How to Disable MS Gamebar / Game Overlay popup

A step-by-step guide on how to remove this nuisance pop-up

How to Disable MS Gamebar / Game Overlay popup

Do you hate the ms-gamebar / ms-overlay popup?

Do you? Well then you're in the right place. This is how to remove it.

Disclaimer: Do this at your own risk. You have nothing to lose but a major inconvenience unless you do something wildly not-what-this-guide-instructs-you-to-do. No warranties, guarantees it'll work for you or that your computer won't erupt in flames are offered. End of disclaimer.

The code sections below contain the commands to copy-paste into the files listed atop each. Copy their contents into their respective file names, then run them. Use Notepad to do this, or a similar bare-text editor. Do not use anything else like Word etc, it won't work. Make sure the file names end in .bat or .reg, not in .txt or anything else or again, won't work.

What will work: Notepad saves:

Step 1.

Create this as: nomsgmbr.bat

reg add HKCR\ms-gamebar /f /ve /d URL:ms-gamebar 2>&1 >''

reg add HKCR\ms-gamebar /f /v "URL Protocol" /d "" 2>&1 >''

reg add HKCR\ms-gamebar /f /v "NoOpenWith" /d "" 2>&1 >''

reg add HKCR\ms-gamebar\shell\open\command /f /ve /d "/"$env:SystemRoot/System32/systray.exe/"" 2>&1 >''

reg add HKCR\ms-gamebarservices /f /ve /d URL:ms-gamebarservices 2>&1 >''

reg add HKCR\ms-gamebarservices /f /v "URL Protocol" /d "" 2>&1 >''

reg add HKCR\ms-gamebarservices /f /v "NoOpenWith" /d "" 2>&1 >''

reg add HKCR\ms-gamebarservices\shell\open\command /f /ve /d "/"$env:SystemRoot/System32/systray.exe/"" 2>&1 >''

Run it as Administrator. We're not done yet.

Step 2.

Create this as: Gamebar RegFix.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GameDVR]
"AppCaptureEnabled"=dword:00000000
"NoWinKeys"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\System\GameConfigStore]
"GameDVR_Enabled"=dword:00000000
"GameDVR_FSEBehaviorMode"=dword:00000002

Save it, run it as Admin.

Step 3.

REBOOT. Yes, it worked for me. It might work for you too.

Conclusion

Now you should be able to launch this great game without fuss from the OS.

Questions? Comments? Very basic support requests? Post 'em below.

Enjoy. And vote Labor of Love for this game too this year ('23.)

Footnotes & Credits:

Original thread:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/548430/discussions/1/4031346570758240123/?tscn=1700790930

How to disable Gamebar (First step)
https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows11/comments/zwmeew/is_there_a_way_to_disable_this_blasted_msgamebar/?rdt=47704

How to disable Overlay (Second step)
https://www.minitool.com/news/ms-gaming-overlay-popup.html

HOW TO SHOW FILE EXTENSIONS (If needed)
https://www.howtogeek.com/205086/beginner-how-to-make-windows-show-file-extensions/

Thanks to the contributors to those threads.

PS This penguin is looking more and more attractive with every passing year:

[dunce]

Seconding. This solution works. It's especially useful for W11 LTSC where MS Store and Xbox stuff doesn't come installed by default. You can install them manually and you're not forced to reinstall Gamebar, so I haven't! And can still use Gamepass and have a local account (just log into the MS store and select "Microsoft apps only")

[bappo]

LITERALLY EVERYTHING I HAVE EVER TRIED HAS NEVER WORKED, THIS WORKED. DO IT. BEST POST.

[⪩⪨ ⁧⁧⁧⁧AsH911]

Due to the lack of the game "Deep Rock Galactic" on my account, I can not rate this topic. However, the topic really helped me, thank you!

[Heckin' computer]

Can y'all rate this please ty

[Playstation 2]

OMG!! IT WORKED !! Thank you SIR!

[Martin64]

Works!. Thanks!.-

[Emirhan C.]

worked, thanks

[Disarlik]

Good, It works well windows 11 23H2.