Getting Started

🚀 Getting Started & vJoy Setup

🌐 Language / Язык: English | Русский

This guide walks you through setting up vWheel Hub from scratch, installing the vJoy virtual joystick driver, configuring your first racing simulator, and understanding the diagnostic dashboard.

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📋 Prerequisites & System Requirements

Before launching vWheel Hub, ensure your PC meets the following requirements:

Component	Minimum / Recommended Requirement
Operating System	Windows 10 (64-bit, Version 1909+) or Windows 11 (64-bit)
Runtime Framework	Microsoft .NET 10 Desktop Runtime (x64) — Required to run the application 👉 Download .NET 10 Desktop Runtime (x64)
Hardware Input	Any standard Optical / Laser Mouse (1600–3200 DPI recommended) and Keyboard
Virtual Device Driver	vJoy Virtual Joystick Driver (v2.1.9.1 or newer) 👉 Download vJoy Driver (GitHub Releases)

Important

.NET 10 Desktop Runtime Requirement: vWheel Hub is built natively on .NET 10. If you receive an error stating that the .NET Desktop Runtime is missing upon launching vWheelHub.exe, download and install the .NET 10 Desktop Runtime (x64) from Microsoft.

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🛠️ Step 1: Install the vJoy Virtual Driver

What is vJoy?

vJoy is an open-source Windows kernel-mode device driver that creates a virtual DirectInput game controller on your PC. Sim racing games detect this virtual device as a real physical racing wheel.

1. Download the latest vJoy installer: 👉 Download vJoy Driver.
2. Run the installer (vJoySetup.exe) and follow the setup wizard.
3. If prompted by Windows Security regarding driver certificate verification, allow the installation.
4. Restart your PC if prompted by the installer.

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⚡ Step 2: Launch vWheel Hub & 1-Click vJoy Auto-Configuration

1. Extract the vWheel Hub distribution archive to a convenient location (e.g. C:\Games\vWheelHub\ or D:\Tools\vWheelHub\).
2. Launch vWheelHub.exe.
3. Look at the vJoy Diagnostic Card located at the top of the Dashboard page.

flowchart TD
    Start[Launch vWheel Hub] --> Diag[vJoy Diagnostic Check]
    Diag -->|Green: Valid & Ready| Ready[Ready to Play!]
    Diag -->|Red: Not Configured| Click[Click 'Auto-Configure vJoy']
    Click --> Script[vWheel Hub Runs Internal CLI Fixer]
    Script --> Ready

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Diagnostic States:

• 🟢 Green Status ("Valid / Ready"): vJoy Device #1 is detected and properly configured with 3 analog axes (Steering, Gas, Brake) and virtual buttons (Gear Shifting). You are ready to drive!
• 🔴 Red / Warning Status ("Needs Configuration"): If Device #1 is missing or lacks required axes, click the "Auto-Configure vJoy" button.

What does "Auto-Configure vJoy" do?

vWheel Hub invokes the vJoy configuration utility in the background to:

• Enable Device #1.
• Allocate axes: X (Steering), Y (Gas / Throttle), and Z / Rz (Brake).
• Configure at least 8 virtual buttons for Up/Down gear shifting and secondary actions.
• Synchronize vJoyInterface.dll with your system library.

Tip

You do not need to open the external vJoyConf.exe application manually — vWheel Hub handles everything automatically in 1 click!

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🎮 Step 3: In-Game Controller Configuration

Once vJoy is ready, configure your racing game to bind the virtual controller:

1. Launch your sim racing game (e.g. Assetto Corsa Competizione, Assetto Corsa EVO, Le Mans Ultimate, BeamNG.drive, iRacing, Assetto Corsa, etc.).
2. Navigate to the game's Options ➔ Controls / Input Settings.
3. Select Wheel / Gamepad / DirectInput Device (Choose vJoy Device #1 or vJoy Device).
4. Assign axes and buttons:
   • Steering: Turn the virtual wheel (move your mouse horizontally or assign axis X).
   • Throttle / Gas: Press your gas key (e.g. W or LMB) or assign axis Y.
   • Brake: Press your brake key (e.g. S or RMB) or assign axis Z (or Rz).
   • Shift Up / Shift Down: Assign virtual buttons (Button 1 & Button 2).
5. In game settings:
   • Set Steering Deadzone to 0%.
   • Set Steering Linearity / Gamma to 1.0 (Linear). All smoothing, progressive curves, and non-linearity should be managed directly inside vWheel Hub for optimal response.

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🏁 Step 4: Activating vWheel Hub & Mouse Cursor Controls

1. In vWheel Hub, toggle the "Is Active" switch at the top to enable the processing engine.
2. Locking the Mouse: Press your assigned Toggle Mouse Lock hotkey (default End or Backspace) to lock the mouse cursor inside the game window for steering.
3. Hold-to-Unlock Cursor: Hold this key (e.g. assigned to a mouse side button or keyboard modifier) to temporarily free your mouse cursor and pause steering. Releasing the key immediately re-locks the cursor and resumes steering!
4. Auto-Unlock Mouse in Menu: In supported games (ACC, AC EVO, LMU, rFactor 2, BeamNG), vWheel Hub detects when you are in the garage or pause menus and automatically releases the cursor, re-locking it when you return to the track.
5. Game-Exit Auto-Unlock: If you close or exit your racing game, vWheel Hub automatically detects process termination and releases the mouse cursor immediately.

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🔧 Step 5: Dashboard Diagnostic Cards

The vWheel Hub Dashboard contains interactive diagnostic cards to keep your setup healthy:

1. vJoy Diagnostic Card: Checks driver installation, DLL linkage, device acquisition, and axis mapping with 1-click repair.
2. LMU Input Compatibility Fix: For Le Mans Ultimate players, applies the 1-click DirectInput Fallback fix ("DirectInput Fallback": true), eliminating input stuttering and unlocking full 1000 Hz polling rate.
3. Telemetry Plugin Status: Automatically detects Steam game installations (BeamNG, LMU, rFactor 2) and installs/verifies shared memory DLLs or Lua telemetry mods.

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⏭️ Next Steps

Now that your hub is operational, learn how to customize and master your controls:

• 🕹️ Game Compatibility & Plugin Setup
• 🎮 Configure Steering Sensitivity, Gamma & Keyboard Mode
• ⚡ Customize Schema V2 Gas & Brake Pedal Physics
• 📡 Enable Real-Time Telemetry Assists & Adaptive Grid Cache (Pro)
• 🏎️ Fine-Tune Synthetic Trail Braking & Audio Slip Cues
• 📁 Organize Profiles with 3-Tier Hierarchy & Sharing