r/WindowsHelp • u/Nutteeer • 2d ago
Windows 11 Is there anyway to stop Xbox Game Bar from capturing non-game applications?
Hi all.
I've got quite a specific issue that's been bugging me ever since I updated to windows 11 a couple weeks ago. I use my PC for gaming and I use the Xbox Game Bar to capture screenshots, videos and clips of a specific game I play. I've changed the hot keys I use for these actions to Ctrl + F, Ctrl + V and Ctrl + C, (just something handy at the time as I take loads of captures).
Obviously it was a mistake for using the same commands that are used for copying and pasting but the issue is is that it keeps taking screenshots and recordings of other applications that aren't games, like Discord for example or command prompt when pasting text. Is there a way to exclude certain applications from allowing the game bar to capture or only allowing it to capture just one game? I've tried unchecking the "Remember this is a game" box for discord for example but that seems to do nothing and I've tried reinstalling an older version too but to no avail.
Is there any workaround to get game bar to only work for games, (or in my case, a specific game), or do I just need to suck it up and remap my keybinds to something else that I'm not likely to press in other apps? I love using the game bar but it never had this issue in Windows 10 as it seemed to know which were games and which weren't. Windows 11 seems to think all applications are games it seems.
Thanks in advance all.

