How to Disable or Remove Xbox Game Bar in Windows 10

The Xbox Game Bar is a Windows 10 overlay for recording clips, taking screenshots and checking performance while you play. If you never use it, it can get in the way: Windows + G opens it by accident, a controller’s Xbox button triggers it, and background recording can use system resources. You can switch it off in Settings, stop background captures, or remove the app completely with PowerShell. This guide covers each option and how to get it back later.

Quick Answer

Open Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar and switch the toggle Off. Also uncheck Open Xbox Game Bar using this button on a controller. To remove it entirely, run Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay | Remove-AppxPackage in PowerShell.

Method 1: Turn Off Game Bar in Settings

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Click Gaming.
3. On the Xbox Game Bar page, switch the main toggle to Off.
4. Uncheck Open Xbox Game Bar using this button on a controller.

Windows + G and the other Game Bar shortcuts stop working. Note that some games use Game Bar for party chat or invites.

Method 2: Stop Background Recording

1. In Settings > Gaming, click Captures.
2. Turn off Record in the background while I’m playing a game.
3. Optionally turn off Record audio when I record a game.

Background recording (Game DVR) constantly buffers gameplay, which can reduce performance on older PCs.

Method 3: Uninstall Game Bar With PowerShell

1. Right-click Start and choose Windows PowerShell (Admin).
2. Run:

   Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay | Remove-AppxPackage

3. To also remove the older Game Bar components, run:

   Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.XboxGameOverlay | Remove-AppxPackage

4. Restart the PC.

Removing these packages only affects your user account. Other Xbox apps and Game Mode aren’t affected unless you remove them too.

Fix the “You’ll need a new app to open this ms-gamingoverlay link” Pop-up

After uninstalling, pressing Windows + G or launching some games may show this message. Turn off Game DVR in the registry to stop it:

1. Press Windows + R, type regedit and press Enter.
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GameDVR and set AppCaptureEnabled (DWORD) to 0.
3. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\System\GameConfigStore and set GameDVR_Enabled to 0.
4. Restart the PC.

Back up the registry before editing.

Method 4: Group Policy (Pro and Enterprise)

1. Press Windows + R, type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
2. Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Game Recording and Broadcasting.
3. Double-click Enables or disables Windows Game Recording and Broadcasting, choose Disabled and click OK.

Should You Also Turn Off Game Mode?

Game Mode is separate from Game Bar. It prioritizes games and limits background Windows Update activity while playing. It’s generally safe to leave on, but you can switch it off in Settings > Gaming > Game Mode if a game stutters.

How to Get Game Bar Back

• If you turned it off, switch the toggle back on in Settings > Gaming.
• If you uninstalled it, open the Microsoft Store, search for Xbox Game Bar and click Get. Reset the registry values above to 1 if you changed them.

If an FPS counter is stuck on screen, see how to turn off the FPS counter on Windows 11.

For other ways to capture your screen, see how to record your screen or audio in Windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does disabling Game Bar improve FPS?

Turning off background recording can help on low-end PCs. The overlay itself uses few resources when it’s not open.

Can I just change the Windows + G shortcut?

Yes. Open Game Bar, click the gear icon > Shortcuts, and set your own keys.

Is it the same on Windows 11?

Mostly. In Windows 11, the controller option is in Settings > Gaming > Game Bar, and the app can be uninstalled the same way. Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025.

Summary

1. Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar > Off.
2. Turn off background recording in Captures.
3. Uninstall with PowerShell for complete removal.
4. Reinstall from the Microsoft Store if you need it later.