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


How to Change Graphic Settings in Iracing

How to change graphic settings in iRacing: quick, clear steps for iRacing drivers to fix resolution, detail and performance so you can solve display issues fast.


If you’re wondering how to change graphic settings in iracing, the short answer is: open the iRacing Launcher or press ESC in a session, go to Options → Graphics, adjust resolution/fullscreen and detail levels, click Apply, then restart if needed. You’re in the right place to fix display or performance issues fast.

Quick Answer — how to change graphic settings in iracing

Open the iRacing Launcher and click Options (or press ESC in-sim → Options → Graphics). Change resolution, fullscreen/windowed, and quality/detail sliders (texture, shadows, reflections). Click Apply/OK, test in a practice session, and lower detail settings if FPS or stutter persist.

What’s Really Going On

iRacing separates display setup (resolution, fullscreen, refresh rate) from performance/detail settings (textures, shadows, reflections). High display resolution or high detail gives better visuals but needs more GPU power. If your framerate drops or the HUD is tiny, you need to change those settings. Changing them in the Launcher or in-session applies immediately for testing.

Step-by-step Fix

  1. Open the iRacing Launcher and click Options.
  2. Select the Graphics tab (or press ESC during a session → Options → Graphics).
  3. Set Resolution and Refresh Rate to match your monitor or VR device.
  4. Choose Fullscreen or Windowed (Fullscreen usually gives better input/CPU/GPU sync).
  5. Reduce detail settings: lower texture, shadow, reflection and particle detail to improve FPS.
  6. Click Apply/OK, start a short practice or test session, and observe FPS and input response. If performance is still poor, lower more settings or update your GPU drivers.

Extra Tips / Checklist

  • Update GPU drivers (NVIDIA/AMD) before making big changes.
  • Match iRacing resolution to your display native resolution for best clarity.
  • Use Fullscreen for lower input lag; Windowed Borderless is fine for multi-monitor setups.
  • If using VR, reduce render resolution and SS (supersampling) first — VR is very GPU-heavy.
  • If unsure which setting hurts performance, lower shadow/detail first — they cost a lot of FPS.

FAQs

Q: Where are iRacing graphics settings located?
A: In the iRacing Launcher click Options → Graphics, or press ESC during a session → Options → Graphics.

Q: Will changing graphics settings affect my SR or iRating?
A: No. Graphics settings only change visuals and performance, not your safety rating (SR) or iRating.

Q: How do I increase FPS in iRacing?
A: Lower resolution or detail levels (shadows, reflections, crowd), enable full screen, update GPU drivers, and close background apps.

Q: Do I need to restart iRacing after changing settings?
A: Usually not—Apply takes effect—but restart the sim if you get visual glitches or if settings don’t seem to stick.

Short Wrap-Up

Changing graphics in iRacing is fast: Options → Graphics, tweak resolution and detail, Apply, then test. If you still have issues, lower shadows/textures first and update your GPU drivers before each race.