Insider Windows 11 Insiders can now try out an early preview of controller bar


  • Staff
Windows Insiders can now try out an early preview of a feature called controller bar. Controller bar is a preview of a new view of Xbox Game Bar that provides easy, controller-friendly access to recently played games and game launchers.

Invoke the controller bar when you’re not already in a game, by pressing the Xbox button on your controller.

Invoke the controller bar when you’re not already in a game, by pressing the Xbox button on your controller.

The controller bar opens when you pair or connect a controller to your Windows 11 PC running the latest Insider Preview build in the Dev and Beta Channels. Your most recently played games and installed game launchers are just a button press away. Invoke the controller bar when you’re not already in a game, by pressing the Xbox button on your controller.

When you are playing a game, the Xbox button still takes you directly to the Xbox Game Bar and the gaming widgets you are used to.

When you are playing a game, the Xbox button still takes you directly to the Xbox Game Bar and the gaming widgets you are used to.

The recent games section includes up to three game titles you have played on your local device.

Controller bar will show up to three game titles you have played on your local device.

Controller bar will show up to three game titles you have played on your local device.

How to get started:
  1. Be a Windows Insider running the latest Insider Preview Build (Build 225xx) from the Dev and Beta Channels.
  2. Download the Xbox Insider Hub from the Microsoft Store.
  3. Open the Xbox Insider Hub and sign-in with your Microsoft Account. If you are not already an Xbox Insider, it will ask you to join.
  4. After signing in, navigate to “Previews” and join the Windows Gaming preview.
  1. Check for updates in the Microsoft Store and make sure you have the latest version of Xbox Game Bar (Version 5.722.5022.0 or higher).
  2. Reboot your PC (this is important in order for the Game Bar update to kick in for controller bar).
  3. All you need to do next is pair or plug in your controller.
  4. Try the feature out and give feedback.
We are looking forward to getting feedback on controller bar from Windows Insiders who are PC gamers. Some third-party games may not show up in the most recently played games list or may be duplicated there. If you see any examples of this or anything else that is unexpected, please file feedback in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Gaming > Xbox Game Bar. For a complete list of known issues, please visit windowsgaming/gamebar - xboxinsiders.

As a reminder, to manage your Xbox controller such as controller profiles and remapping buttons – download the Xbox Accessories app from the Microsoft Store.


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Seems pretty hit or miss for me with an Elite v2 connected via bluetooth. The bar will show up when I initially turn on the controller, but won't show up when I hit the Xbox button.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i9-12900K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX DDR4
    Memory
    128 GB G.Skill Trident Z RGB DDR4-4000
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus ROG Strix RTX 4090 OC Edition
    Sound Card
    Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung Odyssey G9 49" Super Ultrawide
    Screen Resolution
    5120x1440 240Hz
    Hard Drives
    1 TB PNY XLR8 NVMe SSD (Boot drive), 960 GB ADATA SSD, 1 TB Samsung SSD, 2 TB Samsung SSD, 2 TB Samsung SSD, 2 TB Crucial P5 NVMe SSD, 10 TB WD MyBook external HDD, 10 TB Seagate external HDD, 15 TB WD MyBook external HDD
    PSU
    EVGA Supernova 1600 P+ 1600w
    Case
    EVGA DG-86
    Cooling
    Corsair H150i Elite LCD
    Keyboard
    Corsair K100 RGB
    Mouse
    Razer Naga Pro v2 wireless
    Internet Speed
    Gigabit
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Did all the steps but I get Steam library to show up when I press the X button. Oops, steam setting. Changed it but now nothing happens. Explanation (I think) below).
 
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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    home built
    CPU
    i7-12700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS Rog Strix Z690-F Gaming
    Memory
    64GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS TUF RTX 4090 OC card
    Sound Card
    none Headphones ASUS 7.1 Surround
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gigabyte M32U 32 inch 4k IPS 144Hz monitor
    Screen Resolution
    3340 by 2160 144 Hz with HDR 10
    Hard Drives
    2TB Samsung 980 Pro NVME, 3X Samsung 4TB 860 EVO
    PSU
    EVGA 850 Modular
    Case
    Corsair Graphite 780T
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Hyper air
    Keyboard
    Corsair K95 RGB
    Mouse
    Logitech G502 wired
    Internet Speed
    990Mbps up/down Fiber to the home
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    MS Defender
Not working well for me with a real MS XBox wired controller. I get my steam page if I press the X button. If I keep pressing, Steam Big Picture pops up.
Yeah, that's a Steam setting. You can turn that off by going to Settings > Controller > General Controller Settings and unchecking "Guide button focuses Steam", although I've found Steam to be finicky on whether or not it actually enforces that after it's turned off. You might need to do it a couple of times.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i9-12900K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX DDR4
    Memory
    128 GB G.Skill Trident Z RGB DDR4-4000
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus ROG Strix RTX 4090 OC Edition
    Sound Card
    Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung Odyssey G9 49" Super Ultrawide
    Screen Resolution
    5120x1440 240Hz
    Hard Drives
    1 TB PNY XLR8 NVMe SSD (Boot drive), 960 GB ADATA SSD, 1 TB Samsung SSD, 2 TB Samsung SSD, 2 TB Samsung SSD, 2 TB Crucial P5 NVMe SSD, 10 TB WD MyBook external HDD, 10 TB Seagate external HDD, 15 TB WD MyBook external HDD
    PSU
    EVGA Supernova 1600 P+ 1600w
    Case
    EVGA DG-86
    Cooling
    Corsair H150i Elite LCD
    Keyboard
    Corsair K100 RGB
    Mouse
    Razer Naga Pro v2 wireless
    Internet Speed
    Gigabit
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Yeah, that's a Steam setting. You can turn that off by going to Settings > Controller > General Controller Settings and unchecking "Guide button focuses Steam", although I've found Steam to be finicky on whether or not it actually enforces that after it's turned off. You might need to do it a couple of times.
Yeah, learning a lot about having an XBox controller attached, heh. I had to join the XBox insider and changed the Steam settings for the controller. Now nothing happens with the X button. BUT it turns out that when I did a cold load a couple of weeks back, I was converted from Dev to Beta in the insider program so who knows if I got the special sauce for the new bar... I put myself back on Dev and will see if something changes in the next build.

EDIT Oops, says Beta included. I have a wired MS XBox controller and nothing (so far) happens when I press the X Button. I have tried restarting with the controller plugged in with no change. In the XBox insider preview, no managed devices are shown. I give up, not worth my time to troubleshoot.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    home built
    CPU
    i7-12700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS Rog Strix Z690-F Gaming
    Memory
    64GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS TUF RTX 4090 OC card
    Sound Card
    none Headphones ASUS 7.1 Surround
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gigabyte M32U 32 inch 4k IPS 144Hz monitor
    Screen Resolution
    3340 by 2160 144 Hz with HDR 10
    Hard Drives
    2TB Samsung 980 Pro NVME, 3X Samsung 4TB 860 EVO
    PSU
    EVGA 850 Modular
    Case
    Corsair Graphite 780T
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Hyper air
    Keyboard
    Corsair K95 RGB
    Mouse
    Logitech G502 wired
    Internet Speed
    990Mbps up/down Fiber to the home
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    MS Defender
Yeah, it seems a bit flaky at the moment. Hopefully this is something that they fully flesh out, because it's a good idea.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i9-12900K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z790 Aorus Elite AX DDR4
    Memory
    128 GB G.Skill Trident Z RGB DDR4-4000
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus ROG Strix RTX 4090 OC Edition
    Sound Card
    Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung Odyssey G9 49" Super Ultrawide
    Screen Resolution
    5120x1440 240Hz
    Hard Drives
    1 TB PNY XLR8 NVMe SSD (Boot drive), 960 GB ADATA SSD, 1 TB Samsung SSD, 2 TB Samsung SSD, 2 TB Samsung SSD, 2 TB Crucial P5 NVMe SSD, 10 TB WD MyBook external HDD, 10 TB Seagate external HDD, 15 TB WD MyBook external HDD
    PSU
    EVGA Supernova 1600 P+ 1600w
    Case
    EVGA DG-86
    Cooling
    Corsair H150i Elite LCD
    Keyboard
    Corsair K100 RGB
    Mouse
    Razer Naga Pro v2 wireless
    Internet Speed
    Gigabit
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
With the latest 25115 insider preview, the controller bar now works as soon as I plug in my wired XBox controller. It also shows up when the game bar (WIN key+G) opens. Plugging in the controller also gets attention from Steam, heh.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    home built
    CPU
    i7-12700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS Rog Strix Z690-F Gaming
    Memory
    64GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS TUF RTX 4090 OC card
    Sound Card
    none Headphones ASUS 7.1 Surround
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gigabyte M32U 32 inch 4k IPS 144Hz monitor
    Screen Resolution
    3340 by 2160 144 Hz with HDR 10
    Hard Drives
    2TB Samsung 980 Pro NVME, 3X Samsung 4TB 860 EVO
    PSU
    EVGA 850 Modular
    Case
    Corsair Graphite 780T
    Cooling
    Cooler Master Hyper air
    Keyboard
    Corsair K95 RGB
    Mouse
    Logitech G502 wired
    Internet Speed
    990Mbps up/down Fiber to the home
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    MS Defender
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