8 Ways to Fix Euro Truck Simulator 2 (ETS2) Stuttering, Lags, or Freezing

Euro Truck Simulator 2, a renowned open-world truck simulator game developed and published by SCS Software, has been a standout title in its genre since its initial release in October 2012. Available on Microsoft Windows, Linux, and macOS platforms, it continues to be celebrated for its engaging simulation experience.

To fully enjoy Euro Truck Simulator 2 on a PC, a certain level of hardware capability is required, particularly to achieve optimal resolution and high frames per second (FPS). This need for robust performance is common in many PC games, which often demand significant resources. For players experiencing performance issues such as stuttering, lags, crashes, or frame drops, we have compiled a series of steps to help address these challenges.

Many players of Euro Truck Simulator 2 on PC have reported encountering these issues, which can significantly impact gameplay, especially on systems with compatibility limitations. Addressing these issues is crucial for a smoother gaming experience. By following the solutions outlined in this guide, players can aim to improve their FPS and enjoy Euro Truck Simulator 2 to its fullest potential on their PC.

Check System Requirements

Check out the system requirements of the Euro Truck Simulator 2 game below to ensure whether your PC configuration is meeting the game’s system requirements or not.

Minimum System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 7
• Processor: Dual-core CPU 2.4 GHz
• Memory: 4 GB RAM
• Graphics: GeForce GTS 450-class (Intel HD 4000)
• Hard Drive: 12 GB available space

Recommended System Requirements:

• OS: Windows 7/8.1/10 64-bit
• Processor: Quad core CPU 3.0 GHz
• Memory: 6 GB RAM
• Graphics: GeForce GTX 760-class (2 GB)
• Hard Drive: 12 GB available space

Fix: Euro Truck Simulator 2 Stuttering and Lags Badly

Fixing in-game lags or frame drop issues isn’t easy because it depends on multiple factors, such as PC hardware, the display resolution of the game, maximum FPS limit count, conflicting third-party apps, and more. So, we recommend you try following all the methods one by one until the problem gets fixed or reduced. Changing the in-game graphics-related settings or keeping them low can fix several problems in a jiffy.

It may include the Screen Resolution of the game, in-game Texture Resolution, Shadow Resolution, Maximum Frame rate, number of Characters Displayed, or other visual effects that require higher graphics or memory. So, you can follow the steps below to try reducing the lags or frame drops to some extent depending on which resolution and quality you’re playing the game, apart from FPS count.

1. Use Launch Options

• Open your Steam client > Go to Library > Right-click on the Euro Truck Simulator 2.
• Select Properties > On the General tab, you’ll find Launch Options.
• Enter the launch options -fullscreen = Forces the engine to start in fullscreen mode.

2. Update Graphics Drivers

• Right-click on the Start Menu to open up the Quick Access Menu.
• Click on Device Manager from the list.
• Now, double-click on the Display Adapters category to expand the list.
• Then, right-click on the dedicated graphics card name.
• Select Update driver > Choose Search automatically for drivers.
• If an update is available, it’ll automatically download and install the latest version.
• Once done, make sure to reboot your computer to change effects.

3. Run the game as an administrator

Run the game exe file as an administrator to avoid user account control issues regarding privileges. It would be best to run the Steam client as an administrator on your PC. To do this:

• Right-click on the Euro Truck Simulator 2 exe shortcut file on your PC.
• Now, select Properties > Click on the Compatibility tab.
• Make sure to click on the Run this program as an administrator checkbox to checkmark it.
• Click on Apply and select OK to save changes.

4. Set High Priority in Task Manager

Make your game priority in the higher segment via the Task Manager to tell your Windows system to run the game properly. To do this:

• Right-click on the Start Menu > Select Task Manager.
• Click on the Processes tab > Right-click on the Euro Truck Simulator 2 game task.
• Select Set Priority to High.
• Close Task Manager.
• Finally, run the Euro Truck Simulator 2 game to check for the issue.

5. Verify Integrity of Game Files

If, in case, there is an issue with the game files and somehow it gets corrupted or missing, then make sure to perform this method to check for the issue easily. To do so:

• Launch Steam > Click on Library.
• Right-click on Euro Truck Simulator 2 from the list of installed games.
• Now, click on Properties > Go to Local Files.
• Click on Verify Integrity of Game Files.
• You’ll have to wait for the process until it gets completed.
• Once done, just restart your computer.

6. Change GPU Settings

Make sure to change the graphics card settings on the PC by following the steps below to check if the problem has been fixed.

For Nvidia:

• Open up Nvidia’s Control Panel > Right-click on the desktop screen.
• Click on Nvidia Control Panel > Click on Manage 3D Settings.
• Select Program Settings > Find ‘Euro Truck Simulator 2’ and manually add the game if it’s not in the list:
  • Monitor Tech: G-Sync (If available)
  • Maximum Pre-rendered frames: 2
  • Threaded optimization: On
  • Power Management: Prefer Maximum Performance
  • Texture Filtering – Quality: Performance

For AMD:

• Monitor Tech: G-Sync (If available)
• Maximum Pre-rendered frames: 2
• Threaded optimization: On
• Power Management: Prefer Maximum Performance
• Texture Filtering – Quality: Performance

7. Disable Fullscreen Optimizations

Full-screen optimization and DPI settings are the default ones on Windows. You should try disabling it by following the steps below:

• Locate the Euro Truck Simulator 2 game directory.
• Find and right-click on the cyberpunk2077.exe file.
• Select Properties > Click on the Compatibility tab.
• Checkmark the ‘Disable Full-Screen Optimizations’ box.
• Now, click on the ‘Change high DPI settings button.
• Checkmark the ‘Override high DPI scaling behavior’ > Select ‘Application’ from the drop-down menu.
• Click on Apply and then OK to save changes.

8. Update Euro Truck Simulator 2

If in case, you haven’t updated your Euro Truck Simulator 2 game for a while then make sure to follow the steps below to check for updates and install the latest patch (if available). To do this:

• Open the Steam client > Go to Library > Click on Euro Truck Simulator 2 from the left pane.
• It’ll automatically search for the available update. If there is an update available, make sure to click on Update.
• It may take some time to install the update > Once done, make sure to close the Steam client.
• Finally, reboot your PC to apply changes, and then try launching the game again.

That’s it, guys. We assume this guide is useful to you. For further queries, you can comment below.