Xbox Game Bar Not Working in Windows 11/10 – How to Start Recording

Xbox Game Bar helps gamers record gameplay, connect with other players, and stream it online. This is why gamers face issues when the Game Bar is buggy or stops recording. Luckily, there are different ways to troubleshoot the Xbox Game Bar’s inability to record, and we will discuss them in this post.

Query – I used the Xbox Game Bar to record the game, and I was pretty happy with it until today when it just stopped recording. I tried freeing up space, updating Windows and the Game Bar App, and using Alt+ R + Windows key and Windows + G to record. Also, I have reset and repaired the app, but nothing is working. I have even watched YouTube videos but have had no luck; it would be great if someone could help me.

Resolution – We understand finding Game Bar is refusing to open can be frustrating. However, as you mentioned, you have already tried some fixes, but nothing has worked. We suggest you close the game, relaunch it, and try to record it. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
2. Click the Processes tab > look for Broadcast bar sever (bcastdvr.exe) process.
3. Select it > End Task.
4. Restart your game and try to use Game Bar to record it.

In addition to this, ensure that you set up the Game Bar correctly. However, if nothing works, we have mentioned several other ways below to fix the Xbox game bar not working. Please follow them and see if it works.

Why Does The Xbox Game Bar Video Capture Not Working Error Occur?

As Game Bar’s new addition to Windows 10/11 pin, pinpointing the exact reason is difficult. However, the error usually appears due to incorrect Game Bar settings, full-screen recording, registry settings, and:

• The Xbox game bar Settings might have been misconfigured.
• There might be a conflict within the registry Settings.
• Corrupt or missing system files related to the Xbox app.
• Outdated drivers.
• Incompatible hardware
• Unsupported games.
• The shortcut key Windows + G is changed or is not working.
• Game Bar does not support recording games in full screen.
• Third-party software running in the background or Windows updates might have disabled the game bar.

How To Fix Xbox Game Bar Not Working to Record Screen

There are a few expert-recommended troubleshooting steps that can help fix Xbox game bar video capture not working on Windows. Let’s implement them to fix the issue.

Things to keep in mind before troubleshooting – Before trying the fixes, ensure you are running the latest version of Windows and all Windows updates are installed. The game is not running in full-screen mode, as the Game Bar won’t open. However, press the Win + Alt + R keys if you want to record in full screen. The system meets hardware requirements. This means the PC video card must support: Intel Quick Sync H.264 or later NVIDIA NVENC AMD VCE You may need to download additional software if you are a Windows N edition user. To download it, click – Media Feature Pack list for Windows N editions.

Method 1: Enable Xbox Game Bar

1. Press Windows + I to open Windows settings.
2. On Windows 11, in the left pane, you will find the Gaming option.
3. Click on it and go to Xbox Game Bar settings.
4. Windows 11 users can see the “Open Xbox Game Bar using this button on a controller” option. Enable it by sliding the toggle bar to the right.
5. Now, use the Windows + G shortcut key or the highlighted button on the Xbox controller to bring up the Game Bar and record games.

Method 2 – Enable Gaming Captures

If gaming capture is disabled, then you will not be able to record games. Hence, the first step is to ensure that the feature is enabled. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Press Windows + I to open Windows settings.
2. Click Gaming > Captures > Look for the Record what happened option and enable it. You will find it under Recording Preferences.

Method 3: Update Windows and Game Bar

If your system meets minimum hardware requirements for Game Bar and you still face Game Bar greyed recording problem, update Windows and Game Bar and ensure that the graphics driver is up to date.

Read the post to learn how to update graphics drivers.

To check for Windows updates, press Windows + I > Windows Update > Check for updates.

If an update is available, it will be automatically downloaded.

You will get the Download and Install button. Click on it and follow the on-screen instructions to update Windows.

Method 4 – Verify The Xbox App Settings

One of the main causes of the problems with Game Bar is a change in the Xbox app’s settings. Let’s check and make the required changes to the Xbox app settings.

Step 1: Launch the Xbox app and click on the menu on the left to open Settings.
Step 2: Click on the Game DVR tab.

Step 3: Locate Visit Windows Settings to adjust Game DVR settings and click on it.
Step 4: Next, select the Game bar and ensure the options to record games and take screenshots are enabled.
Step 5: Check the box labeled Open Game Bar using this button on a controller.

Read Also: How to Take Scrolling Screenshot in Windows 11, 10

Method 5 – Check Background Apps and Permissions

When the settings are misconfigured, or their access is restricted, encountering Xbox Game Bar can’t record is common. To fix it, run Xbox Game Bar as an admin or check for background running applications that might interfere.

To close unnecessary apps, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc, look for the processes running, and close the ones that are not required.

Next, check for Camera and Microphone permission.

Go to Windows Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Game Bar > App permissions.

Method 6: Make Changes In The Windows Registry

The next method to fix the Xbox game bar screen recording not working is to make some changes in the Windows Registry. Make sure to follow every step as mentioned below:

Step 1: Press Win + R to open the RUN box.
Step 2: Type “regedit” and click on the OK button.

Step 3: Copy the following path and paste it into the address bar of your Windows Registry.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GameDVR

Step 4: Locate AppCaptureEnabled DWORD and right-click on it to select Modify. Change the value to “0”.

Step 5: Copy the following path and paste it into the Xbox app.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\System\GameConfigStore

Step 6: Locate the registry key GameDVR_Enabled and right-click on it to choose Modify.  Change the value to “1”.

Step 7: Exit the Registry Editor and restart your computer.

Method 7: Check Game Bar Storage

If the storage space to save the recording is insufficient, where will the recording be saved? Go to the default address where Game Bar saved recordings C:\Users\user name\Videos\Captures and see if there is sufficient space available.

Method 8: Repair the ieframe.dll file

1. Run Command Prompt as an administrator.
2. Type the following commands. Ensure you press Enter after entering each command:

sfc /scanfile=c:\windows\system32\ieframe.dll

sfc /verifyfile=c:\windows\system32\ieframe.dll

assoc

sfc /scannow

3. Restart your PC, and the Xbox Game Bar should work now.

Method 9: Use Local Group Policy Editor to Enable the Xbox Game Bar

1. Press Win + R to open the Run window > type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
2. Go to Local Computer Policy > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Game Recording and Broadcasting.
3. Double-click on Windows Game Recording and Broadcasting in the right pane and select Enabled.
4. Click Apply > OK to save changes.

Read Also: How to Record Xbox One Gameplay for YouTube

Method 10: Repair And Reset The Xbox Game Bar App

Moving forward, to fix the Xbox Game Bar not working, we suggest you first repair and then reset the Xbox Game Bar app. Here is how to do just that:

Step 1: Press Windows + I to open Windows Settings, then click on the Apps tab in the left panel.
Step 2: Next, click on Installed Apps in the right section.

Step 3: Your screen will be populated with a list of apps installed on your PC. Type Xbox in the search bar at the top and locate the Xbox app among the search results.
Step 4: Click on the three dots next to the Xbox app to reveal the context menu and choose Advanced Options.

Step 5: Scroll down until you reach the reset section. Click on the Repair button first and check if the issue has been resolved.

Step 6: If not, click the Reset button. The Xbox app will be restored to its default settings, causing you to lose all your customized settings.

Method 11: Reinstall The Xbox App

The next step in fixing the game bar screen recorder’s failure is reinstalling the Xbox app using the Powershell tool.

Step 1: Press Win + X to open the Power Menu.
Step 2: Select Terminal (admin), and the PowerShell window will open in admin mode.

Step 3: Copy and paste the following command and hit Enter to execute it.

get-appxpackage -allusers *xboxapp* | Remove-AppxPackage

Step 4: The Xbox app is now completely uninstalled from your PC.
Step 5: Press Win + S to open the Windows Search box and type Microsoft Store.
Step 6: Click on the relevant result under best match to launch the Microsoft Store.
Step 7: Type Xbox in the search bar on the very top to find the Xbox app and click on the install button.
Step 8: Follow the onscreen instructions to install the Xbox app on your PC.

Writer’s Tip – If Nothing Works, Use An Alternative App to Record Game

If the Xbox game bar screen recording is still not working, we recommend using an alternative screen recorder, Advanced Screen Recorder, to record your gaming sessions and capture screenshots. We have been using this one of the best screen recorders for Windows for quite some time now and find it to be a fantastic tool. You can judge all about the tool just by looking at the features it offers to its users.

Record in 4k resolution in .mp4, flv, and other formats.	Record full screen, selected region, or active window.	Record with or without audio.
Create and add a personalized watermark.	Reform footage from the webcam.	Capture a full or partial screenshot, including scrolling ones.
Use a microphone to record the voiceover.	Auto Stop & Auto Split recording based on time and size	Broadcast your captures to a live audience over YouTube and Facebook.
Automatically Schedule Recording to capture webinars, online classes, and more.	Upload your recorded content to Dropbox, Google Drive, and One Drive.	Does not consume many resources as it is a lightweight tool.
Denoise your recorded video to remove unwanted sounds.	Compress recorded video to reduce size.	Annotate videos while recording.

Here are the steps to use this tool:

Step 1: Download and install Advanced Screen Recorder using the below button.

Step 2: Launch the software and click on the mode you wish to record.

Step 3: Click on the Record button.

Step 4: You will be able to see an audio customization window. Choose the relevant options and click on the Start Recording button.

Step 5: A three-second timer will be displayed, after which your screen capture will begin. The floating bar with a pen icon can annotate text while recording.

Step 6: The relevant buttons on the small menu bar allow you to pause and stop recording anytime. Whenever necessary, click the camera icon on the bar to take screenshots.

Step 7: The recording will be saved automatically after the user hits the red square (Stop) button. You can navigate to the recording section to view all the recorded content.

Did You Fix the Xbox Game Bar Not Working On Windows?

The Xbox game bar screen recording not working on Windows can be very frustrating, especially for gamers who regularly record gaming sessions to create content for their YouTube channels. We hope the above fixes will help you resolve this issue. As a quick fix, we recommend using Advanced Screen Recorder, which offers more features than the Xbox Game Bar. Moreover, we suggest re-registering the Xbox Game Bar and reverting to Windows Update if the issue starts after updating Windows.

Note – The above fixes will help resolve –

• The Xbox Game Bar shortcut is not working
• The Xbox Game Bar keeps turning off.
• Game DVR stopped working for Windows 10 users.
• Game Bar is unable to open up on Steam.
• Game Bar is not recording anything and is not working on Windows 10/11.
• The Xbox Game Bar is not opening with the controller and working properly.
• The recording isn’t working Error: 2147942523

Q. How do I restore my Xbox game bar?

Press the Win + G to restore the Xbox game bar after configuring all the settings and completing the above troubleshooting steps.

I am trying to record my desktop with Xbox Game Bar, but the recording is greyed out or unavailable. How can I solve the problem?

Please note that the Xbox Game Bar does not support recording on desktops or File Explorer. Therefore, you see it greyed out.