How to Host CS2 Server

Before starting, make sure you have a computer with at least 8GB RAM, 20GB free SSD storage and a stable internet connection with good upload speed, then follow these easy steps:

1. Install SteamCMD: Download SteamCMD from the official Steam website. Extract files to a folder (like C:\SteamCMD). Run the application and log in with your Steam account. Set installation directory with: force_install_dir C:\cs2-server. Install server files with: app_update 730 validate.
2. Configure your server: Find or create server.cfg in C:\cs2-server\csgo\cfg. Add custom settings (server name, game modes, etc.). Generate a Game Server Login Token (GSLT) from your Steam account. Add token to server.cfg: sv_setsteamaccount "YOUR_TOKEN".
3. Set up port forwarding: Log into your router (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1). Find the port forwarding section. Forward UDP port 27015 to your server's local IP address.
4. Start the server. Run cs2.exe with parameters: cs2.exe -dedicated +ip 0.0.0.0 -port 27015 +map de_dust2 -maxplayers 16. Join by opening CS2 console and typing: connect your_server_ip.

When playing on your server, you might want to share your crosshair settings with friends. Learn how to copy crosshair in CS2 to make this easy for everyone to use the same precision settings during practice or matches.

If you're looking for different types of CS2 servers, check out our CS2 servers list.