How To Enable / Disable Game Bar in Windows 10

The Xbox Game Bar in Windows 10 offers quick access to recording, chatting, and gaming features. If you prefer to manage or remove it, here are the steps to enable, disable, or uninstall the Game Bar.

Enable or Disable via Windows Registry Editor

1. Press Windows Key + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Navigate to:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GameDVR
   Look for the key AppCaptureEnabled.
3. Or navigate to:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\System\GameConfigStore
   Look for the key GameDVR_Enabled.
4. Set the value to 1 to enable the Game Bar, or 0 to disable it.

Enable or Disable via Settings

1. Press Windows Key + I to open the Settings app.
2. Select Gaming from the menu.
3. Click Xbox Game Bar in the sidebar.
4. Turn on or off the switch labeled Enable Xbox Game Bar for things like recording game clips, chatting with friends, and receiving game invites.
5. Check or uncheck Allow your controller to open Game Bar as needed.

Manage Game Bar System Components

1. Open Settings and select System from the sidebar.
2. Click System components.
3. Locate Game Bar and click the app entry.
4. Select Advanced options.
5. Under Background apps permissions, turn the switch on or off.
6. Scroll down to Terminate and click the button to stop the app immediately.

Note: In older versions of Windows 10, the Xbox Game Bar is listed under Apps > Installed apps.

Uninstall the Game Bar Completely

1. Open Windows PowerShell as Administrator (search for it in the Start menu).
2. Enter the following command and press Enter:
   Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay | Remove-AppxPackage
3. Restart your PC for the changes to take effect.

With these options, you can decide whether to keep the Game Bar active, limit its background activity, or remove it entirely. Windows 10 gives you full control over how this feature integrates with your system.

By managing or uninstalling the Game Bar, you can streamline your Windows 10 experience and ensure your PC runs exactly the way you prefer.