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How to Restart Iracing

Quickly learn how to restart iRacing: force-quit a frozen client, relaunch the launcher, and fix common session or launcher issues — get back on track in minutes.

If you’re asking how to restart iracing, the short answer: quit the sim cleanly, force‑quit any stuck iRacing processes, then relaunch the iRacing Launcher. You’re in the right place — below are the plain-language reasons this happens and simple steps to fix it fast.

Quick Answer (40–60 words)

Most crashes or freezes need a clean exit and a relaunch. Close iRacing from the in-sim menu or use Task Manager to end iRacingSim64.exe and iRacingLauncher.exe if the app won’t close. Then run the Launcher again (use “Run as administrator” if needed). If problems persist, reboot the PC and check iRacing server status.

What’s Really Going On

iRacing can hang for a few common reasons: a graphics driver hiccup, an overlay or background app conflicting, an incomplete update, or a corrupted process that won’t close. The launcher and the sim run as separate processes; sometimes one closes while the other does not. Restarting correctly clears the stuck process and reloads updated files so you can rejoin sessions.

Step-by-Step Fix

  1. Try a normal exit: from the iRacing menu choose Quit or Back to Garage, then Quit. Wait 10–15 seconds for processes to close.
  2. If the app is frozen: press Alt+F4. If that does nothing, open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc). End the processes named iRacingSim64.exe and iRacingLauncher.exe.
  3. Relaunch the iRacing Launcher from the desktop or Start menu. If prompted, allow it through Windows firewall and run as administrator if you see permission errors.
  4. Rejoin or start a session: if a server or race tile is grayed out, click “Refresh” in the launcher. If the session is hosted (private), ask the host to restart the server. For public races you must leave and rejoin or wait for the next session.
  5. If it keeps crashing: reboot your PC, update GPU drivers, disable overlays (Discord, Steam, Nvidia) and background recording, and try again. If nothing works, use iRacing’s member support pages to run a repair or reinstall.

Extra Tips / Checklist

  • Check iRacing server status at forums or status page before troubleshooting locally.
  • Disable overlays and background recording — these are frequent culprits.
  • Update your graphics drivers and Windows before a big event.
  • If you use peripherals (wheel, pedals), unplug/replug them only after closing the sim.
  • If re-installing, backup your Documents\iRacing folder if you have custom setups or replays.

FAQs

Q: Can I restart a race I’m already in?
A: No — for public races you must leave and rejoin or wait for the next session. For hosted sessions, ask the host to restart the server.

Q: iRacing won’t close — which process do I end?
A: End iRacingSim64.exe first, then iRacingLauncher.exe in Task Manager. That clears the stuck processes.

Q: Do I need to reboot every time iRacing crashes?
A: Not always. Try force-closing processes and relaunching first. Reboot if the launcher won’t start or problems persist.

Q: Will restarting lose my setups or progress?
A: No — your car setups and iRacing account data are saved to your Documents\iRacing and the cloud. You won’t lose SR/iRating by relaunching.

Short Wrap-Up

A clean quit or a forced process end plus a relaunch fixes most issues. If simple restarts don’t work, reboot your PC, check drivers/overlays, and consult iRacing support. Get these steps down and you’ll be back on track quickly.