How To Fix Xbox Error Code 0x87e00196? [8 FIXES]

Xbox Error Code 0x87e00196 occurs when a user tries to manage a game using the Xbox or Microsoft Store apps. This management includes downloading, updating, and even playing the game. The error is primarily caused by a problem with the servers, one of the apps, or the Gaming Services package being corrupted.

The error prompt has the following text:

“Something unexpected happened. Reporting this problem will help us understand it better. You can wait a bit and try again or restart your device. That may help. Error code: 0x87e00196 .”

Key Takeaways

• Xbox Error Code 0x87e00196 can interrupt content access or downloads.
• It’s typically related to issues with your Xbox Live profile or account.
• You can fix the error by verifying your account and payment credentials, fixing your internet, checking whether the Xbox Live servers are working, and reinstalling the Gaming Services package.

First, follow these simple possible solutions mentioned below before proceeding with other methods:

1. Restarting Your Router
2. Checking Xbox Live Server Status
3. Restarting Your Console

Reinstall The Gaming Services Package

I tested this specific fix, which is to delete the Xbox Gaming Services package from the PC using the command terminal, and it has also worked for other users on Xbox Support. The reason behind why this fix works is that, just like any other file, the package may have gotten corrupted due to some unforeseen and unregistered interference.

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Start menu from the taskbar.
2. Launch Windows Powershell from here by searching for it or finding it manually.

   

3. Select Run as Administrator.
4. In the Powershell window, paste this: Get-AppxPackage *gaming services* -allusers | remove-appxpackage -allusers.

   

5. Press enter to run the command.
6. This will delete the Gaming Services package from your computer.
7. Redownload it by pasting start ms-windows-store://pdp/?productid=9MWPM2CQNLHN into the terminal.
8. Select Yes after the installation is completed.
9. Restarting your computer should fix the error once and for all.

Reset The Microsoft Store/Xbox Apps

There may also be an issue with the apps you’re using. While not directly mentioned in the earlier Reddit post, this is still related to the Gaming Services package, so, according to my experience, it can be a helpful fix in cases where the previous method doesn’t work.

Follow these steps to reset your chosen app:

For Windows 10

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Access the Settings option by finding it manually or in the search bar.

   

3. Go to Settings> Apps & features.

   

4. Look for the app that you need. These would be the Xbox and Microsoft Store apps in our case.

   

5. When you’ve chosen an app, a submenu will open.
6. Inside this menu, select Advanced options > Reset.

   

7. Repeat this for the other app, then log your accounts into each.
8. Restart your computer and try downloading again, which should succeed.

For Windows 11

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Search for Settings.

   

3. Here, search for Add or Remove programs.

   

4. Search for the needed app. Either the Xbox app or Microsoft Store can be put first. The order doesn’t matter.
5. You can find three dots beside the app’s size on the rightmost side of the app container.
6. Clicking these dots opens up a dropdown menu. Select Advanced options from here.

   

7. Locate Reset among the options, and then select it.

   

8. Select Reset to confirm the process.
9. Repeat this for the other app, then put all your accounts into both apps again.
10. Restart your computer and try downloading again. It should now work.

Reinstall The MS Store And Xbox Apps

If resetting the apps doesn’t fix the issue, that doesn’t fully clear an app error from being the cause. I recommend reinstalling the apps to ensure you don’t leave any ends untied.

You can either delete the apps manually and then redownload them the way you first downloaded them, or you can use Windows Powershell to delete and redownload both apps simultaneously.

Manual Deletion And Reinstallation

I’ll be using Windows 8 to demonstrate this process. Please look at the steps in Method 8 for any other versions:

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Access the Settings app by searching for it or selecting it from the list of apps.

   

3. Then, search for Add or Remove programs.

   

4. You can find the Xbox and Microsoft Store apps in the list of apps on the right. You can also search for these.
5. Clicking on the app will open up a few settings. Select Advanced options > Uninstall.

   

6. Once the apps have been deleted, download them again.
7. You can download the Xbox app from the Xbox website and MS Store from Microsoft.

Using Microsoft PowerShell

The benefit of doing it with PowerShell is that you can input the commands, and the computer will do everything else for you. To use PowerShell to reinstall apps, follow these steps:

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Locate Windows Powershell in the list or search for it.

   

3. Select Run as Administrator.
4. Inside PowerShell, paste: Get-AppxPackage *windowsstore* | Remove-AppxPackage and Get-AppxPackage *xboxapp* | Remove-AppxPackage one by one. 

   

5. This will remove the app data from your computer.
6. Next, restart your PC.
7. Open PowerShell again, following the same steps as before.
8. Now, paste Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers| Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml”} into the terminal.

   

9. Doing this will reinstall the apps and register them to the Universal Windows Platform (UWP), a universal version of the apps made to be functional on whatever console or Windows you may have.
10. Restart your PC and check the apps to see if the error is fixed.

Install Xbox Identity Provider

Another reason for this error may be that the Xbox Identity Provider has not been installed on your PC. My team fixed this error by installing the Xbox identity provider. This app allows you to connect with the Xbox Live servers properly, so not having it can cause errors like this.

To install the app, follow these steps:

1. Go to Microsoft.

   

2. Click Get in Store app.
3. This will open up the Microsoft Store app.
4. From there, confirm the download process.
5. Once completed, install the software onto your computer.
6. Restart your computer and launch the Xbox app to see if the error has disappeared.

Review Content Restrictions

I found that some games can only be played by users over a certain age. If you’ve changed your account’s age recently, or if there was a glitch allowing you to play the game before, the systems may have deemed your account unfit to access the game. Therefore, in that case, I’d prefer to change the account’s age to fix this error.

For this, you can follow these steps:

1. Go to the Microsoft store.
2. Log onto your account, ensuring it’s the same account logged onto your Xbox app.
3. Once logged in, you can see Your info among the options in the navigation menu.

   

4. Then, locate Edit profile info. Edit profile info (Image by Emopulse)
5. Clicking the option will open up a page where you can update your age.

   

6. Set it to an age above 18, and save.
7. Wait 10-15 minutes to ensure the changes have been finalized, and relaunch the Xbox app to see if the error has disappeared.

My Thoughts

Error codes are often not localized, and Xbox Live services are intended to be available worldwide. Generally, Xbox error code 0x87e00196  is not caused by a server-side problem. The cause of the error has been mentioned on Xbox support as a problem with the Gaming Services package, and reinstalling the Gaming Services package has resolved the error for many users. So, I hope this solves your error, too.

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