How to Fix Xbox Game Bar Not Working on Windows 11/10

The Xbox Game Bar is a built-in feature in Windows 11 and Windows 10, allows users to record gameplay, take screenshots, monitor system performance, and chat with friends while gaming. However, some users may encounter issues where the Xbox Game Bar fails to open, does not record properly, or crashes unexpectedly. Well, there is several possible reasons Xbox Game Bar isn’t working, the Game bar is disabled in settings, corrupted app data, or conflicting software is common. In this article, we explore various troubleshooting methods to fix the Xbox Game Bar not working issue in Windows 11/10.

How to fix Xbox Game Bar Not Working

There are several possible reasons, why Xbox Game Bar is Not Working, the overlay that allows you to record game clips, take screenshots, and chat with friends is not functioning as expected.

• Game Bar Disabled – The Xbox Game Bar may be turned off in system settings.
• Corrupt or Missing System Files – Damaged files can prevent the feature from launching.
• Background Services Not Running – Essential Xbox services may not be active.
• Outdated or Incompatible Drivers – Graphics and audio drivers play a crucial role in Game Bar functionality.
• Conflicts with Third-Party Apps – Some overlay or recording software can interfere with Game Bar.
• Windows Updates Issues – A recent update might have caused compatibility problems.

Enable Xbox Game Bar in Settings

The Game Bar feature needs to be enabled in Windows settings to function properly. If the Xbox Game Bar is disabled, it will not open when pressing Win + G.

• Press Win + I to open Settings.
• Navigate to Gaming > Xbox Game Bar.
• Toggle Enable Xbox Game Bar for things like recording game clips, chatting with friends, and receiving game invites to On.
• Restart your computer and try opening the Game Bar using Win + G.

In addition, Game Mode optimizes Windows for gaming and can help resolve Game Bar issues by allocating system resources more efficiently.

• Open Settings > Gaming > Game Mode.
• Toggle Game Mode to On.
• Restart your computer and try opening the Game Bar.

Repair or Reset the Xbox Game Bar App

Corrupt app data can cause the Xbox Game Bar to stop working. Repairing or resetting the app clears issues without affecting other system functions and restores it to default settings.

• Open Settings by pressing Win + I.
• Navigate to Apps > Installed Apps (or Apps & features on Windows 10).
• Locate the Xbox Game Bar, and click Advanced options.
• Click Repair to fix minor issues. If the problem persists, click Reset.
• Restart your PC and check if the Game Bar is working.

Reinstall Xbox Game Bar Using PowerShell

If resetting doesn’t work, reinstalling the Xbox Game Bar may help by removing and reinstalling all related components.

• Press Win + X and select Windows Terminal (Admin).
• Type command, Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay | Remove-AppxPackage and press Enter:
• Restart your computer, Open the Microsoft Store, search for Xbox Game Bar, and click Install.

Now check if this helps fix the Xbox not working or crashes problem.

Tweak Registry Settings

Still need help, here is a registry tweak help most users fix the “Xbox Game Bar Not Working” Issue.

• Press Windows + R, type regedit, and ok to open the registry editor.
• Navigate to  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GameDVR
• Double-click the AppCaptureEnable file and set its value data 1
• Close the registry and restart windows, now check if this helps.

Note: If you didn’t find AppCaptureEnabled DWORD then right-click on GameDVR -> New -> DWORD (32-bit) value name it “AppCaptureEnabled”

Update Windows and Drivers

Again Outdated system files or drivers can cause compatibility issues with the Game Bar. Updating them ensures that all required components are functioning correctly.

Open Settings and go to Windows Update. Click Check for updates and install any pending updates.

To update graphics drivers:

• Press Win + X, and select Device Manager.
• Expand Display adapters and right-click your GPU.
• Select Update driver and choose Search automatically for drivers.

Restart your PC and test the Game Bar is working or not.

Disable Conflicting Third-Party Apps

Some overlay programs like Discord, MSI Afterburner, or NVIDIA GeForce Experience may interfere with Game Bar by overriding its functionality.

• Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
• Go to the Startup tab and disable any unnecessary programs.
• Restart your PC and check if the Game Bar opens.