The newest Windows 11 from Microsoft comes packed with many functionalities, and the Xbox Game Bar is among them, which provides users with different features. However, some users find it unnecessary and want to get rid of it but don’t know how to disable the Xbox Game Bar on Windows 11.
Key Takeaways
- The Xbox Game Bar offers an overlay that grants users access to various features, such as recording gameplay, taking screenshots or videos, joining Xbox game parties, monitoring hardware statistics, and finding fellow players.
- While the Xbox Game Bar provides a wide range of functionalities, it can occasionally lead to glitches and system slowdowns in specific scenarios. This is why users who aren’t primarily focused on gaming often choose to keep it disabled.
- There are several methods to disable the Xbox Game Bar on Windows 11, including using the Settings menu, PowerShell, Registry Editor, and Group Policy.
What Is The Xbox Game Bar On Windows 11?
Similar to how it sounds, the Xbox Game Bar provides users with a gaming overlay that is packed with many features allowing gamers to record their gameplay, capture screenshots/videos, join Xbox game parties, check the statistics of your components, and look for other players, among many more.
But for users who don’t enjoy online gaming or joining Xbox game parties, the Game Bar doesn’t provide a lot of functionality and, in certain cases, can even produce glitches at times and even slow down the system, which is the reason why users look for ways to disable it.
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How To Disable Xbox Game Bar On Windows 11?
Luckily, unlike some other features available on Windows 11, the Xbox Game Bar can be easily disabled by just following one of the following methods. To make things easier, we have laid out all the steps for each of these methods that allow users to disable the Xbox Game Bar on Windows 11 easily.
- Using Windows 11 Settings
- Using Windows 11 Powershell
- Using Windows 11 Registry Editor
- Using Windows 11 Group Policy
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Using Windows 11 Settings
The easiest and most straightforward method to disable the Xbox Game Bar is to do it through the Windows 11 settings menu, a method that worked for YouTuber Tech Tips as well. But to carry this out, users need to disable the Game DVR option first.
Here are the steps to get it done:
- Begin by pressing the Windows key and typing Settings, then open it.
- Inside the Settings app, navigate to the Gaming section.
- Head to the Gaming section and select Captures.
Open Captures Tab (Image By Tech4Gamers) - Disable the Record what happened toggle switch.
- Return to the Gaming options and choose Xbox Game Bar.
- Lastly, switch off the toggle for Open Xbox Game Bar using this button on a controller.
Toggle Off Xbox Game Bar (Image By Tech4Gamers)
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Using Windows 11 Powershell
In case you can’t do it through the settings menu, worry not, as there are still other ways. The next method on the list is using the Windows 11 Powershell command line tool, which worked out for Kyle_Necrowolf on Reddit as well since he mentioned it in his comment on Reddit.
Here are the steps that you can follow to execute this effortlessly:
- Begin by pressing the Windows key on your keyboard. Type PowerShell and then right-click on it, selecting Run as Administrator. Confirm with Yes in the prompt.
- In the PowerShell window, input or copy and paste the first command provided and press Enter.
“dism /Online /Get-ProvisionedAppxPackages | Select-String PackageName | Select-String xbox”Enter Command (Image By Tech4Gamers) - Next, input or copy and paste the second command provided and press Enter.
“dism /Online /Get-ProvisionedAppxPackages | `Select-String PackageName | `Select-String xbox | `ForEach-Object {$_.Line.Split(‘:’)[1].Trim()} | `ForEach-Object { dism /Online /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:$_}”Enter Second Command (Image By Tech4Gamers) - To uninstall Xbox packages, input or copy and paste the final command provided and press Enter.“Get-ProvisionedAppxPackage -Online | `Where-Object { $_.PackageName -match “xbox”} | `ForEach-Object { Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage -Online -AllUsers -PackageName $_.PackageName }”
Enter Last Command (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Using Windows 11 Registry Editor
Another method to remove the Xbox Game Bar on Windows 11 is to use the Registry Editor. This method has been tested by AcidLoLegends on Reddit and has worked for them as well.
Here’s how to do it:
- Start by pressing the Windows key on your keyboard. Type Registry Editor and right-click on it, then choose Run as Administrator. Confirm by selecting Yes in the prompt.
- In the Registry Editor, go to the top address bar and input the following address: Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GameDVR. After that, press Enter.
Head To Respective Directory (Image By Tech4Gamers) - Inside the GameDVR folder, locate the AppCaptureEnabled option in the right pane.
Locate Respective File (Image By Tech4Gamers) - Double-click on the AppCaptureEnabled option, enter “0” in the Value data field, and click OK.
Change Respective Value (Image By Tech4Gamers)
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Using Windows 11 Group Policy
The last method on the list to disable the Xbox Game Bar on Windows 11 is by using the Group Policy since it can control Windows holistically and provide a permanent solution to the issue at hand. Silicophilic on YouTube also recommended this method, and it worked for their viewers as well.
Here are the steps to get it done:
- Begin by pressing the Windows key on your keyboard. Type gpedit and click to open it.
- Choose Computer Configuration within the Local Computer Policy.
Locate Local Computer Policy (Image By Tech4Gamers) - Look at the right pane and double-click on Administrative Templates.
Locate Administrative Templates (Image By Tech4Gamers) - Under Administrative Templates, select Windows Components.
Locate Windows Components (Image By Tech4Gamers) - Within Windows Components, find and click on Windows Game Recording and Broadcasting.
Locate Windows Game Recording and Broadcasting (Image By Tech4Gamers) - Inside the Windows Game Recording and Broadcasting section, locate the option that says Enables or disables Windows Game Recording and Broadcasting on the right side and double-click on it.
Locate Respective File (Image By Tech4Gamers) - Once the new window opens, choose the Disabled option. After this, press Apply and then hit OK.
Disable And Apply Changes (Image By Tech4Gamers)
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FAQs
The Xbox Game Bar provides an overlay to users, which lets them access different features like recording gameplay, capturing screenshots/videos, joining Xbox game parties, checking the statistics of your components, and looking for other players.
Although the Xbox Game Bar gives a lot of functionalities, in certain situations, it can produce glitches at times and even slow down the system, which is the reason why non-gaming users prefer to keep it disabled.
There are multiple ways to disable the Xbox Game Bar on Windows 11, and some of them include using the Settings menu, Powershell, Registry Editor, and the Group Policy on Windows 11.
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Dayan Shahid is a skilled mechanical engineer passionate about technology. With certifications in various programming languages and subjects ranging from microcontrollers to aerial robotics, Dayan can effortlessly present complex technical topics in an engaging way. His ability to bridge the gap between theory and practical applications sets him apart as he continues to inspire others through their insightful content.