The A button on my controller opens the game bar

I have a similar problem but it only seems to happen when I open the windows game bar, to record gameplay or take pictures. And when I do none of the buttons on the controller work except the xbox home button which opens the windows game bar but again, can't use any other buttons. My only fix so far is to restart the whole computer, but then I can't record anything.

Hi Kathy

I have done everything you suggested and my controller still will not open the Xbox game bar. It will open with Windows + G but not my controller. When I first connect my controller it will open the game bar but after that it does nothing.

Thanks

Carl

Strange not having any updates, anyway check if by disabling the Xbox game bar the problem stops happening, for that follow the instructions below, please.

Go to Windows Settings

Games

Xbox Game Bar

Deactivate it

Uncheck the box to open the Xbox game bar with the Xbox button on the controller as well.

If the problem persists, use a cable to plug the controller into your PC, open the accessories application and restore your elite controller settings to defaults, restart your PC and see if the problem persists.

Hi Mathew Stearns,

Found 2 options you can try on your PC

OPTION ONE

To Turn On or Off Game Bar in Settings

1. Open Settings, and click/tap on the Gaming icon.

2. Click/tap on Game bar on the left side, and check (enable - default) or uncheck Open Xbox Game Bar using this button on a controller on the right side for what you want. (see screenshot below)

Starting with Windows 10 (20H1) builds, you will need to click/tap on Xbox Game bar on the left side instead.

It is required to turn on the Xbox Game Bar to be able to open it.

OPTION TWO

Enable or Disable Open Xbox Game Bar using Xbox button on Game Controller using a REG file

The downloadable .reg files below will modify the DWORD in the registry key below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\GameBar

UseNexusForGameBarEnabled DWORD

0 = Disable

1 = Enable

1. Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.

2. To Enable Open Xbox Game Bar using Xbox button on Game Controller

This is the default setting. It is required to turn on the Xbox Game Bar to be able to open it.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Enable_open_Xbox_Game_Bar_using_Xbox_button_on_game_controller.reg

3. To Disable Open Xbox Game Bar using Xbox button on Game Controller

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Disable_open_Xbox_Game_Bar_using_Xbox_button_on_game_controller.reg

4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6. When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7. You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

Hi BrittonP.

The Xbox Gamer Bar works as a monitor to visualize some options within the game. this is why it closes. If you use an Xbox controller to play on the PC, with the button that has the Xbox logo (guide button) you can open the Game Bar with a single click, basically
it's just a popup menu.