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Iracing Crashes on Startup

iRacing drivers: Fix iracing crashes on startup fast. Clear steps to reset graphics, stop overlay conflicts, repair files, and get back on track in minutes.

If you’re seeing iracing crashes on startup, it’s usually a graphics setting, a driver/overlay conflict, or a corrupted install. The quick fix: reset your graphics config, disable overlays, and repair iRacing. Here’s exactly what to do so you can get back on track.

Quick Answer: iracing crashes on startup

Most startup crashes come from bad graphics settings, GPU driver issues, or overlays (Discord, Steam, GeForce). Disable overlays, reset iRacing’s graphics files, update or roll back your GPU driver, and run a repair on the iRacing install.

What’s really going on

iRacing initializes your graphics card and loads shaders when it starts. If your saved settings don’t match your current display/GPU, or an overlay hooks into DirectX, the sim can crash before you ever see the menu. Corrupted files or a recent driver update can trigger the same behavior.

Step-by-step fix

  1. Turn off overlays and background hooks
    Close Discord overlay, Steam overlay, GeForce Experience/ShadowPlay, RivaTuner/MSI Afterburner, Overwolf, OBS game capture, and any FPS or RGB overlays. Reboot, then try iRacing.

  2. Reset iRacing graphics settings
    Close iRacing. Go to Documents\iRacing. Rename these files to .bak: rendererDX11.ini and app.ini (iRacing will rebuild clean ones). If you see a shader cache folder (often named Shaders or shadercache), delete it. Launch iRacing; it should start in default/windowed settings.

  3. Update or roll back your GPU driver

  • NVIDIA/AMD: Install the latest WHQL driver using the “clean install” option.
  • If the crash started after a driver update, roll back to the previous stable version.

  1. Repair the iRacing install
    Open the iRacing UI and use the repair/reinstall option (or start the installer from the iRacing member site and choose Repair). This replaces missing/corrupt files.

  2. Force the correct GPU (laptops)
    In Windows Graphics settings or your GPU control panel, set iRacing (iRacingSim64DX11.exe) to use the high‑performance GPU, not the integrated one.

  3. Check antivirus and permissions
    Add your iRacing folder to antivirus exclusions. Run the iRacing UI once as Administrator. Make sure Windows is up to date and you have a few GB of free disk space.

Extra tips / checklist

  • Start in windowed or borderless first; switch to fullscreen after it’s stable.
  • Unplug extra USB devices (button boxes, VR) for the first launch, then add them back.
  • Check Documents\iRacing\logs for the latest crash log; it helps pinpoint the cause.
  • If you use SimHub, run without any on-screen widgets to test.
  • Keep your iRacing settings simple after a reset; add eye candy gradually.

FAQs

  • Why did iRacing start crashing after an update?
    Updates can change how graphics are initialized. Resetting rendererDX11.ini and updating the GPU driver usually fixes it.

  • Will deleting app.ini or rendererDX11.ini wipe my controls?
    No. Your wheel/pedal bindings are in separate files. This mainly resets video and general iRacing settings.

  • Can overlays really cause a crash?
    Yes. Overlay hooks can conflict with DirectX. Disable all overlays to test; add them back one by one.

  • Where are iRacing logs for support?
    Documents\iRacing\logs. Zip that folder and share it with iRacing Support if the issue persists.

Short wrap-up

Startup crashes are almost always a graphics config, overlay, or driver issue. Reset the config, remove overlays, update or roll back your driver, and repair iRacing. If it still fails, send your logs to iRacing Support for a quick diagnosis.