To make your Simagic wheelbase device 1 in Forza Horizon 6, close the game, unplug every other input device, and start FH6 with only the Simagic base connected. Plug your Simagic pedals and peripherals into the wheelbase instead of into the PC, bind the wheel first, and only then add other USB devices one by one. FH6 sends force feedback to the first device it sees, so this order decides whether your wheel feels alive or dead.
It sounds like a small detail. In practice, it is the number one reason Simagic owners report a wheel that turns but has zero weight. The good news is simple: once the order is right, it stays right as long as you keep the same setup.
What does device 1 mean in Forza Horizon 6?
Here is the short version of how FH6 decides which device gets force feedback.
One device gets the force feedback
Windows gives every connected controller a number. FH6 reads that list when it starts and treats the first steering device as the main wheel. Force feedback goes to that device only. So if a gamepad, a button box or a virtual driver sits higher in the list, your Simagic base drops to device 2 and stays silent.
Simagic itself shared this fix on its official channels: make sure the wheelbase is device 1, plug peripherals into the base or plug the base in first. In our Simagic FH6 setup guide we call it one of the basics to check before you touch any slider.
Why a wheel turns but has no weight
Steering input and force feedback are two separate paths. FH6 still reads the steering axis from a device lower in the list, so the car turns. But the motor gets no signal. That is why the symptom feels so strange: everything looks connected, yet the wheel feels like a loose toy.
SIMGASM | Hobby Aluminum Sim Racing Cockpit - Purple
Which devices push your Simagic down the list?
Most problems come from devices you forgot were even connected.
The usual suspects
An Xbox controller in a drawer with a live dongle is a classic. Other common ones are a separate USB handbrake, a USB shifter, a button box, a HOTAS for flight sims and virtual drivers like vJoy. Even a racing wheel from another brand that is still plugged in counts. Each one takes a spot in the Windows list.
Third party pedals with their own USB cable belong in this group too. They work fine in FH6, but they enter the list as a separate device. Mixing brands works fine, as long as you add them after the base is bound.
Why routing through the base helps
Many Simagic pedals, shifters and handbrakes connect to the expansion ports on the wheelbase. The Alpha EVO line has 11 expansion ports with CAN, USB and CAN FD support. When your peripherals run through the base, Windows sees one Simagic device instead of four. Fewer devices means fewer chances for FH6 to pick the wrong one.
Step by step: set your Simagic as device 1
Follow these steps once, in this exact order, and test after each step.
Clean start
Close FH6 and SimPro Manager. Unplug every USB controller that is not part of your Simagic setup, and switch off wireless pads. Disable virtual controller tools for now. Then power cycle the wheelbase: switch it off, wait ten seconds and switch it back on.
Bind the wheel first
Start SimPro Manager, load your FH6 preset and then start the game. Use mouse and keyboard to move through the menus. Go to the input settings, pick the wheel and map steering, throttle and brake. Drive a few corners and feel for weight in the rim. If you feel it, the base is device 1.
Add the rest one by one
Plug in other devices only now, one at a time, and map them. If force feedback disappears after a new device, you found the culprit. Leave that device unplugged before launch next time, or plug it in after the game has started. If you play through Steam and the pedals act strangely after this, our guide on inverted pedals and wrong axis mapping covers the next step.
SIMGASM | Shifter & Handbrake Mount - Black
How do you keep it fixed after a restart?
A clean desk and a clean cable plan keep the order stable day after day.
Plug in the same order every time
Windows tends to keep the order when you connect devices in the same way. So leave the base on the same USB port, ideally a port on the back of the PC and not a cheap hub. Avoid swapping cables between ports after an update.
A rig that keeps cables short
This is where the cockpit matters more than most people expect. On a desk clamp, extra devices often get their own long USB runs. On an aluminium profile rig, the shifter and handbrake sit on a mount next to the seat, so their short cables run straight to the base. Johan Akkerman, our CEO, started sim racing in 2008 and later won the 2019 Project CARS 2 world team championship. He tests every SIMGASM product as part of a complete simulator, cables included, because a clean build is a reliable build. Browse the Simagic wheelbases and peripherals we stock if you want one ecosystem from base to pedals, and pick a frame from our aluminium sim racing cockpits.
A rule of thumb from the SIMGASM range: the Hobby with its 40 x 40 mm profile suits wheelbases up to 16 Nm, so every Alpha EVO Sport or EVO fits it. Our team in Wijk bij Duurstede is happy to check your exact combination.
Questions about Simagic as device 1 in FH6
These are the questions we see most from Simagic owners in Forza Horizon 6.
How do I see which device is number 1?
Open the Windows game controller panel with joy.cpl. The order there gives a good hint. In FH6 itself, the test is simple: if the rim has weight in corners, the base is first.
Does an Xbox controller really break force feedback?
Yes, a connected and active pad often takes the first spot. Switch it off or unplug the dongle before you start the game.
Do I need third party tools?
Usually not. A clean start and the right plug order fix most cases. Add extra tools only when you know what they change.
What if force feedback is still missing?
Check that SimPro Manager runs and the FH6 preset is active. Our FH6 no force feedback fix lists more checks.
Want to learn more? The SIMGASM experts are happy to help.
