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How to Disable Auto Shift in Iracing

Turn off auto shift in iRacing with fast, clear steps. For iRacing drivers: disable automatic gearbox, remap paddles/shifter and test so you can race manually.


If you’re asking “how to disable auto shift in iRacing,” the short answer is: turn off any automatic gearbox mapping in iRacing’s Controls, then map your paddles or shifter to Shift Up/Shift Down and save the profile. You’re in the right place to fix this fast.

Quick Answer

Open iRacing → Options → Controls, select your wheel/controller, click Edit, remove any “Automatic” gearbox option and assign Shift Up / Shift Down to your paddles or shifter. Save and test in Test Drive.

What’s Really Going On

iRacing won’t magically change gears for you unless the input device or control profile is set to an automatic mode. That can come from:

  • iRacing control settings using an automatic gearbox mapping,
  • Your wheel/shifter software set to an “auto” mode,
  • Or using a gamepad/controller profile that defaults to automatic shifting.

You want manual shifting so you control gear changes with paddles, a sequential shifter, or an H-pattern shifter.

Step-by-Step Fix

  1. Launch iRacing and go to Options → Controls.
  2. In the Controls screen choose your wheel or controller from the device drop-down.
  3. Click Edit (the button to open the device bindings).
  4. Find gearbox/shift bindings: remove any mapping labelled “Automatic” or “Auto” and ensure you have “Shift Up” and “Shift Down” assigned to your paddles or shifter.
  5. Save the control profile and return to the garage. Use Test Drive to confirm gears only change when you use the paddles/shifter.
  6. If it still auto-shifts, open your wheel manufacturer software (Logitech G Hub, Thrustmaster Utility, Fanatec Wheel Property) and make sure any automatic transmission or auto-shift mode is turned off.

Extra Tips / Checklist

  • Make sure you edited the correct device profile — iRacing can store multiple profiles for different cars.
  • If you use a physical H-shifter, map H-Shift axes and set the shifter to the correct mode in wheel software.
  • If you use a gamepad, switch its control profile to “manual” or map bumpers to Shift Up/Down.
  • After changes, always test in practice or Test Drive to confirm.
  • If clutches or auto-blip behave oddly, map the Clutch axis and Brake/Throttle properly; don’t rely on auto-clutch options.

FAQs

Q: Why is my car still shifting automatically after I changed controls?
A: Check your wheel/shifter vendor software and any per-car control profile in iRacing. You may have two places with “automatic” enabled.

Q: Can I disable auto shift for only one car?
A: Yes. iRacing supports per-car control profiles. Edit the profile you use for that specific car and save it.

Q: I have paddles but the game ignores them. What now?
A: Confirm paddles are assigned to Shift Up/Shift Down in iRacing’s Controls. Also verify the wheel firmware/software exposes the paddles as inputs.

Q: Will disabling auto shift affect my SR or iRating?
A: No. Switching to manual shifting only changes how you control the car. It won’t directly affect ratings, though better control can improve lap times and reduce incidents.

Short Wrap-Up

Disable auto shift by turning off automatic gearbox mappings in iRacing and in your wheel software, then map paddles or shifter to Shift Up/Down and test. If issues persist, check you edited the right device profile and try a simple Test Drive to verify control behavior.