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How to Get Relative and Black Box to Show in Iracing

Stuck on how to get relative and black box to show in iRacing? Quick steps for iRacing drivers to bring back the HUD, bind keys, and fix layout issues fast.

If you’re dealing with how to get relative and black box to show in iRacing, the fix is usually un-hiding the HUD and cycling to the Relative page. You’re in the right place—here’s the quick, practical way to get it back and mapped to your wheel or keyboard.

Quick Answer

To solve “how to get relative and black box to show in iracing,” make sure the HUD isn’t hidden, then cycle the black boxes until you reach Relative. Bind “Black Box – Relative” and “Next/Previous Black Box” in Options so you can access it anytime.

What’s Really Going On

The “black box” is iRacing’s on-screen HUD with pages for things like fuel, tires, and Relative. Relative shows cars ahead/behind with time gaps—crucial for race craft. If you don’t see it, the HUD is hidden, the black boxes are off-screen, or your keys aren’t bound.

how to get relative and black box to show in iracing

Step-by-Step Fix

  1. Enter a session
    Get on track (Test/Practice/Qual/Race). The HUD only shows in-session.

  2. Unhide the HUD
    Use your “Toggle UI/HUD” key. If nothing changes, open Options > Controls > Edit Keys and Buttons, search “UI” or “HUD,” and bind a Toggle key you’ll remember.

  3. Cycle to the Relative page
    Press your “Next Black Box” key until Relative appears. On many installs, ] = Next and [ = Previous. Some setups also map Relative directly to F3. If those don’t work, bind them in Options.

  4. Bind direct access to Relative
    In Options > Controls > Edit Keys and Buttons, search “Black Box – Relative” and assign it to a wheel button or key. Also bind “Next Black Box” and “Previous Black Box” for quick cycling.

  5. Reset/bring the black box back on-screen
    If the HUD is on but you still don’t see it, enter the HUD editor (Alt+K), click the green outline for the Black Boxes, and use Reset (or drag it back into view). Click Done to save.

  6. Make it readable
    Go to Options > Graphics/Display and adjust UI Zoom/Scale so the black box isn’t microscopic—especially important in VR or on triples.

Extra Tips / Checklist

  • In replay, the UI can auto-hide; move your mouse or use your Toggle UI key to bring it back.
  • Don’t stack extra overlays over the same area; they can cover the black box.
  • If you use a wheel/profile software, ensure your bound keys aren’t being blocked or remapped.
  • Save a control profile once it’s working so future cars/sessions load the same bindings.
  • If your install uses different defaults, always check Options > Controls and search by name (Relative, Black Box).

FAQs

  • What key shows Relative in iRacing?
    Often F3 on default setups, but this can vary. The reliable method: bind “Black Box – Relative” in Options > Controls.

  • How do I move or resize the black box?
    Press Alt+K to enter the HUD editor, drag the black box, and click Done. For size, adjust UI Zoom/Scale in Options.

  • Why did my black boxes disappear?
    The HUD was toggled off, or the black box was moved off-screen. Toggle the UI back on and reset/move it via Alt+K.

  • Can I put Relative on a wheel button?
    Yes. Bind “Black Box – Relative” to any wheel button in Options > Controls.

Short Wrap-Up

If the Relative/black box is missing, unhide the HUD, cycle pages, and bind “Black Box – Relative” for one-press access. Set your UI size and save your control profile so it’s always ready for your next iRacing session.