Set player_damage to false in the server’s server_config.sii, save the file while the server is stopped, and restart the server. On a managed host, the same value is usually exposed as a Player Damage or Damage between players switch in the control panel.
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What disabling player damage does
Euro Truck Simulator 2 (ETS2) and American Truck Simulator (ATS) dedicated servers read gameplay rules from a file named server_config.sii. The player_damage entry controls whether collisions between players can damage their vehicles or cargo. The commonly documented default is true, but check the value in the file your server actually loads because defaults and host templates can change.
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Before editing the server
- Stop the server first. Use the host panel’s Stop control or shut down the dedicated-server process cleanly. Editing while the process is running can be overwritten when it saves its configuration during shutdown.
- Identify the active installation. A machine can contain more than one ETS2 or ATS profile, test instance, or container. The correct file is the one in the server or game home directory used by the running instance.
- Make a backup. Copy
server_config.siito a dated file before changing it. A backup gives you a quick way to recover from a typo or an unwanted rules change. - Use a plain-text editor. Notepad on Windows, nano or another text editor on Linux, and the file editor supplied by a hosting panel are suitable. Do not use a word processor that inserts formatting.
Method 1: edit server_config.sii directly
This method applies to a self-hosted dedicated server and to hosts that provide file access. The exact directory depends on the operating system, installation method, and account running the server. The SCS Modding Wiki places the file in the server or game home folder. Host guides commonly show an ETS2 Linux location under .local/share/Euro Truck Simulator 2/; other installations use a different home or documents directory.
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- Stop the dedicated server. Confirm that the process has exited before opening the configuration.
- Open the server home directory. Browse to the folder used by the running server, then locate
server_config.sii. If several copies exist, use the copy in the instance’s active home directory, not an old backup or a client-only profile. - Search for the setting. Find the line beginning with
player_damage. A typical entry isplayer_damage: true. - Change only the Boolean value. Replace
truewithfalse, producing exactlyplayer_damage: false. Keep the key name, colon, and file format intact. - Save the file as plain text. Make sure the editor did not append an extra extension such as
.txtand that the file remains namedserver_config.sii. - Start the server again. Use the normal start command or the host panel’s Start control. The setting is normally read during startup, so a restart is required.
If the line is missing, do not invent a second spelling or place it in an unrelated file. Check the configuration generated by your server version or hosting panel and confirm which file is loaded. Some templates regenerate settings when the instance starts; in that case, use the panel’s setting or edit the template it actually uses.
Method 2: use a hosting control panel
Managed hosts often write the same configuration value for you. Stop the server before changing settings unless the panel explicitly says it can apply the change live.
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| Panel documentation example | Where to look | What to set |
|---|---|---|
| Shockbyte | Server settings or the configuration-file editor | Set Player Damage to disabled, then save and restart |
| G-Portal | Basic Settings | Set Damage between players to disabled; review the separate traffic option |
| Other hosts | Gameplay, Basic Settings, Files, or Configuration | Look for Player Damage, Damage between players, or edit server_config.sii directly |
Panel labels are not standardized. A switch may be presented as Enabled/Disabled, a checkbox, or a true/false value. After saving, reopen the setting or file and confirm that it is still disabled. If the panel shows the switch as disabled but the file says true, contact the host or check whether you edited a staging instance rather than the live server.
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ETS2 and ATS: which server is affected?
The dedicated-server configuration approach is used for both ETS2 and ATS. A host guide describes the server configuration file as shared in structure by the two games, while the actual directory is determined by the installation and account running each instance. Do not copy an ETS2 path blindly into an ATS installation; locate the active game home folder on that machine or use the path shown by your host.
If you operate separate ETS2 and ATS instances, change and verify server_config.sii for each instance. Updating one server does not imply that another instance, container, or profile has inherited the value.
Related collision and damage settings
Traffic
Player damage concerns player-to-player collisions. G-Portal’s guidance says traffic must also be disabled when player damage is disabled. Treat that as a configuration dependency for that hosting setup: open the traffic setting in the same panel, disable it if required, and restart. If your server’s documentation does not impose that dependency, verify the behavior in a private test convoy instead of assuming traffic rules changed.
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In-menu ghosting
BisectHosting recommends in-menu ghosting to reduce accidental contact while players are navigating menus. This is a separate safety measure, not a replacement for player_damage: false. Enable it only if your server configuration or panel provides the option and your community wants reduced collisions during menu use.
hide_colliding
Some third-party references list hide_colliding with a default of true and describe it as hiding colliding vehicles after teleports. The exact behavior and wording are not consistent across available references, so confirm the meaning in the configuration comments or your host’s documentation before changing it. Do not use this option as evidence that player damage has been disabled; it addresses vehicle visibility or collision handling, not the primary damage switch.
Docker convoy images
If the server runs in a Docker-based convoy image, an environment variable may control the generated setting. One documented image uses ETS_SERVER_PLAYER_DAMAGE and defaults it to true. Set the variable to the image’s documented false value, recreate or restart the container as required, and then inspect the generated server_config.sii. Editing the file inside a container can be temporary if the container regenerates configuration on recreation.
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How to verify the change
Do not rely only on the panel’s green “saved” message. Verify the running server after a complete restart.
- Start the server and wait until it accepts connections.
- Join with two players or two test accounts in a private convoy.
- Use a controlled, low-speed contact in a safe area. Check both vehicles and any cargo for damage after the collision.
- Confirm that the server remains online and that no damage event is reported to the players.
- After testing, restore a normal driving setup and re-enable traffic if you disabled it only for the test.
This test confirms the behavior of the active instance. It does not prove that every possible source of damage is disabled, so test traffic or other collision types separately if those rules matter to your community.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting when damage is still enabled
The value reverted to true
- Stop the server, change the value again, and start it once more. A running process may have written its old configuration over your edit.
- Check whether a control panel rewrites the file from its own settings. Make the change in the panel, save it, and then inspect the file it generated.
- If using Docker, change the environment variable or persistent configuration source rather than an ephemeral file inside the container.
You edited the wrong copy
Search the server’s home directory for all files named server_config.sii, then compare modification times and the path used in the launch command or host panel. Multiple game profiles, backup folders, and test servers commonly cause this mistake. Change only the file belonging to the live instance.
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The server fails to start after editing
- Restore the backup immediately to confirm that the edit caused the failure.
- Check for a misspelled key, a missing colon, smart quotation marks, or accidental rich-text formatting.
- Use the exact syntax
player_damage: falseand preserve the surrounding file structure. - Review the dedicated-server log for the first configuration error, then correct that line before trying another restart.
Players still report damage
Confirm that every player reconnected after the restart; an existing session may not reflect a newly loaded rule. Recheck the file after startup, test with a fresh convoy, and review traffic or other collision settings. If the file shows false but behavior remains unchanged, provide the host with the instance path, restart time, and relevant log message so it can identify a panel or version-specific override.
How to turn player damage back on
Stop the server, change the line to player_damage: true, save the file, and restart. In a hosting panel, enable Player Damage or Damage between players and apply the change. Test with a controlled convoy before announcing the rule change to your players. If a Docker image supplies the value through ETS_SERVER_PLAYER_DAMAGE, change that source and recreate or restart the container according to the image documentation.
Quick Recap
Operational checklist
- Server stopped before editing
- Backup made
- Correct live instance identified
player_damage: falsesaved in plain text- Traffic rule reviewed separately
- Server restarted completely
- Two-player collision test completed
- Panel, container, or startup template checked if the value changes back
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