How to Fix the Xbox Game Bar Cursor Lock Issue?

The Game Bar cursor lock issue causes your mouse to stop responding properly in-game, making it impossible to aim or move the camera. On multi-monitor setups, the cursor may drift to other screens, especially after interacting with the Game Bar overlay in full-screen mode.

This bug often appears after a Windows quality update that indirectly affects Game Bar functionality. It can also be triggered by misconfigured overlay settings like FPS monitoring or recording tools.

Now that you know what’s causing the issue, follow the step-by-step solutions below to fix it.

1) Check For Windows Update

A recent or missing Windows quality update can sometimes interfere with features like the Xbox Game Bar, causing overlay issues. Simply check for any available updates and install them—this can often patch the Game Bar and fix the cursor lock problem.

1. Open Settings by pressing Windows + I or searching for it in the Start menu.
2. In the left sidebar, select Windows Update.
3. Click Check for updates – Windows will now scan for available updates.
4. If updates are found, follow the on-screen prompts to download and install them. Your PC may need to restart to complete the process.

2) Reset the Xbox Game Bar

Misconfigured Game Bar settings can cause the overlay to become unresponsive and lead to cursor issues. You can fix this by resetting the Game Bar entirely. Just keep in mind that this will remove any customizations and restore it to default settings. It also clears temporary cache data, which often helps resolve the problem.

1. Open Settings by searching for it in the Windows search bar or pressing Windows + I.
2. In the Settings menu, select System from the left sidebar.
3. Scroll down and click on System Components.
4. Locate Game Bar in the components list, click the three-dot menu, and select Advanced Options.
5. Scroll down to the Reset section where you’ll find options to repair or reset the Game Bar.
6. Click Reset to restore default settings, then select Repair to fix any corrupted files.

3) Disable Game Bar Overlay (Workaround)

If you don’t use the Xbox Game Bar overlay or don’t mind turning it off, the easiest workaround is to disable it completely. The overlay is often the main reason behind the cursor input issue in games. In some cases, just opening the Game Bar—without even using it—can trigger the bug. To avoid this altogether, you can disable the overlay from Windows system settings and prevent it from interfering with your games.

1. Open Settings by pressing Windows + I or searching for it in the Start menu.
2. Navigate to System Components.
3. Locate Game Bar and click the three-dot menu to access Advanced Options.
4. Under Background component permissions, change the setting to Never to prevent Game Bar from running in the background.
5. Restart your computer to apply the changes and completely disable Game Bar.

4) Reinstall Mouse Drivers (Workaround)

You can reset your mouse drivers to restore normal cursor functionality. However, keep in mind that this fix will only work as long as you avoid using the Game Bar again. To reset the drivers, simply uninstall them and restart your system. Windows will automatically reinstall the necessary drivers after reboot.

1. Press Windows key + S to open Windows Search, then type “Device Manager” and open it.
2. In Device Manager, expand the Mice and other pointing devices section by clicking the arrow next to it.
3. Right-click on your mouse device (it will typically show your mouse model name) and select Uninstall device.
4. After uninstalling, restart your PC using the keyboard:
   • Press Alt + F4 to open the shutdown menu
   • Use arrow keys to select Restart if needed
   • Press Enter to confirm

   

5. Windows will automatically reinstall the mouse driver on startup. Launch your game to test if the issue is resolved.

5) Disable Click-Through on Xbox Game Bar

The Game Bar provides a feature that allows your cursor to click through overlay widgets. When this option is turned on, mouse input will go through the pinned overlay widgets. Disabling this option will stop your cursor from conflicting with the overlay widgets and let it run smoothly in the game window.

1. While in-game, press Windows Key + G to open the Xbox Game Bar overlay.
2. Look for the mouse icon in the overlay’s top toolbar. Hovering over it will reveal the Click-through option.
3. Click the mouse icon to toggle off the click-through functionality (this allows mouse inputs to pass through the overlay to your game).
4. Return to your game and check if this resolves the cursor issue.

If your cursor is still getting stuck for any reason, consider checking the mouse itself or try contacting Microsoft support for further assistance.