Windows 10 emergency patch fixes a bug that breaks Xbox Game Pass

Some Xbox Game Pass users now can’t play or install games

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Windows 10has received an emergency patch to cure a problem hitting a minority of folks running one of the latest versions ofMicrosoft’s OS, and it’s a bug that causes theXbox Game Passto be seriously messed up.

Microsoftdeployedthe out-of-band patch KB5004476 forWindows 10May 2021 Update users, as well as those on the October 2020 Update and May 2020 Update, who are suffering from a bug that means they cannot play (or install)Xbox Game Passgames.

Microsoftexplains: “This update addresses an issue in which attempting to install or open an Xbox Game Pass game on your Windows 10 device, you might be redirected to the Microsoft Store page for Gaming Services.”

You’ll also be graced with one of those fun cryptic error messages (in this case, error 0x80073D26 or 0x8007139F).

Not widespread

Microsoft notes that only a ‘small number’ of devices are affected, but if you’re hit with this problem, you need to download KB5004476 which is an optional update. Find it under Windows Update, where you can click ‘View optional updates’ (you may have to hit ‘Check for updates’ first).

Those who don’t have any problem with theirXbox Game Passshould steer clear, as the sole purpose of this small patch is to fix this one issue; so if you aren’t affected by it, you won’t gain any benefit from the update.

Microsoft’s latest cumulative update for Windows 10 – the monthly round of patching for June – has also beencausing issues for some folks, messing up the taskbar and also interfering with the operation of printers.

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Darren is a freelancer writing news and features for TechRadar (and occasionally T3) across a broad range of computing topics including CPUs, GPUs, various other hardware, VPNs, antivirus and more. He has written about tech for the best part of three decades, and writes books in his spare time (his debut novel - ‘I Know What You Did Last Supper’ - was published by Hachette UK in 2013).

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