How to Fix Xbox Game Bar Not Opening: Easy Guide

Is the Xbox Game Bar not opening on your PC? When you press the Windows key and G together, the Game Bar interface should pop up, ready to record. If you don't see this, you can easily troubleshoot it. Here's what to do when your Xbox Game Bar is not opening on Windows 10 or Windows 11.

Why Won't the Xbox Game Bar Open?

If the Xbox Game Bar is not opening, you may have an outdated version, outdated drivers, or corrupt files. To fix this, make sure you're running Windows 10 22H2 or newer, close any Command windows, and check if it's enabled in your Windows settings.

1

Check Windows Version

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Make sure you're running a supported version of Windows. As of October 2024, you must have Windows 10 22H2 or newer for the Xbox app to work properly.^{[1]
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Research source} To check your current version, do the following:
- Click the Start menu and select Settings.
- Click System.
- Click About.
- Click Windows Specifications.
- Click Version.

2

Restart Your Computer

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Before troubleshooting your computer, restart it fully. This can fix minor software bugs.
- To open the Xbox Game Bar, press the Windows key and G at the same time. You can also enter "Xbox Game Bar" into the Start menu and open it there.
- If the Xbox Game Bar still does not open, proceed to the next step.

3

Close Command Windows

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Command windows are the windows you see when you open the Command Prompt. If you have any of these windows open, it may prevent other apps from functioning properly.
- If you don't see any Command windows on your taskbar, right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager. Check for any hidden Command windows in the Processes tab. If you see one, select it, and then click End task.

4

Check Windows Settings

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Make sure you have the Xbox Game Bar enabled in your settings. It may have been turned off due to a privacy feature or update. To check if it is enabled, do the following:
- Click the Start menu and select Settings.
- Click Gaming.
- Click Game Bar.
- Toggle on Allow your controller to open Game Bar.

5

Change Display Settings

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If the Xbox Game Bar doesn't open for a certain game, try switching the game to another display option. For example, if you play in full-screen, try using borderless window mode. Once the new display setting is applied, try opening the Game Bar again.

6

Check Graphics Drivers

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Outdated graphic drivers can affect your device's ability to record gameplay properly. To check if your drivers are up-to-date, do the following:
- Right-click the Start menu.
- Select Device Manager.
- Click the > next to Display adapters.
- Right-click your graphics driver.
- Click Update driver.
- Click Search automatically for drivers.
- Click Update Drivers.

7

Repair the Apps

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Try repairing the Xbox Game Bar app. If it was working in the past, it may have become corrupted. This is different from resetting the app, which will delete the app's data. You'll need to do this for both the Xbox app and the Gaming Services app. To repair it, do the following:
- Open the Start menu and select Settings.
- Click Apps.
- Click Installed apps.
- Find Xbox and click the three dots on the left.
- Click Advanced options.
- Scroll down and click Repair.
- Return to Installed apps.
- Find Gaming Services and click the three dots on the left.
- Click Advanced options.
- Scroll down and click Repair.

8

Reset the Game Bar

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If repairing the apps didn't work, you can try resetting it. Keep in mind this will delete the apps' data, and you'll need to log into any accounts again. You'll need to do this for both the Xbox app and the Gaming Services app. To reset the app, do the following:
- Open the Start menu and select Settings.
- Click Apps.
- Click Installed apps.
- Find Xbox and click the three dots on the left.
- Click Advanced options.
- Scroll down and click Reset.
- Return to Installed apps.
- Find Gaming Services and click the three dots on the left.
- Click Advanced options.
- Scroll down and click Reset.

9

Check for Corruption

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If the Xbox Game Bar is still not opening, you may have corrupted files in other locations on your device. You can use Windows utility tools to scan your files.^{[2]
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Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.

Go to source} Do the following:
- Click the Start menu and type "cmd".
- Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
- Click Allow if necessary.
- Type DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth and press Enter.
- When complete, open a new Command Prompt window.
- Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
- Restart your computer.