The Xbox Game Pass is a cool way for gamers to enjoy lots of games, but sometimes you might run into problems. One annoying issue is getting stuck on the “Syncing data” screen when you’re excited to start a game. This problem can pop up no matter which game you’re trying to play. In this guide, we’ll talk about why this happens and share some tips on how to fix it for Windows 11 or Windows 10 PCs.
Also see: Play PC Game with PS5, PS4 or Xbox Controller in Windows 11
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What actually is the problem?
Basically, this issue shows up as a screen that keeps telling you “Syncing data” every time you try to launch a game from the Xbox Game Pass. This means the game won’t start, and you’re stuck there, no matter which game it is.
What does “syncing data” mean in Xbox Game Pass?
Let’s first understand what “syncing data” actually means in the Xbox Game Pass world. It’s all about making sure you can continue your game from where you left off, on any device. Your game saves get stored both on your local device and on Xbox’s cloud servers. “Syncing data” is just the process of making sure both these saves match up perfectly. If something goes wrong here, you end up stuck on that annoying screen.
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What could cause the issue?
Figuring out exactly why this happens can be a bit tricky since there are several potential culprits. It might be a glitch with the Gaming Services process on your PC, a shaky internet connection, or issues with the Xbox App or Gaming Services. Sometimes, the problem could be with the game itself or other Xbox-related services on your computer.
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How to fix Xbox Game Pass stuck on syncing data on PC
Knowing what might be causing the issue helps us figure out how to fix it. Note that what works for one person might not work for another, so you might need to try a few different things.
Kill the gamingservices.exe process
First off, you can try closing and restarting the “gamingservices.exe” process through the Task Manager. This can sometimes kick things back into gear:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open the “Task Manager”.
- Go to the “Details” tab and look for “gamingservices.exe”.
- Find and select it, then click on the “End Task” button.
After this, it should restart by itself in a bit. Try launching your game again to see if it’s working now.
Linked issue: How to Fix Game Stuttering on Windows 11
Make sure your Internet connection is stable
A stable internet connection is key for syncing data, so make sure yours is solid. If you’re using Wi-Fi, switching to a wired connection might help.
Repair and reset the Xbox App and Gaming Services
Giving the Xbox App and Gaming Services a fresh start can also do the trick. Here’s how you can do that in the Settings app:
- Open “Settings” and go to “Apps” then “Apps & features”.
- Find “Xbox” and “Gaming Services” and click on “Advanced options”.
- Hit “Repair” and then “Reset” to give them a fresh start.
This might fix any issues that were causing trouble.
Restart Xbox related services
Restarting all Xbox-related services on your PC is another thing you can try. This means giving everything connected to Xbox a fresh start. Here’s how:
- Press Win + R to bring up the Run dialog.
- Type in “services.msc” and hit Enter.
- Look for services that start with “Xbox”, like “Xbox Live Game Save”.
- Right-click on each and choose “Restart”.
This could help if any of the Xbox services were stuck or not running right.
Uninstall and reinstall the game causing the problem
If nothing else works, you might need to uninstall and then reinstall the game that’s giving you trouble. This can be a bit of a hassle, but it’s a good way to fix any issues specific to the game itself.
To sum up everything
Getting stuck on the “syncing data” screen is super annoying, especially when you just want to play your game after a long day. The first thing to try is stopping and restarting the “gamingservices.exe” process, which might quickly solve the problem.
If that doesn’t work, there are several other things you can try, like making sure your internet connection is good, repairing and resetting the Xbox App and Gaming Services, restarting Xbox services, or uninstalling and reinstalling the game. If you’ve tried everything and still have issues, it might be a good idea to get in touch with Xbox Support for more help.
