How to Prevent Microsoft GameInput or Gaming Service Crashes on Your Windows PC

My Ultimate Fix: Stopping the Game Input Service from Crashing my Windows Machine

Recently, I kept running into odd crashes—especially on Windows 10 and 11—linked to the Game Input Service. It was a real pain, as my PC would freeze randomly or throw errors whenever I tried to game or use any app that involves input devices. After lots of trial and error, I pinpointed the service as the culprit. The frustrating part? It kept reappearing after Windows updates or restarts.

How to Remove the Game Input Service Once and For All

First up, you need to disable or uninstall the Microsoft Game Input service. If you don’t see it plainly in Apps & Features, it might be hidden within your system or Windows might auto-reinstall it after updates. I’ve seen cases where it shows up under Gaming or as a “Microsoft Store App.” But the easiest way? Use PowerShell or Command Prompt with administrator rights, just to be safe.

So, I launched PowerShell as an admin—right-click the Start menu and choose Windows PowerShell (Admin). Alternatively, you can search for powershell in the Start menu, right-click, and select “Run as administrator,” if that’s simpler. Once in, I ran commands like:

Get-Service -Name *GameInput*  
Stop-Service -Name "GameInputService" -Force  
sc.exe delete "GameInputService"

This stops the service immediately. But heads up—Microsoft sometimes recreates the service after updates or if the service files are still lurking around.

Additionally, if you prefer a graphical route, you might find Microsoft Game Input listed in Apps & Features. Just locate it and hit Uninstall. Usually straightforward, but occasionally it leaves some traces behind because of how Windows manages certain services and apps. If the crashes keep happening, you’ll need to do some further cleanup.

Cleaning Up Leftover Files & Registry Entries

I hit a bit of a dead-end at first, but after some digging, manual cleanup made a big difference. I opened File Explorer (with Windows + E) and went to C:\Program Files and C:\Program Files (x86). Look for folders like Microsoft\Game or Microsoft\GameInput. Sometimes they’re hidden deep inside subfolders. If found, deleting those folders can stop Windows from automatically reinstalling the service. If you’re a bit cautious, just rename them to something like Microsoft\GameInput_old to disable them temporarily—better to play it safe.

Remember, when deleting from Program Files, run your File Explorer as administrator. Right-click the icon and choose Run as administrator.

If it’s still sneaky, you might need to check the Windows Registry. Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services. Look for any entries related to GameInput. Be very careful—only delete entries if you’re comfortable editing the registry, and backup first just in case. I’ve seen registry keys stubbornly linger, so cleaning those out can prevent reinstallation or crashes.

Is Removing It Worth the Hassle?

From my experience, if you don’t rely on advanced input features or peripherals tied to this service, removing it can really smooth out your experience by reducing crashes and input lag. I’ve read that some Windows updates toggle it on by default, which can cause stability issues. Also, I found it buried in Settings & Privacy > Gaming > Xbox Game Bar > Misc. Honestly, took me ages to locate that menu! So, if weird crashes are driving you mad, this fix might save your day.

Keep in mind, some peripherals or software like Logitech G Hub, Razer Synapse, or similar might depend on this service. If you notice issues with those after removal, you might need to reinstall or re-enable the service. It’s a balancing act, but if your PC is crashing repeatedly, disabling GameInput helped me heaps.

Hope this helps someone else. It took me ages to figure out, and I was surprised how hidden and persistent this service can be. Good luck fixing your PC — hopefully, it stops crashing so you can get back to gaming without all the stability drama!