Xbox app and Microsoft Store error 0x80070520: how to fix it

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0x80070520 ends in 0x520, which Windows lists as "a specified logon session does not exist". It shows up on Windows 10 and 11 in the Xbox app or the Microsoft Store when the account session is missing or invalid. Signing out and back in, then repairing or resetting the Store and Xbox apps, is the usual route to a fix.

Applies to:Windows 11Windows 10
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What it means

The last part of the code, 0x520, is 1312 in decimal. Microsoft's list of system error codes names it ERROR_NO_SUCH_LOGON_SESSION and describes it as: a specified logon session does not exist, and it may already have been terminated. In plain terms, the account session that the Xbox app, Gaming Services or Microsoft Store was relying on is missing or no longer valid, so sign-in or license checks fail.

This is mainly a Windows PC problem. I found no Microsoft or Xbox support page for this specific code, so the fixes below come from third-party troubleshooting write-ups and are not vendor-verified. They are ordered from least to most disruptive. There is no documented case of this code on an Xbox One or Xbox Series console.

Symptoms and causes

You are likely dealing with this problem if:

  • "We couldn't sign you in to Xbox Live" with 0x80070520 in the Xbox app or in a game.
  • The Microsoft Store fails to sign in, download or update apps.
  • It began after a cumulative Windows update or a fresh install (reported on forums and blogs, not confirmed by Microsoft).
  • Some apps fail while others work normally.

The usual causes, most common first:

Stale or failed Microsoft account session
Switching accounts, or having a work or school account signed in next to your personal one, can leave a session or token that no longer matches.
Corrupted Store or Xbox app cache or state
Damaged app data can stop the app from restoring its sign-in.
VPN, proxy, firewall or security software interference
These can block or alter the sign-in traffic.
Microsoft Store Install Service stopped
The service the Store depends on is not running.
Damaged Windows user profile
If the error follows one Windows account only, the profile may be the problem.
Xbox service outage
Occasionally the problem is on Microsoft's side, not yours.

How to fix it

Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and move to deeper repairs; stop as soon as the problem is gone.

1.Check Xbox service status and restart the PC

Easy

Rules out an outage and clears a temporary session fault.

  1. Look up the Xbox service status on the official Xbox Support site (support.xbox.com) and check whether any service is reported as down.
  2. If everything is fine, restart the PC and try the Xbox app or Store again.

2.Sign out of extra accounts and sign back in

EasyChanges settings

A leftover or mismatched account session can cause this code, for example when a work or school account is signed in alongside your personal one.

Before you start: Do not remove a work or school account on a PC managed by your employer or school without asking your IT department first. Removal may be blocked by policy or cut off access to company resources.

  1. On a personal PC, remove secondary, guest and local accounts from the Store and Xbox app so only your main Microsoft account remains. Leave any work or school account alone unless you are sure it is yours to remove.
  2. Sign out of the Xbox app and the Microsoft Store, then restart the PC.
  3. Sign in again with the same Microsoft account in both apps.

3.Check date, time and region

Easy

A cheap precaution: it takes a minute and rules out a wrong clock or region.

  1. Open Settings > Time & language > Date & time.
  2. Turn on automatic time and time zone, then click Sync now.
  3. Confirm the region is correct, then retry.

4.Rule out VPN, proxy and security software

EasyChanges settings

Network tools can interfere with sign-in.

Before you start: Turn any security software back on right after the test. Do not leave it off.

  1. Disconnect any VPN and turn off any proxy temporarily, or try a different network such as a phone hotspot.
  2. If it still fails, briefly pause third-party security software only to test, then switch it back on immediately.

5.Install Windows and app updates

Easy

Outdated components can leave the sign-in broken.

  1. Run Windows Update from Settings and restart when asked.
  2. Open the Microsoft Store, go to Library, and update the Store and the Xbox app.

6.Reset the Microsoft Store cache

Easy

Clears a corrupted Store cache.

  1. Press WinR, type the command below and press Enter.
    Command Prompt
    wsreset.exe
  2. Wait for the Store to open on its own, then retry.

7.Repair or reset the Xbox app and Microsoft Store

ModerateChanges settings

Fixes damaged app state.

Before you start: Reset removes the app's local data and you may need to sign in again. Try Repair first.

  1. Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find Xbox, click the ... menu and choose Advanced options.
  2. Click Repair and test. If the error remains, click Reset.
  3. Repeat for Microsoft Store if it also fails.

8.Start the Microsoft Store Install Service

Moderate

The Store needs this service running.

  1. Press WinR, type services.msc and press Enter.
  2. Find Microsoft Store Install Service, right-click it and choose Start, or Restart if it is already running.

9.Test with a new Windows user profile

ModerateChanges settings

If it works there, your old profile is probably damaged.

Before you start: Do not delete the old profile until you have copied your files out of it.

  1. Create a new local Windows user in Settings > Accounts, sign in to it and try the Xbox app and Store.
  2. If it works, move your files to the new profile and use it going forward.

10.Run DISM and System File Checker (broad, may not help)

Advanced

These are general Windows repair tools. They are broad and may not address this particular error, so treat them as a last check rather than a likely fix.

  1. Open Command Prompt as administrator and run these in order, then restart.
    Command Promptrun as administrator
    DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
sfc /scannow

Check that it worked

  • Sign in to the Xbox app and the Microsoft Store without 0x80070520 appearing.
  • Download or update an app from the Store successfully.
  • Launch a Game Pass PC game and confirm it signs you in.

If it still fails

  • Try the steps in order again after a full restart, since account and cache fixes often need one.
  • If it works in a new Windows profile but not in yours, move to the new profile.
  • Do not re-register all AppX packages or remove Gaming Services by hand to force a fix: one of the sources warns that broad re-registration is risky, and the Xbox app depends on Gaming Services and the Store.
  • Contact Xbox Support and mention the exact code and what you already tried.

Questions

Does 0x80070520 happen on Xbox consoles?

I found no documented case on Xbox One or Series consoles. The evidence points to Windows PCs.

Sources

  1. System Error Codes (1300-1699)Official · Microsoft Learn
  2. How to Fix "We Couldn't Sign You In To Xbox Live 0x80070520" Error · izoate
  3. Fix Microsoft Store Error Code 0x80070520 · techbloat

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