Xbox Button not opening Game bar on PC, opens Steam instead

CIOLKO · Jul 23, 2021

I asked this question to a expert on the live chat who insisted that it can be fixed though the Xbox accessories app, but that is not the case. As of 7/22/21, you cannot remap the Xbox button (Guide button,  button) or the share button in the app. If you have reinstalled drivers, updated the controllers firmware, and verified the button physically works, try this:

Start by manually opening the game bar (Windows key + G)

Select the cog icon that will take you to settings

Click on the tab that says shortcuts

Verify that "Open Xbox game bar using [X] button on a controller" is checked

That was part one of my issue. Part two was stopping the Xbox button from opening steam.

Launch steam

Enter big picture mode from the top right button

Tap the settings cog

Tap "controller settings" under controller

Uncheck the "guide button focuses steam option"

I hope this helps anyone else that is having the same issue. Not knowing exactly what to call the Xbox button made this difficult to research.

:)

Farscape247

its a simple toggle, when i set it it does not auto select it, i have to manually toggle it.

Marek.H

Thanks mate, you saved me lots of time.

It is so lame from steam to reconfigure the xbox [X] to default to their app.

JosefLBohorquez

Just to double check, is your Steam account connected to your Microsoft account?

Open game bar (Windows key + G) > Settings > Accounts > if yes, please unlink it temporarily. After that do the previous, but only the reset and repair thing with these apps:

Game Bar, Xbox App, Sea of thieves app.

Restart your PC, open game bar again and link your steam account. And finally try again .

By the way, the play option (the ones that redirect you to Steam) is the one inside the Xbox PC app?

MateusFontana

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.

darkist1

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.

Xbox Button not opening Game bar on PC, opens Steam instead