Doom: The Dark Ages will release on May 15 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Undoubtedly, this game offers an impressive variety of enemy and environment designs. However, if you have already purchased the Premium Edition of the game, you can enjoy the game two days before the launch with Early Access. Unfortunately, a lot of players are reporting that the pre-installation is not working. If you are also unable to install the game, this guide will show you all potential solutions to fix this problem.
How to Fix Doom: The Dark Ages Pre-Install Isn’t Working
Before we proceed to the following troubleshooting steps, it is VERY IMPORTANT to note that many players panicked when they saw the file size of 10 to 20 MB instead of a full game. This is an intentional behavior and not an error, especially on Xbox Game Pass. This small part is only a preload token, which will hold your place and prevent leaks or early access. The full real game files will only be available close to their actual release date, which is the 15th of May.
1. Use the Trash Icon Trick to Clear the Error State
While installing, if you encounter any error or your installation process gets stuck at a size like 60 or 70 GB, it is a common Game Pass bug. In this case, you should click on the trash icon, which will not delete the game but reset the error state. Here is what you need to do:
- Open the Xbox app on your PC
- Go to the installation queue where Doom is listed
- Click the “trash icon” next to the game title
- Confirm the uninstall — Remember: this will not remove your entire game, it will just clear the error.
- Once done, come back to the game’s page in the Xbox app or Microsoft Store.
- Click on Install, then play the game again.
2. Click ‘Play’ From Store Page
Once you perform the above steps, try clicking on ‘Play” from the Store page. Some players found this solution helpful, so it might work for you too. Here is what you need to do:
- After doing the Trash Icon Trick, open the Microsoft Store or Xbox app
- Go to the game and click on the “Play Game” button
- Now, you should be able to download the game without any issues.
3. Reinstall the Game
If you are still struggling to install the game, the last option is to uninstall the game completely from your device and then try reinstalling it. We know it is a time-consuming process, but this trick has worked for some players, so it might work on you too.
That’s all for this guide on how to fix Doom: The Dark Ages pre-install is not working.
