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How to Reduce Shadow Quality in Iracing

Quick guide for iRacing drivers on how to reduce shadow quality in iRacing, lower GPU load and boost FPS. Clear steps to fix this issue — in minutes. Fast.

If you’re dealing with how to reduce shadow quality in iRacing, the quick outcome is: change the in-sim shadow preset or lower shadow map resolution to cut GPU load and raise FPS. You’re in the right place — below are plain, fast steps to fix it inside iRacing.

how to reduce shadow quality in iracing (Quick Answer)

Lower the Shadow Quality setting in Graphics Options, set Shadow Map Size to a smaller value, or switch to “Simplified” shadows in the Advanced options. Restart the session if changes don’t apply immediately.

What’s really going on

Shadows in iRacing use GPU memory and processing to render detailed dark areas on tracks and cars. Higher shadow quality and bigger shadow maps look nicer but cost performance. If your FPS drops, stutters happen, or your GPU runs hot, reducing shadow detail gives the biggest visual-to-performance payoff with minimal loss to driving clarity.

Step-by-step fix

  1. Open iRacing and go to Options → Graphics Options.
  2. Find Shadow Quality and move it down one or two levels (e.g., High → Medium). Lower values use less GPU power.
  3. Set Shadow Map Size (if present) to the next smaller option (e.g., 2048 → 1024). This reduces texture memory and processing.
  4. In Advanced Graphics, choose “Simplified” or turn off certain dynamic shadows (like car shadows) if available. These options vary by build.
  5. Click Apply and restart iRacing if the simulator doesn’t immediately reflect changes. A full restart ensures new GPU allocations apply.
  6. Test on-track for at least one lap to confirm smoother FPS and no distracting visual issues.

Extra tips / checklist

  • If you have a VR headset, drop shadows one level before other settings — VR is sensitive to shadow cost.
  • Combine shadow reductions with lowering Reflections or Post Processing for extra FPS gains.
  • Use iRacing’s Display Test (Options → Graphics → Test) to see FPS improvements quickly.
  • Update your GPU drivers; new drivers sometimes improve shadow performance.
  • If using a multi-monitor setup, reduce resolution or render scale first; shadows scale with render resolution.

FAQs

Q: Will lowering shadow quality affect my race performance?
A: Minimal. Shadows mostly impact visuals. Lowering them can improve FPS and reduce stutter, which usually helps driving.

Q: Where exactly is Shadow Map Size?
A: It’s in Graphics Options or Advanced Graphics. If you don’t see it, update iRacing — older builds may hide advanced options.

Q: Does turning off shadows stop corner shadows on the track?
A: “Simplified” or reduced shadow settings may remove detailed soft shadows but usually keep basic track shading. Full disable may not be available; use lowest setting instead.

Q: Is there a community recommended value?
A: Many users run Shadow Quality at Medium and Shadow Map Size at 1024 on mid-range GPUs. High-end cards can keep shadows at High if FPS stays solid.

Wrap-up

Reducing shadow quality in iRacing is one of the fastest ways to lower GPU load and raise FPS with little loss to driving visibility. Try the steps above, restart the sim, and run a quick on-track test — you should see smoother performance right away.