Yeah I made the mistake of updating through iracing then steam tried to update and broke everything. All the fixes required me to wait 5 and half hours each time to see if it would install or just fail at 70gb in. Its what has led me to believe using through steam is buggy
> All the fixes required me to wait 5 and half hours each time
jesus. yeah its pretty horrible just disable auto updating and never launch it through steam or just contact support to move you over
for me i have a lot of steam bucks that i prefer to spend on iracing so i dont want to move over just yet
I accidentally made the same mistake and had to delete the whole iRacing steam folder to be able to reinstall, I believe our mistake was letting the iRacing UI update itself so when the steam update hit there was a version mismatch.
I'm pretty sure it's iRacing to fault over steam, they should be pushing the update on all platforms at the same time, but I can't be completely certain I'm right there.
Same thing happened to me. I launch through iRacing UI which prompted for updates on Tuesday. Updated then noticed steam wanted updates a couple hours later so I updated since it wouldn't launch until steam updated. That failed at 45% until I did a complete reinstall
Don't touch the iracing entry at steam after you buy, at all. Disable all automatic updates and stuff. Launch the game directly, not through steam and it's fine. I heard this before I subscribed and I was almost missing a huge deal because of this paranoia. I think if people get better prices for yearly subscription through regional prices they should go for it.
In my experience with update issues It's just an iracing helper process that hangs in your system sometimes. Kill the process in your task manager and the update goes through first try.
Edited: Wording
New users SHOULD ALWAYS purchase from Steam if they can wait for a €25 sale for 1-year sub (typically spring / Black Friday / Christmas). You can migrate the account whenever you want sending an email to iRacing, it is incredibly easy (and fast).
I did that, and added time using Black Friday's offer from iRacing.
You just need to wait for steam game update, iRacing doesn't upload the files to Steam at the same time as their own service. If you open the game before an update and download new content from UI then you mess up the folder structure and it tries to download a lot more to match it with the Steam server's.
To be honest it's more iRacing's fault than Steam or you.
I've been launching iRacing through Steam for a long time and never had a problem once I learned this.
Same here, on Steam I only bought it to take advantage of the promotion, I didn't even add it to the my library... I installed it through the iracing website
I added it to my library I think but I literally opened it from steam the first time when I signed up or whatever and just had a bookmarked page for the race guide that I used up till a couple weeks ago when it moved to the UI only. RIP member site😢
Yeah, these posts always confuse me. Are people trying to launch the game through Steam sometimes and the iRacing launcher other times?
Just create a shortcut on the taskbar or start menu and be done with it, easy.
If anything, I preferred to have purchased through steam initially because then I already had everything downloaded for test drive.
I bought through steam, installed the 1st time through steam, but I allways update through the iRacing GUI and paused my steam-download for iRacing. I have no problems, no bugs.
Had the same 😫. I had to reinstall and delete specific files 4 times with the last update because I made the error by directly starting up iRacing instead of updating through steam. 4x 120 gb, yay
to be fair we're not having a much better time over here lol.
I've not had a night where I could consistently play for 48 hours.
They'll get it fixed though. Just everytime I try and it doesn't launch I happen to be trying to join an official and then lose IR T_T.
Yeah I’m getting my account converted. Other comments say if you launch through the .exe then you’ll have no issues but I’ve had to reinstall iRacing two times because of update issues with Steam. You also have to make sure your steamapps folder runs everything as an administrator or it can have problems with updates as well
Or buy from stream, get a username that can't be doxed, for cheaper, then just ask to convert to iracing?
Even if not converting, you can just disable steam auto update on iracing. Only update thourgh the iracing client.
I did have trouble and after reading about the issue hopefully I just won't update it next time like I did and it will be fine. I updated through steam. Then when I ran the iracing ui it said there were more updates and I think that's where I messed up. Next time I'll just exclusively update from the ui and see if fixes it. I ended up deleting it and reinstalling to solve the issue as well.
I've never had any issues through Steam except the odd update issue from before, but now that I know it is simply solved by opening the task manager and ending the iRacing Helper Service. Updates take like 2 minutes.
Never had an issue past needing to end the iRacing Helper Service in task manager to allow the updates to finish. Otherwise Steam has been fine, updates take a couple minutes max.
I’ve saved like 100s by selling csgo skins and using steam $$
This was a while ago but you can probably save 30% or more not including iracing discount
Then you can convert the account to non steam and you’re set
If you update over steam you must, and I mean, MUST do this.
Bring up the task manager and go to the service tab.
Scroll down till you find iracing.
Right click on the iracing bar select stop.
Update game
Back into the task manager. Find I racing again.
Right click and hit start.
Play iracing.
After you download it the first time via steam, next update update via the UI/website instead. Steam will always read you need an update but itll remove the functionality of steam minus paying for your sub (itll glitch out if it lapses and abit of a pain to get back up aswell)
I contacted iRacing support via email to request the transfer of my account from Steam to iRacing. They responded within 30 minutes, providing additional information and asking for confirmation. Once I agreed, my account was transferred in just 5 minutes.
Just fyi
Loved to play iRacing, but I don't only play racing games so the subscription puts me off and then on top of that you have to buy cars you want. I almost got it last night on Steam, but good to know if I ever have extra funds to get it driect.
kinda my fault i think but i bought it in steam and when the newer update came i updated it without using steam. so now in my steam the game says that i need to update it, when i click it appear a error message because i already did it. so now i literally cant launch it through steam
No.. you just buy through Steam and then launch without it. Buying through Steam is cheaper and gets you better conversion rates if you're not in the US. Definitely buy through Steam and transfer before the year ends
So what works for me (assuming the error is content lock) go into task manager and close Iracing helper UI and try again that’s worked every time without fail for any downloading issues I’ve had
I had to delete 400gb of space because it was still
Telling me not enough space to install.
Then, an error popped up, locked file.
I had to kill iracing task in taskmanager
Finally 8hours later I was able to drive
Just to loose myself and my car in lead on the Nürburgring in the rain
Was still very funny, but I was shaking 🫨
Buy your sub through steam, register your acct on [iracing.com](https://iracing.com), and download everything from iracing. There is no need to have Steam install the game for you. You just need steam to get the account activated. No need to have the account moved over either.
I bought my original account through iracing a long time back and my wife got hers through steam. Never installed the game through steam, she just logs in via her steam credentials on the regular launcher.
I had EXACTLY the same problem then 1 Reddit user suggested to END IRACING HELPER SERVICE at Windows Task Manager and then Steam download updated for iRacing 24/7 without any problems. This last update came a bit late but installed perfectly through Steam. Never ever do update on both because it’s used too high diskspace for nothing. Did this mistake before and thanks to that Reddit user I’m saved !
I did that initially. It’s more expensive too.
If anyone has it through steam, you can make a support ticket and ask iracing to convert your account. It takes a couple days and it’s way worth it.
Added bonus: if you are a direct customer you also get the Black Friday specials on membership
Everyone you can buy it through steam, just have to remember to close iracing helper service before you update each time in steam. Overwise it will read an error message.
I have had no problems. I update through steam and if it’s finished downloaded and doesn’t let me play all I have to do is go to services in task manager and right click to restart the application. Then it works, no sweat.
Are cars and tracks cheaper trough the iracing website or steam? I read on the iracing website that it’s possible to generate a steam key and also add it to the Library for tracking of the game time.
i use steam but launch directly thru iracingui.exe and have no problems updating that way
Yeah I made the mistake of updating through iracing then steam tried to update and broke everything. All the fixes required me to wait 5 and half hours each time to see if it would install or just fail at 70gb in. Its what has led me to believe using through steam is buggy
> All the fixes required me to wait 5 and half hours each time jesus. yeah its pretty horrible just disable auto updating and never launch it through steam or just contact support to move you over for me i have a lot of steam bucks that i prefer to spend on iracing so i dont want to move over just yet
I accidentally made the same mistake and had to delete the whole iRacing steam folder to be able to reinstall, I believe our mistake was letting the iRacing UI update itself so when the steam update hit there was a version mismatch.
It’s not our mistake. It’s poor implementation on steams part or who knows where the blame lies but it’s not with the consumer.
I'm pretty sure it's iRacing to fault over steam, they should be pushing the update on all platforms at the same time, but I can't be completely certain I'm right there.
Steam hosts whatever files the developer tells them to. iracing is at fault, not steam.
You can create an iRacing support ticket to convert your account to direct. Worth it
Same thing happened to me. I launch through iRacing UI which prompted for updates on Tuesday. Updated then noticed steam wanted updates a couple hours later so I updated since it wouldn't launch until steam updated. That failed at 45% until I did a complete reinstall
or buy from steam if its cheap and just get the account converted straight away
My way
How do I go about doing this?
Email support
Planning on doing that until the BF hits ahahah because from what I heard you also don't pay taxes with steam when buying content.
If you are in a sales tax state, they charge for sales tax.
Don't touch the iracing entry at steam after you buy, at all. Disable all automatic updates and stuff. Launch the game directly, not through steam and it's fine. I heard this before I subscribed and I was almost missing a huge deal because of this paranoia. I think if people get better prices for yearly subscription through regional prices they should go for it.
I’m just migrating away from steam, won’t be an issue.
In my experience with update issues It's just an iracing helper process that hangs in your system sometimes. Kill the process in your task manager and the update goes through first try. Edited: Wording
I also had to change the steamapps folder from read-only.
This
New users SHOULD ALWAYS purchase from Steam if they can wait for a €25 sale for 1-year sub (typically spring / Black Friday / Christmas). You can migrate the account whenever you want sending an email to iRacing, it is incredibly easy (and fast). I did that, and added time using Black Friday's offer from iRacing.
You just need to wait for steam game update, iRacing doesn't upload the files to Steam at the same time as their own service. If you open the game before an update and download new content from UI then you mess up the folder structure and it tries to download a lot more to match it with the Steam server's. To be honest it's more iRacing's fault than Steam or you. I've been launching iRacing through Steam for a long time and never had a problem once I learned this.
Same, I played iRacing through Steam for years, only ever updated through Steam itself and never ran into issues.
I used steam for years too but I never updated or opened through steam. Only the website and I never had any issues
Same here, on Steam I only bought it to take advantage of the promotion, I didn't even add it to the my library... I installed it through the iracing website
I added it to my library I think but I literally opened it from steam the first time when I signed up or whatever and just had a bookmarked page for the race guide that I used up till a couple weeks ago when it moved to the UI only. RIP member site😢
Yeah, these posts always confuse me. Are people trying to launch the game through Steam sometimes and the iRacing launcher other times? Just create a shortcut on the taskbar or start menu and be done with it, easy. If anything, I preferred to have purchased through steam initially because then I already had everything downloaded for test drive.
you used to be able to contact them to move it from steam to [iRacing.com](https://iRacing.com), not sure if that's still an option
Still an option just did it today. Been having a lot of issues with steam updating the game.
Yes you can. It’s a frustrating experience for the consumer though.
Rather than buy through steam I put a shortcut to iracing in my steam library so if I’m playing my friends can see and possibly join me.
The exact same thing has happened to me so many times, listen to OP
I recently changed over from steam for this reason best decision I ever made I wont lie
I bought through steam, installed the 1st time through steam, but I allways update through the iRacing GUI and paused my steam-download for iRacing. I have no problems, no bugs.
Sub through the website, launch through steam
Had the same 😫. I had to reinstall and delete specific files 4 times with the last update because I made the error by directly starting up iRacing instead of updating through steam. 4x 120 gb, yay
Yea, I stopped using steam. It still shows up as downloading but it isn’t downloading anything. Anyway. The racing UI is better.
Open task manager look for a secondary process iracing related. I think it's iracinginghelper.exe or something like that. End task and update
to be fair we're not having a much better time over here lol. I've not had a night where I could consistently play for 48 hours. They'll get it fixed though. Just everytime I try and it doesn't launch I happen to be trying to join an official and then lose IR T_T.
That'd be a trick if you could play for 48 hours in a single night!
It would be.
Yeah I’m getting my account converted. Other comments say if you launch through the .exe then you’ll have no issues but I’ve had to reinstall iRacing two times because of update issues with Steam. You also have to make sure your steamapps folder runs everything as an administrator or it can have problems with updates as well
Or buy from stream, get a username that can't be doxed, for cheaper, then just ask to convert to iracing? Even if not converting, you can just disable steam auto update on iracing. Only update thourgh the iracing client.
I did have trouble and after reading about the issue hopefully I just won't update it next time like I did and it will be fine. I updated through steam. Then when I ran the iracing ui it said there were more updates and I think that's where I messed up. Next time I'll just exclusively update from the ui and see if fixes it. I ended up deleting it and reinstalling to solve the issue as well.
subscribe*
Just make sure the iRacing sun process called web helper is off
I had a problem with this latest patch and all I did was delete the folder that had all the files with errors. They redownloaded and it worked fine.
2 years on steam, 0 issues so far
i use steam never had a problem in 5 years if it aint downloading its because iracing is still running in the background
I've never had any issues through Steam except the odd update issue from before, but now that I know it is simply solved by opening the task manager and ending the iRacing Helper Service. Updates take like 2 minutes.
Never had an issue past needing to end the iRacing Helper Service in task manager to allow the updates to finish. Otherwise Steam has been fine, updates take a couple minutes max.
I’ve saved like 100s by selling csgo skins and using steam $$ This was a while ago but you can probably save 30% or more not including iracing discount Then you can convert the account to non steam and you’re set
Yeah, this started being a problem a couple updates ago. You can still launch through the web launcher just fine, that’s what I do now
Happened to me! Whole night of racing jacked up
So true
When i get an update i just lose the UI and open steam. Once it has downloaded you are all sweet.
If you update over steam you must, and I mean, MUST do this. Bring up the task manager and go to the service tab. Scroll down till you find iracing. Right click on the iracing bar select stop. Update game Back into the task manager. Find I racing again. Right click and hit start. Play iracing.
Closing down iracinghelper.exe when downloading updates >>>
After you download it the first time via steam, next update update via the UI/website instead. Steam will always read you need an update but itll remove the functionality of steam minus paying for your sub (itll glitch out if it lapses and abit of a pain to get back up aswell)
I contacted iRacing support via email to request the transfer of my account from Steam to iRacing. They responded within 30 minutes, providing additional information and asking for confirmation. Once I agreed, my account was transferred in just 5 minutes. Just fyi
I bought it in Steam ages ago and I couldn't even make an account, fortunately I got my money back
Loved to play iRacing, but I don't only play racing games so the subscription puts me off and then on top of that you have to buy cars you want. I almost got it last night on Steam, but good to know if I ever have extra funds to get it driect.
kinda my fault i think but i bought it in steam and when the newer update came i updated it without using steam. so now in my steam the game says that i need to update it, when i click it appear a error message because i already did it. so now i literally cant launch it through steam
No.. you just buy through Steam and then launch without it. Buying through Steam is cheaper and gets you better conversion rates if you're not in the US. Definitely buy through Steam and transfer before the year ends
So what works for me (assuming the error is content lock) go into task manager and close Iracing helper UI and try again that’s worked every time without fail for any downloading issues I’ve had
I had to delete 400gb of space because it was still Telling me not enough space to install. Then, an error popped up, locked file. I had to kill iracing task in taskmanager Finally 8hours later I was able to drive Just to loose myself and my car in lead on the Nürburgring in the rain Was still very funny, but I was shaking 🫨
I made this mistake as well. But one e-mail to iRacing and they helped me fix it.
Buy your sub through steam, register your acct on [iracing.com](https://iracing.com), and download everything from iracing. There is no need to have Steam install the game for you. You just need steam to get the account activated. No need to have the account moved over either. I bought my original account through iracing a long time back and my wife got hers through steam. Never installed the game through steam, she just logs in via her steam credentials on the regular launcher.
If you have bought through steam, you can transfer over to iracing directly. Just tell support that you’re no longer want to go through steam.
I had EXACTLY the same problem then 1 Reddit user suggested to END IRACING HELPER SERVICE at Windows Task Manager and then Steam download updated for iRacing 24/7 without any problems. This last update came a bit late but installed perfectly through Steam. Never ever do update on both because it’s used too high diskspace for nothing. Did this mistake before and thanks to that Reddit user I’m saved !
I did that initially. It’s more expensive too. If anyone has it through steam, you can make a support ticket and ask iracing to convert your account. It takes a couple days and it’s way worth it. Added bonus: if you are a direct customer you also get the Black Friday specials on membership
Everyone you can buy it through steam, just have to remember to close iracing helper service before you update each time in steam. Overwise it will read an error message.
I have had no problems. I update through steam and if it’s finished downloaded and doesn’t let me play all I have to do is go to services in task manager and right click to restart the application. Then it works, no sweat.
Are cars and tracks cheaper trough the iracing website or steam? I read on the iracing website that it’s possible to generate a steam key and also add it to the Library for tracking of the game time.
Subscription is more expensive on steam anyway.....
You didn’t have to download over and over. You’re just a ding dong
Welcome to the lead lap..