If you are here, it’s because you have reached a new stage in your journey as a CS:GO player: you have become aware of all the cool commands you can use to customize your gaming experience. However, to be able to use them, first you need to learn how to open console on CS:GO, so you can input any command whenever you wish to.
On this page, you’re going to learn how to open CS:GO console and how to input commands, as well as other useful tips and tricks to elevate your gaming experience.
How to Enable Console CS:GO
Before you can open the CS:GO console, you need to enable it first, so you can launch it at will by clicking “~”. Here is how you can do it step by step.
1. Launch CS:GO
Before you can enable the CS:GO console, first you need to launch the game. So just double-click on it and launch it. Once it’s ready, proceed with the next steps, so you can enable the console in record time, to input all the commands you need.
2. Navigate to Settings
Now that you have launched the game, all you need to do is to navigate to “Settings”, which you can access by clicking the gear symbol on the upper left corner, right next to the “On/Off” symbol. Click on it and you’ll automatically get granted access to the settings menu.
3. Click on “Game”
Now that you’re on the settings menu, quickly locate the “GAME” tab and click on it. This will grant you access to the section where you will be able to enable the CS:GO developer console.
4. Navigate to the Developer Console Option
After clicking on the “GAME” tab, you will be able to visualize a list of different options and settings. Quickly locate the item named “Enable Developer Console”, so you can enable it once for all.
5. Enable the Developer Console
All you need to do now is to set the “Enable Developer Console” option to “Yes”, and that’s it. Now you will be able to open the CS:GO console whenever you wish to, as we are going to show you in the next section.
How to Open the CS:GO Console Any Time You Wish To
Now that the console is enabled, here’s how you can launch it any time you wish to, so you can input any command you want to customize your gaming experience:
- Press “~” to open the CS:GO console
- Input any command you want + an argument (if any)
- Click “Enter”
- The command will execute your command accordingly
Therefore, now that the console is enabled, all you need to do is to click “~” to open it. No rocket science here, easy and quick.
If you’re having trouble finding the “~” key, just click the key next to the “1” in the first row of number keys on your keyboard, right below the “ESC” key.
If you have followed our previous tutorial properly, you should be able to launch the developer console whenever you wish to, just by clicking “~”.
By now you have pretty much all you need to use the CS:GO console. However, if you want to go one step beyond, we invite you to keep reading. Because we are going to share with you useful tips and tricks.
How to Input Commands via the CS:GO Developer Console
Now that the console is up and running, you can use it to input any command you want, and here you have a tutorial and guide on how to do it.
How to Input Commands
All you need to do is to press “~” to launch the console, and in the corresponding field, you can input a command. As simple as that. It can be a cvar variable, or you can use an argument if the command allows it to customize its function.
If you’re new to the world of CS:GO commands, and you don’t know which one to use, we invite you to explore our section dedicated to commands on CSDB.gg: https://csdb.gg/commands/
You’ll be able to learn more about all the existing commands in CS:GO, so you can find the ones you need to customize your gaming experience. We have also included tutorials on how to use each command from our database, so you can start implementing them right off the bat.
If you’d like to get a proper overview on the types of commands you can use in CS:GO via the developer console, the next section will bring you the information you need right now.
Types of Commands You Can Use
Depending on what you want to accomplish, you can use different commands, and here you have an overview on the most popular categories.
Server Commands
If you want to fine tune the settings of your server or private match in CS:GO, you can use the server commands, which usually use the “sv” or “mp” prefix. They allow you to customize settings that will affect all players in the match. Here you have a list of examples:
- Killserver: Used to shut down the server you’re playing in immediately, it works like a cvar variable, so there’s no need to use arguments
- sv_damage_print_enable: Allows you to show all the damage details at the end of the round
- sv_wateraccelerate: This command allows you to customize the acceleration rate and maximum speed players can reach when moving in the water
- sv_allow_votes: You can use this command to activate or deactivate timeout votes in the match
And just like these, you can find plenty of other server commands on our database, so you can customize all the settings you wish in your private server or CS:GO match.
Mouse Commands
The name says it all, these are commands you can use to customize the settings of your mouse in CS:GO, and this is one of the most popular categories, especially when it comes to editing and customizing the CS:GO config files. Here you have a few examples:
- sensitivity: Its name says it all, this command allows you to adjust the sensitivity of your mouse in CS:GO, and you can use different values as the argument, allowing you to adjust it perfectly to meet your needs and goals
- m_customaccel_scale: You can use this command to scale up or down the acceleration rate of your mouse in CS:GO
- m_rawinput: If you would like to source raw input directly from your mouse, this is the command you need to use
There are plenty of other mouse commands you can use in CS:GO, and our database has them all, along with tutorials on how to use them and a large list of examples.
Bot Commands
If you want to add, remove, kill or adjust the settings of bots in CS:GO, these are the commands you need to input via the developer console. Here you have a list with the most popular examples:
- bot_zombie: If you’d like to make bots remain idle, just like zombies, this is the command you need to use
- bot_join_after_player: This command makes sure bots will only be able to join the match after you or another human player has joined it
- bot_goto_selected: If you want bots to go to a determined section or area in the map, you can use this command for this exact purpose
Thanks to the bot commands, you can adjust practically any settings of bots in CS:GO, and our database contains them all, along with tutorials and examples on how to use them with different arguments.
Crosshair Commands
Just like players like to customize their mouse settings, they like to do the same with their crosshair. And here you have a few of the most popular crosshair commands you can input via the CS:GO developer console:
- cl_crosshairstyle: Allows you to customize the appearance of your crosshair in the game, hence it’s the most popular command in this section
- cl_crosshair_recoil: Allows you to adjust the recoil of your crosshair when getting hit in CS:GO
- cl_crosshairalpha: Allows you to set the transparency of your crosshair in the game
Be it the appearance, or settings such as the recoil rate, you can customize every aspect of your crosshair thanks to these commands, which now you can freely input because you have already enabled the developer console and know how to launch it.
Chat Commands
You can also use commands to customize the chat in CS:GO and perform different actions related to it, and hence it’s one of the most popular categories. Here you have a few examples:
- say: You can use this command to send a message to all the players in the game, both teammates and enemies. Players usually bind this command to a key, so they can repeat the same message just by clicking a key
- say_team: Similar purpose as the “say” command, but the difference here is that only your teammates will be able to read your message
- cl_mute_enemy_team: This command allows you to mute the enemy team, so you won’t be able to read their messages, which is a helpful function if you’re not Prime and you’re playing in public or MM servers
And just like these 3, you can find more chat commands in our database, so you can customize it as you wish.
Once again, if you’d like to explore all the existing CS:GO commands, we invite you to check out our database. Thanks to the search function, and because we have divided it into different categories, you’ll be able to find your ideal command easily.
How to Enable the Cheat Commands via the CS:GO Developer Console
Now, there are certain commands you cannot use right off the bat because they are known as “cheat protected” commands. And if you want to activate them, you need to input the following via the developer console: sv_cheats 1. Automatically, you will be able to use all sorts of cool commands that will allow you to take the customization of CS:GO to the limit.
However, you’ll only be able to input “sv_cheats 1” if it’s your private server or if it’s your private match and you’re the host. Otherwise, inputting this command won’t work, and hence you won’t be able to use any of the cheat protected commands in CS:GO.
If you’re wondering which cheat-protected commands you can use after enabling the developer console and inputting “sv_cheats 1”, here you have a list with the most popular examples:
- sv_gravity: Allows you to adjust the gravity in the game, making it as heavy or as weak as you wish
- thirdperson: Allows you to change the POV from first person to third person
- sv_infinite_ammo: Allows you to get infinite ammo without having to reload your weapons, ever
- god: This command will allow you to activate the “God” mode, so you will be invulnerable and practically immortal
- r_drawothermodels: This command will allow you to activate the wall hack and will also make all the opening doors 100% transparent
If you want to discover more cheat commands you can use in CS:GO, we invite you to check our full database at CSDB.gg.
How to Fix the CS:GO Can’t Open Console Issue
If you’re experiencing this common issue, here you have the steps you can follow to sort it out, so you can start using the CS:GO developer console without problems:
- Make sure you have set the “Enable Developer Console” to “Yes”. Double check this, as it’s the most common reason why players cannot launch the CS:GO console
- If you cannot launch it because you’re unable to find the “~” key, just click the key below the “ESC” key on your keyboard and it should work just fine, because in some regions like LATAM, there’s no “~” key
- If you can’t still use the developer console, then do the following: Go to Settings, click on Keyboard/Mouse, click on “UI Keys” and check “Toggle Option” to make sure the right key is assigned to the CS:GO console, which can be “~” or the key below “ESC”
- If it still won’t work, then go to the “Enable Developer Console” option, set it to “No”, launch CS:GO again and then set the option “Yes”. In the majority of cases, this fix will be enough to get the developer console running without problems
Now you should be able to start using the developer console in CS:GO without problems. However, if you still cannot do it, leave a comment below and we’ll help you sort it out, so you can use your favorite commands in no time!
Conclusion
You came here looking for a tutorial on how to open the CS:GO console, and now you’re leaving with all the knowledge you need to use it like a pro to fully customize your CS:GO gaming experience.
If you’d like to know more about the CS:GO console, we invite you to read our article dedicated to it here on CSDB.gg, or you can leave a comment with your questions and we’ll get back to you ASAP!