Assetto Corsa often starts you with the automatic gearbox on. You pull the paddle and nothing you expect happens, because the game is shifting for you.
Turning it off takes five seconds. Here are the three ways to do it, and the two other aids people confuse it with.
The quick answer
| Where | What to do | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| In the car, on PC | Press Ctrl + G | Works at once, in any session |
| Game launcher | Drive, then the Realism panel, Automatic Gearbox off | Stays off for the next sessions |
| Content Manager | Drive, the three dots next to Tyre blankets, Automatic shifting off | Saved with your assists preset |
| PS4 and Xbox One | Assists menu before you start the session | No keyboard shortcut on console |
Method 1: Ctrl + G in the car
On PC this is the fastest. Sit in the car, in the pits or on track, and press Ctrl + G. A message on the screen tells you the automatic gearbox is off. Press it again and it is back on.
Use it when you are already in a session and you do not want to go back to the menu. The other driving shortcuts are in my Assetto Corsa keyboard controls list.
Method 2: the assists panel
This is the one that stays.
- Open Assetto Corsa and click Drive.
- Choose the car and the track.
- Look for the Realism panel on the same screen. It has the presets Gamer, Racer and Pro.
- Switch Automatic Gearbox off.
- Start the session.
The Gamer preset turns the automatic gearbox on. If you pick Gamer and change nothing, you get an automatic. Pick the preset first, then switch the gearbox off.
Method 3: Content Manager
Most PC players start the game from Content Manager, and the launcher settings do not apply there.
- Open the Drive tab.
- Find the assists on the left. Next to Tyre blankets there are three small dots. Click them.
- Untick Automatic shifting. Automatic clutch and autoblip are in the same list.
- Save it as a preset if you use more than one.
If you do not have it yet, here is how to install Content Manager.
On PS4 and Xbox One
There is no keyboard, so there is no shortcut. The setting is in the assists menu you see before you start a session. Switch the automatic gearbox off there. Then check that gear up and gear down are on the buttons you want in the controller options.
Auto shift, auto clutch and auto blip are three things
This is where people get lost. The game has three aids around the gearbox.
| Aid | What it does | What I would set |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic gearbox | The game shifts up and down for you | Off |
| Auto clutch | The game presses the clutch on starts and shifts | On, unless you have a clutch pedal and want to use it |
| Auto blip | The game blips the throttle on downshifts | On with paddles and two pedals. Off if you heel and toe |
With the automatic gearbox off and the other two on, you have what most modern race cars have: you pull a paddle, the car does the rest. That is the right place to start.
Go further only if your hardware gives you a reason. With three pedals and an H shifter, turn auto clutch off and drive the old cars the way they were built. It is slower at first and a lot of fun.
Why manual is faster
I have never raced a real car that picked its own gears, and there is a reason.
- You choose the gear before the corner. The automatic waits for the revs. So it shifts in the middle of the corner, when the car is on the limit, and that unsettles it.
- You use the engine to slow down. A downshift at the right moment helps the car rotate on entry.
- You can short shift. On a wet track or out of a slow corner, a higher gear gives you less wheelspin. The automatic will never do that for you.
- You hold a gear between two corners. The automatic shifts up, then down again 50 metres later.
In a slow road car the gap is small. In a powerful rear wheel drive car it is the gap between a clean exit and a spin.
How to get used to it
Give it one evening.
- Take a slow car. An Abarth 500 or the Mazda MX5. Things happen slowly.
- Take a short track you know. You should not have to think about where the corners are.
- Shift up by sound. Listen to the engine and watch the shift lights. Do not look at the number.
- Do all the downshifts on the brakes, in a straight line. One at a time, not three in half a second.
- Learn one gear per corner. After ten laps you know that the hairpin is second and the fast left is fourth. Then it is automatic, in your head.
If you downshift too early, the engine goes over the limit and the rear wheels lock. Wait until the revs have dropped, then pull the paddle.
More on the driving side in my Assetto Corsa tips. On a pad, set the buttons first with the Assetto Corsa controller settings.
When it does not work
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| It turns itself on again | You changed it with Ctrl + G only. Also switch it off in the Realism panel before the session |
| The paddles do nothing | Options, Controls: assign gear up and gear down to the paddles and save the preset |
| The H shifter does nothing | Tick the separate shifter option in Controls and assign every gear. The car must have an H pattern gearbox |
| The car stalls at the start | Auto clutch is off. Turn it on, or use the clutch pedal |
| The rear locks on downshifts | Turn auto blip on, or shift down later |
| An online server puts it back | No server forces the automatic gearbox on. Check your own assists |
FAQ
How do I turn off automatic shifting in Assetto Corsa?
On PC press Ctrl + G in the car. To keep it off, switch off Automatic Gearbox in the Realism panel of the Drive screen, or untick Automatic shifting in the assists of Content Manager.
What is the shortcut for the automatic gearbox in Assetto Corsa?
Ctrl + G. It switches the automatic gearbox on and off while you are in the car.
Why does Assetto Corsa keep shifting for me?
The automatic gearbox is on in your assists. The Gamer preset turns it on. Switch it off in the Realism panel before you start.
Should I turn off auto clutch too?
Not at the start. With auto clutch on you can shift with paddles and never stall. Turn it off only if you have a clutch pedal and want to use it.
What does auto blip do in Assetto Corsa?
It blips the throttle for you on downshifts, so the rear wheels do not lock. Leave it on unless you heel and toe.
Is manual faster than automatic in Assetto Corsa?
Yes. You pick the gear before the corner, you can short shift, and the car is more stable. The gap grows with the power of the car.
Can I use an H shifter in Assetto Corsa?
Yes. Enable the separate shifter in the control options and assign each gear. It only works in cars that have an H pattern gearbox.
Can I drive manual on a controller?
Yes. Put gear up and gear down on two buttons you reach without moving your thumbs off the sticks, and keep auto clutch on.