CS2 Server Commands List (Cvars, Bots, Maps and Modes)

Q: How do I change the map on a CS2 server?

Run changelevel followed by the map name, for example changelevel denuke. For Workshop maps use hostworkshopmap with the map's Workshop ID.

Q: How do I restart a CS2 match?

Run mprestartgame 1. The number is the delay in seconds before the restart.

Q: How do I remove bots from my CS2 server?

Run botquota 0 and then botkick. Without botquota 0, the server adds bots back to fill the quota.

The core CS2 server commands are changelevel <map> to switch maps, game_type and game_mode to pick the mode, mp_restartgame 1 to restart a match, mp_warmup_end to skip warmup, bot_add_t, bot_add_ct and bot_kick for bots, and host_workshop_map <id> for Workshop maps. Match rules are mp_ cvars like mp_roundtime, mp_freezetime and mp_maxrounds. Run them in the server console, or put cvars in game/csgo/cfg/server.cfg so they apply on every map.

Where to run CS2 server commands

Server console. The dedicated server's own console, or the Console tab on a hosted panel. No rcon prefix needed.
RCON from an external tool. Same commands, sent over the network. See how to set up RCON on a CS2 server.
Config files. Anything you type in the console can go in a .cfg file in game/csgo/cfg/, then load it with exec filename.

Typing a cvar with no value prints its current value and a short description. That is the quickest way to check something.

Map and mode commands

Command	What it does
`changelevel de_mirage`	Changes map, keeps players connected
`map de_mirage`	Loads a map fresh (disconnects everyone on a running server)
`maps *`	Lists maps installed on the server
`game_type 0`	Sets the game type (default 0)
`game_mode 1`	Sets the mode within that type (default 1, competitive)
`host_workshop_map <id>`	Downloads and loads a Workshop map by its ID
`host_workshop_collection <id>`	Hosts a Workshop collection as the map group
`ds_workshop_listmaps`	Lists Workshop maps the server has
`ds_workshop_changelevel surf_beginner`	Changes to a downloaded Workshop map by name

Use changelevel on a live server. map reloads from scratch and drops everyone.

game_type and game_mode only take effect on the next map load, so set both and then change level:

game_type 0; game_mode 2; changelevel de_inferno

Mode	game_type	game_mode
Casual	0	0
Competitive	0	1
Wingman	0	2
Arms Race	1	0
Deathmatch	1	2
Custom	3	0

Workshop collections and map rotations are covered in how to play CS2 Workshop maps on a server.

Match control commands

Command	What it does
`mp_restartgame 1`	Restarts the match in 1 second
`mp_warmup_end`	Ends warmup now
`mp_warmup_start`	Starts warmup
`mp_warmup_pausetimer 1`	Keeps warmup going until you set it back to 0
`mp_pause_match`	Pauses at the next freeze time
`mp_unpause_match`	Resumes the match
`mp_swapteams`	Swaps teams and restarts
`mp_scrambleteams`	Scrambles teams and restarts
`mp_backup_restore_load_file <file>`	Restores scores and money from a round backup

mp_ match settings and their defaults

These defaults are the engine values. Each game mode's own config (for example gamemode_competitive.cfg) then overrides some of them, which is why competitive still plays 24 rounds even though mp_maxrounds defaults to 0.

Cvar	Default	What it does
`mp_roundtime`	5	Round length in minutes
`mp_roundtime_defuse`	0	Round length on bomb maps. 0 means use `mp_roundtime`
`mp_freezetime`	6	Seconds frozen at round start
`mp_maxrounds`	0	Rounds before the match ends. 0 means no limit
`mp_timelimit`	0	Minutes per map. 0 means no limit
`mp_warmuptime`	30	Warmup length in seconds
`mp_buytime`	90	Seconds after round start you can buy
`mp_buy_anywhere`	0	1 lets both teams buy anywhere
`mp_startmoney`	800	Money at the start of a half
`mp_maxmoney`	16000	Money cap
`mp_c4timer`	40	Seconds from plant to explosion
`mp_friendlyfire`	false	Team damage
`mp_autoteambalance`	true	Moves players to even teams
`mp_limitteams`	2	Max difference in team size. 0 turns the check off
`mp_halftime`	false	Swap sides at half
`mp_overtime_enable`	false	Overtime on a tie
`mp_match_end_restart`	false	Restart instead of changing map at match end
`mp_respawn_on_death_t`	false	Terrorists respawn
`mp_respawn_on_death_ct`	false	CTs respawn
`mp_free_armor`	0	1 gives kevlar, 2 gives kevlar and helmet
`mp_solid_teammates`	1	0 lets you walk through teammates
`mp_autokick`	true	Kicks idle players and team killers
`mp_spectators_max`	2	Spectator slots
`mp_humanteam`	any	Locks humans to `CT`, `T` or `any`
`mp_damage_headshot_only`	false	Only headshots do damage

For a scrim, the usual changes are:

mp_autoteambalance 0
mp_limitteams 0
mp_overtime_enable 1

Put lasting match overrides in gamemode_competitive_server.cfg in game/csgo/cfg/, which runs after the mode's defaults and survives game updates.

bot_ commands

Command	What it does
`bot_add_t` / `bot_add_ct`	Adds a bot to that team
`bot_kick`	Kicks all bots
`bot_kick t`	Kicks bots on one team
`bot_quota 10`	Total bots to keep in the game (default 10)
`bot_difficulty 2`	0 easy, 1 normal (default), 2 hard, 3 expert
`bot_join_after_player 1`	Bots wait for a human before joining (default on)
`bot_chatter off`	Silences bot radio: `off`, `radio`, `minimal` or `normal`
`bot_stop 1`	Freezes bots in place. Needs `sv_cheats 1`
`bot_kill`	Kills bots. Needs `sv_cheats 1`
`bot_place`	Places a bot where you aim. Needs `sv_cheats 1`
`bot_dont_shoot 1`	Bots do not fire. Needs `sv_cheats 1`

bot_quota 0 before bot_kick stops the server from adding them straight back. More in how to play CS2 with friends and bots.

sv_ server settings

Cvar	Default	What it does
`hostname`	empty	Server name in the browser
`sv_password`	empty	Join password
`sv_cheats`	false	Allows cheat commands (noclip, grenade trajectory and similar)
`sv_lan`	false	LAN only. Leave off for an online server
`sv_tags`	empty	Comma separated tags shown in the server browser
`sv_visiblemaxplayers`	-1	Overrides the max players shown in the browser
`sv_region`	-1	Region the server reports
`sv_alltalk`	false	Both teams hear each other's voice
`sv_deadtalk`	false	Dead players can talk to the living
`sv_full_alltalk`	false	Everyone, spectators included, can talk to everyone
`sv_hibernate_when_empty`	true	Near zero CPU when nobody is connected
`sv_infinite_ammo`	0	1 infinite ammo, 2 infinite reserve. Needs `sv_cheats 1`
`sv_maxrate`	0	Max bandwidth per player. 0 is unlimited
`sv_minrate`	98304	Min bandwidth per player
`sv_gravity`	800	World gravity
`sv_airaccelerate`	12	Air strafing acceleration. Surf servers raise it
`sv_falldamage_scale`	1	Fall damage multiplier
`tv_enable`	false	Turns on SourceTV for spectating and demos
`tv_delay`	120	SourceTV delay in seconds

Player and admin commands

Command	What it does
`status`	Lists players with user IDs and Steam IDs
`kick "Name"`	Kicks a player by name
`kickid 5 "reason"`	Kicks by the user ID from `status`
`say "Message"`	Message to everyone
`exec practice`	Runs `practice.cfg` from the cfg folder
`meta list`	Lists Metamod plugins, if installed

Bans are the gap. Valve's ban commands from older games (banid, addip, listid) are development only in CS2 and do not work on a release server, so bans come from a plugin. CS2-SimpleAdmin on CounterStrikeSharp is the common choice: css_ban <name> <minutes> <reason> (0 minutes is permanent), css_addban <steamid64> <minutes> <reason> for offline players, and css_kick, plus an admin menu.

Practice and cheat commands

These all need sv_cheats 1 first. Only use them on a private server.

sv_cheats 1
sv_infinite_ammo 1
sv_grenade_trajectory_prac_pipreview 1
mp_buy_anywhere 1
mp_roundtime_defuse 60
mp_restartgame 1

The full ready to paste file is in our CS2 practice server config.

The easy way: panel buttons

On a GamezServers CS2 server, the everyday commands are buttons: Change map, Workshop map, Restart match, End warmup, Pause match, Unpause match, Broadcast, Player list, Kick player, Kick all bots and Run a config. Game type, game mode, start map and join password are fields in Settings, and the full console is right there for everything on this page.

FAQ

How do I change the map on a CS2 server?

Run changelevel followed by the map name, for example changelevel de_nuke. For Workshop maps use host_workshop_map with the map's Workshop ID.

How do I restart a CS2 match?

Run mp_restartgame 1. The number is the delay in seconds before the restart.

How do I remove bots from my CS2 server?

Run bot_quota 0 and then bot_kick. Without bot_quota 0, the server adds bots back to fill the quota.

Why do my cvars reset after a map change?

The game mode's config runs on every map load and overwrites your values. Put your settings in server.cfg or gamemode_competitive_server.cfg so they are applied again each map.

How do I ban someone on a CS2 server?

Vanilla CS2 has no working ban command on release servers. Install CounterStrikeSharp and an admin plugin like CS2-SimpleAdmin, which adds css_ban.