How to Join Your Counter-Strike Source Server

There are three ways onto your Counter-Strike Source server: through the in-game server browser, through the Steam favorites or with a direct connection in the game console.

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 Source 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.

Through the in-game server browser

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

2. Open the server search
   Select Find Servers in the main menu.

3. Add the server
   Switch to the Favorites tab and click on Add a Server.

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. Join the server
   Confirm your entry. Your server then appears in the favorites list, where you can select it and join.

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 and confirm.

5. Join
   Select the server and connect. The server then also appears in the game under Find Servers in the Favorites tab.

Enable the developer console in the game

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

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

2. Open the settings
   Open the Options and switch to Keyboard.

3. Enable the console
   Open Advanced and enable the Developer Console there.

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.

Server does not show up in the public server list?

Without a valid Steam Game Server Login Token (GSLT) your server may not be listed in the public server list and does not use VAC. You can create a token at Steam Game Server Accounts using the App ID 240. Afterwards enter it in the dashboard of your server and restart the server. Every server needs its own token. A direct connection via IP and Game Port works without a token as well.