PC Connection Troubleshooting
TruckSim GPS
Can't get the mobile app to connect to your PC? This guide covers the most common causes and walks you through fixing them.
The TruckSim GPS app talks to a small program running on your PC called the PC Telemetry Server. Your PC can be connected to your network with Wi-Fi or an Ethernet cable. Your mobile device needs to be connected over Wi-Fi.
More than half of connection problems turn out to be a firewall blocking local traffic. If you already have everything set up and it's just not connecting, try pausing your Windows Firewall as a quick test.
Where should I start?
Install the PC Telemetry Server
Before anything else, make sure the TruckSim GPS PC Telemetry Server is installed and running on your PC. This is the program that shares your game data with the mobile app.
Download it from trucksimgps.com/server. Run the installer, follow the wizard, and you're done. After installation, the program starts automatically with Windows.
Once installed, the program runs in the background. Look for its icon in the Windows system tray (the small icons next to the clock, bottom-right of your screen). Double-click the icon to open it.
The first time it runs, the program detects your ETS2 and ATS game installations and copies the required plugins. You should see green checkmarks next to each detected game.
Check your Server IP
Open the PC Telemetry Server program. You'll see your Server IP on the screen. It looks something like 192.168.1.3.
This is the address you type into the TruckSim GPS mobile app to connect. Enter it exactly as shown.
Your PC's IP address may have changed. This is normal on home networks because routers periodically reassign addresses. Open the PC Telemetry Server and check if the IP is different from before. If it changed, just update it in the mobile app.
How to keep your IP from changing
Most routers have a feature called DHCP Reservation (sometimes listed as Address Reservation or Static Lease). This tells your router to always assign the same IP address to your PC based on its hardware identifier.
To set this up, log into your router's admin page (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in your browser) and look for DHCP or LAN settings. Check your router's manual for the exact steps, since every router is different.
This is the safest way to lock in a fixed IP, because the router keeps handling all other network settings for you automatically.
Make sure you're on the same network
Your mobile device and your PC need to be on the same local network.
- Your phone or tablet needs to be connected to your home Wi-Fi
- Your PC can be on Wi-Fi or Ethernet, both work
- Both devices need to go through the same router
If both your PC and phone are on Wi-Fi, check that the Wi-Fi network name matches on both devices. If your PC is on Ethernet, just make sure it's plugged into your home router and that your phone is connected to that same router's Wi-Fi.
Mobile data: If your phone is using cellular data instead of Wi-Fi, it can't reach your PC. Make sure Wi-Fi is turned on and connected.
Guest network: "Guest" Wi-Fi networks are intentionally isolated from other devices on your network. If your phone is on a guest network, switch to your main Wi-Fi.
Multiple Wi-Fi names: Some routers broadcast different names for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. This usually isn't a problem, but if you're stuck, try connecting your phone to the same Wi-Fi name your other devices use.
Check mobile app permissions
On iPhone and iPad, apps need your permission to access devices on your local network. The first time TruckSim GPS tries to connect to your PC, iOS shows a prompt asking to allow local network access.
If you tapped "Don't Allow" on that prompt, the app won't be able to reach your PC. The connection will fail silently with no clear error message.
To check or fix this:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad
- Go to Apps and find TruckSim GPS (or go to Privacy & Security > Local Network)
- Make sure Local Network is turned on
If you don't see TruckSim GPS in the list, the app hasn't requested permission yet. Open TruckSim GPS and try entering your Server IP — the permission prompt should appear.
Android users: Current versions of Android do not require this permission, so you can skip this step. A similar local network permission is expected in a future Android update.
Test the connection
This is the most useful diagnostic step. The PC Telemetry Server has a built-in connection test.
- On your PC, open the Telemetry Server program
- Find the Browser Test URL at the bottom (it looks like
http://192.168.1.3:31377/) - First, click that link on your PC. It should open in your browser and show a "Connection Successful!" page. If this doesn't work even on your own PC, try restarting the Telemetry Server program or restarting your PC. If it still doesn't work, reach out to us on Discord
- Next, on your mobile device, open any web browser (Safari, Chrome, etc.)
- Type that same URL into the address bar and press Go
Make sure you type the full URL, including http:// and the port number :31377 at the end. Without the http:// part, your mobile browser might search for the text instead of opening the address.
Try different network interfaces
Your PC might have several network connections (Wi-Fi, Ethernet, VPN adapters, etc.). The PC Telemetry Server has a Network Interfaces dropdown where you pick which one to use.
- Open the PC Telemetry Server program
- Click the Network Interfaces dropdown
- You'll see a list of all your network adapters
- Try each option. Every option shows a different Server IP.
- Test each IP in the mobile app to see if one works
You can skip the "Loopback" option. That's the PC talking to itself and won't work for connecting to other devices.
The right choice is usually your Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter. If your PC is plugged in with an Ethernet cable but the dropdown shows Wi-Fi selected, switching to Ethernet could fix it.
Check Windows Firewall
This is the most common reason connections fail. Windows Firewall sometimes blocks the local connection between your PC and mobile device. The PC Telemetry Server adds a firewall rule during installation, but there are cases where this doesn't stick.
Quick test: temporarily pause the Firewall
- On your PC, open the Start menu and search for Windows Security
- Click Firewall & network protection
- Click your active network (it says "active" next to it)
- Turn off Microsoft Defender Firewall
- Try connecting from the mobile app
How to add a firewall exception (recommended)
Once you've completed troubleshooting and confirmed the firewall was the cause, turn it back on and add an exception so TruckSim GPS can get through while everything else stays protected:
Option A: Allow the program
- Open Windows Security > Firewall & network protection
- Click Allow an app through firewall
- Click Change settings (needs admin rights)
- Click Allow another app..., then Browse
- Find the TruckSim GPS Telemetry Server program and select it
- Check both Private and Public boxes
- Click OK
Option B: Allow the port
- Search for Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security
- Click Inbound Rules on the left
- Click New Rule... on the right
- Select Port, click Next
- Select TCP, type 31377
- Select Allow the connection, click Next
- Check Private and Domain, click Next
- Name it "TruckSim GPS", click Finish
Check your Windows network profile
Windows labels each network as either Public or Private. In Public mode, incoming connections are blocked more aggressively, which can prevent the Telemetry Server from being reachable.
To check:
- Open Settings (Win + I) > Network & Internet
- Click Properties for your active connection
- Under Network profile type, pick Private
Setting it to Private tells Windows this is your home network, where it's fine for local devices to talk to each other.
Check third-party security software
If you have antivirus or security software installed, it may run its own firewall on top of Windows Firewall. This means both need to allow the connection, and sometimes the third-party one is the one causing trouble.
Security programs known to block local traffic:
The approach is the same as with Windows Firewall:
- Temporarily pause the firewall feature in your security software
- Test the connection from the mobile app
- If it works, turn the firewall back on and add an exception for the TruckSim GPS Telemetry Server or for port 31377
The exact steps depend on which software you use. Look for options like "Allow an application", "Trusted program", or "Firewall exceptions" in your security software's settings.
Note about Kaspersky
Kaspersky has been known to keep some network filters running even when its firewall appears to be disabled. If you use Kaspersky and turning off its firewall doesn't help, you may need to fully uninstall Kaspersky to confirm it's not the cause. You can reinstall it afterwards with the right exceptions set up.
Check for VPN interference
If you have a VPN running on your PC or phone, it can prevent local connections. VPNs route your traffic through a remote server, so your devices can't see each other on the local network anymore.
- Turn off the VPN on both your PC and your mobile device
- Test the connection again
- If that fixes it, you can either keep the VPN off while using TruckSim GPS, or look for a "split tunneling" or "local LAN access" option in your VPN settings
What is split tunneling?
Split tunneling lets your VPN handle internet traffic while still allowing direct connections on your local network. Most VPN apps have this:
- ExpressVPN: Settings > General > "Allow access to local network devices"
- NordVPN: Settings > Advanced > "LAN Discovery"
- ProtonVPN: Settings > Advanced > "Split Tunneling"
- Other VPNs: Look for "Split Tunneling", "Local LAN Access", or "Allow local network"
Even with the VPN turned off, leftover virtual network adapters (TAP or TUN adapters) from VPN software can sometimes cause issues. If you think this might be happening, try picking a different network interface in the Telemetry Server (Step 6).
Check router settings
If you've tried everything above and still can't connect, the problem might be at the router level. Some routers have settings that prevent devices on the network from talking to each other.
Changing router settings can affect your entire home network. If you're not comfortable with this, contact your internet provider and explain that you need local devices on your network to communicate with each other. They can often help remotely.
AP Isolation / Client Isolation
Some routers have a feature called AP Isolation (also known as Client Isolation, Wireless Isolation, or Station Isolation). When this is turned on, wireless devices can't communicate with each other, which prevents TruckSim GPS from working.
If you have access to your router's settings, look for this option in the Wireless or Advanced section and make sure it's turned off. The setting name and location varies by router brand, so check your router's documentation if you're not sure where to find it.
Common names by router brand
- ASUS: Wireless > Professional > "AP Isolated"
- TP-Link: Wireless > Advanced Wireless Settings > "AP Isolation"
- Netgear: Wireless Settings > "Wireless Isolation"
- Linksys: Wireless > Advanced Wireless Settings > "AP Isolation"
For other brands, look for anything with "isolation" in the name, or check your router's manual.
ISP-provided routers
If your router was provided by your internet provider, some settings may be locked or hidden. In that case:
- Call your ISP and ask if they can turn off AP isolation or client isolation. Explain that you need devices on your home network to communicate with each other.
- Ask if a different router model is available with more flexible settings.
- As a last resort, you can connect your own Wi-Fi router to the ISP router. If you put both your PC and phone on the personal router's network, they should be able to communicate without restrictions.
Why does TruckSim GPS need a local connection?
The app reads data directly from the game running on your PC. A direct local connection keeps the GPS responsive and in sync with your driving.
We know this setup can be tricky to get working in some network configurations, and we're looking into ways to make it easier down the road.
Still need help?
If you've gone through all the steps and still can't connect, reach out to us. We're happy to help troubleshoot your specific setup.