If you’ve ever launched a game on Steam or any other platform and encountered the annoying Windows popup saying, “You’ll need a new app to open this Ms gaming overlay link,” you’re not alone. This issue arises from Microsoft’s Game Bar, which is a part of the Xbox app on Windows. Even if you ignore the message, your game will run fine. However, if you’re looking to permanently remove this nuisance, here’s what you need to know and how to fix it.
Why Does This Popup Appear?
Microsoft Game Bar is built into Windows and serves as an overlay for capturing screenshots, recording gameplay, and providing quick access to gaming features. It is part of the Xbox ecosystem, which some users may find useful. However, if you don’t use Game Bar, Xbox, or any related services, you might have removed or disabled them—leading to this persistent popup.
Some users suggest reinstalling Game Bar, as it has improved over time and offers a better experience than Nvidia’s overlay, allowing for easy access to recording, screenshots, and controller settings. If you’d rather restore Game Bar, you can do so via the Microsoft Store and then disable its notifications by navigating to Settings > General and unchecking Show tips at game startup.
Why Some Windows Versions Still Have This Issue
Even on stripped-down versions of Windows, such as Windows 11 LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel), which removes Xbox, Microsoft Store, and other consumer-oriented features, this popup can still appear. This happens because Microsoft’s operating system still relies on certain components even when they have been removed from specific editions.
How to Remove the Popup Permanently
If you don’t want to reinstall Game Bar and prefer to eliminate the popup entirely, you can do so by editing the Windows Registry.
Method 1: Using Registry Editor
Open the Registry Editor by pressing Win + R, typing regedit, and hitting Enter.
Navigate to the following location:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GameDVR
If the key does not exist, create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value named AppCaptureEnabled and set its value to 0.
Next, go to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\System\GameConfigStore
If it doesn’t exist, create another DWORD (32-bit) Value named GameDVR_Enabled and set its value to 0.
Restart your computer.
After completing these steps, you should never see the “Ms Gaming Overlay” popup again.
Method 2: Using a Batch File (Automated Process)
If you don’t want to manually edit the registry, you can create a batch file that automates the process:
Open Notepad and paste the following lines:
reg add HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GameDVR /f /t REG_DWORD /v “AppCaptureEnabled” /d 0
reg add HKEY_CURRENT_USER\System\GameConfigStore /f /t REG_DWORD /v “GameDVR_Enabled” /d 0
pause
Save the file with a .bat extension (e.g., disable_game_overlay.bat).
Right-click the file and select Run as administrator.
Restart your computer.
Alternative Method: Disabling Protocols That Trigger the Popup
If the registry method does not work, you can disable the protocol that calls the Game Bar links. This involves a similar process and can be done using an additional registry edit.
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 >”
pause
To download the files click here
Conclusion
Microsoft’s Game Bar can be useful, but if you don’t use it, the “Ms Gaming Overlay” popup is just an annoyance. Whether you reinstall Game Bar and disable notifications or completely remove its functionality via the registry, the choice is yours. With the steps outlined above, you can finally get rid of this intrusive popup and enjoy your games uninterrupted.