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How Do I Update Iracing

how do i update iracing: Clear, step-by-step fixes for iRacing drivers to get the launcher updating or reinstalling — fix this issue fast and get back racing.

If you’re dealing with how do i update iracing, the short answer: run the iRacing launcher and let it complete, or reinstall the launcher if it hangs. You’re in the right place — below are quick, practical fixes that get updates moving and let you get back on track.

how do i update iracing — Quick Answer

Open the iRacing launcher; it checks for updates automatically and downloads them. If the launcher stalls or errors, stop it, run it as administrator, check your internet and disk space, allow iRacing through your firewall/antivirus, and, if needed, download the latest launcher from the iRacing website and reinstall.

What’s Really Going On

The iRacing launcher does two jobs: it checks iRacing servers for new patches and then downloads those files to your PC. Problems happen when the launcher can’t reach iRacing servers, files get blocked by security software, your disk is full, or the launcher itself is corrupted. Most issues are network, permission, or storage related — which you can fix quickly.

Step-by-Step Fix

Close the launcher, wait 10 seconds, then re-open it. Simple restarts fix many update glitches.
Run the launcher as Administrator: right-click the launcher icon and choose “Run as administrator.” This avoids permission blocks on Windows.
Check iRacing server status: visit status.iracing.com or iRacing’s Twitter to see if servers or maintenance are the reason for the hold-up.
Verify your internet and disk space: use a wired connection if possible, pause other downloads, and make sure you have several GB free on the drive with iRacing installed.
Disable or whitelist: temporarily disable antivirus or add exceptions for iRacingLauncher.exe and the iRacing app in your firewall. Re-enable protection after the update.
Reinstall the launcher: if the launcher won’t start or keeps failing, download the latest installer from iRacing.com and run it — this updates/replaces the launcher without losing your settings.
Last resort: uninstall iRacing and reinstall. This takes time but fixes persistent corruption. Backup any custom setups before removing.

Extra Tips / Checklist

Use a wired Ethernet connection for large patches — it’s more reliable than Wi‑Fi.
Pause VPNs and proxies; they can slow or block downloads.
If a download stalls at a percent, leave it for 10–20 minutes — large files can appear stuck while writing to disk.
Check Windows Update and GPU driver installs are not running in the background during large iRacing downloads.
For repeated problems, contact iRacing support and include the launcher log (the support site explains how to attach it).

FAQs

Q: Why does the launcher say “checking for updates” forever?
A: Usually a network or DNS issue. Restart your router, connect by Ethernet, or try running the launcher as admin. If the problem persists, check iRacing server status.

Q: My update fails with an error code — what now?
A: Note the code, then try the steps above (admin, whitelist, reinstall launcher). If it still fails, submit a support ticket with the error and the launcher log.

Q: Will reinstalling the launcher erase my setups and skins?
A: No. The launcher reinstall updates the program. Your cars, setups, and replays are stored in Documents\iRacing or the iRacing folder; back them up if you’re doing a full uninstall.

Q: How long should an iRacing update take?
A: Depends on the patch size and your connection. Small patches are minutes; big content updates can be 20–60+ minutes on slower connections.

Short Wrap-Up

Most update problems are fixed by running the launcher as admin, checking network and disk space, and whitelisting iRacing in security software. If that doesn’t work, reinstall the launcher from iRacing.com — it usually clears corrupted files and gets you back racing fast.