Quick fix: Open Terminal (Admin) and run Get-AppxPackage *gamingservices* | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers, then install from Store via direct URL start ms-windows-store://pdp/?ProductId=9MWPM2CQNLHN. Gaming Services has a known cycle where it can’t install or update normally — full removal + reinstall is the supported fix.

You try to install an Xbox game from Microsoft Store. The Store shows “Install Gaming Services” or errors with code 0x80073D26. Clicking Install bounces back without progress. This is a well-known Gaming Services issue — the package gets stuck in an inconsistent state and standard install/update fails until you fully remove it and reinstall.

Symptom: Microsoft Store refuses to install Gaming Services; Xbox games fail to install because of missing Gaming Services dependency.
Affects: Windows 11 (and Windows 10) attempting to install or play Xbox/PC Game Pass titles.
Fix time: ~10 minutes.

What causes this

Gaming Services is a system AppX package (Microsoft.GamingServices) that Xbox-format games depend on. The package frequently gets stuck during automatic updates because its install/upgrade path has known race conditions with the AppX deployment service. Symptoms include error 0x80073D26 (gaming services package corrupt), 0x80073CFB, or an infinite install loop. The supported recovery is full removal then a fresh install via Microsoft Store.

Method 1: Remove and reinstall Gaming Services

The standard fix. Use first.

Open Terminal (Admin) from the Start right-click menu.
Remove the existing Gaming Services package for all users:
```
Get-AppxPackage *gamingservices* -AllUsers | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers
```
Ignore any errors about “cannot remove for all users” — those are non-fatal.

Also remove the GamingServicesNet companion package:

Get-AppxPackage *gamingservicesnet* -AllUsers | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers

Reboot. Important — Gaming Services has a kernel driver component that needs the reboot to fully release.
After reboot, open Terminal (Admin) again.
Launch the Microsoft Store install page for Gaming Services directly:
```
start ms-windows-store://pdp/?ProductId=9MWPM2CQNLHN
```
Click Install in the Store.
Wait for the install to complete. Status updates from Pending to Downloading to Installing.
Reboot once more.

Gaming Services should now be working. Try installing your Xbox game.

Method 2: Reset Microsoft Store before retrying

Use when Method 1’s reinstall also fails — the Store itself has issues.

After removing Gaming Services (Method 1 step 1-2) and rebooting, also reset the Microsoft Store:
```
wsreset.exe
```
Wait for the Store to open (~30 seconds), then close it.

Re-register the Microsoft Store:

Get-AppxPackage *WindowsStore* | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppxManifest.xml"}

Open the Microsoft Store fresh. Sign in if needed.
Now run the install link from Method 1 step 6.
Gaming Services installs.

This combines Store reset with Gaming Services reinstall — handles cases where both are damaged.

Method 3: Reset Xbox app components alongside Gaming Services

When Gaming Services installs but Xbox-related games still fail.

Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps.
Find Xbox app. Click ⋯ → Advanced options. Scroll to Reset. Click Reset. Confirm.
Find Xbox Live (if listed). Reset similarly.
Find Microsoft Store. Reset.
Reboot.
Open Microsoft Store. Sign in. Try installing your game.
If Game Pass-related issues persist: open Xbox app → settings → sign out, sign back in.

The full Xbox + Gaming Services + Store reset addresses the entire dependency chain.

How to verify the fix worked

Run Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.GamingServices in PowerShell. Returns a package entry with a recent version and Status: Ok.
Open Microsoft Store and install any Xbox-format game. Install proceeds without 0x80073D26 errors.
Launch the installed game. It runs.

If none of these work

If Gaming Services still won’t install, three causes apply. WinSxS corruption: run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth followed by sfc /scannow. Reboot. Retry Method 1. Disk space: Gaming Services needs about 2 GB. Free space on C: drive. Antivirus interference: third-party AV may block the Gaming Services kernel driver. Temporarily disable AV during install. For chronic Gaming Services install failures, check Microsoft’s support page for the latest workaround — Microsoft periodically releases targeted fixes for this specific package via the Microsoft Update Catalog.

Bottom line: Gaming Services has known install fragility — remove the package, reboot, reinstall via the direct Store URL. Most cases resolve in 10 minutes.