Windows Alt R not working for recording [Fix]

Earlier, Windows screen recording required specialized software, often paid, with limited customizations. Then Windows released the Xbox Game Bar, making recording screens, taking screenshots, and monitoring performance easier. Some users have had issues with the Win+Alt+R shortcut not working for screen recording. In this article, we will learn how to fix Windows Alt R not working for recording.

Why is Win+Alt+R not working?

There are many causes behind Windows+Alt+R not working for screen recording, but a few can cause the issue. One of the firsts is interference from other apps. Xbox Game Bar is a preinstalled app, and a shortcut triggers the recording feature. However, if another app acquires that shortcut, it may not work.

Other causes include an issue with the Xbox app, which may require resetting or reinstalling, misconfigured shortcuts, and a faulty keyboard. We’ll discuss the fixes for all of these in the next section.

Fix Windows+Alt+R not working for recording

If the Win+Alt+R shortcut is not working for screen recording in Xbox Game Bar on your Windows 11 PC, follow these solutions to fix the issue:

Reset the Xbox Game Bar
Use Windows+G
Check Shortcuts in the Xbox Game Bar
Reinstall the Xbox Game Bar

Let’s jump in!

1] Reset the Xbox Game Bar

As previously discussed, Xbox Game Bar is a preinstalled application. The feature of Windows+Alt+R for screen recording depends on it. You can reset the Xbox Game Bar to fix the Windows+Alt+R not working issue.

Open Windows Settings by pressing the Windows+I keys on your keyboard.
Go to the Windows Settings > System > System Components > Game Bar.
Now, scroll down to find the Reset section and click the Reset button to reset the Xbox Game Bar.

Resetting the Xbox game bar will clear all its data, so you must customize the settings and log in again. If you don’t wish to reset the app, you can try the Repair option in the same section first.

Read: CTRL+T keyboard shortcut not working

2] Use Windows+G

Pressing the Windows+G keys lets you bring up the Xbox game bar and manually start the screen recording. Using the shortcut, you can also deal with faulty keys on your keyboard (e.g., if the Alt key or the R key is not working) and navigate another app’s interference.

Reated: Xbox Game Bar keeps turning off in Windows PC

3] Check shortcut settings in the Xbox Game Bar

You can reassign the shortcuts in the Xbox Game Bar, and you might want to consider whether there are any changes there. Also, if the Windows+Alt+R shortcut for screen recording is not working for you, you can assign a different shortcut there:

Open the Xbox Game Bar by searching for it in the Start menu or using the Windows+G keys.
In the Xbox Game Bar, click the gear icon to open Settings.

Go to the Shortcuts tab and scroll down to find the Windows+Alt+R shortcut.
Check if there is any other shortcut assigned there. If not, you can create one.

To create a shortcut, perform a shortcut in the text field (note that it should have either Ctrl or Alt in the beginning).
Click Save to save the shortcuts.

4] Reinstall the Xbox Game Bar

You can also try reinstalling the Xbox Game Bar, which will do more than reset the app and fix the issue.

Right-click the Windows Start icon and open Terminal (Admin).
In the Windows Terminal, ensure you are in Powershell; if not, open a Powershell window using the plus icon.
Now, paste the following code into Windows Powershell and press Enter.

Get-AppxPackage -PackageTypeFilter Bundle -Name "*Microsoft.XboxGamingOverlay*" | Remove-AppxPackage

This will uninstall the app. After this, you can reinstall the Xbox Game Bar by opening the Xbox app on your PC and clicking the install button on the Game Bar needs to be installed prompt.

We hope you found it helpful.

How to screen record without Windows Alt+R?

You can either bring up the Xbox Game Bar and manually start the recording or use Alt + G to quickly record the last 30 seconds.

What is Windows Shift R?

Win+Shift+R will open the Snipping Tool recording feature, allowing you to record anything on the desktop, including audio, quickly. You can turn off the mic or system audio depending on your needs.