How to Fix iRacing demo drive not working

How to Fix iRacing Demo Drive Not Working (Season 4 Update)

Step 1: Check iRacing Server Status

Before diving into local fixes, confirm that the issue isn’t on iRacing’s end:

• Visit the iRacing Status Page
• Check the iRacing Forums for maintenance announcements or bug reports
• Demo Drive is typically available during or shortly after maintenance windows

If servers are up and no issues are reported, move on to local troubleshooting.

Step 2: Update or Reinstall Graphics Drivers

Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers can prevent the simulation from launching properly.

• Use your GPU’s official software (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel)
• Choose the Clean Install option during setup
• Restart your PC after installation

This ensures compatibility with the latest iRacing UI and rendering engine.

Step 3: Rename the iRacing Folder

Corrupted configuration files can block demo drive access. Renaming the folder forces iRacing to rebuild fresh settings.

How to do it:

• Navigate to:
  C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Documents\iRacing
• Rename the folder to:
  iRacingbackup
• Launch iRacing again to generate a new folder

This preserves your old settings while allowing a clean rebuild.

Step 4: Restart iRacing Services Manually

Sometimes the background services don’t initialize correctly. Restarting them manually can fix UI and simulation launch issues.

Steps:

Go to your iRacing installation folder (e.g.,
C:\Program Files (x86)\iRacing)

Run Stop_iRacingService.bat

Then run Start_iRacingService.bat

Navigate to the UI folder and launch iRacingUI.exe

This refreshes the service stack and UI environment.

Step 5: Clear UI Cache and Force Update

Corrupted cache files can block demo drive access or prevent new cars from loading.

Steps:

Press Win + R and type %appdata%

Delete the folder named iRacing-electron

Relaunch iRacingUI.exe

Go to Updates Available and manually download the required car or track

If updates are stuck or say “update required”:

• Go to your iRacing install folder
• Delete tracks.dat and version.txt
• Relaunch the UI to force a fresh re-download

Step 6: Reinstall Easy Anti-Cheat

Anti-cheat conflicts can prevent demo drive from launching, especially if the service is corrupted or blocked.

Fix:

• Navigate to the Easy Anti-Cheat folder inside your iRacing directory
• Run the installer again to repair or reinstall
• Restart your PC

Also consider temporarily disabling your antivirus or firewall to rule out interference.

Step 7: Disconnect External Devices

Peripheral conflicts—especially with racing wheels, pedals, or VR headsets—can cause startup issues.

Steps:

• Close iRacing
• Unplug all external devices
• Relaunch the game
• Plug devices back in one at a time

This helps isolate any hardware-related conflicts.

Final Tips

• Always run iRacing as Administrator
• Keep your system and game fully updated
• Use wired internet for better stability during demo drive sessions
• If issues persist, contact iRacing Support with logs and screenshots

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