why cant i open settings in game bar?

Question

why cant i open settings in game bar?

LeJones 15

whenever i try to open settings on game bar, it wont open! it instead just closes game bar. i need help fixing this. ive heard on youtube to get sound and game recording together on windows game bar, i need to open game bar and go to settings. but whenever i open it, it deletes my footage when im trying to record my problem and completely closes game bar itself. please help. Screenshot 2025-08-08 202205

LeJones 15 Reputation points

2025-08-09T06:56:48.2733333+00:00

i have tried both methods youve said to me before but it didnt change anything. i think it may be a problem internally in game bar because every other button is fine. (except other variants of the setting button.)
Boyang Li 5 Reputation points

2025-08-09T14:51:32.84+00:00

Same issue here, do your achievements also not pop up?
LeJones 15 Reputation points

2025-08-09T17:35:55.9133333+00:00

yeah it does. i didnt even know you can get achievements on game bar lol
Boyang Li 5 Reputation points

2025-08-09T18:53:59.81+00:00

I just reinstalled the whole system, the setting button works fine until xbox app told me to upgrade gamebar. Is there a way to downgrade it?
keshav r 0 Reputation points

2025-08-09T19:43:19.36+00:00

i thought the problem was in my end but no... iam not able to change the game voice recording to the whole pc its stupidly stuck in the recording only game voice... roll out an update to fix it

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LeJones 15 Reputation points

2025-08-09T06:56:48.2733333+00:00

i have tried both methods youve said to me before but it didnt change anything. i think it may be a problem internally in game bar because every other button is fine. (except other variants of the setting button.)
Boyang Li 5 Reputation points

2025-08-09T14:51:32.84+00:00

Same issue here, do your achievements also not pop up?
LeJones 15 Reputation points

2025-08-09T17:35:55.9133333+00:00

yeah it does. i didnt even know you can get achievements on game bar lol
Boyang Li 5 Reputation points

2025-08-09T18:53:59.81+00:00

I just reinstalled the whole system, the setting button works fine until xbox app told me to upgrade gamebar. Is there a way to downgrade it?
keshav r 0 Reputation points

2025-08-09T19:43:19.36+00:00

i thought the problem was in my end but no... iam not able to change the game voice recording to the whole pc its stupidly stuck in the recording only game voice... roll out an update to fix it

Answer 1

John DeV 132.6K Independent Advisor

Hi, good day!

When was the last time it worked properly? What is your Windows operating system and version? Press Windows key+R to open Run then type: winver

Please take a screenshot of the resulting window and post it in your next response. Note: Don't include any personal information as Microsoft Q&A is a public forum.

Please let me know if you have tried the methods below.

Check for Updates on the Microsoft Store app Open Microsoft Store Click Downloads > Check for updates Click Update all
Reset Game Bar app Press Start then search Game Bar Right click it then select App settings Click Terminate > Repair > Reset

I look forward to receiving your update and I'm willing to collaborate with you till we resolve the issue. Do keep me informed.

Atryeu 0 Reputation points

2025-08-09T18:02:31.42+00:00

Exact same issue, started at least today for me and I only knew because Game Bar had the stupid Game Assist widget open without my permission yet again. It has nothing to do with our ends or the program, this is clearly yet another issue created by MS they need to fix. Last Game Bar update was July 15th and it's doing it on 2 completely different computers using 2 different versions of Windows (both fully up to date). This is an issue with MS/Game Bar, not our end. There were more issues yesterday as well tied with Game Bar. In the MIDDLE of a party chat the audio stopped working both ways for the chat alone. My mics and speakers as well as the other persons' were working fine seconds before and still tested and worked fine outside of the Game Bar chat. Plain text messages through Game Bar were refusing to send half the time as well. There are clearly issues with Game Bar going on.
Atryeu 0 Reputation points

2025-08-09T19:30:33.69+00:00

If you try this yourself with Game Bar and Settings doesn't open, check Event Viewer and there's an Error listing for Game Bar right after tied in with the "ntdll.dll" module and tied to the XboxGamingOverlay for Game Bar. There's clearly an issue.

Answer 2

Boyang Li 5

https://xbox-game-bar.en.uptodown.com/windows/download/1077768690 This version works fine for me.

Atryeu 0 Reputation points

2025-08-09T19:25:14.5366667+00:00

The problem with downgrading is that MS decides it can update anything without permission, even if you have "auto updates" disabled, it still updates whenever it decides it wants to. Changing Game Bar to an older version will only be very temporary :(
LeJones 15 Reputation points

2025-08-11T18:21:54.03+00:00

why does it say its harmful

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why cant i open settings in game bar?

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