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Setup

Best ETS2 Settings

The best ETS2 settings for new and returning players, covering controls, steering, mirrors, route advisor, parking, graphics, audio, and comfort options.

Published May 17, 2026Updated May 17, 2026By ETS2 Guide Team8 min readBeginner
#settings#controls#beginner#performance
Settings and controls screenshot for best ETS2 settings guide

Quick answer

The best ETS2 settings are stable and readable: use real automatic while learning, keep route advisor on, tune steering sensitivity before advanced bindings, set mirrors for visibility, and lower graphics only when frame drops hurt driving consistency.

The best ETS2 settings are not the most realistic settings on day one. They are the settings that help you finish deliveries cleanly, read traffic early, park without panic, and enjoy long drives without fighting the interface.

Use this guide with Beginner's Guide to ETS2 Controls, ETS2 Wheel Settings, and How to Add Custom Radio Streams to ETS2.

Euro Truck Simulator 2 driving view for controls and settings
Good settings should make driving more predictable before they make the game more realistic.

Beginner Driving Settings

SettingRecommended Start
TransmissionReal automatic
Route AdvisorOn
Fatigue simulationOn for realism, off for relaxed learning
Traffic offensesOn for learning, off for casual cruising
Parking difficultySafe parking first, then standard parking

Steering And Controls

Keyboard players should reduce twitchy steering before changing every keybind. Controller players should test deadzone and sensitivity on a short job. Wheel players should use the dedicated ETS2 Wheel Settings page.

Important controls to confirm:

  1. Indicators.
  2. Lights and high beam.
  3. Wipers.
  4. Cruise control.
  5. Retarder and engine brake.
  6. Route Advisor pages.
  7. Camera reset.

Mirrors And Camera

Set mirrors before your first long job. Good mirrors reduce lane mistakes, roundabout stress, and trailer damage.

If performance drops badly with mirror distance or detail, lower mirror quality before lowering everything else. A stable frame rate makes steering and parking easier.

Graphics Settings

Prioritize smooth driving over screenshots:

  1. Keep resolution native if possible.
  2. Lower shadows before texture quality.
  3. Reduce mirror distance if frame drops happen in cities.
  4. Use moderate scaling if your GPU has headroom.
  5. Avoid changing many graphics options during a delivery.

Comfort Settings

ETS2 is a long-session game. Audio balance, radio, camera height, seat position, and force feedback all matter more after the first hour.

Once your controls feel stable, add a few comfort improvements:

  1. Adjust seat and mirrors per truck.
  2. Set music or radio volume below engine and navigation audio.
  3. Keep route advisor readable.
  4. Turn off distractions you do not use.

Good settings should disappear into the drive. If you keep noticing a setting, tune it.

Related reading

Controls guide screenshot showing traffic and navigation context in Euro Truck Simulator 2Beginner

Beginner's Guide to ETS2 Controls

Euro Truck Simulator 2 controls for beginners, including keyboard basics, steering sensitivity, route advisor keys, parking controls, and what to learn before buying a wheel.

Euro Truck Simulator 2 driving view for wheel settings guideSetup

ETS2 Wheel Settings

ETS2 wheel settings for Logitech, Thrustmaster, MOZA, and other force-feedback wheels, including steering range, force feedback, pedals, shifter, and testing advice.

Night haul screenshot for ETS2 radio and cabin setup guideSetup

How to Add Custom Radio Streams to ETS2 and ATS

How to add radio in ETS2 by editing live_streams.sii safely, backing up your station list, testing stream URLs, and fixing stations that do not appear or play.