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There are three ways to play multiplayer in Euro Truck Simulator 2 (ETS2) or American Truck Simulator (ATS): join a built-in SCS Convoy, connect to an SCS dedicated server, or use the separate TruckersMP platform. For a quick session with friends, open Convoys, find the host’s session, and select Join Convoy. Persistent servers require a search ID or server name; TruckersMP requires its own account, Steam-linking step, and multiplayer client.
Choose the multiplayer route first
Your joining procedure depends on who is running the session and whether you want it to remain online after the host disconnects.
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Native SCS Convoy | Convoys menu inside ETS2 or ATS | Ends when the player-host leaves | The same game, compatible versions, Steam visibility, and a profile that has progressed far enough to own a truck and company | Small groups that want the fastest setup |
| SCS dedicated server | In-game server browser, by name or search ID | Remains available when no players are connected | A running dedicated server and, for operators, valid configuration and package files | Groups that need a persistent world or scheduled access |
| TruckersMP | TruckersMP’s account and client, not the native Convoy browser | Depends on the TruckersMP server | A TruckersMP account, a linked Steam account that owns ETS2 or ATS, and the current TruckersMP client requirements | Players who want TruckersMP’s community servers and rules |
All three routes are separate. A friend hosting a native Convoy will not appear in the TruckersMP browser, and a TruckersMP server will not appear in the normal SCS Convoys list.
Join a normal SCS Convoy
A Convoy is the multiplayer mode built into both games. The host can create a private session, optionally protect it with a password, and drive with friends while the game synchronizes features such as AI traffic, time, weather and shared jobs.
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Before you start
- Install the same game as the host: ETS2 players cannot join an ATS Convoy, and ATS players cannot join an ETS2 Convoy.
- Let Steam finish any pending update on both computers. Multiplayer discovery is normally version-sensitive.
- Use a profile that has progressed far enough to own a truck and company; the Convoy option may not be available on a brand-new profile.
- Add the host as a Steam friend and set Steam status to online. Friends who appear offline may not show in the session list.
Joining from the in-game browser
- Start the correct game and wait for the main menu.
- Open Convoys.
- Wait for the session list to refresh. Do not assume an empty list means no one is hosting until the refresh has completed.
- Select the host’s session by its displayed name.
- Choose Join Convoy.
- Enter the password if the host enabled one, then confirm. The game loads the session and places you in the host’s Convoy.
What the host must tell you
Ask for the exact session name, including capitalization, punctuation and symbols. If the host used a password, obtain it through a private channel rather than posting it publicly. The host should also tell you whether the session is ETS2 or ATS and which optional content or mods are in use.
Historical player-limit note
SCS’s original 2021 Convoy FAQ described sessions of up to eight players. That figure is not presented here as the confirmed 2026 limit: no newer authoritative limit is established in the available material. Check the limit shown by your current game build when creating a session.
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If a friend’s Convoy does not appear
Work through these checks in order; each removes a common discovery failure without changing the host’s session.
- Confirm the game. Make sure both of you launched ETS2 or both launched ATS.
- Check Steam presence. Both accounts should be online and listed as Steam friends, not merely connected through another chat service.
- Check versions. Update both installations and restart the game after an update. A mismatch can prevent a session from being listed.
- Search exactly. Enter the complete session name, preserving punctuation, spaces and symbols. A partial or slightly different name can return no result.
- Refresh the browser. Close and reopen Convoys, then wait for the list to repopulate.
- Try the host’s Steam download region. SCS notes that sessions can be region-limited. If the host is far away and the session remains hidden, temporarily changing Steam’s download region to the host’s region can make it visible. Restore your usual region afterward if download performance changes.
- Ask the host to verify the session. The host should confirm that the Convoy is still running, that it is not full, and that the password has not changed.
Do not install a dedicated-server tool just because a normal Convoy is missing. A player-hosted Convoy and a dedicated server use different discovery paths.
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Join an SCS dedicated server
An SCS dedicated server runs independently of the original player’s game session. Once it is running, players can leave and return without ending the world, and the server can remain online when nobody is connected. SCS provides dedicated-server tools for both ETS2 and ATS, and the tool can run outside the Steam client, including on rented infrastructure.
Information to request from the operator
- The exact server name, if you will search by name.
- The server’s direct search ID. This is usually the most reliable option when several servers have similar names.
- The password, if the server is protected.
- Whether the server is for ETS2 or ATS.
- Any required map DLC or mod package information.
Join by name or search ID
- Launch the matching game.
- Open the multiplayer server browser or Convoys area used by your game build.
- Search for the server’s exact name, or enter the direct search ID supplied by the operator.
- Select the returned server and choose the join command.
- Enter the password when prompted.
SCS technical documentation says the search ID is shown when the server starts or in its Convoy information. Direct search can work even when the server is behind network address translation (NAT), so ask for the ID before attempting complicated network changes.
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What the operator has to configure
A player cannot repair a misconfigured dedicated server from the client side. The operator must provide a valid server_config.sii, a generated server_packages.sii, and server_packages.dat. Together these files describe the map, downloadable-content and mod package, ports, password and other session settings. If the server appears to start but cannot be found, the operator should regenerate or validate the package files and confirm that the configured ports are reachable.
When a dedicated server is the better choice
- You need the world to remain available after the usual host logs off.
- Players connect at different times rather than all starting together.
- You are organizing a regular group and want one stable server name and search ID.
- You are prepared to maintain configuration, package files, updates and networking.
Join a TruckersMP server
TruckersMP is a separate community multiplayer platform. It does not use the native SCS Convoy browser, so installing or opening the game alone will not place you in a TruckersMP server.
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Account and ownership requirements
- Create a TruckersMP account through the platform’s official onboarding page.
- Link the Steam account that owns ETS2 or ATS. The account must contain a legitimate copy of the game you intend to use.
- Install the TruckersMP multiplayer client and sign in with the account you registered.
- Read the launcher and server requirements displayed during setup. Client versions, supported game builds and required files can change, so use the checklist shown by TruckersMP at the time you install.
- Launch the TruckersMP client, select the supported game and server, and follow its connection prompts.
TruckersMP has its own community rules, server list and update process. A native Convoy password or SCS dedicated-server search ID has no effect on a TruckersMP connection.
Do you need the same map DLC?
No. SCS states that players do not need to own identical map DLC in order to join a Convoy. However, ownership still limits what each player can see and drive: you cannot enter or use map areas from DLC you do not own.
| Situation | Can you join? | What you can access |
|---|---|---|
| You and the host own the same map DLC | Yes, subject to normal session requirements | The shared route can include that DLC area |
| The host owns a map DLC you do not own | Joining is allowed for Convoy | You cannot see or drive in the DLC area you lack |
| You lack a DLC used by a planned job | The session may still be joinable | You may need to choose another route or job outside that DLC |
Ask the host which regions and jobs are planned before everyone connects. That prevents a player without the relevant DLC from being stranded at a route boundary or unable to accept the group’s job.
Native Convoy, dedicated server or TruckersMP?
| Decision point | Native Convoy | SCS dedicated server | TruckersMP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup effort | Lowest: create or select a session in the game | Highest: install the tool and maintain configuration and package files | Moderate: register, link Steam and install a separate client |
| Session lifetime | Host-dependent | Persistent while the server process runs | Controlled by the selected community server |
| Discovery | Convoys list and exact session name | Server name or direct search ID | TruckersMP client and server list |
| Rules and administration | Host controls the private session | Operator controls configuration and access | TruckersMP’s community rules and administration |
| Map-content access | Joining does not require identical map DLC; owned DLC controls where you can drive | Determined by the server’s package and each player’s ownership | Follow the selected server’s current content requirements |
Choose native Convoy when the group is small and everyone can start together. Choose a dedicated server when persistence matters more than quick setup. Choose TruckersMP when you specifically want its community infrastructure and are willing to use its account and client.
Systematic troubleshooting
The session is not listed
- Verify ETS2 versus ATS.
- Confirm Steam shows both players online and that you are friends.
- Update both game installations to compatible versions.
- Search the exact session name, including punctuation and symbols.
- Refresh Convoys and wait for the list to reload.
- If the friend is distant, try the host’s Steam download region.
The dedicated server is not found
- Ask the operator for the direct search ID rather than relying only on the server name.
- Confirm the server process is running and the ID is current.
- Check that the operator used the correct game and valid
server_config.sii,server_packages.siiandserver_packages.dat. - Have the operator verify map, DLC/mod package, password and port settings.
- If direct search still fails, the operator should investigate firewall, port-forwarding and NAT conditions.
You can join but cannot follow the planned route
- Check which map DLC the route uses.
- Remember that joining is possible without identical map DLC, but a player cannot drive in areas they do not own.
- Ask the host to select a route and job available to every participant.
TruckersMP will not connect
- Use the TruckersMP client rather than the native Convoy menu.
- Confirm the Steam account linked to TruckersMP owns ETS2 or ATS.
- Update the TruckersMP client and follow the launcher’s current supported-version checklist.
- Sign out and back in if the client cannot validate the linked account, then recheck the account association.
A reliable joining checklist
- Ask the host which route is being used: native Convoy, SCS dedicated server or TruckersMP.
- Launch the matching game and update it before joining.
- Confirm Steam presence and friendship for a native Convoy.
- Obtain the exact session name, server name or dedicated-server search ID.
- Get the password privately if one is enabled.
- Check the planned map area against your owned DLC.
- Use the route-specific browser: Convoys for native sessions, server search for a dedicated server, or the TruckersMP client for TruckersMP.
- If discovery fails, work through the matching troubleshooting branch instead of changing unrelated game settings.
What you do not need
Neither native Convoy nor TruckersMP requires special physical hardware. A standard PC copy of the relevant game, an internet connection and the required account or client are the essentials. Steering wheels, headsets and other accessories are optional conveniences, not joining requirements.
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