I had the same issues described here after trying to check if EA Play works with my Xbox Game Pass (i.e. EA Desktop would not launch properly even though the process started). In my case, I noticed that my Xbox PC app was also not behaving properly - every page would lead me to "Looks like you're stranded..." error. What is more, no news about EA Play integration appeared there, which I thought was weird (as if it was not updated properly). So I searched for it and did steps in this thread: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/xbox/forum/all/xbox-pc-looks-like-youre-stranded-error/75d933f2-4417-4436-8ef0-7342f9e0bc4a
Interestingly, it fixed the Xbox app and updated it with EA Play integration games (e.g. I could now search for FIFA from Xbox app). I clicked install on one of them (Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order to be exact), and it asked me to link the Xbox account with EA Play one. After doing this, EA Desktop App launched normally and started downloading the game.
So not sure if this is the case for everyone, but I thought I'd share 🙂
TLDR version with all steps:
To fix Xbox app I've done the following (original thread here):
- On Windows, go to settings > apps and features.
- On the list of apps, go to Xbox. Click advanced options.
- Click Reset. (I did not test Repair but it might work as well)
Then:
- Start the Xbox app
- Check that EA Play games are now on the main page.
- Install any of them.
- Fill out pop-up asking to link EA Play and Xbox accounts.
- EA Desktop opens up as it should and installs the game. Now I can start/stop EA Desktop reliably and it no longer disappears.