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How to Force Full Screen in Iracing

How to force full screen in iRacing with clear, calm steps for iRacing beginners and those new to iRacing. Get fullscreen fast and focus on driving.

If opening iRacing feels like wrestling with windows and borders, you’re not alone. Many new players don’t know where display options live or why fullscreen sometimes refuses to stick. This guide explains how to force full screen in iRacing simply, so you can stop fussing and start driving.

Quick Answer: how to force full screen in iracing

Press Alt + Enter to toggle between windowed and fullscreen modes. For a permanent fullscreen: open iRacing > Options > Graphics, set “Display Mode” to Fullscreen, apply and restart iRacing. If multi-monitor setups or overlays block it, disable them or use Windows display settings first.

Why this matters for beginners

Full screen removes distractions, gives better frame stability, and avoids accidental clicks outside the sim — huge benefits when you’re learning how iRacing works. For iRacing beginners and anyone new to iRacing, getting a reliable fullscreen setup makes practice sessions feel cleaner and helps you focus on driving, not menus.

Simple step-by-step guide

Close iRacing if it’s running.
Start iRacing, go to Options > Graphics.
Find “Display Mode” and choose Fullscreen from the dropdown.
Click Apply, then OK. Restart iRacing to ensure settings take effect.
If Alt + Enter doesn’t work, check you’re running the sim as administrator or try disabling overlays (Discord, Steam, recording tools).

Common mistakes (and fixes)

Mistake: Setting resolution that doesn’t match your monitor. Fix: Pick the native resolution listed in Windows Display Settings.
Mistake: Overlays (Discord/OBS/Steam) force windowed mode. Fix: Temporarily disable overlays or set them to allow fullscreen.
Mistake: Using borderless windowed mode expecting true fullscreen performance. Fix: Choose “Fullscreen” in iRacing for the best behavior or test both to compare.

Quick pro tips

Use Alt + Enter as a fast toggle during a session if you need to check chat or apps.
Run iRacing in administrator mode if Windows keeps forcing window focus changes.
If you have multiple monitors, make your primary monitor the one you race on in Windows Display Settings.
Update GPU drivers — driver oddities can interfere with fullscreen.
For VR or triple monitors, consult specific setup guides; fullscreen behaves differently with those configurations.

FAQs

Q: Alt + Enter didn’t change anything — what now?
A: Ensure iRacing window is focused, try running iRacing as admin, and temporarily disable overlays like Discord/Steam/OBS.

Q: What’s the difference between Fullscreen and Borderless Windowed?
A: Fullscreen gives exclusive display control (often more stable/performant). Borderless looks fullscreen but behaves like a window — easier to alt-tab but sometimes less stable.

Q: My fullscreen resets after restart. Why?
A: Check that you applied settings and restarted iRacing. Also confirm no third-party tool (display manager or GPU utility) is overriding resolution.

Q: Where can I ask for help if something still breaks?
A: If you’re stuck, friendly iRacing Discord communities and official forums are great places to ask — share your GPU model, Windows version, and screenshot of graphics settings.

Final takeaway Getting fullscreen set up is a quick win: try Alt + Enter now, then follow the Graphics → Display Mode route to lock it in. Once it’s stable, focus on one iRacing tip — like a single braking point — and practice for 15 minutes. You’re making progress.