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Gaming Problem: Xbox PC app / Game Pass downloads fail with “Check your internet connection” (Error 0x800704C6) — even when everything else downloads fine (2026-01-10 23:01)
Jan 10, 2026 11:01 p.m.

Problem: Xbox PC app / Game Pass downloads fail with “Check your internet connection” (Error 0x800704C6) — even when everything else downloads fine

Published: 2026-01-11 12:00 (local time)

Quick Summary

  • Many PC Game Pass users report downloads stopping mid-way with error 0x800704C6, despite normal internet and other launchers working.
  • The issue often appears tied to Microsoft Gaming Services / Microsoft Store plumbing (not your raw bandwidth).
  • There is no single official “always works” fix; several workarounds help different subsets of players.
  • Most reliable approaches: restart/repair Gaming Services, switch DNS, resume installs via Microsoft Store, or reinstall Gaming Services via PowerShell.
  • If the error keeps returning after updates, you may need to repair Windows system components or do an in-place repair install.

What’s happening

PC players using the Xbox app (often via PC Game Pass) report that game installs and updates begin normally, then stall and fail with “Check your internet connection, We couldn’t connect you to the service” and error code 0x800704C6. Reports commonly mention that Steam/Epic/EA downloads continue at full speed at the same time, which makes the message feel misleading and sends people down the wrong troubleshooting path. Users also describe patterns like: the download failing around a certain percentage (often mid-download), large games failing more than small ones, or the download working only after repeated retries.

This has been reported across Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs, and it’s “widespread” in the practical sense: it shows up repeatedly across months in community troubleshooting threads, including Microsoft’s own Q&A site and multiple Reddit communities, with many users confirming the same behavior and no universal resolution. In several cases, users report that fixes work temporarily and the error returns after Gaming Services or Store components update again.

Likely causes (what research suggests)

  • Gaming Services package issues: Microsoft support answers repeatedly point at Gaming Services getting stuck or corrupted, especially during larger downloads, and recommend removing/reinstalling it. This aligns with user reports that a Gaming Services reset or reinstall is the turning point.
  • Microsoft Store / delivery pipeline hiccups: Some users can resume the same install successfully from the Microsoft Store (instead of the Xbox app), suggesting the Xbox app layer may be failing while Store installation continues.
  • DNS / routing problems to Microsoft endpoints: Multiple users report immediate success after switching DNS (e.g., to Google or Cloudflare). This indicates some cases may be ISP/DNS-related rather than device-related.
  • Network filtering or local blockers: Pi-hole/ad-blocking or certain network conditions (e.g., specific Wi‑Fi setups) have been reported to throttle or break downloads until disabled or bypassed.
  • Windows component/service misconfiguration: In related Xbox app failures, users have traced problems to Microsoft account/sign-in related services being disabled or broken; while not specific to 0x800704C6 alone, it’s part of the same fragile dependency chain.

Solutions & Workarounds

1) Switch DNS (fastest “try first” fix)

Who it helps: Xbox app download failures that look like connectivity/routing issues; Windows 10/11.

  • Open Settings > Network & Internet > your active connection (Wi‑Fi or Ethernet).
  • Edit DNS settings (manual).
  • Try one of these:
    • Google DNS: 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4
    • Cloudflare DNS: 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1
  • Restart the Xbox app and retry the download.

Risks/tradeoffs: Minimal; you’re changing resolvers. Some networks prefer ISP DNS for local services.

Stop & contact support when: DNS changes don’t help and the error repeats across multiple networks (home + hotspot), suggesting a deeper Windows/Store issue.

2) Reinstall Gaming Services via PowerShell (common “real fix,” but not permanent for everyone)

Who it helps: Most cases where Gaming Services is corrupted/stuck; Windows 10/11; repeated 0x800704C6 mid-download.

  • Close Xbox app and Microsoft Store.
  • Open Windows PowerShell as Administrator.
  • Run:
    • Get-AppxPackage *Microsoft.GamingServices* | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers
  • Then run:
    • start ms-windows-store://pdp/?productid=9MWPM2CQNLHN
  • When Microsoft Store opens, install Gaming Services.
  • Reboot the PC and retry the download.

Risks/tradeoffs: If you mistype commands or interrupt the Store install, you can temporarily break Xbox app installs until corrected. Some users report it works, then later updates cause recurrence.

Stop & contact support when: Gaming Services fails to reinstall, Store won’t open the product page, or the error returns immediately after multiple reinstalls.

3) Start/resume the download in Microsoft Store instead of the Xbox app

Who it helps: Users who can initiate a download but it fails in the Xbox app UI; Windows 10/11.

  • Start the install in the Xbox app until it creates the download entry.
  • Open Microsoft Store > Library.
  • Look for the same game (or pending install/update) and click Resume/Install there.
  • After it completes, return to Xbox app and verify it appears installed.

Risks/tradeoffs: Confusing UX; may split progress tracking between apps. Not always available for every title.

Stop & contact support when: The game never appears in Store Library, or Store also fails with similar connectivity errors.

4) Temporarily bypass your network filters (Pi-hole/ad-block/VPN/firewall checks)

Who it helps: Households using DNS filtering, ad-blocking, strict router rules, or enterprise-like firewalls.

  • If you use Pi-hole/AdGuard/Home DNS filtering, disable it briefly or whitelist Microsoft/Xbox domains per your tool’s guidance.
  • Try a different network: phone hotspot is an easy test.
  • If hotspot works, the issue is likely your home network policy/DNS path.

Risks/tradeoffs: Disabling filters reduces protection temporarily. VPNs may help some users but can worsen performance or violate network policies.

Stop & contact support when: The download fails on multiple unrelated networks (home + hotspot), implying a local Windows/Store issue.

5) Repair Windows networking stack (winsock) and reboot

Who it helps: Edge cases where Windows networking components are misbehaving.

  • Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
  • Run: netsh winsock reset
  • Restart the PC and retry.

Risks/tradeoffs: Low, but you may need to reconnect VPNs or reinitialize some network software.

Stop & contact support when: You see broader connectivity symptoms beyond the Xbox app.

6) If it keeps returning after updates: do an in-place Windows repair install (last resort)

Who it helps: People for whom every Gaming Services/Store fix works briefly then breaks again; suspected OS component corruption.

  • Back up important files.
  • Use Microsoft’s official Windows installation media method and choose an option that keeps files/apps when possible (an “in-place repair”).
  • After repair, update Windows fully, then reinstall Xbox app/Gaming Services if needed.

Risks/tradeoffs: Time-consuming; can reset some settings; there’s always some risk of needing additional cleanup afterward.

Stop & contact support when: You’re not comfortable performing OS repair steps, or the problem persists even after a repair install (at that point, it may be account-side or service-side).

Prevention (so it doesn’t come back)

  • Keep Windows and Microsoft Store updated (stale Store components can break Xbox app dependencies).
  • Avoid aggressive DNS blocking rules on Microsoft/Xbox endpoints; if you run Pi-hole, maintain a whitelist strategy.
  • After major Windows updates, verify Gaming Services still installs/updates correctly in Microsoft Store before starting massive downloads.
  • Prefer wired Ethernet for multi-hundred-GB installs to reduce mid-download network renegotiation issues.

FAQ

Q: If Steam works, why does Xbox say “check your internet connection”?
A: The Xbox app relies on Microsoft Store and Gaming Services infrastructure; a failure in those components can look like “connectivity” even when your general internet is fine.

Q: Does reinstalling the Xbox app fix 0x800704C6?
A: Sometimes, but many reports indicate Gaming Services (not the Xbox app itself) is the key dependency to repair or reinstall.

Q: Why does it often fail on big games?
A: Larger downloads stress the pipeline longer and may be more likely to hit a stuck Gaming Services state or a mid-download handshake failure.

Q: Should I use a VPN?
A: It’s a diagnostic workaround (if your ISP/DNS path is bad), but it can slow downloads and may introduce new problems. Try DNS changes first.

Q: If the PowerShell fix worked once, why did it break again?
A: Some users report the error returning after forced updates to Gaming Services or Store components; the underlying bug may not be fully resolved service-wide.

Q: When should I stop troubleshooting and contact Microsoft/Xbox support?
A: If the issue occurs across multiple networks, persists after reinstalling Gaming Services, and also fails via Microsoft Store, you’ve likely exhausted practical local fixes.

Sources & References

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