How to Auto-Open Xbox Controller Bar and Xbox Mode on Windows 11

Xbox Game Bar vs. Xbox Mode: What is the difference?

The two features are easy to mix up, so here is the difference. Xbox Game Bar is a desktop overlay. It floats on top of your game or app and gives you quick access to widgets and the Controller Bar. Xbox Mode is a full-screen interface that mimics a dedicated console. This tutorial covers the Controller Bar setting inside Game Bar, which is the part that opens by itself when a controller connects.

System Requirements and Compatibility

Xbox Mode runs best on current Windows 11 builds. It is aimed especially at testers in the Windows Insider program, which is a public testing program for upcoming features. Handheld PCs benefit the most from this layout, since you are usually holding a controller rather than sitting at a keyboard.

Whatever device you use, install the 💿 latest Windows 11 updates first. Newer builds and Game Bar updates are where these features change most often, so a menu may look slightly different from what you see here if your system is behind.

How to enable the automatic Controller Bar

The Xbox Controller Bar feature in Windows 11 lets the Game Bar open automatically whenever you connect or turn on your controller. You do not have to press a keyboard shortcut every time you sit down to play.

The setup has two parts. First, open the Game Bar settings menu. Second, find the Controller Bar option and check the box that tells it to open when your controller connects. The steps below walk through both parts.

1. Open the Xbox Game Bar by pressing Windows key + G on your keyboard. The Game Bar overlay should appear on top of whatever is on your screen. If nothing happens, the Game Bar may be turned off. Check Settings › Gaming for the Game Bar toggle and switch it on.
2. Click the Settings (gear icon) button inside the Game Bar menu. A Settings window should open on top of the overlay, with a list of tabs down the left side.

You do not need to be an administrator, and the setting applies to your own account only.

1. On the left side of the window, click the Controller Bar tab. The controller options should now appear on the right.
2. On the right side, under the CONTROLLER BAR section, check the box that says "Open Controller Bar automatically when a controller is connected." The box should now show a check mark. Windows saves the change right away, so there is no Apply button and no restart.

To test it, close the Game Bar, then unplug your controller and plug it back in, or turn it off and on if it is wireless. The Controller Bar should open on its own. To undo the change, return to the same tab and clear the check box.

Troubleshooting and Updates

If the Controller Bar does not show up, check the Microsoft Store for updates first. The Game Bar is updated through the Store, so an outdated copy is a common cause, and updating often fixes the problem.

1. Open the Microsoft Store.
2. Go to Library and click Get updates.
3. Let any pending updates finish, then reconnect your controller and try again.

If it still does not appear, confirm that the Game Bar itself opens with Windows key + G. Also confirm that the check box on the Controller Bar tab is still ticked.

Summary

Setting the Controller Bar to open automatically in Windows 11 makes gaming feel more like a console and gives you better control of your attached hardware. It takes one check box to turn on and one to turn off, so it is easy to try and easy to reverse.