What is GamingServices.exe in Windows 11 or 10?

GamingServices.exe and GamingServicesNet.exe are parts of what makes gaming on Windows 11 and Windows 10 work. They help get your games onto your computer and keep them running smoothly, especially those you grab from the Microsoft Store or Xbox app.

Also see: How to remove Xbox Game Bar from Windows 11

Gaming services in Windows 11 or 10

Think of GamingServices.exe and GamingServicesNet.exe as the backstage crew for Microsoft’s gaming show on Windows. They’re there to make sure your games are set up right, updated, and that you have all the cool game-related features you want.

GamingServices.exe

GamingServices.exe is like a game manager for Windows, making sure your games from the Microsoft Store and Xbox app are installed and up-to-date. If it wasn’t around, you might have trouble getting your games to start or update properly.

GamingServicesNet.exe

And GamingServicesNet.exe looks after the online side of things, helping your online multiplayer games run without a hitch, managing streaming, and keeping your game saves in the cloud.

Useful tip: How to know which app is using the internet in Windows 11

Identifying GamingServices.exe and GamingServicesNet.exe

Finding these processes is easy:

1. Right-click on the taskbar and pick “Task Manager”.
2. Hit the “Details” tab.
3. Look down the list for GamingServices.exe and GamingServicesNet.exe.

These processes should be running if you’re on Windows 10 or 11, especially if you’ve got games installed.

Related resource: How to delete a service in Windows 11 or 10 using CMD

Is GamingServices.exe a virus?

Mostly, GamingServices.exe and GamingServicesNet.exe are legit and safe. But it’s wise to check they’re the real deal and not bad software in disguise.

To check:

1. Open “Task Manager” the way you did before.
2. Hit the “Details” tab again.
3. Find GamingServices.exe or GamingServicesNet.exe, right-click, and choose “Open file location”.

If they’re not in C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.GamingServices_..., something might be up. And, running a virus scan every so often is a smart move to keep your computer safe.

Handy guide: 30+ Windows 11 services to disable for better performance

Potential issues and solutions

Even though these processes are usually quiet, sometimes they might act up. Here’s how to handle some common headaches:

Gaming services high CPU or disk usage

If your computer is dragging because these services are working too hard, especially during game updates, try restarting the service:

1. Hit Win + R, type “services.msc”, and press Enter.
2. Scroll to “GamingServices”, right-click it, and click “Restart”.

Linked issue: High CPU usage after Windows 11/10 update (Fix)

Failure to launch games

Can’t get a game to start? It might be a hiccup with Gaming Services. Try these steps to fix it:

1. Press Win + i to open Settings.
2. Go to “Apps” then “Apps & features”.
3. Find “Gaming Services” in the list. Use the search bar to find it fast. Click the menu next to it and choose “Advanced options“.
4. Hit “Repair” to let Windows try fixing it. If your game still won’t start, hit “Reset“.

Similar problem: Xbox PC Game Pass stuck on syncing data in Windows 11

How to disable or uninstall GamingServices.exe

While GamingServices.exe and GamingServicesNet.exe are key for gaming in Windows, there might be times you want to turn them off. But, it’s not as simple as you’d hope. The system protects them because they’re so important.

For example, trying to stop them from starting up via services.msc won’t work; the option is greyed out. And, you can’t just uninstall Gaming Services the regular way either.

However, you can use PowerShell to remove them, though be aware this might affect your ability to play games from the Microsoft Store or Xbox app. Here’s how:

1. Open the Start menu, type “PowerShell”, right-click “Windows PowerShell” and pick “Run as administrator”.
2. Type the following and press Enter after each line:

   Get-AppxPackage *gamingservices* | Remove-AppxPackage -allusers

   

3. Restart your computer to finish.

Check Task Manager under Services after rebooting. Gaming Services should be gone.

If you change your mind, installing any game from the Microsoft Store or Xbox app will bring Gaming Services back.

So, what have we learned?

GamingServices.exe and GamingServicesNet.exe are crucial if you play games through the Xbox app or Microsoft Store on Windows 11 and 10. They manage game installations, updates, and network stuff for games from the Microsoft Store and Xbox app.

While usually, they don’t cause issue, they can sometimes make your computer slow or not let games start right. Fixing these issues can be as simple as restarting or resetting the service. And, even though they’re safe, always keep an eye out for imposters pretending to be these services (just scan the files when in doubt).

Disabling them is possible but think twice before you do, as it could mess with your gaming. If you know what you’re doing and really need to, the steps above can help you out. Just be ready for the effects it might have on your games.