Bug - Game Bar cannot be completely disabled

Question

Every time I connect a game controller to my PC (wired or wireless) I get the following message:

The game bar is turned off; game mode is off; I've completely removed the Xbox app and Microsoft Store. There is no reason why this should still be popping up. I even renamed GameBarPresenseWriter.exe, GamePanel.exe, and gameux.dll. There needs to be a way to disable these internal Microsoft Store autorun-style links.

Edition Windows 11 Pro
Version 22H2
OS build 22621.1105

Answer 1

Hi,

I tried registry edits from the Reddit post, but they didn't fix the problem. As for the other two links, it looks like those commands would reinstall ALL Microsoft apps/features which is not an option (Microsoft has lost the trust of privacy conscious users with its built-in spyware).

Looking at the defaults settings, I see an "XBOX-TCUI" link type, but there is no apparent way to set this to do nothing. If I click it, I only have the option to set it to the already default app "Xbox Game UI". How can I get this link to do nothing?

Also, I haven't "hacked" out any features. I simply used the package manager that is built into Windows to remove unnecessary and privacy infringing features. If the package manager has failed to correctly remove components and left behind broken bits of these components; that is a bug, wouldn't you agree?

Answer 2

I have this exact same problem and it's annoying me so much. I disabled and uninstalled Gamebar as I have no use for it to be running in the background, yet I still get the "We can't open this MS Gamebar link" message every time I connect my controller.

I have tried every single method in this post and across the internet, not a single one has worked.

I came to the same conclusion as synthc when he said this: "Tell me if there is any way to disable these autorun links. Disabling the "XBOX-TCUI" link may fix this issue, but the Default Apps configurator is not full featured and does not allow making an app NOT default.".

I will be keeping an eye on this thread as it is an incredibly annoying oversight.

Answer 3

I know what is causing the problem (inability to disable the Xbox Game Bar link activation). Most of these steps I've already done; and I know that none of remaining steps will fix this problem aside from (possibly) a repair/fresh install of Windows, which I'm not willing to do for the aforementioned reasons.

I'm pretty sure what is happening is that under normal circumstances (on non-customized Windows 11 installations), the Game Bar autorun always triggers when you connect a controller. If the Game Bar exists, it handles the link and does nothing (if it's turned off); but if the Game Bar is removed, this causes an error. This is, at the very least, short-sighted design; if not an outright bug.

There are two reasons why I say this is a bug:

1. Autorun links should be disabled when their corresponding app/feature is removed. Or at the very least, it should be possible to manually disable them. Cleaning up dead links is a basic and expected task when removing software.
2. The Game Bar fails to install with the following command:
   "Get-AppXPackage *Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay* -AllUsers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}"

What you can still do to help me with this:

1. Report this bug to Microsoft. I have no Feedback Hub (pressing Win + F does nothing). There needs to be other channels of communications with the developers.
2. Tell me if the above command is all that would be needed to reinstall the game bar, or if there are other prerequisites I still need to install.
3. Tell me if there is any way to disable these autorun links. Disabling the "XBOX-TCUI" link may fix this issue, but the Default Apps configurator is not full featured and does not allow making an app NOT default.

Answer 4

Hey, synthc if you're still interested I found a reddit post which gets rid of the ms-gamebar link notification all together. I've tried the method (The powershell reg lines listed by user "aveyo") and it works, with the caveat of your game controller light still staying slightly dimmer (as it used to when the notification used to pop up).

Link to the reddit post:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows11/comments/vm046d/is_there_any_way_to_remove_the_xbox_game_bar/

I am in no way telling you to try this, and bear no responsibility for your system, but just giving you a heads up to a possible option that has worked for me ;)

Answer 5

Hello synthc,

Good day! I'm John DeV a Windows user like you and I'll be happy to assist you today. I know this has been difficult for you, Rest assured, I'm going to do my best to help you.

Open and Run PowerShell(Admin)

Copy and paste the command below then press Enter

get-appxpackage *Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay* | remove-appxpackage

Restart your computer

Kindly let me know if this helps or if you have any further concerns.

Kind regards,

John DeV

Independent Advisor