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Remove "Xbox Game Bar" app

Overview​

About this script

This script improves your privacy on Windows.

These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.

Microsoft Store Page

This app comes pre-installed on certain versions of Windows 1 2.

It's part of Microsoft Game Development Kit (GDK) 3.

Overview of default preinstallation​

OSVersionExistence
Windows 1019H2✅
Windows 1020H2✅
Windows 1021H2✅
Windows 1022H2✅
Windows 1121H2✅
Windows 1122H2✅
Windows 1123H2✅

This script uses Batch (batchfile) scripting language.

Safe for General Use

This script is recommended for all users. It helps to improve privacy without affecting stability.

Implementation Details

  • Language: batch

  • Required Privileges: Administrator rights

  • Compatibility: Windows only

  • Reversibility: Can be undone using provided revert script

Explore Categories​

This action belongs to Remove Xbox apps category. This category contains scripts designed to uninstall specific Windows apps related to Xbox. Uninstalling these apps may enhance system performance and privacy, as fewer apps are running in the background, accessing personal data or utilizing system resources. If you're not using these services... Read more on category page ▶

Apply now​

Choose one of three ways to apply:

  1. Automatically via privacy.sexy: The easiest and safest option.
  2. Manually by downloading: Requires downloading a file.
  3. Manually by copying: Advanced flexibility.

Alternative 1. Apply with Privacy.sexy​

privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily.

Open privacy.sexy

You can fully restore this action (revert back to the original behavior) using the application.

privacy.sexy instructions
  1. Open or download the desktop application
  2. Search for the script name: Remove "Xbox Game Bar" app.
  3. Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
  4. Click on Run button at the bottom of the page.

Alternative 2. Download​

Irreversible Changes

This script is irreversible, meaning there is no straightforward method to restore changes once applied. Exercise caution before running, restoring it may not be possible.

  1. Download the script file by clicking on the button below:

    Download script

  2. Run the script file by clicking on it.

Download revert script​

This file restores your system to its original state, before this script is applied.

Download restore script

Alternative 3. Copy​

This is for advanced users. Consider automatically applying or downloading the script for simpler way.

  1. Open Command Prompt as administrator.
HELP: Step-by-step guide

  1. Click on Start menu

  2. Type cmd

  3. Right click on Command Prompt select Run as administrator

  4. Click on Yes to run Command Prompt

Animation showing how to open terminal as administrator on Windows 11

  1. Copy the following code:
Code to apply changes
:: Uninstall 'Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay' Store app
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "Get-AppxPackage 'Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay' | Remove-AppxPackage"
:: Mark 'Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay' as deprovisioned to block reinstall during Windows updates.
:: Create "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay_8wekyb3d8bbwe" registry key
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$keyPath='HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay_8wekyb3d8bbwe'; $registryHive = $keyPath.Split('\')[0]; $registryPath = "^""$($registryHive):$($keyPath.Substring($registryHive.Length))"^""; if (Test-Path $registryPath) { Write-Host "^""Skipping, no action needed, registry path `"^""$registryPath`"^"" already exists."^""; exit 0; }; try { New-Item -Path $registryPath -Force -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; Write-Host "^""Successfully created the registry key at path `"^""$registryPath`"^""."^""; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to create the registry key at path `"^""$registryPath`"^"": $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; }"
  1. Right click on command prompt to paste it.
  2. Press Enter to apply remaining code.

Copy restore code​

Copy and run the following code to restore changes:

Revert code
:: Reinstall 'Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay' if it was previously uninstalled
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$packageName='Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay'; $publisherId='8wekyb3d8bbwe'; if (Get-AppxPackage -Name $packageName) { Write-Host "^""Skipping, `"^""$packageName`"^"" is already installed for the current user."^""; exit 0; }; Write-Host "^""Starting the installation process for `"^""$packageName`"^""..."^""; <# Attempt installation using the manifest file #>; Write-Host "^""Checking if `"^""$packageName`"^"" is installed on another user profile..."^""; $packages = @(Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers $packageName); if (!$packages) { Write-Host "^""`"^""$packageName`"^"" is not installed on any other user profiles."^""; } else { foreach ($package in $packages) { Write-Host "^""Found package `"^""$($package.PackageFullName)`"^""."^""; $installationDir = $package.InstallLocation; if ([string]::IsNullOrWhiteSpace($installationDir)) { Write-Warning "^""Installation directory for `"^""$packageName`"^"" is not found or invalid."^""; continue; }; $manifestPath = Join-Path -Path $installationDir -ChildPath 'AppxManifest.xml'; try { if (-Not (Test-Path "^""$manifestPath"^"")) { Write-Host "^""Manifest file not found for `"^""$packageName`"^"" on another user profile: `"^""$manifestPath`"^""."^""; continue; }; } catch { Write-Warning "^""An error occurred while checking for the manifest file: $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; continue; }; Write-Host "^""Manifest file located. Trying to install using the manifest: `"^""$manifestPath`"^""..."^""; try { Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "^""$manifestPath"^"" -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host "^""Successfully installed `"^""$packageName`"^"" using its manifest file."^""; exit 0; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Error installing from manifest: $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; }; }; }; <# Attempt installation using the package family name #>; $packageFamilyName = "^""$($packageName)_$($publisherId)"^""; Write-Host "^""Trying to install `"^""$packageName`"^"" using its package family name: `"^""$packageFamilyName`"^"" from system installation..."^""; try { Add-AppxPackage -RegisterByFamilyName -MainPackage $packageFamilyName -ErrorAction Stop; Write-Host "^""Successfully installed `"^""$packageName`"^"" using its package family name."^""; exit 0; } catch { Write-Warning "^""Error installing using package family name: $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; }; throw "^""Unable to reinstall the requested package ($packageName). "^"" + "^""It appears to no longer be included in this version of Windows. "^"" + "^""You may search for it or an alternative in the Microsoft Store or "^"" + "^""consider using an earlier version of Windows where this package was originally provided."^"""
:: Remove 'Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay' from deprovisioned list to allow reinstall during updates.
:: Restore "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay_8wekyb3d8bbwe" registry key by deleting it
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$keyPath='HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay_8wekyb3d8bbwe'; $registryHive = $keyPath.Split('\')[0]; $registryPath = "^""$($registryHive):$($keyPath.Substring($registryHive.Length))"^""; Write-Host "^""Removing registry key at `"^""$registryPath`"^""."^""; if (-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $registryPath)) { Write-Host "^""Skipping, no action needed, registry key `"^""$registryPath`"^"" does not exist."^""; exit 0; }; try { Remove-Item -LiteralPath $registryPath -Force -ErrorAction Stop | Out-Null; Write-Host "^""Successfully removed the registry key at path `"^""$registryPath`"^""."^""; } catch { Write-Error "^""Failed to remove the registry key at path `"^""$registryPath`"^"": $($_.Exception.Message)"^""; }"

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