Run Zwift with minimal distractions using this simple hack

Update: this hack is no longer needed, as Zwift has added “Hide the Display” mode in April 2021. Read all about how it works >

To run Zwift with minimal on-screen “heads up display” elements, add this line to the <config> section of your Zwift preferences file located at Documents/Zwift/prefs.xml:

<MINIMAL_UI>1</MINIMAL_UI>

This turns off the rider list, leaderboards, speed/rider timer, and more. Here’s a screenshot of the result:

Here is my prefs.xml file with the line added. If you’ve never edited an XML file before, it is as easy as opening the file in a text editor (Notepad works great on a PC), editing the file and saving your changes. Saving a backup copy of the original file is always a good idea!

<ZWIFT>
 <DEVICES>
     <LASTCADENCEDEVICE>720996</LASTCADENCEDEVICE>
     <LASTPOWERDEVICE>720996</LASTPOWERDEVICE>
     <CTF>12543</CTF>
     <LASTHRMDEVICE>7891038</LASTHRMDEVICE>
     <LASTSPEEDDEVICE>9716</LASTSPEEDDEVICE>
     <LASTTRAINERDEVICE>2837993477</LASTTRAINERDEVICE>
 </DEVICES>
 <CONFIG>
     <MINIMAL_UI>1</MINIMAL_UI>
     <RICHMOND_BRANCH_PREFERENCE>0</RICHMOND_BRANCH_PREFERENCE>
     <BRANCH_PREFERENCE>3</BRANCH_PREFERENCE>
     <BATTPREFS>20</BATTPREFS>
     <PREFERRED_MONITOR>2147516416</PREFERRED_MONITOR>
     <TRAINER_EFFECT>0.5</TRAINER_EFFECT>
     <IMGPREFS>0</IMGPREFS>
     <USER_RESOLUTION_PREF>1920x1080</USER_RESOLUTION_PREF>
     <AMBIENT_VOL>0</AMBIENT_VOL>
     <SFX_VOL>0</SFX_VOL>
 </CONFIG>
 <WORKOUTS>
     <LAST_WORKOUT>4035902721</LAST_WORKOUT>
     <EDIT_IN_WATTS>1</EDIT_IN_WATTS>
     <USE_ERG>1</USE_ERG>
 </WORKOUTS>
</ZWIFT>