How to Fix Controller Lag & Stutter in Forza Horizon 6

There are a lot of random things that can cause performance issues in games, and one thing most players never think to check is their controller. It sounds stupid, but your controller can actually be the reason Forza Horizon 6 feels stuttery, delayed, or inconsistent , even on a powerful gaming PC. The good news is that controller-related performance problems are usually easy to fix. So before you start lowering graphics settings or reinstalling drivers, there's some simple things to check first.

Can Controllers Cause Performance Problems?

Most game controllers are using Bluetooth which isn't the most stable connection around especially older versions. Which means you might end up dealing with the following things.

• Input lag while steering or braking.
• Micro stuttering during races.
• Uneven frame rates.
• Camera chopping when turning quickly.
• Heavy or sluggish vehicle responses.
• Random spikes in latency during gameplay.

Before changing any in-game settings, try these few simple checks first. If none of them work you need to fix some stuff.

• Fully charge wireless controller batteries.
• Use a wired USB connection.
• Disconnect unused controllers or adapters.

How to Fix Controller Lag & Stutter in Forza Horizon 6

The easiest way to check the problem is to temporarily switch to a wired connection.

• Connect your controller directly to your PC using USB.
• Start Forza Horizon 6.
• Drive around for several minutes. Go crazy!

If the problem disappears when using a wired controller, it's a bluetooth issue. So know you know you need to start checking and fixing a few things. If you are using an old version of Bluetooth it's probably time to update.

Update Xbox Controller Firmware

Next to nobody bothers to check their controler firmware because they don't know it exists... So it's probably way out of date!

• Install the Xbox Accessories app from the Microsoft Store.
• Connect the controller using USB.
• Open the app and check for firmware updates.
• Install any available update.
• Restart your PC afterward.
• Re-pair the controller.

Note: Do not disconnect the controller during the update process.

Update PS5 DualSense Firmware

Just like Xbox controllers PlayStation controllers also need firmware updates from time to time.

• Install the official DualSense Firmware Updater for Windows.
• Connect the controller via USB.
• Follow the on-screen instructions.
• Wait for the update to fully complete before disconnecting.

Update Third-Party Controller Firmware

If you're using a generic or third-party controller:

• Visit the manufacturer’s official website.
• Look for firmware or driver downloads.
• Install the latest available updates.

Some cheaper controller brands rarely release updates, so support may vary. Some might not even have firmware updates at all.

Disable Steam Input Temporarily

Disable Steam Input and see what happens. I doubt that this will help since it's super reliable but it's worth doing if nothing else so far has worked.

• Right-click Forza Horizon 6 in Steam.
• Select Properties.
• Open the Controller tab.
• Set Steam Input to Disabled.
• Launch the game and test performance again.
• If nothing changes, you can turn Steam Input back on.

Close Background Junk

Background software is known to cause issues on some devices so disable as much junk as you can. If you don't "need" it get rid of it.

• RGB lighting software.
• Hardware monitoring tools.
• Browser tabs and streaming apps.
• Recording or capture software.
• Overlay applications.

Lock Your Frame Rate

Forza Horizon 6 generally feels smoother with stable frame pacing than wildly fluctuating FPS. Instead of chasing maximum FPS, cap your frame rate to something your system can maintain consistently. Stability is 1000x better than bouncing around high random numbers.

• Stable 60 FPS is better than bouncing 70–100 FPS.