How To Turn Off Zwift’s “Springy Camera” View

If you Zwift on PC or Mac, it’s possible that Zwift’s automatic “springy camera” may be a bit overly springy. This is due to how your device is set up (refresh rates, framerates, etc) and how Zwift works.

Here’s an example of an overly springy view – notice how the view of my avatar is bouncing forward and backward:

If you’d like a less springy view, Zwifter Steve Clogg recently shared a little hack with the ZPCMR (Zwift PC Masters & Riders) group on Facebook for disabling the springy camera on PC or Mac.

Editing Config Files

Turning off the springy camera requires a simple edit to your Zwift config file. (The hardest part of the edit is finding and opening the file. This can be a bit confusing if you’ve never done it before.)

  • On Windows these are located under: C:\Program Files (x86)\Zwift\data\configs
  • On Mac OS they are located under: ~/Library/Application Support/Zwift/data/configs

You’ll need to edit the config file corresponding to the graphics profile Zwift is auto-assigning to your machine (basic, medium, high, or ultra). And you’ll need to have administrator privileges on your machine to do so.

Not sure which profile Zwift is using? Drop your log.txt on http://zwiftalizer.com

  • On Windows, the logs are located under: HOMEPATH%\Documents\Zwift\Logs
  • On Mac OS, the logs are located under: ~/Documents/Zwift/Logs

Changing Springy Camera Option

To turn off the springy camera, add this line to your config file:

set gUseSpringyCamera=false

To turn the springy camera on, change the line to this (or just remove it entirely):

set gUseSpringyCamera=true

Sample Video with No Springy Camera

Watch a clip with the springy camera disabled:

Notice how the actual camera angle is different, as well as perfectly stable. Perhaps not the preferred view for everyone, but if you’ve got an overly springy setup on your Mac or PC, this may be just what you’re looking for.

More Graphics Hacks

If you’re on a PC or Mac, there are lots of tweaks you can make to these graphics config files which may improve your game experience. Read “Zwift Config File Graphics Tweaks: 2019” for ideas.

Questions or Comments?

Share below!

Eric Schlange
Eric Schlangehttp://www.zwiftinsider.com
Eric runs Zwift Insider in his spare time when he isn't on the bike or managing various business interests. He lives in Northern California with his beautiful wife, two kids and dog. Follow on Strava

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Paul
Paul(@psouthworth)
1 month ago

Nice tip, I will give that a try. When Medium profile came to my M1 MacBook Pro, I got the camera yo-yo effect when the display was set to ProMotion. It went away when I set it to 60Hz.

Jackson
Jackson
1 month ago

Awesome.

Now… how do we disable the lateral camera swing?

Kevin
Kevin
1 month ago

can you still change the camera distance?

MoanyTony
MoanyTony
1 month ago

Finally, I don’t have to get motion sickness on zwift.

Adam Dawson
Adam Dawson(@adamjmdawson)
1 month ago

I actually like the slightly higher position. Especially handy when the screen gets crowded with names and powerups

Ken
Ken
1 month ago

Why do they make springy the default. The effect seems like a bug.

Manon
Manon
1 month ago
  • /Library/Application Support/Zwift/data/configs

This map isn’t located in the Application Support folder. (Macbook air) Any idea where I can find it?Really want to solve this ’cause it makes me sea sick sometimes 🙂

C.R3
C.R3
1 month ago
Reply to  Manon

Manon, first search for ‘graphics profile’ in log.txt located at /documents/zwift/logs. you should find ‘using () graphics profile’ – (basic, medium, high, or ultra). Then head to the folder you posted & add ‘set gUseSpringyCamera=false’ to your graphics profile file, e.g., basic.txt in case you found basic in your log.txt

Manon Holtman
Manon Holtman
1 month ago
Reply to  C.R3

I did that, profile was basic but I can’t find the folder to add the log

C.R3
C.R3
1 month ago
Reply to  Manon Holtman

so when you paste ~/Library/Application Support/Zwift/data/configs/ in the Go to Folder dialog on your machine you don’t get 6 txt-files displayed incl the basic?

Screen Shot 2023-10-14 at 6.43.22 PM.png
Michael
Michael
1 month ago

Thanks 🙂

Matt
Matt(@fiberoptic)
20 days ago

THANK YOU! off now, it was giving me a headache.
All the work to create a “real world” experience in a virtual world.
Then add, without telling anyone, a completely unrealistic “Springy Camera”

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