Xbox Error Code 0x80190831 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Error 0x80190831 means your Xbox could not authenticate properly with Microsoft's servers. This blocks the Microsoft Store, game downloads, and some online features. It is usually caused by a sign-in token issue, a network problem, or a temporary outage on Microsoft's end.

Affected Models

Xbox One
Xbox One S
Xbox One X
Xbox Series S
Xbox Series X

Common Causes

The authentication token stored on the console has expired or become invalid
Microsoft's authentication servers are temporarily experiencing problems
Your internet connection dropped during a sign-in or Store operation
Your Microsoft account has a security hold or pending verification that needs attention
A recent system update changed authentication handling and caused a compatibility issue

How to Fix It

Sign out and sign back in. Press the Xbox button > Profile & system > Sign out. After signing out, select your profile and sign back in with your Microsoft account email and password.

Signing out clears the expired token and forces the Xbox to request a fresh one from Microsoft's servers.
Check Xbox Live and Microsoft Store service status. Visit status.xbox.com to see if authentication or Store services are currently impacted.

If Microsoft has a known issue, they will show it here. Wait for them to resolve it — usually within a few hours.
Restart your Xbox and router. Fully shut down the Xbox (hold power button 10 seconds), unplug your router for 60 seconds, then restart both.

Network errors during authentication can corrupt the session. A fresh network connection often clears the problem.
Check your Microsoft account for security alerts. On a phone or computer, visit account.microsoft.com > Sign in > Security. Look for any urgent actions or unusual activity.

Microsoft sometimes places a hold on accounts that they detect being accessed from a new location or device. You may need to verify your identity.
Remove the account from the Xbox and re-add it. Go to Settings > Account > Sign-in, security & passkey > Remove accounts. After removing, restart the Xbox and sign back in.

This performs a complete account re-registration on the console, resolving most token and authentication problems.

When to Call a Professional

Error 0x80190831 does not require a hardware repair. If re-signing into your account does not resolve the issue, contact Xbox Support or check your Microsoft account at account.microsoft.com for any security notices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did this error appear out of nowhere when I have been signed in for months?

Authentication tokens are not permanent. They expire periodically and need to be refreshed. Most of the time the Xbox does this automatically in the background. But if the renewal fails due to a network glitch or server issue, the expired token triggers this error.

Can a VPN cause this error?

Yes. If your router uses a VPN, Microsoft's servers may reject the sign-in attempt because the location looks unusual. Try disabling the VPN temporarily and signing in again. Microsoft flags sign-ins from VPN IP addresses as potentially suspicious.

Does this error affect all accounts on the console or just mine?

It usually affects just the account whose token has expired or been rejected. If all accounts on the console are getting this error, the problem is more likely a network or server issue. If it is just your account, the fix is to sign out and back in.