Are There Microsoft Game Bar Ryzen CPU Issues on Windows?

[jamerober]

Has anyone noticed performance problems related to microsoft game bar ryzen cpu issues? I’m seeing FPS drops and stutters and wondering if disabling it actually helps.

 

[jameswill8520]

Yeah, I had pretty bad issues on my Ryzen 5800X too. Microsoft Game Bar Ryzen CPU issues manifested as random 5 to 10% CPU usage spikes and microstutters every few minutes. Turning it off helped noticeably, especially in CPU-dependent titles. It seems like the overlay hooks into a bunch of APIs even when you’re not recording, which is unnecessary overhead on Ryzen systems.

 

[AngelinaFi]

Same here. I was skeptical, but after disabling Game Bar and Game DVR, my FPS became more consistent. I didn’t gain huge peak FPS, but the dips/stutters went away. I think it’s especially noticeable if you have older Ryzen CPUs (3000/5000 series) where single-thread matters most in games.

 

[ArthurMex]

For what it’s worth, I benchmarked with and without Game Bar.
With Game Bar on: small but consistent frame time variances.
With it off: smoother frame times.
So although it might not tank average FPS, Microsoft Game Bar Ryzen CPU issues are real and measurable, at least on my system.

 

[rebeccareed]

It’s not just Ryzen Game Bar can affect Intel too but Ryzen’s scheduling and SMT behavior make it more prone to visible hiccups. If you use Windows 11, it’s even more baked in. Try disabling Xbox Game Bar, Background Recording, and Captures in settings and see if that helps.

 

[megamind]

Wait, how do you disable it completely? I’m new to Ryzen and don’t even know where to start. Does turning it off in Settings stop all the Game Bar processes? I don’t want to break something.

 

[captainghost]

@megamind Go to Settings → Gaming → Xbox Game Bar and toggle it off. Then Captures and turn off background recording, Xbox Networking, etc. Yes, it kills the process (GameBarFTS.exe) unless a game manually launches it. It won’t break anything except Game Bar features.

 

[Ragnar Lothbrok]

I didn’t see Microsoft Game Bar Ryzen CPU issues until I updated Windows recently. After a couple of updates, Game Bar became more aggressive about capturing clips. I suggest also checking Cortana/Game Bar related scheduled tasks they can wake the overlay. It’s a bit annoying but helped my rig run better.

 

[ethancarter]

Worth noting: For some people, the culprit wasn’t Game Bar alone but Discord overlay + Game Bar. Once I turned both off, the stutters basically disappeared. So test one thing at a time to isolate.

 

[TaylorTravels]

In short:
Many Ryzen users report Game Bar causing slight CPU overhead and noticeable stutters
Disabling it usually helps smooth things out
It’s not guaranteed if your FPS drops are entirely Game Bar could be drivers, thermal throttling, etc.
If you’re seeing weird behavior in demanding games, try disabling Game Bar first it’s easy to toggle back on if it doesn’t make a difference.