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How to Launch Iracing in Windowed Mode

How to launch iracing in windowed mode for iRacing drivers — step-by-step, fast fixes to use Windowed or Borderless so you can alt-tab and keep HUDs/overlays working.

If you’re dealing with how to launch iracing in windowed mode, the short answer is: set the display mode inside iRacing’s Options → Graphics to Windowed or Borderless, then apply and restart. You’re in the right place — below are the plain-language steps and quick fixes.

Quick Answer: how to launch iracing in windowed mode

Open iRacing, go to Options → Graphics → Window Mode, pick “Windowed” or “Borderless Window”, apply the change and restart iRacing if needed. Borderless gives fullscreen look with easier Alt‑Tab and overlays.

What’s really going on

iRacing runs in either exclusive Fullscreen, Windowed, or Borderless Window. Fullscreen can block overlays, make Alt‑Tab slow, or fight multi‑monitor setups. Windowed gives a window you can resize; Borderless looks like fullscreen but behaves like a window (best for overlays and streaming). The choice is a graphics/display mode — not a car or race setting — and it’s saved between sessions.

Step-by-step fix

  1. Launch iRacing and log into the garage.
  2. Click Options (top-right) → Graphics.
  3. Find “Window Mode” or “Display Mode” and select “Windowed” or “Borderless Window”.
  4. Choose the resolution you want: match your desktop for Borderless, or smaller for a visible window.
  5. Click Apply, then OK. If things look wrong, restart iRacing to force the setting.
  6. Quick toggle: try Alt+Enter while iRacing is active to switch fullscreen/windowed on many systems (may not work for every setup).

Extra tips / checklist

  • Borderless Window is best for easy Alt‑Tabbing, overlays, and streaming.
  • If you want a visible window with borders, pick Windowed and set a resolution smaller than your desktop.
  • If textures or HUDs move, restart iRacing after changing modes — settings can need a reload.
  • Update GPU drivers if switching modes causes flicker or crashes.
  • If Windows forces fullscreen, right‑click iRacing.exe → Properties → Compatibility → disable “Fullscreen optimizations”. Restart your PC after changing that.

FAQs

Q: Can I make iRacing start windowed by default?
A: Yes — set Window Mode in Options → Graphics; iRacing remembers that preference between sessions.

Q: Which is better: Windowed or Borderless?
A: Borderless is usually better: it looks fullscreen but lets you Alt‑Tab and use overlays without stuttering.

Q: Alt+Enter didn’t work. What now?
A: Change the mode from Options → Graphics and restart iRacing. If problems persist, update drivers or disable Windows Fullscreen Optimizations for iRacing.exe.

Q: Will windowed mode reduce performance?
A: Borderless has minimal impact. Exclusive Fullscreen can be slightly faster in some configs, but modern GPUs make the difference small. If you notice FPS drops, try toggling the mode and check GPU drivers.

Short wrap-up

Setting iRacing to Windowed or Borderless is done inside Options → Graphics and usually fixes Alt‑Tab, overlay, and streaming issues fast. If changing the mode causes flicker or won’t stick, restart iRacing and update your graphics drivers before trying more advanced compatibility tweaks.