When there is no force feedback in F1 25, the cause is almost always one of five things: the Vibration and Force Feedback toggle is off, the game uses the wrong controller preset, Steam Input grabs the wheel, the wheel software or firmware is out of date, or the base runs in the wrong mode. Work through the checks below in order, and most wheels come back to life within ten minutes.
This guide covers PC, PS5 and Xbox, and it also helps when the force feedback works at first but drops out during a race.
Step 1: check the in game force feedback settings
Start inside F1 25, because this is the fastest check and the most common cause.
Vibration and Force Feedback toggle
Go to Settings, then Controls, Vibration and Force Feedback. Make sure Vibration and Force Feedback is set to On. A game update or a new profile sometimes resets this toggle without warning.
Force Feedback Strength
Check that the strength slider is not at zero or very low. A good starting point sits in the middle of the range. Our best F1 26 settings guide explains how to fine tune it from there once the wheel works again.
Step 2: check the controller preset
F1 25 needs to know that you use a wheel and not a gamepad.
Open the controls menu and select the preset that matches your wheel brand and model. If the game shows a generic gamepad profile, steering often works but the force feedback never starts. Unplug the wheel, restart the game and plug the wheel back in before the main menu loads. The game then detects the wheel again and offers the right preset.
Many sim racers start with a compact direct drive base like this one, which gets its own preset in most racing games.
CONSPIT ARES APEX Direct Drive Wheelbase – 8Nm (Black, PC)
Step 3: turn off Steam Input on PC
On Steam, Steam Input sometimes takes control of the wheel and blocks the force feedback signal.
Right click F1 25 in your Steam library, open Properties, then Controller. Set the override to Disable Steam Input. Restart the game. This one setting fixes a large share of "wheel turns but no force feedback" reports on PC. The same trick helps in other games too, as you see in our FH6 no force feedback fix.
Step 4: update the wheel software and firmware
Old firmware is a quiet cause of missing or weak force feedback after a game patch.
Run the manufacturer software
Open the software of your brand: Pit House for MOZA, SimPro Manager for Simagic, RaceHub for Asetek or the Conspit software. Check for firmware updates for the base and the steering wheel. Install them one by one and restart the base after each update.
Check the base strength in the software
Next, look at the overall strength or game force feedback intensity in the software. If it sits at zero or very low, the game sends a signal but the base barely reacts. Set it to 100 percent and control the total force with the in game slider instead.
Step 5: check the mode on PS5 and Xbox
Consoles only accept wheels that are licensed for that platform.
A PC only base does not give force feedback on a PS5 or Xbox. Some wheels also have a mode switch or a separate console version. Check that the base runs in the correct console mode and that the steering wheel is a licensed console version. If you own a MOZA, our guide to MOZA wheels on PS5 explains which models work.
Once the signal works, the base needs a solid mount. A stiff entry cockpit keeps the signal sharp from day one.
SIMGASM | Hobby Aluminum Sim Racing Cockpit - Black
What if force feedback drops out during a race?
A wheel that works at first and then goes quiet points to a different set of causes.
USB power saving
Windows sometimes switches off USB ports to save power. Open Device Manager, go to the USB Root Hub entries and untick "allow the computer to turn off this device to save power". Plug the base straight into the PC, not into a cheap hub.
Heat protection on the base
Many direct drive bases lower their torque when the motor gets hot. This protects the motor, but it feels like the force feedback fades during a long race. Lower the in game strength a little so the base does not run at its limit for an hour.
Game patches
Players on the official EA forums have reported force feedback changes after some F1 25 updates. If the problem started right after a patch, check the forum for known issues before you change your whole setup.
Is your rig hiding the force feedback?
Sometimes the force feedback works, but it feels so weak that drivers think it is missing.
A wheel stand or desk that flexes absorbs a large part of the signal. The base moves instead of the wheel rim. Johan Akkerman, CEO of SIMGASM, started sim racing in 2008 and once welded his own frame from used gas pipes because commercial frames were too expensive. That experience shaped how SIMGASM builds its sim racing cockpit range today: stable, affordable and tested as part of a complete simulator.
Once the base sits on a stiff frame, a 12 Nm unit like this one gives you plenty of clear signal for F1 25, with enough reserve for long races.
Conspit Ares Direct Drive Wheelbase (12 Nm)
If your force feedback now works but feels harsh or numb, have a look at our guide to active aero and FFB in F1 25. It explains how the 2026 cars load up the wheel.
Questions about missing force feedback in F1 25
These are the quick answers to the questions we hear most often.
Why does my wheel turn but give no force feedback?
The game reads the steering input but does not send the force signal. This usually points to the wrong controller preset, Steam Input or the Vibration and Force Feedback toggle set to Off.
Do I need the wheel software running while I play?
For most bases the software does not need to stay open, because the settings live in the base. Keep it running anyway while you troubleshoot, so you see whether the base receives a signal.
Why is my force feedback weak after an update?
Check whether the update reset your in game strength or preset. Then check the firmware of the base, because a new game version sometimes works better with newer firmware.
Does a stronger base fix missing force feedback?
No. A stronger base only helps when the signal works but feels too weak. Missing force feedback is a settings, software or connection issue.
Want to learn more? The SIMGASM experts are happy to help.
