How to Get Rid of Game Dashboard on Chromebook: A Complete Guide

If you’re a Chromebook user and find the Game Dashboard feature intrusive or unnecessary, you’re not alone. Many users prefer a clean gaming experience without distractions. Fortunately, disabling the Game Dashboard is straightforward, and this guide will walk you through various methods to achieve that.

What Is Game Dashboard?

Before diving into how to disable it, let’s briefly discuss what the Game Dashboard is. Introduced to enhance the gaming experience on Chromebooks, the Game Dashboard provides a quick access point for various gaming features, including screen capture, performance statistics, and notifications. While many users appreciate these tools, others find the Dashboard distracting or unnecessary, especially when engaging in competitive gameplay.

Method 1: Through the Settings Menu

The most reliable way to disable the Game Dashboard is through the Chromebook’s Settings app. Here’s how you can do it:

Open the Settings App: Click on the time in the bottom-right corner of your screen, then select the gear icon to open the Settings app.
Navigate to Google Settings: Scroll down and find the “Google” option in the left sidebar.
Find Game Dashboard Settings: Look for the “Game Dashboard” section within the Google settings.
Toggle Off the Game Dashboard: You will see an option labeled “Use Game Dashboard.” Simply toggle this setting to “Off” to disable it completely.

Method 2: Using the Game Dashboard Interface

If you’re in the middle of a game and want to quickly disable the Dashboard, you can do this directly from the Game Dashboard interface:

Access the Game Dashboard: Look for the little controller icon that appears while you’re gaming. Click on it to open the Game Dashboard.
Open the Settings Gear: Once the Game Dashboard is open, look for a gear icon located in the upper left corner of the screen.
Disable Game Dashboard: In this settings menu, you can find an option to turn off the Game Dashboard. Toggle the option to disable it.

Method 3: Feedback Option

If you believe the Game Dashboard should have more personalized settings or features, providing feedback to Google can help improve future iterations. Here’s how to send feedback:

Open the Feedback Option: To send feedback, press Alt + Shift + i together. This will open a feedback window.
Describe Your Issue: In the feedback window, describe your experience with the Game Dashboard and express your desire to disable it.
Submit Your Feedback: Once you’ve written your thoughts, you can submit the feedback. This helps Google better understand user needs and experiences.

Method 4: Notification Settings

Sometimes, the Game Dashboard can send unwanted notifications during your gaming sessions. You can adjust these settings as follows:

Access the Settings App: Start by going to the Settings app as described in Method 1.
Navigate to Notifications: Find the “Notifications” option in the left sidebar.
Go to Do Not Disturb Settings: Click on ‘Do Not Disturb’ and look for the ‘Schedules’ section.
Turn Off Gaming Notifications: Select the gear icon next to ‘Gaming’ and set the schedules to disable notifications. This action can prevent the Game Dashboard from intruding during your gaming sessions.

Method 5: Change Navigation Settings

If you’re facing persistent interruptions from the Game Dashboard, changing your navigation settings can help:

Go to Settings: Open the Settings app on your Chromebook.
Switch to Three-Button Navigation: Change your navigation to the three-button format, which may reduce the instance of the Game Dashboard appearing.

Conclusion

Disabling the Game Dashboard on your Chromebook is easy with these methods. Whether you prefer navigating through the Settings app, using the Dashboard itself, or adjusting notification settings, you have multiple options to customize your gaming experience. Taking control over how notifications and gaming features interact with your gameplay can result in a more enjoyable experience on your Chromebook. Remember, providing feedback to Google can also encourage enhancements that focus on user preferences. Enjoy your gaming!