Euro Truck Simulator 2 is the most popular trucking simulator game for Windows PCs. However, some players report they can’t play Euro Truck Simulator 2 because it doesn’t start on their PCs. One player reported this on Reddit, “I have been playing this game (ETS2) for a couple of months now, but when I try to launch the game today, it just doesn’t launch.” Players also report seeing error messages and black screens when starting ETS2. This is how you may be able to fix Euro Truck Simulator 2 not launching on your Windows PC.
Verify the Euro Truck Simulator 2 Game Files
Running a verification scan for ETS2 will check for and repair any corrupted Euro Truck Simulator 2 game files. Doing this will likely fix Euro Truck Simulator 2 not launching for some players, but probably not everybody. You can repair corrupted ETS2 files by going through the steps on this Steam guide page for verifying games.
The Verify integrity option in Steam
Delete the Steam Folder
Deleting the Steam data folder is a troubleshooting method widely confirmed to fix Euro Truck Simulator 2 not launching by players. So, this is a potential solution all ETS2 players should try. This is how you can erase the Steam folder.
- Open File Explorer via the taskbar or with the Windows logo + E key combination to activate it.
- Navigate to This PC > C: > User > Public > Public Documents in File Explorer.
The Steam folder in Public Documents
- Right-click the Steam folder in Public Documents to select Delete.
Set Steam to Run in Compatibility Mode as an Administrator
Some players have set compatibility mode and administrator options for the Steam gaming client to fix Euro Truck Simulator 2 not launching. Applying this resolution can address issues with the Steam client utilized for launching ETS2. You can set Steam to run in compatibility mode with admin rights like this.
- Right-click the Steam icon on your desktop to select Properties.
- Click on Compatibility within the Steam Properties window.
- First, select Run this program in compatibility mode and the Windows 8 platform option on the drop-down menu.
The Run this program in compatibility mode for checkbox
- Click the box for Run this program as an administrator to select that setting.
- Select Apply to save your options and OK to exit the Steam Properties window.
Set Euro Truck Simulator 2 to Run as an Administrator
This potential resolution for Euro Truck Simulator 2 not launching is similar to the previous one. However, you will need to set the Euro Truck Simulator 2 game to run as an administrator rather than Steam. This is how you can apply this possible resolution for EST2 not starting.
- Run Steam and click on Library within that gaming client.
- Right-click the Euro Truck Simulator 2 game to select Manage > Browse local files.
- Next, right-click the eurotrucks2 file to select Properties.
The Run this program as an administrator checkbox
- Select to run ETS2 as an administrator on the Compatibility tab and click Apply > OK.
It’s also recommended to run ETS2 in compatibility mode. If running Euro Truck Simulator 2 as an administrator doesn’t work, try selecting the Run this program in Compatibility mode option alongside the admin option. Set the game to run in compatibility mode for Windows 8.
Select to Start the Game With a Different API Setting
Some ETS2 players say they’ve needed to select different API settings to kick-start Euro Truck Simulator 2. This means selecting to run the game with DirectX or OpenGL. So, try setting the game to start with an alternative API setting as follows.
- Click Euro Truck Simulator 2 in your Steam library.
- Select the Launch with DirectX radio button.
- Press the Play button.
The Launch with OpenGL option
- If DirectX doesn’t work, try selecting the Launch with OpenGL radio button and clicking Play.
- Select Launch in safe mode > Play if neither API option fixes EST2 not starting.
Apply a Clean Boot
Applying a clean boot troubleshooting method will disable third-party programs and services starting with your Windows PC. This could fix Euro Truck Simulator 2 not launching for some players because it will likely eliminate any background software conflicts. Set a clean boot with MSConfig and Task Manager as instructed on this Microsoft support page, restart your PC, and try starting ETS2 again.
The Services tab in the System Configuration tool
Reinstall Euro Truck Simulator 2
Reinstalling Euro Truck Simulator 2 can repair a corrupted game installation. Try applying other possible resolutions first, but reinstall ETS2 if nothing else works for you. These are the steps for reinstalling ETS2.
- Run your Steam software to access the Library.
- Click Euro Truck Simulator 2 in the Steam sidebar with the right mouse button to select Manage.
- Select the Uninstall option twice.
The Uninstall option in Steam
- Click ETS2 in Steam’s Library tab to press Install.
- If possible, select to install the game on a different drive location or an alternative folder.
- Click Install to finish.
Other Possible Ways to Fix Euro Truck Simulator 2 Not Launching
The above solutions are more widely confirmed ways to fix Euro Truck Simulator 2 not launching, but there are other things you can try. These additional potential resolutions might also kick-start EST2 for some players.
- Disable the Steam and Discord overlay features. Make sure there aren’t any apps with overlay features running in the background when trying to start Euro Truck Simulator 2.
- Install a new graphical driver for your PC’s GPU.
- Add Euro Truck Simulator 2 to your firewall’s allowed list.
- Add the EST2 game folder to your antivirus software’s whitelist (exceptions list).
Applying the potential resolutions above will usually fix Euro Truck Simulator 2 not launching on Windows PCs. So, they’re worth trying before contacting the ETS2 help service. You can contact the support service for Euro Truck Simulator 2 for more possible fixes by sending an email to su*****@*****************r2.com.
