Use Xbox Game Bar to Monitor FPS and Record Gameplay in Windows 10/11
Difficulty: Beginner |
Time Required: 10 minutes
Xbox Game Bar is built into Windows 10 and Windows 11, making it one of the easiest ways to check your game’s frame rate and capture gameplay without installing extra software. If you want to see how smoothly a game is running, troubleshoot performance drops, or record a quick clip to share online, Game Bar gives you simple tools right from the keyboard.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to enable Xbox Game Bar, display the FPS counter, and record gameplay step by step.
Why use Xbox Game Bar?
Xbox Game Bar is useful because it lets you:
- Monitor FPS (frames per second) while gaming
- Record gameplay clips or full sessions
- Capture screenshots without leaving your game
- Quickly check audio devices and performance overlays
- Avoid installing third-party software for basic recording and monitoring
For many Windows users, it’s the fastest built-in option for light gameplay recording and performance checks.
Prerequisites
Before you begin, make sure you have the following:
- A PC running Windows 10 or Windows 11
- Xbox Game Bar enabled in Windows settings
- A game or app running in a window or full screen
- A graphics driver installed and up to date
- Administrator permission if Windows asks to approve FPS access
Note: The FPS widget works on supported systems in modern versions of Windows 10 and Windows 11, but the first time you use it, Windows may ask for permission and require a restart.
Step 1: Make sure Xbox Game Bar is enabled
Before you can use Game Bar, confirm that it’s turned on.
On Windows 11
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Go to Gaming.
- Click Xbox Game Bar.
- Make sure the toggle is set to On.
On Windows 10
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Go to Gaming.
- Select Xbox Game Bar from the left pane.
- Turn on Enable Xbox Game Bar.
Tip: By default, you can open Xbox Game Bar anytime with Windows + G.
If Game Bar is disabled, none of the FPS or recording tools will appear.
Step 2: Open your game
Launch the game you want to monitor or record.
- Start your game normally from Steam, Xbox app, Epic Games, or another launcher.
- Wait until the game is fully loaded.
- Press Windows + G to open the Xbox Game Bar overlay.
You should see several small panels or widgets on screen, such as
Audio,
Capture,
Performance, and others.
Note: Some games may briefly minimize or dim when the overlay opens. That’s normal.
Step 3: Turn on the FPS counter
The FPS counter is part of the
Performance widget.
- With the game running, press Windows + G.
- Look for the Performance widget.
- If you do not see it, click the Widget Menu at the top of the screen and choose Performance.
- In the Performance widget, find the FPS section.
- Click Request Access if prompted.
Windows may ask for administrator permission so it can access system performance data.
- Accept the prompt.
- Restart your PC if Windows asks you to do so.
After restarting:
- Open your game again.
- Press Windows + G.
- Open the Performance widget.
- Check the FPS box or make sure FPS is enabled in the graph options.
The widget can show:
- FPS
- CPU usage
- GPU usage
- RAM usage
Warning: If you skip the access prompt or deny permission, the FPS counter may stay blank or show --.
Step 4: Pin the Performance widget on screen
If you want to watch FPS while playing, pin the widget so it stays visible.
- Open Xbox Game Bar with Windows + G.
- In the Performance widget, click the Pin icon.
- Drag the widget to a corner of the screen where it won’t block important game elements.
- Click anywhere back in the game.
The Performance widget should remain visible while you play, showing real-time FPS and system usage.
Tip: A corner of the screen is usually best so the overlay does not cover health bars, minimaps, or menus.
Note: In some games, a compact performance overlay may work better than the full widget.
Step 5: Record gameplay using Xbox Game Bar
Once your FPS counter is set up, you can start recording.
- Press Windows + G to open the overlay.
- Find the Capture widget.
- If it is missing, open the Widget Menu and select Capture.
- Click the Start Recording button.
You can also use the shortcut:
- Windows + Alt + R = Start or stop recording
While recording, a small recording status box will appear, usually showing a timer.
To stop recording:
- Press Windows + Alt + R again, or
- Open Game Bar and click Stop Recording
Important: Xbox Game Bar records the active game or app window. It usually does not record the Windows desktop or File Explorer.
To record microphone audio
- Open the Capture widget.
- Click the Microphone icon to turn mic recording on or off before or during capture.
This is useful if you want to add commentary.
Step 6: Take screenshots or record the last few moments
Xbox Game Bar can also capture still images and short clips.
Take a screenshot
- Press Windows + Alt + PrtScn
Record the last 30 seconds (if background recording is enabled)
Note: Background recording must be enabled in Game Bar or Captures settings for this feature to work.
This is handy when something unexpected happens in a game and you want to save it after the fact.
Step 7: Find your recorded videos and screenshots
After recording, you can quickly locate your files.
- Open Xbox Game Bar with Windows + G.
- In the Capture widget, click See my captures.
You can also browse manually to the default folder:
C:\Users\YourUsername\Videos\Captures
Recorded files are usually saved as:
- MP4 for videos
- PNG for screenshots
Tip: If you record often, check this folder regularly so large video files do not fill your storage.
Step 8: Adjust recording settings for better results
If you want to improve quality or change how recording works:
On Windows 11
- Open Settings
- Go to Gaming > Captures
On Windows 10
- Open Settings
- Go to Gaming > Captures
From here, you can adjust:
- Video frame rate
- Video quality
- Maximum recording length
- Audio recording options
- Background recording
- Capture folder location
If your PC is slower, try lowering recording quality to reduce performance impact.
Tip: Recording at higher quality can slightly reduce FPS, especially on entry-level systems.
Tips and troubleshooting
FPS counter not showing
Try the following:
- Make sure you clicked Request Access
- Restart the PC after granting permission
- Update your graphics drivers
- Check that Xbox Game Bar is enabled in Settings
- Open the Performance widget again and confirm FPS is selected
Game Bar does not open
- Make sure Windows + G is enabled in Xbox Game Bar settings
- Some custom keyboard tools may interfere with shortcuts
- Try opening Game Bar from the Start menu by typing Xbox Game Bar
Recording button is grayed out
This may happen if:
- You are on the Windows desktop instead of inside a supported app or game
- The current app blocks capture
- System permissions are restricted
Recording affects game performance
If the game feels less smooth while recording:
- Lower recording quality in Settings > Gaming > Captures
- Close background apps
- Disable background recording if you do not need it
- Make sure your GPU drivers are current
Microphone audio is missing
- Check the mic icon in the Capture widget
- Confirm the correct microphone is selected in Windows sound settings
- Test the microphone in another app
Warning: Some games with anti-cheat or special display modes may not behave perfectly with overlays. If Game Bar has trouble, try running the game in borderless windowed mode.
Windows version notes
- Windows 10: Xbox Game Bar is available on supported builds and may appear slightly different depending on your version.
- Windows 11: The layout is more modern, but the main shortcuts and features are very similar.
- On both versions, keeping Windows updated helps ensure the best compatibility for FPS monitoring and recording.
Conclusion
Xbox Game Bar is a convenient built-in tool for Windows 10 and Windows 11 users who want a quick way to monitor FPS and record gameplay. It is easy to launch, simple to configure, and good enough for casual recording, performance checks, and sharing clips with friends.
If you just need a lightweight solution without installing extra software, Xbox Game Bar is one of the best places to start.
Key Takeaways:
- Xbox Game Bar lets you monitor FPS, CPU, GPU, and RAM in real time
- You can open it anytime with Windows + G
- Gameplay recording starts and stops quickly with Windows + Alt + R
- Captures are saved by default in your Videos\Captures folder
- It’s a built-in Windows feature that works well for basic gaming performance monitoring and recording
This tutorial was generated to help WindowsForum.com users get the most out of their Windows experience.