Windows 11 · Xbox Game Bar on Windows 11

Create a Transparent Performance Overlay in Windows 11

Source-checked 2 September 2026About 5 minutes

Answer

Task Manager cannot become a transparent pinned overlay. For live CPU, GPU, RAM, and FPS information, press Windows + G, open Xbox Game Bar's Performance widget, adjust its backplate or transparency, and pin it. Test it over the app you use and unpin it when finished.

Before you continue

Use Game BarTask Manager has no transparent overlay mode.
Pick only useful metricsA smaller widget covers less of the screen.
Pin and testPinned widgets remain visible after Game Bar closes.

Open Microsoft's Game Bar widget guide Read the transparency guide

Check that Game Bar is enabled

Open Settings > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar and make sure the shortcut is enabled.

Open Game Bar

Press Windows + G. If nothing opens, launch Xbox Game Bar from Start and install its Microsoft Store update.

Open Performance

Use the Widget menu to open Performance. Choose the CPU, GPU, RAM, VRAM, or FPS readings you actually need.

Read the Game Bar widget guide

Resize and position it

Drag the widget away from important controls and resize it so the labels remain readable.

Adjust the backplate

Open the widget settings and change the backplate or transparency until the text remains legible over both light and dark scenes.

Read Microsoft's transparency guide

Pin the widget

Select the pin icon, then press Windows + G to close Game Bar. Confirm the widget stays above the active app.

Remove it when finished

Press Windows + G, unpin or close Performance, and confirm it no longer covers other apps.

If it does not work

The FPS reading may require a one-time permission request and restart; follow the message Game Bar displays.
If the overlay reduces performance, show fewer metrics or close it after testing.
Do not download a modified Task Manager executable to obtain transparency; use the Windows widget instead.

Sources and verification

Checked against official documentation on 2 September 2026. Scope: Xbox Game Bar on Windows 11.

The written instructions were checked against the current official pages linked below. The older video is kept for reference and may show different menus.