Adjusting the derailleur on your bike – How to do it step by step

The derailleur is an essential component of the bicycle, ensuring smooth power transmission and efficient riding. If the gears don't shift smoothly, the chain drags, or jumps off the sprockets, the riding experience can be significantly impaired. With a few simple steps, the derailleur can be adjusted on the bike itself.

By Vincent Augustin 2 minutes read time

About the author Vincent Augustin

Vincent founded MYVELO together with Fabian. The two share a long-standing passion for cycling. Together they have cycled thousands of kilometers and fought for victories in the German racing bike league. The idea of founding MYVELO arose from their many years of experience and knowledge of what makes a good bike. Find out more about MYVELO now

Published: April 27, 2025 | Updated: July 17, 2025

Adjusting the derailleur gears requires a bit of patience, but with a little practice, it's easily doable. Precise gear shifting ensures a comfortable ride, protects components, and increases safety. Those who regularly service their bikes and check the gears will ride longer and with less disruption.

Why adjust the derailleur?

An incorrectly adjusted circuit can lead to:

The chain does not jump cleanly onto the next sprocket,
the chain jumps off or falls between the sprocket and the frame,
disturbing noises arise,
wear on the chain and sprockets increases.

Regular maintenance and correct adjustment ensure a pleasant driving experience and extend the life of the components.

Required tools

To adjust the derailleur, the following tools are required:

Phillips screwdriver (for the limit screws),
Allen key (usually 5 mm) for the shift cable,
possibly a chain whip and a sprocket puller (for advanced adjustments),
bicycle repair stand (optional, makes work easier).

Step-by-step instructions

1. Check the limit screws of the circuit

The two small screws on the rear derailleur limit the chain's movement on the smallest and largest sprockets. They are marked H (High for the smallest sprocket) and L (Low for the largest sprocket).

Adjusting the smallest pinion:
- Shift the chain to the smallest sprocket.
- Adjust the H-screw so that the rear derailleur is positioned exactly under the smallest sprocket.
Adjusting the largest pinion:
- Shift the chain to the largest sprocket.
- Adjust the L-screw so that the rear derailleur is positioned directly under the largest sprocket.

2. Adjust the shift cable tension

Shift the gearshift into the lowest gear (easiest gear).
Loosen the shift cable at the derailleur clamp screw.
Reattach the shift cable under slight tension.
Fine adjustment is done via the adjustment screw on the shift lever or rear derailleur:
- Turn clockwise: Reduce voltage if switching is too slow.
- Turn counterclockwise: Increase tension if the chain does not jump to the next sprocket.

3. Test switching behavior

After the basic setting, all gears should be shifted through:

If the chain shifts slowly or imprecisely, it can be readjusted using the fine adjustment screw.
If there is noise or the chain skips, the limit should be checked again.

4. Adjust the front derailleur (with multiple chainrings)

If the bike has a front derailleur, its limit screws must also be adjusted:

H-screw controls the outermost chainring.
L-screw controls the smallest chainring.
The tension of the shift cable is finely adjusted in the same way as the rear derailleur.

Tips for maintenance and care

Clean and lubricate the chain regularly to ensure precise shifting.
If the chain and cassette are heavily worn, readjustment will only help to a limited extent – new components are required.
If you are unsure, a specialist workshop can help to avoid damage to the circuit.