The Xbox Game Bar in Windows can be an efficient gaming tool, especially for those who broadcast their games online.
But, it can also affect your computer’s performance and get in the way of your gaming experience.
If it’s slowing down your PC and you don’t really need it on your screen, you can uninstall it through PowerShell or a third-party uninstaller software, or disable it through the Windows settings.
What is Xbox Game Bar?
The Xbox game bar is a gaming overlay built into the Windows system.
The tool is customizable and designed to give access to a long list of functionalities without having to leave your game like capturing in-game clips, live streaming your gameplay or take screenshots.
You can even log into your Spotify account via the game bar to play music during extensive gaming sessions and check your computer’s performance.
But, if you don’t need any of its tools or you’re using a better screen recording software, you probably don’t want the app to run in the background and potentially cause you performance issues and even crashes.
Even if you use it, you might want to pause its functions if a Windows update goes wrong and renders it obsolete until the next update comes down the pipe.
Why Can’t I Uninstall Xbox Game Bar?
Unfortunately, Microsoft users who want to uninstall Xbox Game Bar have a hard time deleting the app from their PC.
That’s because the game bar is a system application, which essentially means that if you go to the Add or remove programs section in Settings, you’ll find that Microsoft has greyed out the Xbox Game Bar Uninstall button.
Luckily, there is a way to delete the Xbox Game Bar from your PC.
How To Uninstall Xbox Game Bar
Although it would take a bit more time and effort than simply clicking the “Uninstall” button, there are ways you can remove Xbox Game Bar.
Here’s how to do that:
1. PowerShell
The best way to remove the Xbox Game Bar is via PowerShell.
PowerShell is a configuration management platform from Microsoft that consists of a command line and scripting language.
To open the program:
- Press the Windows Start button and search for “PowerShell.”
- Right-click on it and select Run as administrator.
- When the Windows PowerShell command bar opens, enter the following code to see the packages that are on your system:
| dism /Online /Get-ProvisionedAppxPackages | Select-String PackageName | Select-String xbox |
- You can then uninstall the Xbox game bar windows 10 or 11 via DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) or cmdlet commands:
- DISM version
| dism /Online /Get-ProvisionedAppxPackages | ` Select-String PackageName | ` Select-String xbox | ` ForEach-Object {$_.Line.Split(‘:’)[1].Trim()} | ` ForEach-Object { dism /Online /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:$_} |
- cmdlet version
| Get-ProvisionedAppxPackage -Online | ` Where-Object { $_.PackageName -match “xbox” } | ` ForEach-Object { Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage -Online -PackageName $_.PackageName } |
You can also remove Xbox packages for other users by adding the -AllUsers parameter to the command. It should look like this:
| Get-ProvisionedAppxPackage -Online | ` Where-Object { $_.PackageName -match “xbox” } | ` ForEach-Object { Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage -Online -AllUsers -PackageName $_.PackageName } |
- Once you’re done, check if the Xbox packages are gone by running the first command in the Command Prompt:
| dism /Online /Get-ProvisionedAppxPackages | Select-String PackageName | Select-String xbox |
If PowerShell doesn’t show any results, then you’ve successfully removed the Xbox Game Bar from your PC.
If you can’t uninstall the Xbox Game Bar with that command, you can also try the following command to uninstall the Xbox Game Bar on Windows 11 or 10:
| Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay | Remove-AppxPackage |
| 📝Note: Before you start dabbling into PowerShell, it’s best to create a system restore point, in case things go wrong. |
Third-Party Software
If you don’t want to resort to PowerShell or the commands don’t work on your computer, you can uninstall the game bar with the help of an uninstaller app.
These apps are designed to remove the software from your computer that your OS doesn’t allow you to uninstall. Although there are plenty of uninstallers on the market, they work in a similar fashion.
Typically, you would need to:
- Launch the app.
- Find and click on Xbox Game Bar.
- Click Remove or Uninstall.
- Restart your computer.
How To Remove Xbox Game Bar
If you’re not looking to permanently delete the Xbox Game Bar from your PC, you can simply disable it.
Here’s how to get rid of the Xbox Game Bar without uninstalling the app.
How To Remove Xbox Game Bar On Windows 10
If you have an Xbox controller connected to your Windows PC, you can bring up the Xbox game bar by pressing the Xbox button.
The Windows key + G shortcut on your keyboard does the same.
To disable the shortcut:
- Open the Start Menu and go to Windows Settings or press the Windows key and I on your keyboard.
- Type “Xbox Game Bar” in the search box.
- Uncheck the box next to the “Open Xbox Game Bar using this button on a controller” option.
To disable background access:
- Open Windows Settings.
- Find the Xbox Game Bar Settings.
- Toggle the switch to disable the Xbox Game Bar.
How To Remove Xbox Game Bar On Windows 11
You can also disable the shortcut to the game bar and disable the app from running in the background on Windows 11.
To disable the shortcut:
- Open the Start Menu and select Settings.
- Click on Gaming from the left column and select Xbox Game Bar on the right.
- Toggle the switch to turn off the shortcut.
To disable background access:
- Open the Settings menu again.
- Select Apps on the left and on the right, click the Apps & features option.
- Type “Xbox” in the App list field to find the Xbox Game Bar.
- Click the three dots next to it and select Advanced options.
- Scroll down to the Background apps permissions and select Never from the dropdown menu.
- Scroll down a bit further and click Terminate to stop the app from running in the background.
How To Reinstall Xbox Game Bar
The Xbox Game Bar is easier to install than to delete, regardless of whether you used PowerShell to remove the Xbox Game Bar or a third-party app.
To reinstall the Xbox Game Bar on your PC:
- Visit the Microsoft Store from the Start Menu.
- Find the “Xbox Game Bar.” The fastest way to find it is to use the search bar.
- Open the tool and click on Get to complete installation.
- Once the program is installed, restart your computer.
| If you have an Xbox, you might be interested in: |
Bottom Line
If you’re wondering how to uninstall the Xbox Game Bar, you can do that via the PowerShell program on your Windows PC. Alternatively, you can simply disable the app on your computer in the Xbox Game Bar settings to prevent it from running in the background.
Timeline Of The Article
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Deyan is an avid enthusiast and self-proclaimed fan of the Windows operating system. His passion for discovering new functionalities and hidden gems within Windows drives his insatiable curiosity and fuels his desire to share his findings with others. As an avid writer, Deyan frequently shares his expertise through articles that provide tips and tricks to optimize the Windows experience.