After selecting a course world to ride/run and a route, workout, pace partner or group event, your avatar will be placed in that course world and ready to ride or run. The screen you see is called the 'Heads Up Display' (HUD). There is lots of information packed into this screen so lets go through it all and what it means.
Heads Up Display[]
Zwift Heads Up Display
- Menu Button - Clicking anywhere on the screen will bring up the menu button. Clicking the menu button will bring up the 'Paused' screen where you can access your garage (avatar customization), pairing functions, workouts, settings and a summary of your current ride stats.
- Leaderboard - The leaderboard will only display for specific timed segments (sprints, KOM/QOM and route segments) on your course world and route. More details on the leaderboards are discussed below.
- Effort Numbers - The number in white is your output in watts as read from the trainer. The RPM number is your cadence as read from the trainer. If you have a heart rate monitor (HRM), your heartrate is displayed next to the 'beats per minute' (BPM) letters.
- Connection Alert - Though not shown in this image, if your connection to the trainer or HRM fails, you will see a connection alert here.
- System Alert - Though not shown in this image, if your bluetooth or ANT+ signal fails, you will see an alert here.
- Power-ups - The transparent circle will display any power-up you have available to use. Power-ups are earned as you pass through arches, if you don't already have one. Power-ups are discussed in more detail below.
- Rider Level - In the center status block, the current level of your rider is shown with a bike icon next the the level number.
- Speed - In the center status block, your current speed is shown.
- Route - In the center status block, the name of current selected route is shown. Also, a bar shows the progress of your route to completion. To the right of the finish flag, the remaining distance is displayed.
- Distance - In the center status block, the distance you have completed during this ride is shown.
- Rider Experience Bar - In the center status block, the remaining distance to reach the next level is shown.
- Elevation - In the center status block, the elevation you have completed during this ride is shown.
- Time - In the center status block, the time duration of the current ride is shown.
- Drops - In the center status block, the amount of drops you have earned so far is shown. Drops are discussed in more detail in the game play section of this wiki.
- Mini Map - This is a mini map of your route. Clicking anywhere inside the mini map will zoom out. There are 3 levels of zoom on the mini map. The red dot and arrow on the map is you and your direction. The other dots on the map indicate other Zwifters. Dots may be colored differently in group rides/races to indicate different groups/categories. If not in a race, a different colored dot will indicate a 'follower' of you.
- Course Profile - At the bottom of the mini map, you will see a grey elevation profile of the route. This allows you to 'look ahead' and plan accordingly. The big pin is you, and the arrow indicates the direction you're riding. All the smaller pins are other Zwifters around you. The upside-down pins indicate the segments on the course in relation to your current position. The percentage shows the current grade of the course. As the grade increases, the numbers will increase in size and turn red.
- Zwifters Nearby List - This list shows all the riders currently on Zwift in your course world. The list is sorted with the closest riders both in front and behind you. You can select other riders and watch them which will also scroll the list up/down. A 'Return To Me' button will be displayed when you do this to make it easy to come back to your avatar. The Zwifters Nearby List is discussed in more detail below.
- Action Bar - Though normally hidden, you can bring up the Action Bar by pressing the 'Up' arrow key (Mac/PC), swiping up on the screen (iOS), or swiping up on the Apple Remote's touch pad (Apple TV). You can also access these tiles from the Zwift Companion app while in-game. See below for the individual tiles functions.
Zwifters Nearby List[]
Zwifters Nearby List
The Zwifter's Nearby List shows nearest riders both in front and behind you as you are cycling. The nearby rider's name and country flag are shown on the first line. The second line shows the amount of time that the rider is either in front or behind you, their power output and the distance they have completed so far. The total amount of riders (in addition to the ones on the list) on the current course/world you are riding will be shown at the bottom of the list.
Clicking on any rider will change the screen view to that rider as well as scroll the Zwifters Nearby List up or down accordingly. When you do this, a 'Back To Me' button will be shown on the screen so you can easily return to your own avatar on the screen.
Rider List Icons[]
There are several other icons that can be displayed as well. They are identified below:
| Icon Displayed | Description |
|---|---|
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Indicates Ride-On symbol or Thumbs Up. Whenever someone completes a workout, gets a personal record or gives you a Ride-On, this symbol will appear next to their name. You can click the Ride-On symbol next to their name to give back a Ride-On to that rider. It is considered proper etiquette to return a Ride-On that someone gives you. More information about Ride-Ons is noted below. |
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Shows the rider is using the Zwift Companion App |
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Shows the rider is doing a Workout. As of April 2023, this icon is no longer displayed in the Zwifters Nearby List. |
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Shows the rider has steering enabled |
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Shows that this is one of the riders that you are 'following' or have as a 'favorite' via the Zwift companion app |
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Shows the rider is performing an FTP Test |
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Indicates that the rider is a member of the Zwift Team |
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Indicates that the rider has been verified by Zwift. This is usually for someone of notoriety whether a pro cyclist or other famous person using Zwift. |
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Shows the rider is connected to Zwift using a smart trainer or power meter. No 'lightening bolt' icon means that the riders power is calculated by using wheel speed and a virtual power curve. |
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Yellow indicates that the rider is the group leader (beacon) for that group ride/event. Red indicates that the rider is the 'sweeper' for the group ride/event. |
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Indicates that this is a pace partner. The color of the pace partner will vary based on output wattage that is maintained. |
 
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Shows that the rider has earned 1st place on the leaderboard for a particular sprint or KOM/QOM. The rider will be wearing that jersey until another rider beats their time or an hour passes by. The jerseys may have different colors/patterns for each sprint/KOM/QOM on a course. |
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Shows that the rider has been disqualified for unexplained power output. Also known as the 'Cone of Shame'. |
Ride-Ons[]
Ride On!
Ride-Ons are one of the social aspects to the game. It's a way to acknowledge another rider/runner by giving them a 'thumbs up'. This is often when another rider completes a workout or completes a personal record. It's a way of saying 'good job'. Also, riders will give Ride-Ons to others when riding together in a group or even just riding together for a short period. It is considered proper etiquette to return a Ride-On that someone gives you. Additionally, if you receive a Ride-On your drops are doubled for 15 seconds.
Here are the ways you can give Ride-Ons:
- Select a name from the Zwifters Nearby List and click the Ride-On symbol (Note: This feature is disabled in workout mode)
- Go to your Zwift Activity Feed (on companion app or game account) and click on the Zwifter you want to give a Ride-On too. This applies whether the Zwifter is currently Zwifting or not. It's considered good etiquette to give the Zwifters that you have 'favorited' or are following via the companion app, Ride-Ons, for their completed activities.
- Using the Zwift Companion App while in-game, select your avatar's arrow with the white circle around it to give a Ride On to 5 riders within your vicinity (Note: In a group ride, only the ride leader can use this function)
- Using the Zwift Companion App while in-game, you may also select another player’s avatar dot to bring up a Social pop-up and select the Ride On button to give that Zwifter a Ride-On
- Using the Zwift Companion App while in-game, you may also select the Zwifters tab and either select another Zwifter on the list or find a specific Zwifter using the Zwifter button. Once a Zwifter is selected, you may select the Ride-On button.
Action Bar[]
Though normally hidden, you can bring up the Action Bar by pressing the 'Up' arrow key (Mac/PC), swiping up on the screen (iOS), or swiping up on the Apple Remote's touch pad (Apple TV). You can also access these tiles from the Zwift Companion app while in-game. The icons on the Action Bar are context sensitive so may not always appear (ie. workout options only available in workout mode) as well as appearing in a different order depending on the device or companion app.
Coffee Stop Note: Rider's avatar will pace with group when coffee stop is used. Coffee stop can be used for a 3 min break every 30 mins (30 secs in the first 5 min of ride) and no breaks allowed in the last 5 min or 5km of a ride. Coffee Stop is not available in a workout or race.
Leaderboards[]
Leaderboards
As you cycle around in Zwift, you will come across defined segments of a route that are designated as a sprint, KOM/QOM or lap. These segments appear in all courses/worlds. These segments are timed and as you come close to the segment start, a leaderboard will appear on screen. The leaderboards toggle through 3 screens:
- A complete list of live results of riders completing that segment in the last hour
- A list of your Personal Records (PRs) for the last 30 days on that segment (if any)
- For females riders only, a complete list of live results for female riders completing that segment in the last hour
At the bottom of each leaderboard is a color coded number of 'dots'. Each of these represent another segment in the current course/world you are riding. Clicking on a dot will show the leaderboard for that segment. You can also scroll down the list by selecting and hold to drag the boards up or down, or you can mouse scroll in order to see other names.
The top rider (first) on each segment will be awarded the segment jersey to wear in-game for one hour or until someone else beats your time. The jersey icon will also be placed next to your name in the Zwifters Nearby list. The white circle (or partial white circle) next to the riders names indicates that their one hour time limit is running out. Zwifters can accumulate multiple Leaderboard jerseys next to their names as well.
To alert Zwifters of an upcoming sprint or KOM, most segments have a flashing indicator at the start of the segment. The end of the segment is usually shown by going through an arch. Additionally, the center status block is replaced with a sprint, KOM or lap countdown as shown below.
Segment Start
Workout Display[]
While the Heads Up Display is very similar in workout mode, there are some key differences. These are explained below:
Heads Up Display-Workout Mode
- This box shows the workout title and progress time
- This is your current segment of your workout. Instructions are in yellow, and a bar that progresses to the end of that segment
- This is a list of your segments for your workout selected. You can see the received stars and description of each segment. The current bias is shown and can be adjusted up/down by 25% by clicking the arrows.
- This is your current experience level in Zwift. The bar above also contains your progress towards the next level as you earn XP points while riding in Zwift.
- The amount of drops you have earned that can be used in the Drop Shop
- This shows your current "workout zone" as it relates to % of FTP. The red line indicates your heart rate if you have an HRM connected.
Keyboard Shortcuts[]
For PC/Mac users, you can use keyboard shortcuts for several action bar commands, open screen commands and camera angles of the Zwifter you are viewing. These are noted below.
| Key | Shortcut | Key | Shortcut | Key | Camera Angle | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Open Device Pairing Screen | F1 | Flick Elbow | 1 | Default
6 O'Clock View | ||
| E | Open Workout Selection Screen | F2 | Wave Hand | 2 | Third Person View | ||
| G | Toggle Watt/HR Graph | F3 | Say "Ride On" | 3 | First Person View | ||
| H | Toggle Head Up Display | F4 | Say "Hammer Time" | 4 | Side Front-Left View | ||
| M | Open Group Message window | F5 | Say "Nice" | 5 | Rear View | ||
| P | Enter Promo Code | F6 | Say "Bring It" | 6 | Head On View | ||
| T | Open User Customization Screen | F7 | Say "I'm Toast" | 7 | Spectator View | ||
| Up Arrow | Open Action/Options Menu
(use left/right arrows to select) |
F8 | Ring Bike Bell | 8 | Helicopter View | ||
| Down Arrow | Make a U-Turn | F10 | Screen Capture | 9 | Birds Eye View | ||
| Left/Right Arrows | Make a left/right turn | 10 | Drone View
(Use arrows to move drone) (Use +/- to zoom drone) | ||||
| Spacebar | Activate current Power-Up | ||||||
| Esc | Opens End Ride Screen
(Click 'back' to return) |
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| Tab | Skip Workout Block | ||||||
| Page Up/Down | Adjust FTP bias in workout |