CS2 Launch Options: What Works and What Doesn't

CS2 launch options are the commands you type into Steam under Properties > General > Launch Options. Only a handful still do something useful in CS2: fullscreen, resolution, refresh rate, console, language and config options. CS:GO leftovers like -tickrate 128 or -novid no longer do anything.

This guide is based on the CS2 client from October 22, 2026 (version 1.41.9.2). We checked whether console variables still exist against the SteamTracking GameTracking-CS2 dump, which archives the game's variable list with every update.

How to set CS2 launch options

1. Open Steam and go to your Library.
2. Right-click Counter-Strike 2 and choose Properties.
3. Type your commands into the Launch Options box on the General tab.
4. Close the window and restart the game.

Separate commands with spaces and do not use quotes. Options starting with "-" are launch parameters; options starting with "+" are console commands run at startup. So +fps_max 0 is the same as typing fps_max 0 into the console after launch.

A warning first: less is more

As TotalCSGO reports, a Valve employee once wrote on Reddit that "Best launch options are no launch options. They are the most used and most tested." Launch options will not multiply your FPS. Lowering graphics settings, updating drivers and closing background apps make a much bigger difference. Use launch options to fix a specific problem or make a preference stick.

CS2 launch options that still work

The options below are listed for CS2 in current guides, and every "+" variable was confirmed to exist in CS2's October 2026 variable list.

Option	What it does	Note
-fullscreen	Starts the game in fullscreen	Useful if you were playing windowed
-w 1920 -h 1080	Sets the startup resolution	A lifesaver if the game opens at the wrong resolution
-x 0 -y 0	Sets the window position on screen	For windowed-mode players
-refresh 144	Sets the refresh rate (144, 240 and so on)	Match your monitor; Windows must use the same rate
-console	Opens the developer console at launch	Handy for anyone who uses the console
-language english	Changes the interface language	e.g. -language turkish
-vulkan	Runs on Vulkan instead of DirectX 11	Can raise FPS on some PCs and lower it on others; test it alone
+exec autoexec.cfg	Runs a config file at launch	The file goes in the game\csgo\cfg folder
+fps_max 0	Removes the FPS cap	0 = unlimited; a cap can also give steadier frame times
+cl_showfps 1	Shows an FPS counter at the top of the screen	2 = smoothed FPS, 3 = server ms
+violence_hblood 0	Turns off blood effects	Still a valid variable in CS2

Use these with care

• -high: Gives the CS2 process high priority in Windows. It can help if you stutter with a video running in the background, but TotalCSGO notes it causes issues on a small share of PCs. Remove it if you see problems.
• -threads: Manually sets the number of CPU threads. CS2 already manages this itself, and forcing it can cause instability. Skip it.
• -allow_third_party_software: Lets some streaming and capture tools hook into the game. It can lower your Trust Factor, so only add it if you really need it.
• -insecure: Disables VAC. You cannot join VAC-secured official servers with it; it is only meant for special cases on third-party platforms.
• -autoconfig: Resets settings to default. If you leave it in, your settings reset on every launch, so use it once and delete it.

Old CS:GO launch options that do nothing in CS2

Most "best launch options" lists online date back to CS:GO. The ones below bring no benefit in CS2. "Not in CS2's current variable list" means the command does not exist in the October 22, 2026 client; some recent guides still recommend them, but the game does not recognize them.

Option	What it did in CS:GO	Status in CS2
-tickrate 128	Set the local server tick rate in CS:GO	CS2 uses sub-tick; no effect
-novid	Skipped the CS:GO intro video	CS2 has no such video; no effect
-d3d9ex / -nod3d9ex	DirectX 9 tweaks	CS2 does not use DirectX 9 (DX11 / Vulkan)
-limitvsconst	Limited vertex shader constants	Does not work in CS2
+cl_forcepreload 1	Preloaded map files	Not in CS2's current variable list
+mat_queue_mode 2	Chose the multi-core rendering mode	Not in CS2's current variable list
+mat_disable_fancy_blending 1	Disabled texture blending	Not in CS2's current variable list
+r_dynamic 0	Disabled dynamic lighting	Not in CS2's current variable list
+cl_cmdrate 128 / +cl_updaterate 128	Set packets per second	Not in CS2's current variable list
+cl_interp 0.031	Set interpolation time	In CS2, cl_interp only reads the current value
+r_drawparticles 0	Hides particle effects	Cheat-protected in CS2; does nothing in official matches

A word on -tickrate: CS2 moved to a sub-tick system. There is no adjustable tick rate like in CS:GO, so passing one to the client no longer means anything.

Options with disputed effects

• -nojoy: Disables controller support. TotalCSGO says its performance impact is debated but it does no harm. In CS2 you can also turn controller input off with the cl_joystick_enabled variable.
• -softparticlesdefaultoff, -forcenovsync, -nohltv: Some current guides list these for CS2, but no official source documents what they do now. Turning off V-Sync in the in-game video settings is the more reliable route.

A simple recommended setup

For most players this is enough to start with:

-fullscreen -console +exec autoexec.cfg

If you have a 144 Hz or faster monitor and the game does not open at the right refresh rate, add -refresh 144 (or your monitor's value). Add +cl_showfps 1 if you want an FPS counter on screen at all times. Add new options one at a time so you know which one is to blame if something breaks.

If you are tuning your aim setup too, color logic carries across shooters. The hex codes in our Valorant crosshair color codes guide work for a CS2 crosshair as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does -tickrate 128 work in CS2?

No. CS2 uses a sub-tick system, so the -tickrate option has no effect. It was used for local servers in CS:GO.

Does -novid still work in CS2?

No. -novid skipped the Valve intro video in CS:GO. CS2 has no such video, so the option does nothing.

Do launch options increase FPS?

Usually very little or not at all. Graphics settings, driver updates and background apps matter far more. -vulkan can help on some systems but lowers FPS on others, so test it on its own.

Can launch options get me VAC banned?

Normal launch options are not a ban risk. However, -insecure disables VAC and keeps you out of official servers, and -allow_third_party_software can lower your Trust Factor.

Where do I put autoexec.cfg in CS2?

In CS2, config files go in the game\csgo\cfg folder inside the game directory. Use that folder rather than the old CS:GO path (csgo\cfg) found in older guides.