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How to Enable Shadows in Iracing

This article answers how to enable shadows in iRacing for drivers, explains the cause, and gives clear steps to fix it fast so your shadows return in-game.

If you’re asking “how to enable shadows in iRacing,” the quick answer is: set your graphics preset to Custom, turn the in-game Shadow/Shadow Quality option to On or a higher level, apply and restart the session. You’re in the right place — below are plain-language checks and step-by-step fixes.

Quick Answer: how to enable shadows in iracing

Open iRacing > Options > Graphics, switch to a Custom preset (not Low or Performance), find the Shadows or Shadow Quality option and set it to On/High. Apply settings and restart iRacing or the session. Update GPU drivers if shadows still don’t appear.

What’s really going on

iRacing disables or reduces shadows automatically when the graphics preset is set for performance, when your GPU/drivers are out of date, or when advanced options are hidden by a preset. Shadows are a costly graphics feature, so the sim turns them off to keep FPS stable on low presets or less capable hardware. If you can’t find a shadow toggle, you’re likely on a preset that hides advanced options.

Step-by-step fix

  1. Launch iRacing and go to Options → Graphics.
  2. Change the Graphics Preset to Custom (or a higher preset like High/Ultra) so advanced settings become visible.
  3. Look for “Shadows,” “Shadow Quality,” or similar — set it to On, Medium, High, or Ultra (avoid “Off” or “Low”).
  4. Click Apply, then Save. Restart the sim or leave and rejoin your session to force the engine to reload graphics.
  5. If shadows still aren’t visible, update your GPU drivers (NVIDIA/AMD) and restart Windows, then repeat steps 1–4.
  6. If you’re on VR, triple-screen, or very low FPS, consider a moderate shadow setting (Medium) — very-high shadows can be disabled automatically for performance on some setups.

Extra tips / checklist

  • If you use a preset called “Performance” or “Low,” switch it — those presets commonly turn off shadows.
  • Use “Custom” to lock individual settings once you find a balance between visuals and framerate.
  • Check your GPU control panel for global overrides (e.g., forced low graphics) and make sure iRacing isn’t limited by a power or thermal profile.
  • In VR or on older GPUs, enable Shadows only if your steady FPS stays acceptable; else increase just the “Shadow Quality” one step.
  • Make sure iRacing is up to date — occasionally new builds change graphics option names or default behavior.

FAQs

Q: Why don’t I see a Shadows option in iRacing?
A: You’re probably on a preset that hides advanced settings. Switch to Custom or a higher preset to reveal the shadow option.

Q: Shadows appear in replays but not while driving — why?
A: Replays can render differently and may use different graphics paths. Apply the shadow setting and restart the sim to force consistent in-session rendering.

Q: I turned shadows on but my FPS tanked — what should I do?
A: Lower the shadow quality to Medium, use a lower global preset, or upgrade GPU settings (drivers, power profile). Balance visuals vs. stable FPS.

Q: Will updating my GPU drivers help?
A: Yes. Outdated drivers can prevent some graphics features from working correctly. Update drivers, reboot, and reapply iRacing settings.

Short wrap-up

Shadows in iRacing are controlled by the Graphics preset and a Shadow/Shadow Quality option. Switch to Custom, enable shadows, apply, and restart the sim — update drivers if needed. Next session, test one car and track to confirm stable FPS before racing.

If shadows still refuse to appear, tell me your GPU model and the exact options you see in Options → Graphics and I’ll give the next troubleshooting steps.