A Windows/Xbox app update briefly broke a long-standing PC Game Pass family workflow: kids signing into Windows with their own child account (for Family Safety limits) when the Microsoft Store stayed signed in with a parent’s subscription. After the change, Windows, the Microsoft Store, and the Xbox app had to match the same account or PC Game Pass titles wouldn’t launch, pushing families to use the parent’s Windows login.
That “workaround” effectively disabled parental controls and, in some reported cases, overwrote cloud saves by generating a new blank file tied to the parent’s Windows profile, then syncing it over the existing progress. Windows Central documented the behavior and its side effects, including lost progress in multiple titles and support agents indicating the new enforcement was “intentional and under review.”
Windows Central has since updated its report with Microsoft’s response and rollback. The outlet says the behavior has been reverted, and Microsoft provided the following statement: “Xbox identified a bug which temporarily affected Xbox child accounts, including the ability to sign in and use PC Game Pass. Xbox has since identified the issue and rolled out a fix. Players that are still affected should check the Microsoft Store to make sure the Xbox App and Gaming Services are up to date.”
The site also notes that a true solution would be a formal Family plan for PC rather than relying on app quirks, especially as Xbox leans harder into a Windows-like model for next-gen.
Practically, families who hit this snag should still verify the fix locally: update the Xbox app and Gaming Services from the Microsoft Store, sign the child back into their own Windows account, and double-check that their cloud saves are intact before launching any game (restore from in-game menus where possible). For households that share Game Pass across multiple Windows users, the episode is a reminder that PC saves are tied to the Windows/Store login, not only the Xbox profile; mixed-account setups can still risk unintended syncs if something changes again.
Bottom line: The rollback is welcome, but the incident underlines a bigger gap. PC needs a rock-solid multi-user design.
It’s great to see that Microsoft addressed the issue with the Xbox PC Game Pass. These kinds of bugs can be frustrating, especially for family setups, but it’s reassuring that everything is back to normal now. Thanks for sharing the update!
can really disrupt family setups. It’s interesting how such updates can have unintended consequences, especially when multiple users are involved. Hopefully, this fix will help prevent similar issues in the future!
You’re absolutely right! It’s fascinating how technology can sometimes create unexpected challenges, even with the best intentions. I wonder if Microsoft will implement more robust testing to prevent similar issues in the future, especially for features that families rely on.
Absolutely! It’s interesting to see how even small updates can disrupt established workflows. It makes you appreciate the complexity behind these systems and the importance of thorough testing before rollout.
You’re right! It’s fascinating how technology can have unintended consequences. This incident really highlights the importance of thorough testing before rolling out updates, especially for features that families rely on.