Screenshots and screen recording
Xbox Game Bar privacy rating
Gaming overlay built into Windows for recording game clips and screenshots, with widgets for performance monitoring, audio control and Xbox social features.
Summary
Xbox Game Bar scores 35 out of 100 (grade F) on the screenshots and screen recording criteria. It meets 2 of 6 criteria: no ads or data sales and saved locally by default. It partly meets no account needed. It does not meet open source, no trackers or telemetry and independent audit. It is based in the United States: Five Eyes member; subject to the US CLOUD Act.
Score 35 out of 100. How scoring works
Criteria
- No
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No
No trackers or telemetry Weight 3 of 3
Are the website and apps free of third-party trackers, with any analytics anonymous and any telemetry off by default?
Required Windows diagnostic data is sent to Microsoft and can only be turned off on Enterprise, Education and Server editions.
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Yes
No ads or data sales Weight 2 of 3
Is the product funded without advertising, ad targeting or selling user data?
No ads in the overlay, which is included with Windows. Microsoft states it does not use personal files, photos or documents to target ads.
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No
Independent audit Weight 2 of 3
Has an independent security or privacy audit been published within the last three years?
No independent audit is published.
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Yes
Saved locally by default Weight 2 of 3
Are screenshots and recordings saved on the device unless you choose to upload them?
Recordings and screenshots are saved to the local Captures folder under Videos.
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Partial
No account needed Weight 1 of 3
Can the app be used without an account?
Recording and screenshots work without signing in. Xbox social features such as friends and chat need a Microsoft account.