How to Connect to Your CS2 Server

Connecting to your Counter-Strike 2 server takes two things: your server's IP and port from the control panel, and the in-game developer console, where you type one connect command to join.

2 min read · Updated Sep 24, 2026 · By GuavaHost Team

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

Sign in at customer.guavahost.com, open My servers and click Manage on your CS2 server. The connect address is at the top of the server page, next to a copy button, and in the Ports & network card on the Overview tab. 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, but always use the port your server shows. Make sure the server is actually online first: its status should say Online, and the Console tab should show the map load with no crash loop.

Join from the console

1. Launch CS2 and wait for the main menu.
2. Press ` to open the console.
3. Type connect 203.0.113.10:27015, using your own address, and press Enter.
4. The game switches to your server and loads the current map.

Servers with a password

If you set sv_password 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

sv_cheats unlocks testing commands like noclip, god, and sv_showimpacts 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 sv_cheats 1 from the Console tab in your control panel or in a config file, and remember it resets to 0 for normal competitive play. Anything set with sv_cheats 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 control panel exactly, and that the server shows as Online.
• "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 your server's ports automatically, and you can review them in the Ports & network card on the Overview tab.

Still stuck? Jump into our Discord at discord.gg/GuavaHost and the team will help you out.

• cs2
• connecting
• console
• sv_cheats

Host a Counter-Strike 2 server From $2.99/mo, with instant setup and DDoS protection.

Still need help? Our team is online 24/7 to answer questions.

Contact support