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How to Fix Graphics Glitches in Iracing

Fix graphics glitches in iRacing fast. This direct guide for iRacing drivers explains causes and gives step-by-step fixes to stop flicker, stutters, and artifacts.

If you’re dealing with how to fix graphics glitches in iracing, the usual fix is updating your GPU driver, clearing iRacing’s shader cache, and tuning a few iRacing settings. You’re in the right place—follow these steps to stop flicker, stutters, and weird artifacts quickly.

Quick Answer

Glitches in iRacing are most often caused by bad/corrupted shaders, a buggy or outdated graphics driver, overlays, or mismatched frame pacing. Clean-install your GPU driver, clear iRacing’s shader cache, set a sensible FPS cap, dial back a few heavy options (shadows, car count), and disable overlays. That resolves most cases fast.

What’s Really Going On

iRacing relies on cached shaders and a stable driver. After updates (Windows, drivers, or iRacing), those caches can break and cause flicker or textures popping. Uncapped FPS, VSync mismatches, or G‑Sync/FreeSync settings can create stutter. Overlays (Discord, Steam, GeForce Experience, RivaTuner) and unstable GPU overclocks also trigger issues. VR adds another layer—wrong runtime or reprojection can shimmer or ghost.

Step-by-step: how to fix graphics glitches in iracing

  1. Reboot first
    Do a clean restart to clear background hooks and pending updates.

  2. Clean-install your GPU driver
    Download the latest NVIDIA/AMD driver. Choose “clean install” or “factory reset.” If problems persist, use DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) as a last resort.

  3. Clear iRacing’s cache/config
    Exit iRacing. Go to Documents\iRacing. Delete the “shaders” folder. Rename “rendererDX11.ini” to “rendererDX11_old.ini” so iRacing rebuilds it on next launch.

  4. Set sane frame pacing
    In iRacing’s Graphics options, set a frame cap. With G‑Sync/FreeSync, cap 2–3 FPS below monitor refresh (e.g., 141 for 144 Hz). Avoid VSync if using G‑Sync/FreeSync.

  5. Trim heavy settings first
    Lower Shadows, Reflections, and number of cars drawn. Reduce Object/World detail one step if needed. These deliver the biggest stability gains per click.

  6. Kill overlays and recorders
    Disable Discord, Steam, GeForce Experience, MSI Afterburner/RivaTuner, and any screen recorders/overlays. They often cause flicker or stutter.

  7. Stabilize power and temps
    Set Windows Power mode to Best performance. In your GPU control panel, prefer maximum performance for iRacing. Remove GPU overclocks and keep temps under control.

  8. Repair the install (if needed)
    Run the iRacing updater and use Force Update/Repair from the iRacing UI or website to replace any damaged files.

  9. VR-specific quick fixes
    Pick one runtime (OpenXR or SteamVR), avoid mixing tools. Use motion smoothing/reprojection only if you can’t hold target FPS. Lower resolution scale before everything else.

Extra Tips / Checklist

  • Fullscreen often stutters less than borderless; try both.
  • If night races or rain cause shimmer, drop shadows/reflections first.
  • High car count costs a lot—show fewer opponent cars on track.
  • Keep 10–20% GPU headroom; steady is better than spikes.
  • Back up Documents\iRacing after you’re happy with the setup.

FAQs

Q: Why do I see black/missing textures or flashing objects?
A: That’s usually VRAM pressure or bad shaders. Reduce texture detail or car count, clear the “shaders” folder, and restart the sim.

Q: What FPS cap should I use with G‑Sync/FreeSync?
A: Cap 2–3 FPS below your monitor’s max refresh (e.g., 117 for 120 Hz, 141 for 144 Hz) to keep frame times smooth.

Q: Do I need DDU to fix this?
A: Only if a normal clean install doesn’t help. Try the driver’s clean/factory reset first, then DDU as a fallback.

Q: Does iRacing support DirectX 12?
A: No—iRacing runs on DirectX 11. You can’t switch to DX12, so focus on drivers, cache, and in-game settings.

Short Wrap-Up

Most iRacing graphics glitches come down to drivers, cache, overlays, or frame pacing. Clean the shaders, clean-install your driver, cap FPS, and trim heavy settings. If you still see issues, try a repair and test with overlays fully off in your next session.