To enable the developer console in Euro Truck Simulator 2 (ETS2) or American Truck Simulator (ATS), completely exit the game, edit its config.cfg file, and set both console variables to 1:
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uset g_console "1"
uset g_developer "1"Save the file, relaunch the game, and press the ~ (tilde/backtick) key, normally the key immediately left of 1. The same two variables and default console key apply to both games. Steam also supports the documented launch options -developer -console as an alternative.
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ETS2 and ATS keep global settings in a user-folder file named config.cfg. The SCS Modding Wiki identifies g_console and g_developer as the two settings required to turn on the console. Both must be enabled; changing only one is not enough.
| Setting | Required value | Purpose in this procedure |
|---|---|---|
g_console |
1 |
Enables the in-game console interface. |
g_developer |
1 |
Enables the developer setting required by the console. |
The values are normally 0 before the console is enabled. Edit the existing lines rather than changing unrelated settings.
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Before editing: close the game completely
Exit ETS2 or ATS and wait until the game has fully closed. Do not edit config.cfg while the game is still running. The game-specific instructions warn that an open game can write its current settings back to the file when it exits, replacing the change you just made.
- Close the game from its normal quit command.
- Wait for the game window and process to disappear.
- If a launcher or game client still shows the game as running, wait until that status clears before opening the file.
- Make a backup copy of
config.cfgif you want an easy way to undo an experimental change.
You do not need a special utility or paid product. A plain-text editor is sufficient. Avoid a word processor that may add formatting or alter quotation marks.
Find the correct config.cfg file
Windows: ETS2
The usual ETS2 user-folder path is:
DocumentsEuro Truck Simulator 2config.cfgOpen the Documents folder associated with the Windows account that runs the game, then open the Euro Truck Simulator 2 folder. The file to edit is config.cfg.
Windows: ATS
The usual ATS path is:
DocumentsAmerican Truck Simulatorconfig.cfgETS2 and ATS use different folder names. Editing the ETS2 file will not enable the console in ATS, and editing the ATS file will not enable it in ETS2.
macOS and Linux
The user-folder location is platform-specific. The current game-specific instructions list macOS and Linux locations, but the important identification rule is the same: find the user folder belonging to the game you are configuring and open its config.cfg.
If you do not immediately see the file, use your file manager’s search for config.cfg, then check the surrounding folder for the game’s name or other ETS2/ATS user files. If more than one result appears, verify that it belongs to the installation and user profile you actually launch. Editing a similarly named file in an installation directory or backup folder will not change the active profile.
Edit both console variables
- Open the appropriate
config.cfgin a plain-text editor. - Use the editor’s find command to search for
uset g_console. - Change its value to
1, preserving the variable name, quotation marks, and general line format. - Search for
uset g_developer. - Change its value to
1in the same way. - Save the file and close the editor.
The resulting lines should read exactly as follows:
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uset g_console "1"
uset g_developer "1"Do not remove the uset prefix, rename either variable, or place the values on a single line. Do not change unrelated entries while you are in the file. If the editor shows the values as 0, replace only the value between the quotation marks.
If you cannot find one of the lines
First confirm that you opened the active game’s user-folder file, not a similarly named copy. Confirm that the game was fully closed before you searched. Search for the variable name without the uset prefix as a second check. If the expected entries still are not present, do not create multiple duplicate lines at random; return to the game-specific user folder and verify that the file is the one generated by the game you launch.
Save, relaunch, and open the console
- Save
config.cfgafter both values show1. - Start ETS2 or ATS normally.
- When the game is running, press the
~key, also called the tilde or backtick key.
SCS documentation lists ~ as the default console key. On many keyboards it is immediately to the left of the number 1, but the physical position and printed symbol can differ by keyboard layout. The key may be labeled with a backtick (`) and produce a tilde when shifted.
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Steam launch options: the documented alternative
The current ETS2 and ATS guides also document a Steam launch-option method. In Steam, open the game’s Properties, find the field labeled Launch Options, and enter:
-developer -consoleClose the Properties window and start the game. This method supplies the two flags at launch instead of changing the user-folder file manually. It is useful when you want a per-launch setup or when you want to test whether the console itself is working without editing config.cfg.
Use the flags exactly as written, with a single space between them and a hyphen before each name. If you later want to stop using the launch-option method, remove the text from the Launch Options field. The configuration-file method and the Steam method are alternatives; you do not need to purchase or install anything for either one.
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ETS2 and ATS: what is the same and what differs
| Comparison point | ETS2 | ATS |
|---|---|---|
| User-folder name on Windows | Euro Truck Simulator 2 |
American Truck Simulator |
| Configuration file | config.cfg |
config.cfg |
| Variables | g_console and g_developer |
g_console and g_developer |
| Required values | Set both to 1 |
Set both to 1 |
| Default console key | ~ (tilde/backtick) |
~ (tilde/backtick) |
| Steam alternative | -developer -console |
-developer -console |
The practical difference is the game-specific user-folder name and the operating system path. The enabling procedure itself is the same in both simulators.
Console display and scrolling controls
Once the console is open, SCS documentation lists these keyboard controls for reading its output:
| Control | Action |
|---|---|
Ctrl + Shift |
Change the message display mode. |
PageUp |
Scroll upward through console messages. |
PageDown |
Scroll downward through console messages. |
Shift + PageUp |
Scroll upward quickly. |
Shift + PageDown |
Scroll downward quickly. |
Ctrl + PageUp |
Scroll upward slowly. |
Ctrl + PageDown |
Scroll downward slowly. |
These controls affect console message viewing; they do not replace the key used to open the console.
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Troubleshooting when the console does not open
The change disappears after restarting
The most common cause is editing while the game was still open. Exit completely, set both values to 1 again, save, and then launch. If the file keeps reverting, check that you have permission to save in the user folder and that you are editing the active profile rather than a copy.
The wrong game responds to the change
Each simulator has its own user-folder name. For ETS2, use the folder named Euro Truck Simulator 2; for ATS, use American Truck Simulator. A successful edit in one folder has no effect on the other title.
The key does nothing
Check that both variables are set to 1, that the file was saved, and that you relaunched after saving. Then try the physical key associated with tilde/backtick on your layout. The default is documented as ~, but keyboards can place or label that key differently. If your keyboard requires a modifier to produce the printed symbol, use the key position that generates tilde/backtick in your layout.
You are using a non-US keyboard layout
Do not rely only on the symbol printed in a US keyboard diagram. Look for the key that produces a tilde or backtick in the active layout, commonly near the upper-left number row. If the layout has a different arrangement, test the corresponding tilde/backtick input while the game is focused.
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The Steam method has no effect
Reopen the game’s Steam Properties and verify that Launch Options contains exactly -developer -console. Remove accidental quotation marks or line breaks, then start the correct title. If you prefer not to troubleshoot launch flags, use the direct config.cfg method instead.
The editor changed the file format
Open the file again in a plain-text editor and inspect the two lines. They should retain the uset prefix and quoted value format. A word processor or rich-text editor can insert formatting that the game does not expect. Restore the original file from your backup if necessary, then repeat the edit with a plain-text editor.
You opened a file while the game was running
Close the game before making another change. The game can rewrite global settings during shutdown, so a correctly edited file can be replaced by the running session’s older values.
How to verify the setup without guessing
- Confirm the title you intend to configure: ETS2 or ATS.
- Confirm that the user-folder name matches that title.
- Confirm that the file is named
config.cfg. - Confirm that
uset g_console "1"is present. - Confirm that
uset g_developer "1"is present. - Save with the game fully closed.
- Launch the same title whose user folder you edited.
- Press the tilde/backtick key associated with your keyboard layout.
If all eight checks pass and the console still does not appear, test the Steam launch options as an independent path. A result from the Steam method helps distinguish a keyboard or file-selection problem from a launch configuration problem.
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Turning the console back off
To disable the file-based setup, close the game and change both values back to 0:
uset g_console "0"
uset g_developer "0"Save the file and relaunch. If you enabled the Steam method, remove -developer -console from Launch Options as well. Keep the two methods consistent so a launch flag does not re-enable behavior you intended to disable.
Important boundaries of this procedure
- The console is a configuration and developer feature; enabling it does not require a separate download.
- The default key is a keyboard input, not a universal physical key position. Layout differences matter.
- ETS2 and ATS must be configured separately because their user folders are separate.
- Only the two documented variables are needed for this setup. Avoid changing unrelated global settings unless you know why.
- The procedure does not depend on buying a particular keyboard, utility, or other accessory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to edit both g_console and g_developer?
Yes. Set both existing lines to 1; enabling only one variable does not complete the documented setup.
What is the default key for the ETS2 or ATS console?
SCS documentation lists the tilde key (~), often shared with the backtick key near the left of the number row. Keyboard layouts can place or label it differently.
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Can I use Steam launch options instead of editing config.cfg?
Yes. In the game’s Steam Properties, enter -developer -console in Launch Options, then start the game.
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