Join the Discord! →

Join hundreds of racers just like you! We love to help answer questions and race together.


How to Get Widescreen Working in Iracing

Learn how to get widescreen working in iRacing — a clear, beginner-friendly guide for iRacing beginners and those new to iRacing. Fix display issues fast and enjoy a wider view.

If the iRacing view looks stretched, letterboxed, or just plain wrong, you’re in the right place. Many new users panic thinking their monitor or GPU is broken — but widescreen problems usually come down to a few settings. This short guide explains how to get widescreen working in iRacing clearly and calmly.

Quick Answer

To get widescreen working in iRacing, set your monitor’s native resolution in Windows, choose the matching resolution and aspect ratio inside iRacing’s Graphics options, and disable any GPU scaling or override features. Use fullscreen exclusive mode and restart iRacing if changes don’t apply. (44 words)

Why this matters for beginners

A correct widescreen setup gives you more peripheral view, clearer apex vision, and fewer distractions from black bars or a stretched HUD. iRacing beginners often get confused because modern GPUs, monitor settings, and the sim all have overlapping controls. Understanding which setting controls what saves time and reduces frustration — that’s a real iRacing tip that improves driving right away.

Simple step-by-step guide

  1. Check Windows display: set your monitor to its native resolution (e.g., 2560×1440) in Windows Display Settings.
  2. Open iRacing > Options > Graphics: choose the same resolution and pick the matching aspect ratio (16:9, 21:9, etc.).
  3. Set “Fullscreen” (exclusive) rather than windowed/borderless if you want consistent scaling.
  4. Open your GPU control panel (NVIDIA/AMD): disable GPU scaling or set scaling to “Display” and preserve aspect ratio.
  5. Restart iRacing. If HUD or mirrors look wrong, toggle “Use Fullscreen Optimizations” in the iRacing exe properties as a last resort.

Common mistakes (and fixes)

  • Mistake: Using a non-native resolution. Fix: Always match Windows and iRacing resolution to the monitor’s native specs.
  • Mistake: GPU scaling enabled. Fix: Turn off scaling or set it to preserve aspect ratio in NVIDIA/AMD control panel.
  • Mistake: Running in borderless window. Fix: Switch to exclusive fullscreen for consistent widescreen behavior.

Quick pro tips

  • If you have an ultrawide (21:9), enable the same aspect ratio in iRacing and avoid forcing 16:9 in GPU settings.
  • If the FOV feels off, adjust iRacing’s field of view slider rather than changing resolution.
  • Keep your GPU drivers updated — display bugs are often fixed in driver releases.
  • For triple-monitor set-ups, use NVIDIA Surround or AMD Eyefinity only after testing single-monitor widescreen first.

When to ask for help

If the steps above don’t fix it, take screenshots (Windows + Alt + Print Screen or your GPU tool) and ask on community places. iRacing Discord servers and official forums are friendly to newcomers; post your monitor model, GPU, Windows resolution, and screenshots — people will usually spot the issue quickly.

FAQs

Q: My HUD is cut off after switching to widescreen.
A: In iRacing options, increase UI scale or move HUD elements with the dashboard editor; ensure resolution matches native.

Q: Can I use borderless window and still get true widescreen?
A: Borderless can work, but exclusive fullscreen is more reliable for proper scaling and performance.

Q: Why is my image stretched after enabling GPU scaling?
A: GPU scaling forces the image to fit a chosen resolution/aspect ratio; disable it or choose “preserve aspect ratio.”

Q: Does ultrawide give a competitive advantage?
A: It offers more side vision but can change depth perception. Practice a few laps to adapt — that’s an easy iRacing tip for new players.

Keep it simple: match resolutions, use fullscreen, and check GPU scaling. Try one change at a time and you’ll have widescreen working in iRacing in under 10 minutes.