How to Add or Remove Xbox Mode in Task View on Windows 11

Why Use Xbox Mode?

Xbox mode gives you a clean, controller-friendly screen so you can switch between games without distractions. When the option is on, Task View shows a button for this gaming layout. Use it to jump straight back into a game session.

Xbox Mode appears in Task View by default. Task View shows your open windows and virtual desktops. Open it with Win+Tab or with the Task View button on the taskbar. Alt+Tab is a separate window switcher. If you do not want the Xbox Mode button in Task View, you can hide it and bring it back at any time.

Microsoft’s release notes “Announcing new builds for 16 October 2026” describe a refresh of the Gaming Task View in Xbox mode. It now has a new navigation bar with quick access to Exit to Desktop and Power Options. Microsoft lists it for the Beta and Experimental channels of the Windows Insider Program, which lets people test preview builds before public release.

If you cannot find the option in the steps below, check your Windows version first. The setting needs build 22621.1992 or later. To update, go to Settings › Windows Update and install anything that is pending. Both methods in this guide work on Windows 11 Home and Pro.

How to Add or Remove Xbox Mode in Task View

Option 1Using Settings

The Settings app is the method most people should use. Open Settings, go to the Gaming section, and change one switch to show or hide the Xbox Mode button.

1. Press Win+I to open Settings⚙️.
2. Click Gaming on the left side. The gaming options appear on the right.
3. Click Xbox mode on the right side. The Xbox mode page opens.
4. Find the option Show Xbox mode in Task View. Switch it On to show the button, or switch it Off to hide it.
5. Close Settings.
6. Press Win+Tab to check the result. The Xbox Mode button should now be there or gone, depending on what you chose.

On an Insider build in the Beta or Experimental channel, the Gaming Task View in Xbox mode may also show the new navigation bar with Exit to Desktop and Power Options. This is a preview feature and may change before release.

To undo the change, repeat the steps and set the switch back to its previous position. If the Xbox mode page or the option is missing, your build is older than 22621.1992. Install updates and look again.

Option 2Using Registry Editor

The Registry Editor is a built-in tool where Windows stores deep system settings. This method edits the background value that the Settings switch controls. It helps if the Settings page is not working for you.

1. Press Win+R, type regedit, and press Enter. Click Yes if User Account Control asks for permission. The Registry Editor window opens.
2. Click the address bar at the top of the Registry Editor window.
3. Paste this path into the address bar and press Enter. The right pane then shows the values stored at that location:

   🗝️Registry

   Copy

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GamingConfiguration

4. In the right pane, find the value ShowOnDesktopSwitcher and double-click it. An edit window opens.
5. To add Xbox Mode to Task View, set Value data to 1. To remove it, set Value data to 0.
6. Click OK and close the Registry Editor.

The default Windows 11 setting is 00000001, which shows Xbox Mode in Task View. To hide it, the value must be 00000000. The change should apply the next time you open Task View. If the button does not update, sign out and back in.

To undo the change, open the same value again and enter the other number.

You can also make the same change from Windows Terminal. Open Windows Terminal and run one of the commands below.

Enable:

reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GamingConfiguration" /v ShowOnDesktopSwitcher /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

Disable:

reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GamingConfiguration" /v ShowOnDesktopSwitcher /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

To undo either change, run the other command. Then press Win+Tab to confirm the button shows or hides as you expect.

Summary

The Xbox Mode setting decides whether the controller-friendly gaming button appears in Task View. Leave it on if you play games often and want fast access. Turn it off if you mostly use regular desktop apps and want a cleaner screen.

For most people, the Settings app is the right choice. Go to Settings › Gaming › Xbox mode and use the Show Xbox mode in Task View switch. The Registry Editor and Windows Terminal methods are for advanced users, but both control the same setting and give the same result.

If you test Insider builds, remember that the refreshed Gaming Task View, with its Exit to Desktop and Power Options bar, is a preview feature for now. Check Microsoft’s release notes for changes before it reaches everyone.