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How to Delete Car Setup in Iracing

Learn how to delete car setup in iRacing step by step. Made for new iRacing drivers who want a clean, simple garage and fewer mistakes. Stay organized and confident.

If you’re new to iRacing and drowning in downloaded setups, this guide shows you exactly how to delete car setup in iracing the right way—without breaking anything. You’ll learn what “setups” are, how iRacing stores them, and simple steps to clean up your garage so you can focus on driving.

Quick Answer

how to delete car setup in iracing: Open a session, go to Garage > Setups > My Setups, select the file you don’t want, and click Delete (trash icon). You can also remove .sto files in Documents/iRacing/setups on your PC or Mac. You can’t delete iRacing default/baseline setups.

What This Guide Covers

What “how to delete car setup in iracing” means in plain English
Why beginners struggle with setup clutter
Step-by-step guidance to delete setups safely
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
A quick practice drill you can run today
When it helps to ask other iRacing drivers for feedback

What “Delete Car Setup” Means in iRacing

Simple definition: A car setup is a saved tuning file (.sto) that stores things like tire pressures, fuel level, suspension, gears, and aero. Deleting a setup removes that saved file from your “My Setups.”
Analogy: Think of setups like custom controller profiles in a game. Deleting one just removes that profile; it doesn’t break the game.
Where it shows up: In any session (Test, Practice, Qualifying, Race), open Garage > Setups. You’ll see two main sections:
- iRacing Setups: Read-only defaults/baselines from iRacing (you can’t delete these).
- My Setups: Files you saved or downloaded (these you can delete).

Why This Matters for Rookies

Less confusion: A cluttered list makes it easy to load the wrong file and end up with a car that suddenly oversteers or bottoms out.
Confidence: A tidy, simple setup list helps you pick the right baseline consistently.
Cleaner races: When your car feels predictable, you make fewer mistakes that hurt Safety Rating and iRating.
Time saved: You’ll spend less time hunting through duplicate setups and more time practicing the track.

Common Problems Beginners Face With Deleting Setups

Problem 1: “There’s no delete button.”

Why it happens: You’re looking at iRacing Setups (read-only) instead of My Setups.
How to fix it: In Garage > Setups, click My Setups. Then select the setup and use the Delete or trash icon (or the three-dot menu).

Problem 2: “I deleted the wrong setup. Can I undo it?”

Why it happens: Rushing or using vague file names like “fast_set” or “new.”
How to fix it: If you deleted in Windows/Mac, check the Recycle Bin/Trash. In the future, use a clear naming pattern, e.g., “MX5_Okayama_2025-01-14_Safe.” Consider archiving instead of deleting (move files to an “Archive” folder).

Problem 3: “I can’t find the setup to delete.”

Why it happens: You’re in a different car’s folder, or the file name doesn’t match what you expect.
How to fix it: Confirm the car in the session matches the car folder in Documents/iRacing/setups. Sort by date and look for .sto files. In the Garage, sort by Name/Date to spot duplicates.

Problem 4: “I deleted a setup while it was loaded—did I break my car?”

Why it happens: Confusing the loaded state with the file on disk.
How to fix it: The car will keep the current values until you load another setup or leave the session. If you still want that configuration, click Save As immediately and give it a new name.

Step-by-Step Guide: how to delete car setup in iracing

Method A: Delete inside iRacing (easiest)

Open a Test or Practice session with the car you want to clean up.
Click Garage, then open the Setups tab.
Switch to My Setups (not iRacing Setups).
Sort by Name or Date to find the file. Tip: Keep only 2–3 favorites per track.
Click the setup you want to remove.
Click Delete (trash icon) or the three-dot menu > Delete.
Confirm the prompt. That file is now gone from My Setups.

Method B: Delete via Windows/Mac (bulk clean)

Exit the sim to avoid any file conflicts.
Open Documents/iRacing/setups.
Open the folder for your car (e.g., “Mazda MX-5 Cup”).
Select unwanted .sto files. Optional: Create an “Archive” subfolder and move them there first.
Delete the files. Empty Recycle Bin/Trash only when you’re sure.
Relaunch iRacing. Your Garage > My Setups list will reflect the changes.

Notes:

You can’t delete iRacing default/baseline setups.
Fixed-setup series don’t require personal setup files, so clutter isn’t helpful there.

Practical Example (Before vs. After)

Before (Typical Rookie)

Loads whatever setup is at the top of a long list with vague names.
Car feels twitchy on corner entry; braking distances change every session.
Gets frustrated, loses Safety Rating, and thinks the car is “broken.”

After (Correct Approach)

Deletes duplicates, keeps one safe baseline and one “race” setup with clear names.
Car behavior is predictable; braking points stabilize.
Feels calmer, finishes more races cleanly, and improves pace steadily.

Simple Practice Drill (5–10 Minutes)

Load a Test session at Okayama Short with the Mazda MX-5 Cup.
In Garage > Setups, Save As two versions: “MX5_OKA_SAFE” and “MX5_OKA_RACE.”
Now delete the duplicate you don’t need (e.g., an old download). Confirm it’s gone.
Drive 8–10 laps using the “SAFE” setup. Ignore lap time—focus on consistent braking and smooth steering. Notice how predictability boosts confidence.

Pro Tips for New iRacing Drivers

Can’t delete it? You’re probably looking at an iRacing default—those are read-only.
Keep one “Safe Baseline” per car. If the car feels sketchy, reload that first.
Use clear names: Car_Track_Date_Notes (e.g., “GT3_Spa_2025-02-10_SafeWet”).
Practice changes in Test sessions first—don’t experiment on the grid.
Use replays (chase cam) to spot instability caused by a bad setup (e.g., rear snapping under throttle).
Back up “keeper” setups by copying the .sto files to cloud storage or an Archive folder.

When to Ask for Help (Gentle Community Push)

If you’re still unsure, you’re not alone—everyone wrestles with setups at first. Many new iRacing drivers hang out in beginner-friendly Discord communities where they can share replays and ask quick questions. A couple of comments on your setup choices and driving can speed up your progress dramatically.

FAQs About how to delete car setup in iracing in iRacing

Can I delete iRacing default or baseline setups?
No. iRacing’s default/baseline setups are read-only. You can only delete files in My Setups (the ones you saved or downloaded).
Where are setups stored on my computer?
Windows and Mac: Documents/iRacing/setups/. Each setup is a .sto file. Deleting a file removes it from My Setups in the Garage.
Do I need to exit iRacing to delete setups?
Not for in-game deletion. If you’re deleting via File Explorer/Finder, it’s safest to close iRacing first so the file list refreshes cleanly.
Will deleting setups affect official or league races?
No. Deleting just removes saved files. It won’t break a fixed-setup series, and it won’t change the car once you’re on track.
Can I recover a deleted setup?
Check your Recycle Bin/Trash if you deleted via your OS. Otherwise, re-download from where you got it or ask a teammate to share it again.

Final Takeaways

Keep only a few clearly named setups per car to reduce mistakes.
You can delete your own files in My Setups or remove .sto files from Documents/iRacing/setups.
iRacing defaults can’t be deleted—and that’s okay. Use them as safe baselines.
Next session action: Clean one car’s setup folder and keep one “Safe” and one “Race” file. Small steps build big confidence.

You don’t have to master everything tonight. Focus on staying organized, practice with a stable baseline, and your iRacing sessions will feel calmer and more controlled.

Optional Next Steps

Next: How to save and load car setups in iRacing (beginner’s guide)
Or read: Fixed vs. Open Setup series in iRacing—what rookies should choose