CSGO : Launch Options

This guide will give you an explanation on how to set launch options and explain some useful launch options for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Additionally, at the end of the page, you’ll find some launch options that aren’t working or that shouldn’t be used in CS:GO. But before I start listing all the different launch options, let me answer 2 simple questions:

Q: What is a “launch option”?
A: Launch options are commands, that let you tell the game to perform an action when launching it or that let you force a specific setting. For example, you can specify a window height and a width you want the game to start with. Every new launch option starts with a dash, but you can also put console commands in the launch options. These need a plus in front of them (e.g. +exec randomconfigfile).

Q: Where can I set these launch options?
A: That’s rather easy. Take a look at the picture (You can find it at the end of the guide) and just follow step by step:
launchoptions1. Right-click Counter-Strike: Global Offensive in your game library in the main Steam window
2. Select “Properties” in the menu
3. A new window will open. Click on the “SET LAUNCH OPTIONS” button
4. Another new window will open. In this one, you can set the different launch options. Every new launch option starts with a dash or a plus, DO NOT separate the launch options with a comma or a semicolon, just a space needs to go in between the different launch options.
5. Click OK and Close and your all set!

 Note, because especially one launch option was recommended to me multiple times on the old homepage: I will not add launch options that are hidden cvars to this page, like the different mat_* commands. Using these in your launch options can get you into trouble when playing in leagues and tournaments! Many of them don’t even work anymore.

Commands

That should be enough for the basics, now let’s start explaining the useful launch options one by one:

• -console
  Setting this launch option will open the console automatically when opening the game. There is no real need to set this launch option in CS:GO, because you can just set a toggle key in your ingame options or your autoexec and, unlike CS:S, the toggle key actually works. Some people still like to set this launch option, so they are able to see echos they put in their autoexec and know that the autoexec was executed properly.
  
  
• -novid
  Starting the game with this launch option will remove the Valve intro that normally plays at the beginning. A must-have launch option in my opinion, because I find that intro is annoying as hell.
  
  
• -tickrate 128
  If you create an offline game with bots without this launch option set, the created server will run at tickrate 64. If this launch option is set, the offline servers will always run at tickrate 128.
  
  
• -refresh <rate> / -refreshrate <rate> / -freq <rate>
  You can force your monitor to run at a specific refresh rate with this launch option. This only makes sense if your monitors maximum refreshrate is higher than 60. If it isn’t and you set this launch option to 120, you can seriously damage your monitor.
  
  
• -high
  This will start the game in high-priority mode. This launch option can help players with lower-end computers to get less lag and a few more fps, but it is not a guarantee. Test this launch option, if you don’t notice any improvement performance-wise, remove this launch option again.
  
  
• -threads <number of cores/threads>
  So far, I was not able to find a definitive information about the maximum number of threads that CS:GO uses and if this launchoption makes any sense. If you have a CPU with 4 or more cores, you can try to set -threads to the number of cores (or number of threads if you own a CPU with 2 threads/core) you have, but right now I can not guarantee that your performance will improve. Test it, if you don’t notice any difference or your performance is actually worse, remove the launchoption again.
  
  
• -full / -fullscreen
  This launch option forces the game to run in fullscreen mode. The game will ignore this launch option, if -windowed / -window / -sw / -startwindowed option is also set.
  
  
• -windowed / -window / -sw / -startwindowed
  This will force the game to run in windowed mode. Should not be set without -w and -h also being specified. The game will ignore this launch option, if -full / -fullscreen option is also set.
  
  
• -w <width> / -width <width>
  -h <height> / -height <height>
  This forces the game to start with the resolution you specified, e.g. -w 1920 -h 1080.
  -noborder
  Using this launch option will remove the border that Windows puts around the window when the game is run in windowed mode.
  
  
• -x <position> – horizontal
  -y <position> – vertical
  When the game is run with no border, you can’t move the window around and it is stuck to the center of your screen. You can define the position of the window with these 2 launch options. <position> is the space in pixels, that you want the game to be “away” from the left and top side of the screen.
  
  
• -lv
  Ok, this isn’t really a useful launch option, but if you’re bored, just set it, play a bit and have a good laugh. The -lv launch option turns the game into a low violence version. The previous Counter-Strike Games had to be low violence versions over here in Germany while CS:GO doesn’t, but the animations are still there. There’s no blood and models lie down with their hands behind their heads.
  
  
• -language english
  If you want to use CS:GO in English but use the Steam client in a different language, you can use this launch option. You can also right-click CS:GO in your game library, go to properties and set the in-game language there, but that doesn’t work for some people. Other languages should work too for this launch option, but I did not test thatHere are some launch options that either do not work or that really shouldn’t be used in CS:GO (Many people still use them and falsely recommend them):
  
  
• -noforcemaccel
  -noforcemparms
  -noforcemspd
  These launch options have absolutely no effect in CS:GO. Use m_rawinput 1 and m_customaccel 0 instead. Or don’t, since it’s creating input lag for some people. Test a bit and use the settings you’re most comfortable with.
  
  
• -heapsize <kilobytes>
  You should not use this launch option! This command was removed in CS:S, TF2 and DoD:S in 2010, I’m not 100% sure if it is exists in CS:GO. Here’s what Valve said in 2010: “This command made sense in Half-Life 1’s memory manager. The current engine manages memory in a way that doesn’t need it specified. Under some circumstances, specifying a non-optimal heapsize causes crashes and/or reduced performance”
  
  
• +exec autoexec
  There has been a problem in CS:GO since the release, that the configs are loaded in a wrong order. The easiest way to avoid that problem, is adding host_writeconfig at the very end of your autoexec and making sure, that your config isn’t set to read-only. The command overwrites any cvars in the config.cfg with the ones in the autoexec.cfg when the autoexec is executed. Do not set a launch option +exec autoexec.cfg, the autoexec is loaded anyway. Right now, this seems to be the only method to make your autoexec definitely work.

• +clientport 27005 (Suggested by him)
  Very useful command especially when playing on a LAN with friends. By default CS:GO uses port 27005 so if you're on a LAN with someone else who is also playing CS:GO then there would be port conflictions and you guys would not be able to play CS:GO at the same time on the same network so by setting it to a different port you can both play together. Normally when this problem is occurring if you're both in a party trying to start a competitive match then the ACCEPT button will never show up for either of you.
  
  
• +cl_forcepreload 1 (Suggested by him)
  increase FPS by preloading maps (not necessarily faster, that depends on your PC)
  
  
• -nod3d9ex1 (Suggested by him)
  makes alt+tab faster
  
  
• -nojoy (Suggested by him)
  removes joystick support
  
  In case anyone is interested, I’m using the following launch options:
  
• -novid -tickrate 128 -high
  

Any questions ?

If you have any questions regarding launch options as a whole, a single launch option or you have a useful launch option that’s missing on this page, please leave a comment below, I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

#Lightstep
#★★★..S..★★★

Source

[DoT aka TVFrag]

is there a way to set the startup options per device?

[Bèta Wolf]

Instead of using -threads <x> , is it possible to just use: -USEALLAVAILABLECORES or - maxMem=<number below>
• 4GB RAM = 4096
• 8GB RAM = 8192
• 16GB RAM = 16384

[$ Kritzelbob]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bycRB5FOyM

[w/s REPEAT]

Choose the one that's on the list and write in my profile, I will answer the same!
+rep nice middleman
+rep Clutch King 👑
+rep 300 iq 🧠
+rep SECOND S1MPLE
+rep AWP GOD 💢
+rep kind person
+rep u real scream!?
+rep nice flicks
+rep king deagle
+rep top player
+rep very helpful teammate
+rep good leader
+rep clutchmeister
+rep amazing teammate
+rep insane skills :D
+rep Cool friend :)
+rep go me boost rank :D
+rep nice ace usp
+rep Global :D

[Weeabo FIrm]

+rep thanks dude

[PilSeN]

Thanks! so useful for fps boost +rep

[acr.exe]

Choose the one that's on the list and write in my profile, I will answer the same!
+rep nice middleman
+rep Clutch King 👑
+rep 300 iq 🧠
+rep SECOND S1MPLE
+rep AWP GOD 💢
+rep kind person
+rep u real scream!?
+rep nice flicks
+rep king deagle
+rep top player
+rep very helpful teammate
+rep good leader
+rep clutchmeister
+rep amazing teammate
+rep insane skills :D
+rep Cool friend :)
+rep go me boost rank :D
+rep nice ace usp
+rep Global :D

[Meswak]

Guys -nod3d9ex1 has been deprecated since Panorama. No point using it anymore.

[𝔉𝔦𝔯𝔢𝔉𝔩𝔪𝔢]

If you have an Pentium quad core, dual core, 2nd to 5th gen I3/ I5 with no GPU the following launch code makes the game playable at 65 fps using the on-board Intel GPU. A min of 4 GB ram is required though and any CPU newer than 5th gen runs it as is so this won't be needed.
Just copy the code below do no change anything as the sequence and parameters trigger the action the game sends to the OS and BIOS, so some needs to start before the rest can work

-high -threads 4 -novid -nojoy -tickrate 128 +cl_updaterate 128 +cl_forcepreload 1 -nod3d9ex1 -fps_max 0

Hope this helps you guys with the older pc's...... enjoy

[Krystof01]

-fps_max 80 -cl_showfps 1 does not work in game. I do not see my fps in right up corner. Any help?