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Can Get Trading Paint to Install Iracing Paint Scheme

Answers for ‘can get trading paint to install iracing paint scheme’ — iRacing drivers: fix Trading Paint install errors fast so your custom skins load quickly.


If you’re seeing “can get trading paint to install iracing paint scheme,” the short answer is: the TradingPaints desktop app isn’t connecting to your iRacing paints folder or lacks permission. You’re in the right place — below are plain steps to diagnose and fix it quickly.

What’s Really Going On

TradingPaints is a third-party service that downloads and installs car skins into iRacing. When it can’t install a paint scheme, either the TradingPaints app isn’t running or logged in, it can’t find the iRacing paint folder, or your system is blocking the install (permissions, antivirus, or firewall). iRacing stores paints in Documents\iRacing\paint, so if TradingPaints can’t write there, installs fail.

Step-by-Step Fix

  1. Close iRacing and any paint editors. This prevents file locks.
  2. Open the TradingPaints desktop app and sign in. The web button calls the desktop app — it must be running.
  3. In the TradingPaints app settings, confirm the iRacing install/paint path is set to Documents\iRacing\paint (or your custom Documents location).
  4. Run TradingPaints as administrator (right-click → Run as administrator) once to give it write access to the paint folder. Try the install again.
  5. If it still fails, temporarily disable antivirus/firewall or add TradingPaints.exe to allowed apps, then retry.
  6. Manual fallback: download the paint package from TradingPaints (or export from the app) and copy the folder into Documents\iRacing\paint[carname]. Then start iRacing and the car should show the new skin.

Extra Tips / Checklist

  • Make sure TradingPaints and iRacing are up to date. Version mismatches sometimes break installs.
  • Use the same TradingPaints account on the web and app; the web “Install” button talks to the logged-in desktop app.
  • If you changed your Windows user Documents path, point the TradingPaints app to that custom path.
  • Restart your PC after running TradingPaints as admin if installs still fail.
  • If manual copy works, the issue is definitely permissions or app path — fix those so future installs are automatic.

FAQs

Q: Why does TradingPaints say “can get trading paint to install iracing paint scheme”?
A: It’s usually a permissions or path problem — the app can’t write to Documents\iRacing\paint or isn’t running to accept the web install request.

Q: Do I need to close iRacing before installing a paint?
A: Yes — close iRacing to avoid file locks. If iRacing is running, the app may fail to overwrite files.

Q: Where should TradingPaints install files on Windows?
A: By default to Documents\iRacing\paint. If your Documents folder is moved, set that path in the TradingPaints app.

Q: Manual install worked — what should I do next?
A: Run TradingPaints as administrator once, confirm the path, and whitelist it in your antivirus. That will let the app automate installs again.

Wrap-up

Most “can get trading paint to install iracing paint scheme” errors are fixable in minutes by running the TradingPaints app, checking the iRacing paint path, and fixing permissions or firewall rules. Try the steps above, and if it still fails, reinstall the TradingPaints desktop app or post the app log for the exact error.