Forza Horizon 5: Fixing Stuttering via VideoSettings.xml Tweak

The primary cause of stuttering in Forza Horizon 5 is often related to “Texture Streaming” and the way the game handles the transition between different levels of detail (LOD) as you drive at high speeds. Even on powerful GPUs, the game can struggle to keep up with asset loading, leading to a “hitch” every few seconds. By modifying the VideoSettings.xml, we can optimize the memory budget for these textures and force more stable shadow rendering, effectively eliminating the stuttering that plagues many PC players.

Hardware Compatibility & Expectations

• VRAM Limited GPUs: Essential for cards with 8GB of VRAM or less (RTX 3060 Ti, 3070, RX 6600) to prevent “Low Video Memory” warnings.
• HDD/Slow SSD Users: Significantly reduces the “Streaming Bandwidth” error that causes the game to pause or hitch.
• Mid-Range CPUs: Helps older processors manage the heavy background asset decompression required for the open world.

Backup and Preparation

Before editing your video settings, ensure you have a clean starting point.

1. Launch Forza Horizon 5 and set your graphics to a standard preset (e.g., High or Ultra).
2. Close the game completely.
3. Navigate to the local settings folder (path below).
4. Right-click VideoSettings.xml, select Copy, and save a backup to your desktop.

File Location

Forza Horizon 5 stores its XML configuration in your local app data, though the path differs slightly between the Steam and Microsoft Store versions:

Steam Version: %LocalAppData%\ForzaHorizon5\User_SteamID\VideoSettings.xml

Microsoft Store / Game Pass Version: %LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.60151224_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\VideoSettings.xml

Best Config Settings

Open the file with Notepad or Notepad++ and locate the following parameters. Update their values to match this stability-focused configuration:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<VideoConfig>
    <TextureQuality>2</TextureQuality> <AnisotropicFiltering>16</AnisotropicFiltering>
    <ShadowQuality>2</ShadowQuality>
    <MotionBlurQuality>0</MotionBlurQuality>
    <DeformableTerrainQuality>1</DeformableTerrainQuality>
    <StreamingQuality>2</StreamingQuality> <ShaderQuality>2</ShaderQuality>
    <ParticleEffectsQuality>1</ParticleEffectsQuality>
</VideoConfig>

Key Parameters Explained

Parameter	Recommended Value	Impact
StreamingQuality	2 (High)	Controls how fast the game loads assets. Lowering this from “Ultra” prevents streaming stutters.
TextureQuality	2	Reduces VRAM pressure, which is the #1 cause of frame-time spikes in FH5.
DeformableTerrainQuality	1	Reduces CPU load when driving off-road (sand, mud, snow).
ShadowQuality	2	Stabilizes FPS in dense areas like Guanajuato by reducing shadow map complexity.
MotionBlurQuality	0	Disables motion blur, which can often hide micro-stutters but increases input lag.

In-Game Settings vs. Config

To maintain the stability gained from the XML tweaks, ensure these are set in-game:

• NVIDIA Reflex / AMD Anti-Lag: Set to On.
• Resolution Scaling: Use DLSS (Quality) or FSR 2.2 to keep the GPU load around 90-95% for better frame pacing.
• V-Sync: Turn OFF in-game and enable it through your GPU Control Panel (NVIDIA/AMD) for better results in Forza.
• Frame Rate Limit: Set this to your monitor’s refresh rate (e.g., 144) to prevent the GPU from overworking and causing heat-related stutters.

Troubleshooting & Common Fixes

• Low Streaming Bandwidth Error: If you still see this after the fix, it means your storage drive is too slow. Move the game to an NVMe SSD if possible.
• Settings Not Applying: Forza often overwrites this file. After saving, right-click VideoSettings.xml, go to Properties, and check Read-only.
• Blurry Textures: If the world looks blurry, increase StreamingQuality back to 3, but lower ShadowQuality to compensate.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion and Expected Results

By manually optimizing the VideoSettings.xml, you are giving the ForzaTech engine more room to breathe. Users typically report a much smoother frame-time graph and the total elimination of the “Low Video Memory” warning. You can now enjoy racing through Mexico at 100+ FPS without the annoying micro-pauses that ruin the sense of speed.