How to Kick Bots in CS2: Commands That Actually Work
bot_kick, bot_quota, and the one situation where none of it works
Open the console and type bot_kick — every bot leaves instantly. Follow with bot_quota 0 so they never come back. Works in practice mode and lobbies you host; never on Valve official matchmaking.
Open the console and type bot_kick. Every bot leaves instantly. That's the whole trick — the rest of this guide covers the variations, the command that stops them rejoining, and the one situation where none of it works.
Step 1: Enable the developer console
If pressing ~ (the key under Esc) does nothing, the console isn't enabled yet. Go to Settings → Game → Enable Developer Console → Yes. This only ever needs doing once.
Step 2: The bot_kick command
bot_kick on its own removes every bot from the server. It also takes arguments when you want to be selective:
| Command | Effect |
|---|---|
bot_kick | Kick all bots |
bot_kick t | Kick only Terrorist-side bots |
bot_kick ct | Kick only Counter-Terrorist bots |
bot_kick <name> | Kick one bot by name (e.g. bot_kick Cliffe) |
bot_kick easy / hard | Kick bots of a given difficulty |
Kicked bots can wander back in when the game decides teams need filling. To make the removal stick, follow up with:
bot_quota 0
bot_quota sets how many bots the server wants alive. At 0, none respawn, none backfill, and the server stays human-only until you change it. Reverse it any time with bot_add (or bot_add_t / bot_add_ct for a specific side), and bot_quota 10 restores the default population. Full syntax and related convars live on our bot_kick command page.
Where these commands work — and where they don't
Console bot commands need server control. In practice that means:
- Practice mode / offline with bots — works, no setup needed.
- A lobby you're hosting on a workshop or official map — works; you're the host, so you have the authority.
- A community server — only with admin rights or after
rconlogin. - Valve official matchmaking (Premier, Competitive, Casual, Deathmatch) — doesn't work, ever. Server-side commands are locked on Valve's servers for everyone.
That last one is the answer to the most common frustration: you can't kick the bots out of a Casual or Deathmatch lobby, because Valve's servers use them to pad empty slots and you have no say in it. Competitive and Premier are a different story — Valve removed bot backfill from competitive modes back in 2021, so a leaver simply makes it a 4v5, with the short-handed team receiving extra round money instead of a bot.
Keeping bots around, but useless
Kicking isn't always what you actually want. For prefire practice, spray transfers, or peek drills, a bot that stands still is more useful than an empty server. With sv_cheats 1 enabled (again: your own server only), these three do the job:
bot_stop 1— bots freeze in placebot_dont_shoot 1— they aim but never fire (say hi to crosshair placement practice)bot_crouch 1— force them to crouch for headshot-height drills
Combine with bot_add_ct, mp_freezetime 0, and infinite ammo and you've built a crude aim map on any competitive map. If you'd rather not assemble that by hand every session, our practice config generator outputs a ready-made config — grenade trajectories, infinite money, bot behaviour, round settings — you can paste or exec in one go. And when a command doesn't behave the way a five-year-old CS:GO forum post promised, check it against the full CS2 command list; a fair few bot convars changed or vanished in the Source 2 move.
One quirk worth knowing: bots you kick mid-round on a local server drop their weapons. If you just want the AWP a bot is hoarding, bot_kick <name> is quicker than killing it.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the command to kick bots in CS2?
- bot_kick in the developer console removes all bots. Add an argument to narrow it: bot_kick t, bot_kick ct, or bot_kick followed by a bot name.
- Why do bots keep coming back after I kick them?
- The server's bot quota refills empty slots. Set bot_quota 0 after kicking and they stay gone.
- Can I kick bots in Casual or Deathmatch matchmaking?
- No. Valve's servers control bot population and console server commands are locked there. Bot commands only work in practice mode, lobbies you host, or servers where you have admin/rcon.
- Do bots replace leavers in CS2 Competitive or Premier?
- No — bot backfill was removed from competitive modes in 2021. The short-handed team plays on with extra round money as compensation.
- How do I add bots back?
- bot_add inserts one bot (use bot_add_t or bot_add_ct for a specific team), and bot_quota sets how many the server keeps in play.