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Remove Game Bar

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Works with Windows 10 and 11Works with Windows Vista, XP, 7, 8, 10, 11, and Windows Server 2008 or newer.
  • Single actionThis page belongs to a script, containing basic changes to achieve a task.
  • Windows onlyThis script improves your privacy on Windows
  • Impact: MediumSystem Functionality Loss Risk: Moderate
    This action improves privacy with minimal impact when you run the recommended script.
    This action improves privacy with some impact when you run the recommended script.
  • Batch (batchfile)These changes use Windows system commands to update your settings.
  • Fully reversible

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

    The restore/revert methods provided here can help you fix issues.

Overview​

This script removes Game Bar, Microsoft's built-in gaming overlay that collects user data.

Game Bar offers features like:

  • Screen capture and recording 1 2
  • Performance monitoring 2
  • Audio controls for games and apps 2
  • Access to Xbox social features and chat 2
  • Keyboard shortcuts 1 2 3
  • Spotify integration 2
  • Widget customization 2

These features collect and process user data, creating the following privacy concerns:

  • The screen recording feature stores your gameplay footage and screenshots 4.
  • Performance monitoring tracks detailed information about your system and hardware 4.
  • Voice chat and text communications are stored on Microsoft's servers 4.
  • The social features track your gaming activity, friends lists, and connections 4.
  • Game statistics and achievements are shared with game publishers 4.
  • Audio data is collected when using voice features, and widgets may share data with their respective service providers.
  • Even when you play games on non-Microsoft platforms like Steam and GOG, Game Bar tracks your gaming activity 5.
  • Camera and microphone data may be collected when these features are used 4.
  • The app tracks your usage patterns and system information 4 5 6.

Microsoft uses this collected data for:

  • Targeted advertising and promotional messages 4
  • Sharing with third-party game publishers and developers 4
  • Creating personalized gaming recommendations 4
  • Monitoring gameplay and enforcing rules 4
  • Game improvements and technical support 4
  • Marketing and public leaderboards 4

Microsoft and game publishers can track your behavior by creating a detailed profile of your gaming habits, social connections, and computer usage 4. Removing Game Bar stops this extensive data collection, protecting your privacy.

Game Bar requires extensive system permissions that create security risks:

  • Full system resource access 6
  • Camera and microphone access 4 6
  • Video and pictures library access 6
  • Administrator privileges 6
  • Network access (home and work networks) 6
  • Access to diagnostic information about other apps 6
  • Ability to manage other apps directly 6
  • Permission to gather information about other apps 6
  • Registry write permissions that persist after uninstall 6
  • Ability to control its own window behavior 6
  • Permission to start unconstrained execution sessions 6

Removing Game Bar reduces security risks by eliminating its extensive system access permissions. Game Bar's powerful system permissions make it an attractive target for attackers who could exploit its administrator access, network control, and ability to manage other apps. Its removal strengthens system security by eliminating these high-privilege access points.

Removing this app also improves system performance by:

  • Stopping background processes that run even when not gaming
  • Reducing system resource usage
  • Freeing up memory and disk space used by the overlay and its features

See also: Microsoft Store Page

Caution

Removing Game Bar will disable its features including screen recording, performance monitoring, and audio controls. Some Windows games may require Game Bar for certain features to work properly.

Technical Details​

Game Bar is the successor to the older Xbox Console Companion 7.

It is integrated into Microsoft's gaming infrastructure through the Game Development Kit (GDK) 8. The GDK is a unified development platform for building games on Windows and Xbox platforms 9. This integration means Game Bar is not just a standalone app, but a core component of Microsoft's broader gaming ecosystem.

The main Game Bar app and its plugin are distributed as two Store packages:

Package IDNameDescription
Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlayXbox Game Bar 10 11This is the main Game Bar app, found in store.
Microsoft.XboxGameOverlayXbox Game Bar Plugin 10 11This is supportive package.

This script uninstalls both these applications.

Overview of default preinstallation​

Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay:

This app comes pre-installed on certain versions of Windows 10 11 12 13 14 15.

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

Microsoft.XboxGameOverlay:

This app comes pre-installed on certain versions of Windows 10 11 12 16.

OSVersionExistence
Windows 1019H2✅
Windows 1020H2✅
Windows 1021H2✅
Windows 1022H2✅
Windows 1121H2✅
Windows 1122H2✅
Windows 1123H2✅
Use with Caution

This script is only recommended if you understand its implications.

Some non-critical or features may no longer function correctly after running this script.

This script can be fully reversed to restore changes if something goes wrong.

Sources
PrivacyLearn.com maintains strict sourcing standards for accuracy, integrity and up-to-date content. Our content relies on authoritative sources including vendor documentation, industry standards, and verified research. Learn more about our verification process and quality standards in our editorial standards page.

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Help

How to apply or restore "Remove Game Bar" using script​

  • ≈ 2 min to complete
  • Tools: Web Browser
  • Difficulty: Simple
  • ≈ 5 instructions
  1. 1

    Download

    Download the script file by clicking on the   Apply protection  button above.
    Use   Undo protection button above to restore changes.
  2. 2

    Keep the file

    If warned by your browser, keep the file.
  3. 3

    Open

    Open the downloaded file.
  4. 4

    Exit

    Once it's done, press any key to exit the window.
  5. 5

    Restart

    Restart your computer for all changes to take effect.

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How to apply or restore "Remove Game Bar" using privacy.sexy​

  • ≈ 3 min to complete
  • Tools: privacy.sexy
  • Difficulty: Simple
  • ≈ 4 instructions
privacy.sexy is free and open-source application that lets securely apply this action easily with more advanced options.
  1. 1

    Open or download

    Open or download the desktop application
  2. 2

    Choose script

    1. Search for the script name: Remove Game Bar
    2. Check the script by clicking on the checkbox.
  3. 3

    Run

    Click on ▶️ Run button at the bottom of the page.

    This button only appears on desktop version (recommended). On browser, use 💾 Save button.

Run commands​

Copy and run commands manually Requires technical knowledge
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)"^""; }"
:: Uninstall 'Microsoft.XboxGameOverlay' Store app
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "Get-AppxPackage 'Microsoft.XboxGameOverlay' | Remove-AppxPackage"
:: Mark 'Microsoft.XboxGameOverlay' as deprovisioned to block reinstall during Windows updates.
:: Create "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.XboxGameOverlay_8wekyb3d8bbwe" registry key
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "$keyPath='HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\Microsoft.XboxGameOverlay_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)"^""; }"
Help

How to apply or restore "Remove Game Bar" using commands​

  • ≈ 2 min to complete
  • Tools: Command Prompt
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • ≈ 3 instructions
 View step-by-step guide with screenshots
  1. 1

    Open Command Prompt

    Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
  2. 2

    Copy code

    Copy the code:
    Copy Apply Code Copy Revert Code
  3. 3

    Paste & run

    Paste the commands into Command Prompt and press Enter to run.

    Some changes require a system restart to take effect

Similar Guides​

Wider Goal​

Guides below includes this guide to achieve a wider goal.See other more general settings that includes this one as one of its actions.
These plans combine multiple privacy settings, including this one, for stronger protection.
This category removes Xbox-related applications and disables associated services from Windows to enhance privacy and system performance. Xbox application...

— Remove Xbox

Same Goal​

Other guides in Remove Xbox See settings that are in the same category as this guide.
Using other actions in the same category may help you achieve your goal better.
See all 9 guides

About the Creators​

These people have authored this documentation and written its scripts:

  • Avatar of undergroundwires. The creator of PrivacyLearn and privacy.sexy. Black and white portrait showing a person wearing a polka dot tie and suit jacket, reflecting the professional expertise behind the privacy protection tools.
    • Certified security professional
    • 7+ years experience securing banks
    • Open-source developer since 2005
    • EU advisor, Public Speaker, Moderator
    • Hundreds across the globe
    • Testers, reviewers, developers
    • Companies, military agencies
    • Community since 2017
About Us

Reviewed By​

This guide has undergone comprehensive auditing and peer review:

  • Expert review by undergroundwires​

    • Verified technical accuracy and editorial standards
    • Assessed system impact and user privacy risks
    • Audited and verified using automated security tests

  • Public review by large community​

    • Privacy enthusiasts and professionals peer-reviewed
    • Millions of end-users tested across different environments
    • Audited and verified using third-party security software

History​

We continually monitor our guides, their impact and other potential privacy options. We update our guides when new information becomes available. On every update, we publicly store who made the change, what has been changed, why the change was made and when the change was made.

Review Change History Our Change Process