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    Zwift Hacks

    Run Zwift with minimal distractions using this simple hack

    Eric Schlange
    By Eric Schlange
    March 15, 2016
    LAST UPDATED March 6, 2023
    10

    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:

    Zwift running with minimal interface elements
    Zwift running with minimal interface elements

    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>

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    • minimal ui
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      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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      Jgil
      Jgil
      3 years ago

      Can this be done so that it only turns off portions (leaderboards/nearby riders) rather than the whole HUD?

      0
      Reply
      Eric Schlange
      Author
      Top Member
      Eric Schlange(@eschlange)
      3 years ago
      Reply to  Jgil

      Unfortunately no. It’s all or nothing!

      0
      Reply
      Garth
      Garth
      3 years ago

      I tried this today for the Haute Route ven-top ride and while I certainly enjoyed riding without all the screen clutter, I am pretty certain it is not possible to get powerups with this hack enabled?

      1
      Reply
      clasher
      clasher
      2 years ago
      Reply to  Garth

      No powerups, and no spinner at the top of the alpe either! I almost always use the minimal UI now since I mostly do solo free-rides but missing out on bonus xp is kind of annoying. Also no good if one is doing laps for XP on the TT bike, there goes a good chunk of XP too!

      0
      Reply
      Peter
      Peter
      2 years ago

      Where is this file located on an Android phone? I’m not finding it.

      1
      Reply
      Andrei
      Andrei(@aistratov)
      2 years ago
      Reply to  Peter

      It is on a PC. Are you running Zwift on a phone ?????

      0
      Reply
      Andrei
      Andrei(@aistratov)
      2 years ago
      Reply to  Andrei

      If seriously, on Android you can just swipe many of the elements of the user interface off the screen. This may require a little experimenting where to touch the screen to move UI elements off the screen, but it works for me with the running version of Zwift.

      1
      Reply
      Mr Michael Thomson
      Mr Michael Thomson
      2 years ago
      Reply to  Andrei

      You can only move 2 of the elements the rest stay

      0
      Reply
      M.A.
      M.A.
      2 years ago

      Hi there,

      With a Workout running in parallel, will the workout still trigger ERG mode and can i use the companion app to check the Watts while riding? Or will this setup also kill the companion app control for workouts?

      0
      Reply
      JĂĽrgen
      JĂĽrgen
      6 months ago

      That can also be done by switching off the HUD by key „H“.
      I saw some modified HUDs recently with only one line at the top of the screen. How can this be activated?

      0
      Reply
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