Game bar recording

Open the game or application you want to capture, click inside its window so it is the active app, and then press Windows + Alt + R—Game Bar’s Record control can remain unavailable when no recordable target is active.

Since Repair and Reset have already been tried, move to these checks instead.

1. Test with an active game or app

Game Bar records a selected game or application, not the Windows desktop or File Explorer.

1. Open the game or app.
2. Click inside its window.
3. Press Windows + G.
4. Open Settings in Game Bar.
5. If Remember this is a game appears, select it.
6. Close Game Bar and press Windows + Alt + R.

A working recording shows a recording timer. Press Windows + Alt + R again to stop; the MP4 should appear under Videos → Captures.^1^ The focus and Remember this is a game steps are also recommended for cases where Game Bar opens but cannot record.^2^

If recording works in a different game or app, the original game is likely not presenting a recordable target. For a Vulkan or OpenGL game, try its windowed mode rather than fullscreen; Game Bar may not appear over these games in fullscreen.^3^

2. Check whether Windows 11 is an N edition

This applies only if the installed edition is named Windows 11 N.

1. Press Windows + R.
2. Enter winver and press Enter.
3. Read the Windows edition shown.

If it says Windows 11 N:

1. Open Settings → Apps → Optional features.
2. Next to Add an optional feature, select View features.
3. Find and install Media Feature Pack.
4. Restart the PC, even if Windows does not request it.
5. Open the game and retry Windows + Alt + R.

Game Bar and Game DVR functionality does not work correctly on Windows 11 N without its media components.^4^

If winver does not show an N edition, skip this step.

3. Update Game Bar

1. Open the Xbox app and check for available updates.
2. Open Microsoft Store → Downloads.
3. Select Check for updates, then install the available Game Bar update.
4. Restart Windows and test again.

Microsoft recommends checking the Xbox app and Microsoft Store when Game Bar needs updating.^5^

4. Last resort: re-register the Windows app packages

Use this only if Record stays greyed out in several supported games and apps. This administrator command re-registers all built-in Windows apps, not only Game Bar, so save your work and close open applications first.

1. Search for PowerShell.
2. Right-click it and select Run as administrator.
3. Run:

Get-AppxPackage | ForEach-Object {
    Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode `
        -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"
}

4. Allow the command to finish. Some package messages may appear.
5. Restart the PC and test Game Bar with a game in focus.

This re-registration method has resolved disabled Game Bar recording in a similar case.^6^

As a temporary alternative, Windows 11’s Snipping Tool → Record can capture a selected part of the screen.^7^

References

1. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/accessibility/windows/use-a-screen-reader-to-record-your-screen-with-xbox-game-bar#include-system-audio-in-the-recording)
2. How to fix the recording on xbox game bar? - Microsoft Q&A
3. Known Issues and Limitations
4. [Windows 11](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/experience/platform-variants/media-feature-pack-for-windows-10-11-n-february-2023#more-information-about-windows-10-11-n)
5. Microsoft Edge Game Assist FAQ | Microsoft Support
6. Issue with Xbox Game Bar Recording Functionality - Microsoft Q&A
7. Steps Recorder deprecation | Microsoft Support