If you are a Windows user and have Microsoft Gaming Services installed on your computer, you may be wondering how to uninstall it.
While Microsoft Gaming Services is a useful tool for gamers, it may not be necessary for all users and can take up valuable space on your hard drive. In this article, we will guide you through the process of uninstalling Microsoft Gaming Services from your Windows 11 or Windows 10 computer.
Since Windows doesn’t allow users to remove it via the Setting apps, we will need to use third-party software to get it done.
(If you are looking instead to delete the Xbox Game Bar, and you want to know if it is ok to remove it, check the article I’ve written on it.)
How to Uninstall Microsoft Gaming Services
If you have decided that you no longer need Microsoft Gaming Services on your computer, you can easily uninstall it with IObit Uninstaller.
IObit Uninstaller is a free software tool that is my favorite to uninstall programs from my computer. Here are the steps to uninstall Microsoft Gaming Services using IObit Uninstaller:
- Download and install IObit Uninstaller from the official website:
(I suggest unchecking any boxes recommending additional software if you don’t need it) - Open IObit Uninstaller and select Windows Apps from the left-hand menu.
- Locate Microsoft.GamingServices from the list of installed Windows Apps:
- Click on the Uninstall button in the upper-right corner.
- Follow the prompts to complete the uninstallation process.
Once you have completed the above steps, Microsoft Gaming Services should be fully uninstalled from your computer.
(You can also use this program to quickly free up disk space by uninstalling multiple programs at once, as I explained in this other article.)
How to Reinstall Microsoft Gaming Services
If you have uninstalled Microsoft Gaming Services but later decide that you need it back, you can do it via PowerShell by following the steps below as recommended on the Xbox official website:
- Type powershell on Windows Search and then select Run as administrator:
- In Windows PowerShell, type the following command and press Enter:
get-appxpackage Microsoft.GamingServices | remove-AppxPackage -allusers
- In PowerShell, type the following command and press Enter:
start ms-windows-store://pdp/?productid=9MWPM2CQNLHN - Install the app on that page and select Yes when you receive the User Account Control (UAC) prompt.
- Restart your device.
Now Microsoft Gaming Services should be working again and you will be able to install new games via the Microsoft Store.
If you have any errors when trying to install Gaming Services, I`ve written an article on how to fix the install Gaming Services error.
Conclusion
Microsoft Gaming Services can be a useful tool for gamers on Windows 11 or Windows 10, but there may be times when you need to uninstall, reinstall, or disable it. The steps outlined in this article can help you achieve any of these tasks with ease.
Remember that you might need Microsoft Gaming Services in the future if downloading games from the Microsoft Store, so it’s important to consider the potential impacts before making any changes to your computer.
