Start by identifying where you play Sea of Thieves and whether the update failed to download or the game fails after it is installed. Windows, Steam, Microsoft Store or Xbox app, and Xbox console have different troubleshooting steps; PlayStation 5 and Battle.net users should use the current guidance for their own platform. The detailed Rare procedures below are official baseline advice, but several were last updated in 2023 or earlier and may not describe a newly released patch.
First, identify the failure
Note your platform and storefront, when the update was installed, any exact error text or code, and what happens when you launch: no response, a black screen, a hang, or a crash. If the update itself will not download, follow the update-specific steps below rather than treating it as a launch failure. Check Sea of Thieves Support for current known issues if the problem began immediately after a new update.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Sea of Thieves: Standard Edition – Xbox One | $38.87 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Sea of Thieves Xbox One (Renewed) | $30.14 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
![Sea of Thieves: Standard Edition – Xbox One [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41RiuntPiNL._SL160_.jpg)
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Sea of Thieves: Standard Edition – Xbox One [Digital Code] | $35.19 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Sea of Thieves - Xbox One/PC - Full Game - Key Card | $57.90 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Sea of Thieves Xbox One | $76.41 | Buy on Amazon |
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Fully close the game and its launcher, then restart the device. This is a low-disruption first check, not a guaranteed or universal fix. Do not apply steps for another platform: for example, Steam file verification is for the Steam version, and Microsoft Store reset steps are for the Store path.
Fixes for Windows, Microsoft Store, or the Xbox app
Install pending Windows updates
Check Windows Update, install pending updates, and restart Windows before trying more disruptive repairs. Rare’s Windows launch guide, last updated June 23, 2023, describes an up-to-date Windows operating system as its most common fix for the black-screen, stuck, or crash-shortly-after-launch reports covered by that article. This is a troubleshooting candidate, not confirmation that a current patch caused your problem: Rare’s Windows launch troubleshooting.
#1 Best Overall
- A shared-world adventure game by acclaimed UK developer Rare Ltd. Xbox Live Gold required to play (sold separately)
- Live the essential pirate life in a world rich with Rare’s irreverent charm. Sail and fight together, hunt treasure and create your own legends
- A fantastical world of unspoiled islands, mythical monsters and mouth-watering loot. Total freedom to decide how you approach the world and its players
- Xbox One Console exclusive
- Battery: no battery used;Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Content Description: Crude humor, use of alcohol, violence
If a Microsoft Store update will not start
- Open Microsoft Store, search for Sea of Thieves, and visit the game’s product page to prompt the update.
- If it still does not start, run
wsreset, then repeat the Store steps.
These are the steps in Rare’s PC force-update article, last updated February 17, 2021; its age means it may not reflect current Store behavior: Rare’s PC force-update instructions.
If the Store failed after the February 2024 update
Rare’s notice about the February 2024 update says that users whose Microsoft Store installation could not update may need to uninstall and reinstall the game. If the Store does not offer a download afterward, the notice suggests resetting the Store; it also says the game can be installed through the Xbox app. This advice is scoped to that update notice, not a universal requirement to reinstall: Rare’s February 2024 Store notice.
Rank #2
- A shared-world adventure game by acclaimed UK developer Rare Ltd. Xbox Live Gold required to play (sold separately)
- Live the essential pirate life in a world rich with Rare's irreverent charm. Sail and fight together, hunt treasure and create your own legends!
- A fantastical world of unspoiled islands, mythical monsters and mouth-watering loot
- Total freedom to decide how you approach the world and its players
- Available on the Xbox One family of devices and Windows 10 PCs. Supports Xbox Play Anywhere and cross-platform play** (**Play on one device at a time. PC hardware requirements may vary for games on Windows 10).The Hungering Deep, the first major Sea of Thieves content update landing May 2018, brings with it an exciting new threat to the Sea of Thieves world. Work together with other crews on a completely new adventure with gameplay enhancements and unique rewards.The May kick-off of the Sea of Thieves weekly events programme also introduces fun new ways to play with weekly events and rewards.
For Game Pass errors 0x8007139F or 0x00000001
If either code appears while installing, updating, or launching Sea of Thieves through Game Pass on Windows, follow the dedicated Xbox Support guidance for error 0x8007139F. Rare’s article, last updated June 22, 2023, says the issue may be related to a recent Windows update. Preserve the exact code when seeking support: Rare’s Game Pass error-code article.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Try other Windows checks only if simpler steps fail
Rare’s Windows guide also lists these possible troubleshooting steps. Change one thing at a time so you can tell whether it helped:
Rank #3
- Sea of Thieves offers the essential pirate experience, from sailing and fighting to exploring and looting – everything you need to live the pirate life and become a legend in your own right.
- Whether you’re voyaging as a group or sailing solo, you’re bound to encounter other crews in this shared-world adventure – but will they be friends or foes, and how will you respond?
- Sign in to a local administrator account.
- Reset or reinstall the game.
- Update your graphics drivers.
- Check that Microsoft Store uses the expected account and that offline permissions are set as needed.
- Check Windows date and time.
- Investigate possible conflicts with VPN or antivirus software, MSI Afterburner, Nahimic, or Readyboost.
- As a later diagnostic step, try the region or language setting changes described in Rare’s guide; restore your original settings if they do not help.
These are listed possibilities, not confirmed fixes for every launch problem. Use Rare’s Windows launch guide for the article’s specific instructions.
Fixes for Sea of Thieves on Steam
Verify the game files before reinstalling
- In Steam, open Library and right-click Sea of Thieves.
- Select Properties, then Local Files.
- Select Verify Integrity of Local Game Files… and let the check finish.
Rare lists verification in its Steam-specific launch article. The same article recommends installing available Windows updates and restarting, then lists reinstalling, checking date and time or region settings, updating graphics drivers, and investigating possible conflicts such as Nahimic, VPN, antivirus, or MSI Afterburner if the problem remains. It was last updated June 23, 2023: Rare’s Steam launch troubleshooting.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Fixes for Xbox console
Hard reset the console
With the console powered on, hold its power button for 10 seconds until it shuts down, then turn it back on. Rare says this clears the console cache and may resolve launch problems. This procedure is described in its Xbox One launch article, last updated June 23, 2023: Rare’s Xbox launch troubleshooting.
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If restarting does not help
Rare’s Xbox guidance also points to resyncing cloud data and trying to launch with a different profile. If those steps fail, contact Xbox Support. For a client/server version mismatch or a Lavenderbeard error, Rare has a separate article advising Xbox users to hard reset and redownload the client when a newer version has been deployed. Because that guidance is tied to a particular error context, check whether it matches the error you see before following it: Rare’s Lavenderbeard guidance.
Best Value
- A shared-world adventure game by acclaimed UK developer Rare Ltd. Xbox Live Gold required to play (sold separately)
- Live the essential pirate life in a world rich with Rare's irreverent charm. Sail and fight together, hunt treasure and create your own legends!
- A fantastical world of unspoiled islands, mythical monsters and mouth-watering loot
- Total freedom to decide how you approach the world and its players
- Available on the Xbox One family of devices and Windows 10 PCs. Supports Xbox Play Anywhere and cross-platform play** (**Play on one device at a time. PC hardware requirements may vary for games on Windows 10).The Hungering Deep, the first major Sea of Thieves content update landing May 2018, brings with it an exciting new threat to the Sea of Thieves world. Work together with other crews on a completely new adventure with gameplay enhancements and unique rewards.The May kick-off of the Sea of Thieves weekly events programme also introduces fun new ways to play with weekly events and rewards.
PlayStation 5 and Battle.net
Do not use Windows Store, Steam, or Xbox-console procedures for these versions. Sea of Thieves Support has platform-specific PlayStation 5 and Battle.net material, but the sources cited here do not establish a general post-update launch procedure for either platform. Find the current article for your platform through the official Sea of Thieves Support site, and follow its instructions for the exact symptom or error.
Quick Recap
When to stop troubleshooting and escalate
- Keep the full error code and wording, platform and storefront, and the point where launch stops; these details help distinguish a download issue from a game-start issue.
- Use support guidance that matches your platform and error rather than repeating unrelated resets or reinstalling by default.
- If a platform-specific procedure fails, contact the platform’s support service. Rare’s Xbox guidance directs users to Xbox Support when its console steps do not resolve the issue.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
