Connecting to your Counter-Strike 2 server takes two things: your server's IP and port from the panel, and the in-game developer console, where you type one connect command to join.
Turn on the developer console
CS2 hides the console by default. To switch it on, open Counter-Strike 2, go to Settings, then the Game tab, and set Enable Developer Console (~) to Yes. The console now opens and closes with the key (the grave/tilde key just under Escape). If you prefer, you can also add -console` to the game's launch options in Steam so it opens automatically.
Find your connect address
Every GuavaHost server shows its connect address at the top of the server view in the game panel. It looks like 203.0.113.10:27015, where the part before the colon is the IP and the part after is the port. CS2 servers use port 27015 by default. Make sure the server is actually online first: open the Console tab in the panel and confirm you see the map load with no crash loop.
Join from the console
- Launch CS2 and wait for the main menu.
- Press `` to open the console.
- Type connect 203.0.113.10:27015, using your own address, and press Enter.
- The game switches to your server and loads the current map.
Servers with a password
If you set svpassword on the server, you need to send it when you connect. In the console, type password "yourpassword" first, then run the connect command. You can also do both on one line: password "yourpass"; connect 203.0.113.10:27015`. The quotes matter if your password has spaces.
sv_cheats and testing commands
svcheats unlocks testing commands like noclip, god, and svshowimpacts for practising smokes and lineups. It only works if the server allows it, which means you control it on your own server rather than as a regular player. Set svcheats 1 from the panel Console tab or in a config file, and remember it resets to 0 for normal competitive play. Anything set with svcheats 1 is server-wide, so every connected player gets the same relaxed rules.
Save the server to your favorites
Once you have connected once, you can add the server so you never retype the address. In CS2, go to Play, open the community server browser, choose the Favorites tab, and add a server by its IP:port. From then on you join with two clicks.
Troubleshooting
- Nothing happens after connect: double check the IP and port match the panel exactly, and that the server shows as running on the Console tab.
- "Server is not reachable" or it never appears publicly: your server may be missing its Game Server Login Token. See our GSLT guide.
- It works for you but not friends: confirm they are typing the full IP:port and that you are not blocking the port. GuavaHost opens 27015 automatically, and you can review allocations on the Network tab.
Still stuck? Jump into our Discord at discord.gg/GuavaHost and the team will help you out.