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How to Disable Xbox Game DVR

The Xbox Game DVR (Game Digital Video Recorder) is a built-in feature in Windows 10 that allows you to record your gameplay. It can be useful for capturing gaming moments to share online. However, Game DVR may negatively impact game performance and take up disk space for unwanted recordings. If you want to disable Game DVR, here are a few methods.

Why Disable Game DVR?

Here are some common reasons for disabling Game DVR:

  • Improves game performance, especially for lower-end hardware
  • Saves disk space by not recording gameplay in the background
  • Removes an unnecessary feature if you don’t record gameplay
  • Fixes game crashing or stuttering issues caused by Game DVR

Method 1: Disable Game DVR in Settings

The easiest way to disable Game DVR is through the Windows Settings:

  1. Open Windows Settings
  2. Go to Gaming > Captures
  3. Toggle the “Record in the background while I’m playing a game” switch to Off

Disabling this background recording option essentially turns off Game DVR.

Method 2: Disable Game DVR in the Registry

You can also disable Game DVR through the registry editor:

  1. Open Registry Editor (regedit)
  2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\System\GameConfigStore
  3. Set the GameDVR_Enabled value to 0
  4. Restart your PC

This will fully disable Game DVR even after Windows updates.

Method 3: Uninstall Xbox App

Since Game DVR is part of the Xbox app, uninstalling the app will also remove DVR capabilities:

  1. Open Settings > Apps > Apps & features
  2. Find and select Xbox app
  3. Click Uninstall

Note: This will uninstall the entire Xbox app which may limit other features.

Alternative Game Recording Software

If you still want to be able to record your gameplay, consider using alternative recording software:

  • OBS Studio – Free and open source software for video recording and live streaming.
  • Nvidia ShadowPlay – Automatically records gameplay if you have a compatible NVIDIA GPU.
  • AMD ReLive – AMD’s equivalent to ShadowPlay for compatible AMD GPUs.
  • Bandicam – Lightweight recorder with minimal performance impact.

These third-party softwares generally offer more customization and advanced recording options compared to Xbox Game DVR.

Troubleshooting Game DVR

If disabling Game DVR does not resolve your issues, here are some things to try:

  • Update your graphics drivers
  • Adjust Game DVR quality/resolution settings
  • Check for interfering applications and background processes
  • Perform Windows updates, repair, or reset
  • Check for hardware-related problems

Game DVR requires decent hardware so problems may indicate an outdated or failing component.

Conclusion

Xbox Game DVR can be easily disabled through Windows Settings, Registry Editor, or uninstalling the Xbox app. This may help resolve gaming performance issues or free up disk space. For advanced recording features, third-party software like OBS Studio offers more customization. Troubleshoot hardware and software if problems persist after disabling DVR.

I hope this guide has helped explain how to disable Game DVR on your Windows 10 PC! Let me know if you have any other questions.

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