Join the Discord! →

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


How to Move Camera in Iracing

Step-by-step guide for how to move camera in iRacing for iRacing drivers: regain camera control, switch views, and fix a stuck camera fast to get back racing.

If you’re wondering how to move camera in iRacing, the short answer: map or use the view controls (mouse-look, look keys, and camera cycle) in Options, then use those buttons in-session. You’re in the right place — below are the exact checks and quick fixes to get your view working now.

Quick Answer — how to move camera in iracing

Open a practice session, press Esc → Options → Controls, find the view/look entries (Look Left/Right/Up/Down, Mouse Look, Next/Previous Camera, Reset View) and assign keys or buttons you want. In the session, hold your Mouse Look button to pan with the mouse or press the mapped keys to nudge the view. If the camera is stuck, use the Reset View control or remap the mouse-look button.

What’s Really Going On

iRacing separates camera movement into several controls: individual “look” directions, a mouse-look mode (hold a button and move the mouse), camera preset cycling (switch between chase, cockpit, TV, etc.), and a reset/center view. If nothing moves, either the controls aren’t mapped to a working key/button, a device profile is selected wrong, or a setting (like mouse capture) is blocking input.

Step-by-Step Fix

  1. Join a practice or test session so you can change settings without risk.
  2. Press Esc → Options → Controls. Select the device you want to use (keyboard, wheel, joystick).
  3. Locate look/mouse entries: “Look Left/Right/Up/Down”, “Mouse Look”, “Next Camera”, “Previous Camera”, and “Reset View” (names vary slightly).
  4. Assign easy keys/buttons: use arrow keys or a joystick hat for Look; bind Mouse Look to the right mouse button or a wheel button; bind camera cycle to comma/period or a spare button. Save bindings.
  5. Back in the session, hold your Mouse Look button and move the mouse to pan. Use the Look keys for small nudges. Press Next/Previous Camera to switch presets. Press Reset View if view goes off-center.
  6. If controls don’t respond, retry step 2 and ensure the correct device profile is active. If mapping works but mouse-look doesn’t, check Windows settings (mouse not captured) or any overlay software that steals input.

Extra Tips / Checklist

  • Map Reset View to an easy key (e.g., R or numpad 5) — it fixes most stuck views instantly.
  • If you use a wheel, map a spare wheel button for Mouse Look; many wheels don’t forward keyboard arrows reliably.
  • Cycle cameras during testing to learn presets (Cockpit, Chase, Helmet, TV). Some views have limited rotation.
  • If the camera is jittery, check FOV and cockpit position in the garage; extreme offsets can feel like camera problems.
  • Save your control profile after changes so settings persist between sessions.

FAQs

Q: Why won’t my mouse pan the view?
A: Mouse panning requires a mapped “Mouse Look” button and that iRacing has mouse capture. Check Controls and assign Mouse Look to a button, then hold it while moving the mouse.

Q: How do I reset a stuck camera?
A: Use the Reset View control (map it in Options if unassigned) — pressing it recenters the camera to the default position.

Q: Can I move the camera with a wheel/joystick?
A: Yes. Bind the Look directions or Mouse Look to wheel buttons or a joystick hat in Options → Controls.

Q: How do I quickly switch between cockpit and chase views?
A: Bind “Next Camera” and “Previous Camera” to convenient keys or buttons, then press them in-session to cycle presets.

Wrap-Up

Map the view controls you prefer, test them in a practice session, and keep Reset View handy. Once your bindings are set, moving the camera in iRacing becomes instant and reliable — try a few camera presets next session and lock in the controls you like.