How to Change to Automatic or Manual Shifting in Forza Horizon 5
Shifting gears is hugely important in any racing game like Forza Horizon 5, as is knowing how to switch between manual and automatic.
Jamie Moorcroft-Sharp 
Image via Xbox Game Studios
Forza Horizon 5 has loads of features that allow players to create the most immersive driving experience possible or just the easiest. Among those features is the ability to switch between a manual or automatic gearbox. This changes the realism and difficulty of the game but can make for more rewarding driving if that’s what players are after. This guide explains how to change to automatic or manual shifting in Forza Horizon 5, so all players can benefit from the option.
Related: How to Complete a Hard Charger Skill in Forza Horizon 5
How to Change Between Manual and Automatic Shifting in Forza Horizon 5
To change between automatic and manual shifting in Forza Horizon 5, players need to open the pause menu and then Settings in the Campaign tab. After that, they need to find the Difficulty option. This is where the options for Drivatar difficulty, driving assist presets, and, most importantly, shift settings are found.
To change between manual and automatic shifting, players must scroll to the Shifting setting and change it to what they would prefer. This setting is fixed to automatic by default. If players want to use manual shifting, they need to change this option to Manual, then exit the settings and hop back into the game.
What’s the Difference Between Manual and Automatic Shifting in Forza Horizon 5?
When shifting is set to automatic in Forza Horizon 5, players don’t need to do anything to change gears. When shifting is set to manual; however, they’ll need to press a button to change gears whenever they feel the car needs them to.
Automatic shifting is great for an easy experience that requires nothing more of the player than to hold the accelerate button and drive. Manual shifting can be useful for races, though, particularly online races against Drivatars or other players. By controlling gears manually, players allow themselves to limit a car’s capability on certain sections of road, giving them better acceleration when they need it most. Automatic shifting doesn’t pull gears down very quickly, meaning players can have a long period of slow speeding up, which doesn’t happen with manual shifting.
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