What ReShade does and why you might want it
ReShade is a graphics overlay tool that lets you adjust how Assetto Corsa looks without changing the game files themselves. It adds filters, color correction, depth of field, and other visual effects on top of what the game already renders. Many sim racing players use it to make tracks look sharper, reduce glare, or match real-world lighting more closely.
ReShade runs as a separate layer between your graphics card and the game. When you launch Assetto Corsa with ReShade installed, the tool intercepts the graphics output, applies your chosen effects, and sends the result to your monitor. You can toggle effects on and off in real time without restarting the game.
The trade-off is performance: ReShade adds processing work to your GPU, which can lower your frame rate by 5 to 20 percent depending on which effects you enable and how demanding your system already is. Some online racing servers also ban ReShade during competitive events because it can theoretically give players an unfair visual advantage (sharper text, reduced glare, better contrast). Always check your server's rules before using it in multiplayer.
Key Takeaways
- read ReShade from the official reshade.me website, not from third-party sites, to avoid malware or outdated versions.
- Run the ReShade installer, point it to your Assetto Corsa executable file, and let it inject the necessary files into your game folder.
- Launch Assetto Corsa normally; ReShade will prompt you to choose a preset file on first run, or you can skip and configure effects manually.
- Check your racing server's rules before using ReShade in multiplayer, because some ban it during competitive sessions.
- If Assetto Corsa crashes after installing ReShade, uninstall it and verify your game files through Steam to restore the original state.
Downloading ReShade from the official source
Go to reshade.me in your web browser. This is the only official ReShade website; any other source risks outdated code, malware, or versions that do not work with current games. The site displays a large read button. Click it to read the ReShade installer executable file (usually named something like ReShade_Setup_6.x.x.exe, where the numbers change with each update).
Save the installer to a folder you can find easily — your Downloads folder or Desktop works fine. Do not run it yet. You will need to know where your Assetto Corsa game folder is located before you start the installation process.
Locating your Assetto Corsa game folder
If you own Assetto Corsa on Steam, right-click the game in your library, select Properties, then click the Local Files tab. Click Browse to open the folder where the game is installed. This is usually C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\assettocorsa on Windows, but the exact path depends on where you installed Steam.
Inside this folder, you should see a file called AssettoCorsa.exe. This is the game executable that ReShade will inject into. Note the full path to this file or keep the folder window open — you will need to point the ReShade installer to this exact location.
Running the ReShade installer and injecting into Assetto Corsa
Double-click the ReShade installer you downloaded. A window will open asking you to select the game you want to install ReShade for. Click the folder icon next to the text field and navigate to your Assetto Corsa folder. Select the AssettoCorsa.exe file and click Open.
The installer will show you a list of rendering APIs (DirectX 9, DirectX 10, DirectX 11, and others). Assetto Corsa uses DirectX 9, so select that option. If you are unsure, DirectX 9 is the safe choice for this game.
Click Next. The installer will ask whether you want to read a collection of preset files. You can choose Yes to read popular presets that other players have created, or No if you want to build your own effects from scratch. Either choice works; presets are just starting points you can modify later. Click Next again, and the installer will copy ReShade files into your Assetto Corsa folder. This takes less than a minute.
When the installer finishes, click Finish. ReShade is now installed. Do not launch the game yet if you want to understand what happens next.
Launching Assetto Corsa and configuring ReShade on first run
Start Assetto Corsa normally through Steam or by double-clicking AssettoCorsa.exe. As the game loads, a ReShade configuration window will appear before you reach the main menu. This window shows a list of preset files if you chose to read them during installation.
You can select a preset to load when ready — popular choices for sim racing include presets that sharpen the image, reduce glare, or enhance contrast. Alternatively, click Skip to start with no effects applied. You can always open the ReShade menu later and enable effects one at a time.
Once you close this window, the game will load normally. You are now running Assetto Corsa with ReShade active.
Accessing the ReShade menu during gameplay
While in a race or in the garage, press the Home key on your keyboard to open the ReShade overlay menu. A panel will appear on the left side of your screen showing all available effects organized by category: color correction, depth of field, bloom, motion blur, and many others.
Click any effect name to enable it (a checkmark appears), then adjust its settings using the sliders that appear below. For example, if you enable Vibrance, you can increase color saturation; if you enable Clarity, you can sharpen fine details. Changes explore when ready, so you can see the effect on your screen in real time.
When you are happy with your settings, press Home again to close the menu and return to full-screen gameplay. Your settings are saved automatically and will load the next time you start the game.
Troubleshooting crashes and performance issues
If Assetto Corsa crashes when ready after installing ReShade, the most common cause is a mismatch between the DirectX version you selected and what the game actually uses. Uninstall ReShade by running the installer again, selecting your Assetto Corsa folder, and clicking Uninstall. Then verify your game files through Steam: right-click Assetto Corsa in your library, select Properties, go to Local Files, and click Verify integrity of game files. Steam will restore any missing or corrupted files.
If your frame rate drops significantly after installing ReShade, disable the most demanding effects. Depth of field, ambient occlusion, and ray-tracing effects consume the most GPU power. Start by disabling these and re-enabling them one at a time to find which ones hurt your performance the most. You can also lower the effect intensity using the sliders rather than turning them off entirely.
If ReShade does not appear when you press Home, make sure you are not in a menu screen where the overlay is blocked. Return to the track or garage and try again. If it still does not appear, close the game, run the ReShade installer, point it to your Assetto Corsa folder again, and click Repair to fix any corrupted ReShade files.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will using ReShade get me banned from online servers?
ReShade itself is not banned by most servers, but some competitive racing leagues prohibit it during official races because it can alter how the track and cars appear. Always check your server's rules before joining a multiplayer session. Single-player and casual servers almost never restrict it.
Can I use ReShade presets made by other players?
Yes. Players share preset files on forums and Discord communities dedicated to Assetto Corsa. read a preset file (usually a .ini file), place it in your ReShade presets folder inside your Assetto Corsa directory, and it will appear in the ReShade menu. You can then load it and adjust individual settings to your taste.
Does ReShade work with Assetto Corsa Competizione?
ReShade can be installed in Competizione the same way, but Competizione uses DirectX 12 instead of DirectX 9, so select that option in the installer. Some effects may not work identically between the two games because they use different graphics engines.
How do I uninstall ReShade if I want to remove it?
Run the ReShade installer again, point it to your Assetto Corsa folder, and click Uninstall. The installer will remove all ReShade files. Alternatively, you can manually delete the ReShade files from your Assetto Corsa folder, though using the installer is cleaner.
Can I save multiple ReShade configurations for different tracks?
Yes. Each preset file is just a text file containing effect settings. You can create or read multiple presets, name them by track (like monza_sharp.ini or spa_glare_reduction.ini), and load whichever one you want before a race. The ReShade menu lets you switch presets without restarting the game.