These are the Forza Horizon 4 graphics settings I use when frame rate comes first. Every option is in one table below. After it: what to turn back up if your PC has room, the requirements from Steam, and the fixes for the crashes people still hit in 2026.
The game is old now and no longer on sale. But if you own it, it still runs, and a lot of you still play it. I checked the Steam page and PCGamingWiki on 8 October 2026 for everything that is not my own opinion.
Why frame rate comes first
In a racing game the picture has one job: show you the road early and without stutter.
When the frame rate drops in the middle of a braking zone, your reference moves. You brake a few metres late, or you turn in on a picture that is already old. I would take a plain looking game at a locked frame rate over a beautiful one that hitches every time ten cars kick up dust.
So the profile below is built for that. It is not the prettiest Forza Horizon 4 can look. It is the one that stays out of your way.
Image: Playground Games, Steam
Where the graphics settings are
They are in the game's Settings, under Video. The basic options come first and the advanced ones follow.
Set the Preset to Custom first, so each option below can be set on its own.
Basic video settings
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Dynamic Optimization | Off |
| Dynamic Render Quality | Ultra |
| Frame Rate | Unlocked |
| Show FPS | On |
| Resolution | Native, for example 1920x1080 |
| Vertical Synchronization | Off |
| Fullscreen | On |
| Motion Blur | Off |
| User Interface Scale | 100 |
A few notes on these.
Dynamic Optimization off. With it on, the game changes quality on its own to hold a frame rate target. That sounds helpful. In a race it means the picture changes when the action is heaviest, which is the worst moment. Pick your settings once and keep them fixed.
Show FPS on. Only while you tune. You cannot set a profile without seeing the number. Turn it off when you are done.
Frame Rate unlocked, V-Sync off. This gives the lowest delay between your hands and the picture. If you see tearing and it bothers you, PCGamingWiki notes the game has frame rate caps at your refresh rate and at half of it. A cap at the refresh rate is the next best thing.
Fullscreen. PCGamingWiki lists the game as borderless by default with no exclusive fullscreen option. So do not lose time looking for one.
Motion Blur off. Blur hides the detail you need to pick a braking marker. It always goes off on my screen, in every game.
Advanced video settings
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Preset | Custom |
| Anisotropic Filtering | Medium |
| Shadow Quality | Off |
| Night Shadows | Off |
| Motion Blur Quality | Low |
| Environment Texture Quality | Medium |
| Static Geometry Quality | Low |
| Dynamic Geometry Quality | Low |
| MSAA | Off |
| FXAA | On |
| SSAO Quality | Medium |
| Reflection Quality | Very Low |
| Windshield Reflection Quality | Off |
| Mirror Quality | Low |
| World Car Level of Detail | Low |
| Deformable Terrain Quality | Medium |
| SSR Quality | Off |
| Lens Effects | Off |
| Shader Quality | Low |
| Particle Effect Quality | Low |
This is the same profile this page has listed since 2022. I have kept it because the logic still holds. I have not benchmarked each option one by one on current hardware, so I give you the reasoning and not a frames per second number for each line.
What each choice does for you
Anisotropic Filtering at Medium. This keeps the road surface sharp at a distance, where you are looking. PCGamingWiki says the game's Low, Medium, High and Very High mean 2x, 4x, 8x and 16x. Medium is 4x.
Shadows off. Shadows are among the heaviest things a game draws, and Horizon has trees, walls and buildings everywhere. Off gives you a flatter picture and a calmer frame rate.
MSAA off, FXAA on. PCGamingWiki lists FXAA and MSAA up to 8x, and says both can run together. MSAA is the expensive one. FXAA softens the jagged edges for almost nothing.
Reflections and SSR down. Reflections on wet roads and car paint look great in photo mode. In a race you do not look at them.
Windshield Reflection off. In cockpit view the dashboard reflects on the glass. It is realistic and it sits right between you and the apex. Off.
Mirror Quality low, not off. You need the mirror to defend. You do not need it sharp.
Particle Effect Quality low. Dust, snow and spray. A pack of cars on dirt makes a lot of it, right when you need the frames.
Lens Effects off. Flare and dirt on the lens. It is a camera effect. Your eyes do not have one.
Environment Texture and Deformable Terrain at Medium. Textures cost video memory more than speed, and Medium still reads well. Terrain at Medium keeps the ruts in mud and snow visible, which tells you where the grip is.
What to raise first if you have headroom
Drive a busy race with Show FPS on. If the number never goes under your screen's refresh rate, you have room. This is the order I would go in, one step at a time, checking the number after each.
- Environment Texture Quality to High. Sharper world for little cost if your card has the memory.
- Anisotropic Filtering to High or Very High.
- Static Geometry and Dynamic Geometry to Medium. Less pop in at the roadside.
- Shadow Quality to Low or Medium. The biggest change in how the game looks.
- MSAA 2x. Cleaner edges than FXAA alone.
Leave motion blur, lens effects and windshield reflections off however fast your PC is. They are not a performance choice. They get in the way.
If the frame rate still dips under your target with the full profile, lower the resolution before anything else. That is the biggest lever left.
One more thing from PCGamingWiki: crowds animate at 30 frames per second whatever your frame rate is. If the spectators look choppy and the cars do not, nothing is wrong with your PC.
PC requirements
These are the requirements on the Steam page.
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 version 15063.0 or higher, 64-bit | Windows 10 version 15063.0 or higher, 64-bit |
| Processor | Intel i3-4170 at 3.7 GHz or Intel i5 750 at 2.67 GHz | Intel i7-3820 at 3.6 GHz |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 12 GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVidia 650TI or AMD R7 250x | NVidia GTX 970, GTX 1060 3GB, AMD R9 290x or AMD RX 470 |
| DirectX | Version 12 | Version 12 |
| Storage | 80 GB | 100 GB |
Those are cards from more than ten years ago. Almost any gaming PC sold in the last few years is above the recommended line, which is why you probably have room to raise things from my profile.
A PCGamingWiki editor marked the game as working on Windows 11 25H2 on 2 October 2026.
HDR and ultrawide
Two notes, both from PCGamingWiki.
- HDR. Windows HDR has to be on before you start the game. There is no paper white slider.
- Ultrawide. Supported, and the wider screen shows more at the sides. The tip is to set your resolution on the Windows desktop first, then start the game and change the resolution in the game.
A wider screen also changes what field of view you want. That is on my Forza Horizon 4 FOV settings page.
Crashes and launch problems in 2026
Old game, new drivers. PCGamingWiki lists these fixes. I have not tested them myself, so I pass them on as theirs.
- Steam version will not start. Their fix is to delete TargetHardwareProfiler.dll in the game's folder.
- Crashes during play on newer Nvidia drivers. Their fix is a profile flag change with NVIDIA Profile Inspector, or going back to driver 561.09 or earlier. The exact flag values are on their page.
Rolling back a graphics driver affects every other game on your PC. I would try the profile flag first.
Can you still buy Forza Horizon 4?
No. Playground Games took it off the Microsoft Store and Steam on 15 December 2024 because of licensing. The Steam page is still there with no price. If you already own it, it downloads and plays as before. More on that on my engine swaps list.
Once the picture is sorted, set up the controls. I have pages for the controller settings, the Logitech G29 and G920 settings and my Forza Horizon 4 tips.
FAQ
What are the best graphics settings for Forza Horizon 4?
For racing: Preset on Custom, shadows, MSAA, SSR, lens effects and motion blur off, geometry and particles on Low, Anisotropic Filtering and Environment Texture Quality on Medium, FXAA on. Then raise textures and shadows if your frame rate allows.
How do I increase FPS in Forza Horizon 4?
Turn off Shadow Quality, Night Shadows, MSAA and SSR Quality first. If that is not enough, lower the resolution.
Should Dynamic Optimization be on or off?
Off, once you have a profile you like. With it on, the game changes quality during a race to hold a target.
What graphics card do I need for Forza Horizon 4?
Steam lists an NVidia 650TI or AMD R7 250x as the minimum, and a GTX 970, GTX 1060 3GB, R9 290x or RX 470 as recommended.
Does Forza Horizon 4 have exclusive fullscreen?
PCGamingWiki lists it as borderless by default with no exclusive fullscreen option.
Should I use MSAA or FXAA?
FXAA if you want frames, because it costs very little. MSAA looks cleaner and costs more. The game lets you run both.
Does Forza Horizon 4 support HDR on PC?
Yes. Windows HDR has to be switched on before you start the game.
Why does Forza Horizon 4 crash on my new Nvidia driver?
PCGamingWiki lists crashes on newer Nvidia drivers, with a profile flag fix or a rollback to driver 561.09 or earlier.
Does Forza Horizon 4 work on Windows 11?
A PCGamingWiki editor verified it as working on Windows 11 25H2 on 2 October 2026.