instance – You will need to replace it with the license key that you want to activate on your Windows 10 computer.

3. After the two commands are processed successfully and you see the success message, restart your computer and wait for the next startup to complete in order to see if the activation has been successful.

   

   In case the problem is still not resolved or this scenario is not applicable, move down to the next potential fix below.

Method 5: Update Windows 10 to the latest version available

As it turns out, this particular issue can also occur due to a requirement check on Windows 10 that that ends up invalidating the activation process on grounds that the build version is too updated to facilitate the license activation – in most cases, this problem occurs for Windows 10 users that attempt to activate their license on builds older than 1809.

If this scenario is applicable, you should be able to fix this issue by forcing your machine to install every pending Windows update until you are on the latest Windows 10 build available.

To do this, follow the instructions below and install every pending update via the WU (Windows Update) component:

1. Open up a Run dialog box by pressing Windows key + R. Next, type ‘ms-settings:windowsupdate’ and press Enter to open up the Windows Update tab of the Settings app.

   

2. From the Windows Update screen, move over to the right-hand pane and click on Check for updates. Next, follow the on-screen prompts to install every pending update.

   

3. After the initial scan is complete, allow the utility to install every pending update (aside from the one that’s failing) by clicking on the Download button and restart your computer when you’re prompted to do so.

   

   Note: Depending on the number of pending updates that are waiting to be installed, you might be forced to restart before you get the chance to install every pending update. If this happens, restart as instructed, but make sure to return to the same Windows Update screen at the next computer startup to complete the installation of the rest of the updates.

4. Once every pending Windows Update is installed, restart your computer and attempt to do the re-activation once again to see if the issue is still occurring.

In case this method was not applicable or your computer was already on the latest Windows 10 build, try the next fix below.

Method 6: Uninstalling 3rd party firewall (if applicable)

As it turns out, an overprotective firewall can also be indirectly responsible for the 0x87E10BC6 error code. This happens because some 3rd party firewalls might end up mistaking a legitimate Microsoft server as a security threat and block any connections with it – if that server happens to be the Activation server, you will get the error code as a result.

If this scenario is applicable, you will not be able to fix the issue by disabling the real-time protection since these types of blocks are typically enforced on a network level – disabling the firewall will still maintain the previously enforced security rules.

So the only viable fix, in this case, is to simply uninstall the 3rd party firewall and see if the issue is resolved:

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

   

2. Once you’re inside the Programs and Features screen, scroll down through the list of installed applications and locate the 3rd party security firewall that you’re actively using. When you see it, right-click on the correct listing and choose Uninstall / Change from the newly appeared context menu.

   

3. Once you’re inside the uninstallation window, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process, then restart your computer and see if the problem has been resolved at the next computer startup.

In case the same you’re still encountering the same 0x87E10BC6 when trying to activate your Windows computer, move down to the final method below.

Method 7: Contact Microsoft’s support

In case you get the 0x87E10BC6 error code when trying to activate Windows 10 and none of the potential fixes above have worked for you (and you are certain that the license key you are trying to activate is valid – You got it from an authorized seller) you have little choice but to get in contact with Microsoft support.

Fortunately, as long as your details check out, Microsoft Live agents are able to activate the license key on your computer remotely.

Keep in mind that there are multiple ways of doing this, but as many have confirmed, the quickest way to get a LIVE agent to assist you is by calling the toll-free number specific to the region where you are located.

Check out this is (here) to view the full list of country-specific phone numbers that can get you in contact with a Microsoft live agent.

Important: Depending on your region and the hours you are calling, you might need to wait for a few hours until a Live agent gets back at you.

As soon as you establish contact, you will be asked a couple of security questions to confirm your identity and the fact that you own that license. But as soon as you get past the verification steps, they will activate the license key remotely.