How to Join Your Counter-Strike Global Offensive Server

Counter-Strike Global Offensive was replaced by Counter-Strike 2 in Steam. Before you can join your server you therefore have to switch your client back to the classic CS:GO version. After that you get onto your server through the Steam favorites or with a direct connection in the game console.

Important

A regular Counter-Strike 2 installation cannot join a Counter-Strike Global Offensive server. Without switching to the beta branch csgo_legacy every connection attempt fails.

Switch the client to the CS:GO version

1. Open the Steam library
   Open the Steam client and switch to your Library.

2. Open the properties
   Right-click Counter-Strike 2 and select Properties.

3. Select the beta branch
   Switch to the Betas tab and select the entry csgo_legacy from the dropdown menu.

   Note

   The branch is called "Legacy Version of CS:GO" in Steam and does not require an access code. Simply leave the beta access code field empty.

4. Wait for the update
   Close the window. Steam then downloads the CS:GO files. Wait until the download has finished and start the game from your library as usual afterwards.

Tip

If you want to play Counter-Strike 2 again later, simply set the dropdown menu in the Betas tab back to None.

Find connection details

Note

You can find the IP address and the Game Port of your server in the dashboard of your server. Counter-Strike Global Offensive uses the same port for gameplay and for server queries — there is no separate Query Port.

Warning

Always enter the Game Port from the dashboard. Port 27005 is the local client port of your game and must not be used as a server address.

Via Steam favorites

1. Open Steam
   Open the Steam client.

2. Open the server browser
   Click on View in the top left and select Game Servers.

3. Add the server
   Click on the Favorites tab and then on + at the bottom right.

4. Enter the server address
   Enter the IP address and the Game Port of your server, separated by a colon:

   Example

   123.45.67.89:27015

   Use the IP address and the Game Port from your dashboard here.

5. Select the server in the game
   Start Counter-Strike Global Offensive, select Play CS:GO in the main menu and open the Community Server Browser. You will find your server on the Favorites tab and can join it from there.

Enable the developer console in the game

The console is disabled by default in Counter-Strike Global Offensive. You need it for the direct connection.

1. Start Counter-Strike Global Offensive
   Launch the game and wait for the main menu to load.

2. Open the settings
   Open the Settings and switch to the Game section.

3. Enable the console
   Set the option Enable Developer Console to Yes.

Tip

Alternatively you can enable the console permanently with the launch option -console. Add it in Steam by right-clicking the game and opening Properties → Launch Options.

Connect through the game console

1. Open the console
   Press ~ in the game to open the console.

2. Connect
   Enter the following command:

   connect IP:Port

   Example

   connect 123.45.67.89:27015

   Use the IP address and the Game Port from your dashboard here.

Steam Account Token (GSLT)

Note

The dashboard of your server contains the mandatory field Steam Account Token. Behind it is the Steam Game Server Login Token (GSLT), which the server passes to Steam on startup via sv_setsteamaccount. The token is exactly 32 characters long and consists of letters and digits.

You can create a token at Steam Game Server Accounts using the App ID 730. Afterwards enter it in the dashboard and restart your server.

Warning

Every simultaneously running server needs its own token. Using the same token on several servers is not permitted.