Turning Off Game DVR in Windows 11: A Quick How-To
Stuck with lag or choppy gameplay on Windows 11? Annoying, isn’t it? Sometimes, the culprit is the Game DVR feature running in the background, recording your gameplay. While that might be handy for clips, it can also hog system resources and slow things down when you just want a smooth gaming session. Turning it off could give your performance a much-needed boost.
Getting to the settings isn’t complicated. Press the Windows key + I or click on the Start Menu and select Settings. Easy as pie. From there, it’s just a few clicks to tweak your setup — or turn things off entirely.
Once in Settings, find the Gaming section on the left menu. Think of this as the control hub for all gaming features — Xbox Game Bar, Game Mode, and more. This is where you can adjust how your PC handles gaming tasks.
Click on Xbox Game Bar. This is the part responsible for overlays like screenshots and game clips. Here, you can also adjust the keyboard shortcuts. If you don’t want the overlay to pop up accidentally, toggle off Open Xbox Game Bar for snippets, screenshots, and broadcasting. Alternatively, just disable the shortcut Win + G by turning it off. It’s optional, but handy to know.
Next, find the toggle for Open Xbox Game Bar for snippets, screenshots, and broadcasting and set it to Off. Doing this shuts down the Game Bar overlay and stops background recording, freeing up system resources for gaming. Sometimes, it’s labelled as Enable Xbox Game Bar, but basically, you’re turning off the feature.
While still in Settings, head over to the Captures section. This is where recording options are managed. Look for Record in the background while I’m playing a game and switch it off. If you want a more permanent fix, you can also disable Background Recording here. Feeling tech-savvy? You can even run a PowerShell command to disable it system-wide:
PowerShell command:
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\System\GameConfigStore" -Name "GameDVR_Enabled" -Value 0
This prevents the system from wasting resources on recording while you’re trying to win that match.
After adjusting these settings, you should notice improvements in your gaming. Many users report less lag, smoother responsiveness, and a better overall experience — especially on less powerful PCs. It’s like giving your machine a bit of a caffeine kick to focus on gaming instead of background tasks.
Extra Tips for Managing Game DVR on Windows 11
Don’t forget to keep your Windows up to date. Updates often include performance improvements and bug fixes. Once you’ve made these changes, give your system a test run — you might see faster load times and higher frame rates. If you still want to record gameplay, consider switching to tools like OBS Studio or NVIDIA ShadowPlay, which tend to run more smoothly. Also, trying out Windows Game Mode (press Win + G during a game) can give you that extra edge.
If you decide to start recording again, simply toggle the features back on. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t — typical Windows style. Keep trying until you find what works best for you.
Hopefully, this helps save you some time and hassle. Remember, every system is a bit different, so what works for one might not work for another. Just persevere and keep tweaking until you get optimal results!