Xbox account won’t sign in issues usually trace to service outages, password or 2FA snags, or device and network glitches.
If your console or PC throws you back to the sign-in screen, start with quick checks that rule out a system-wide outage and a simple cache hiccup. This guide lays out a clean flow you can follow in minutes, with links to official pages when you need them.
Xbox Account Won’t Sign In: Quick Fix Flow
Work through these steps in order. Stop as soon as the account signs in.
| What To Check | Why It Matters | What To Do |
|---|---|---|
| Service Status | If sign-in is down, nothing on your side will fix it. | Open the Xbox status page and wait out any outage before trying again. |
| Password & 2FA | Wrong password or blocked 2FA stops sign-in cold. | Confirm the password on a browser; if locked, run recovery and approve the prompt or code. |
| Power Cycle | Clears a stuck cache that can loop sign-in. | Fully restart the console or PC and your router. |
| Network | DNS or Wi-Fi drops can fail token checks. | Try wired; reset the router; test with a mobile hotspot. |
| Profile Refresh | Corrupted local profile blocks login on one console. | Remove the profile on the console, then add it again. |
| Updates | Old builds can mis-match sign-in flows. | Install pending console, PC, and game updates; retry. |
Confirm Service Health First
Open the official Xbox status page on a phone or a second device. If the sign-in tile shows limited or down, your account may be fine; wait for green lights and try again from the same screen. Watch for a banner on “Account & Profile,” “Store & Subscriptions,” or “Cloud Gaming,” as those can affect login even when multiplayer looks normal.
Rule Out Account Credential Snags
Next, test the Microsoft sign-in on a fresh browser. Use a clean window and type the password by hand. If you’re asked for two-step verification, approve the prompt in your authenticator or enter the SMS or email code. If codes never arrive or you can’t access a second factor, start the recovery flow and add extra methods once you’re back in.
Tip: if the browser login works but the console still fails, you’re likely looking at a device or network issue, not a global account lock. That lets you focus on local steps like a power cycle, DNS refresh, or a profile reload.
Power Cycle The Console The Right Way
A full power cycle clears cached sign-in tokens and refreshes network handshakes. Hold the Xbox button on the front of the console for ten seconds until it shuts off. Unplug the power cable for sixty seconds, then plug back in and start the console. Do the same restart on your router or modem so the line is clean on both ends. On a PC, restart Windows, then relaunch the Xbox app and try again.
Check Network Basics That Trip Sign-In
Test A Different Path
Use an Ethernet cable for one session. If wired works and Wi-Fi doesn’t, you’ve narrowed it to wireless range or router settings. You can also try a phone hotspot for a minute to see if the login completes on a new network. That “A/B” test saves time chasing a console bug that isn’t there.
Refresh IP And DNS
From the console network settings, run the test and then choose the option to restart your network hardware. If you prefer manual settings, switch DNS to automatic for the test. On Windows, flush DNS, renew the IP, and reopen the app. If a VPN is active, turn it off for the sign-in step, then test again.
Mind NAT And Router Extras
NAT set to Strict can block sign-in handshakes. If your test shows Strict, reboot the router and check for “UPnP” or “IGD” toggles. Turn off ad-blocking or parental filters at the router during testing, then bring them back once sign-in succeeds.
Remove And Re-Add Your Profile
When a local profile cache goes stale, the console may show your gamertag yet fail to pass the token check. On the console, open Settings > Account > Remove accounts, pick your email, remove it, then add the same account again and enter the password and 2FA code. This refreshes local data without touching cloud saves or purchases.
If you own more than one console, try signing in on a second unit or the cloud app. A clean sign-in elsewhere points to a local cache or network quirk on the first console.
Fix Known Xbox Sign-In Error Codes
Some errors point straight to the cause. Use the table below to match your code and jump to the right fix. For deep dives on each code, check the linked Microsoft help pages when available.
| Error Code | What It Means | Fast Fix |
|---|---|---|
| 0x87DD0006 | Auth or service hiccup during login. | Check service status, then restart console and router; retry sign-in. See the official guidance. |
| 0x87DD0005 | Network drop during account handshake. | Use wired for a test, power cycle hardware, then sign in again. |
| 0x80A40008 | Account credential or token problem. | Re-enter password in a browser, confirm 2FA, then re-add profile. |
PC: Xbox App Won’t Keep You Signed In
If the Xbox app on Windows loops the login, sign out in the app, quit it, then sign in at the Microsoft account site in a browser. Next, relaunch the app and sign in again so Windows picks up the fresh token. Install any pending Windows updates and the Gaming Services package from the Store, then reboot once more. If the app still stalls, clear the app’s cache from Windows Settings > Apps, and try again.
Time drift can also confuse tokens. Sync your clock: in Windows Settings > Time & language, turn