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[[File:Steam launch options example - Half-Life 2.png|thumb|right|Example of [[Half-Life 2]] launch options in [[Steam]], with {{code|-dxlevel 95 -high}} applied.|300px]]
== Source Games ==
'''Command line options''' (frequently '''command line arguments''' or '''command line parameters'''; '''launch options''' on [[Steam]]) are additional arguments specified before the program starts, these functionally change the behavior of the program in some way, such as launching the game and start the game with the specified map directly, or play a [[demo]] for example.


These command-line parameters will work with any [[Source]] engine games (Half-Life 2, Counter-strike: Source, etc.).
Command line arguments are traditionally prefixed with a hyphen ({{code|-}}), but some {{windows|2}} applications (especially system ones) will use a forward slash ({{code|/}}) instead. {{quake|2}} uses plus ({{code|+}}) as a prefix for [[console command]]s or [[cvar]]s that will get executed by the game as soon as it starts, and [[GoldSrc|all]] [[Source|Valve]] [[Source 2|engines]] inherit this syntax.
 
== Engine ==
 
These command-line parameters will work with any Source engine games ({{hl2|4}}, {{css|4}}, etc.).


{{syntax|hl2.exe <parameter1> <parameter2> <cvar1> <cvar2>}}
{{syntax|hl2.exe <parameter1> <parameter2> <cvar1> <cvar2>}}
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* Windows shortcuts pointing to <code>hl2.exe</code> directly.
* Windows shortcuts pointing to <code>hl2.exe</code> directly.
* Windows shortcuts pointing to <code>steam.exe</code> with the proper <code>-applaunch <AppID></code> specified (see '''Steam''' section below).
* Windows shortcuts pointing to <code>steam.exe</code> with the proper <code>-applaunch <AppID></code> specified (see '''Steam''' section below).
* Command-line batch script files launching these applications.
* Launch options on the game's properties in [[Steam]] library.
* Command-line batch script files launching these applications. For example: A bat file containing only "'''left4dead2.exe -dev -tools -nop4'''" to launch {{l4d2|4}} in tools mode.
* Linux shell scripts pointing to the application with launch options. <code>executable -command</code>


=== Examples ===
===Examples===
* <code>steam.exe -applaunch 280 -dev -console -sw +sv_lan 1 +map MyMap</code>
* <code>steam.exe -applaunch 240 -dev -console -sw +sv_lan 1 +map MyMap</code>
** This will launch {{Css|1}} with the specified map.
* <code>hl2.exe -game cstrike -dev -console -fullscreen +sv_lan 1 +map de_dust</code>
* <code>hl2.exe -game cstrike -dev -console -fullscreen +sv_lan 1 +map de_dust</code>
** Same as above but launched from the game executable directly, with the map {{code|de_dust}}. Note that latest version of {{css|1}} and other games on {{tf2branch|1}} has it's own executable name based on the game's {{code|[[File_structures_in_Valve_games#mod_folder|moddir]]}} ({{code|cstrike}}, {{code|dod}}, etc.), like {{code|cstrike.exe}} for {{Css|name}}, {{code|dod.exe}} for {{dods|1}}, {{code|hl2mp.exe}} for {{hl2dm|1}}, and so on. The {{code|-game cstrike}} command line parameter are also no longer required to be used for those games, as in the case of {{css|name}}, boots directly to {{css|name}} instead of {{hl2|name}} (which will always crash with a message "Could not load library client").
* <code>hl2_win64.exe -game cstrike -dev -console -fullscreen +sv_lan 1 +map de_dust</code>
**Same as above, but with 64-bit executable.


=== Command-line parameters ===
===Command-Line Parameters===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Argument !! Description
! Argument !! Description
|-
| '''-adapter''' || Sets the GL graphics adapter. Default is 0.
|-
|-
| '''-all_languages''' || Loads all language files.
| '''-all_languages''' || Loads all language files.
|-
|-
| '''-autoconfig''' || Restores video and performance settings to default for the current hardware detected. Ignores settings inside any .cfg files until this parameter is removed.
| '''-allowdebug''' || Allows for debug modules to be loaded in games that disable them and fakes a debugger for phonehome, and is the same as -dev, unless -nodev is specified.
|-
| '''-allowmultiple''' {{since|{{portal2}}}} || Allows multiple Source games to run at the same time. Only works if a <code>VPROJECT</code> environment variable is set. Use <code>-multirun</code> instead for {{Src13|2}}. {{note|Source games that do not support this (or <code>-multirun</code>) can be run at the same time as a game that does, as long as the other game that doesn't support it was started first.}} {{note|In {{strata|2}}, both <code>-allowmultiple</code> and <code>-multirun</code> are supported, <code>VPROJECT</code> is not required, and using either will disable creating the Source mutex entirely, so any other game can still be started at the same time.}} {{confirm|Does this work on Mac/Linux?}}
|-
| '''-allowstalezip''' || Suppresses console warnings from stale.txt existing.
|-
|-
| '''-32bit''' || Forces the engine to start in 32-bit mode. Only useful on [[wikipedia:64-bit|64-bit]] Operating Systems.
| '''-allow_third_party_software''' {{only|{{csgo}}}} || Previously {{code|-untrusted}}, this launches the game in "Untrusted Mode", which allow third-party programs to injecting its code into game executable.
|-<!-- CSGO related command should be kept for historical and archival purposes, even if the game is unsupported or dropped. Some third-party CSGO branch games may also have one of these command line. -->
| '''-anticheat_settings''' {{only|{{apex}}}} || This command are most likely used to change Epic Games Launcher/Easy Anti-Cheat settings for the game. It was also used to enable Direct3D 12 (DX12), using {{Code|-anticheat_settings{{=}}SettingsDX12.json}}. Previously {{Code|-eac_launcher_settings}}.
|-
|-
| '''-adapter''' || Sets the GL graphics adapter. Default is 0.
| '''-audiolanguage''' {{tf2|only}} || Changes the audio (spoken) language. Due to the way it works, only <code>-audiolanguage english</code> works. However, it is possible to make other languages to work.
|-
|-
| '''-allowdebug''' || Fakes a debugger for phonehome, and is the same as -dev, unless -nodev is specified.
| '''-autoconfig''' || Restores video and performance settings to default for the current hardware detected. Ignores settings inside any .cfg files until this parameter is removed.
|-
|-
| '''-allowstalezip''' || Suppresses console warnings from stale.txt existing.
| '''-background {{var|<n>}}''' {{only|{{l4d2}}{{portal2}}}} || Forces the main menu background ID to the integer {{code|{{var|n}}}} for the current session.
|-
|-
| '''-basedir''' || Sets the base directory for the game files. On Xbox 360 RFS, this is forced to smb://hostname/game.
| '''-basedir''' || Sets the base directory for the game files. On Xbox 360 RFS, this is forced to smb://hostname/game.
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| '''-bi''' || Defines the build identifier ID which is used in phonehome
| '''-bi''' || Defines the build identifier ID which is used in phonehome
|-
|-
| '''-bugbait''' || {{Todo|Is it for Bugbait E3 2003 demo? This lets IsLoadingBugBaitReport return true.}}
| '''-bugbait''' || Used internally to tell the game it is loading a Bugbait (the name of the bug reporting system) bug report.
|-
|-
| '''-bugreporterdll''' || Name of the bug reporter DLL to use
| '''-bugreporterdll''' || Name of the bug reporter DLL to use
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| '''-condebug''' || Logs all console output into the <code>console.log</code> text file.
| '''-condebug''' || Logs all console output into the <code>console.log</code> text file.
|-
|-
| '''-console''' || Starts the game with the [[Developer Console|developer console]] enabled. Same as having con_enable enabled.
| '''-console''' || Starts the game with the [[Developer Console|developer console]] enabled, and allows it to be opened even if <code>con_enable</code> is set to 0. Disables the automatic loading of menu background maps, except in {{hl2|1}} and {{portal|1}} - use <code>-nobackground</code> if you want this.
|-
|-
| '''-deathsonly''' || Supposed to only count deaths while parsing tf2 gamestats, but actually pointless because there is only code for deaths.
| '''-deathsonly''' || Supposed to only count deaths while parsing tf2 gamestats, but actually pointless because there is only code for deaths.
|-
|-
| '''-d3d9ex''' || reduce CPU memory about %40. "csgo" only.
| '''-debugdxsupport''' || Writes debug DirectX information as keyvalues to the console as shader devices are loading configuration.
|-
| '''-debugsteam2wrapper''' {{only|{{srcsdk06}}{{srcsdk07}}}} || Writes debug information for files accessed through the Steam 2 Wrapper to the debugger. Includes creation and deletion of file handles. See [[Fixing VPK mounting for older Source SDK Bases]] for more information.
|-
|-
| '''-defaultgamedir''' || Fallback directory if "-game" is not set. Default is "hl2".
| '''-defaultgamedir''' || Fallback directory if "-game" is not set. Default is "hl2".
|-
|-
| '''-demo''' || Enters the game into demo mode. Only works for "hl2" and "portal"
| '''-demo''' || Enters the game into demo mode. Only works for Half-Life 2 and Portal
|-
|-
| '''-dev''' || Enables developer mode. Also disables the automatic loading of menu background maps and stops the quit dialog from appearing on exit.
| '''-dev''' || Enables the <code>developer</code> ConVar, which prints console output to the top-left of the screen and enables extra debug messages. Also has various other effects depending on the engine branch and game.
Disables the automatic loading of menu background maps, except in {{hl2|1}}, {{portal|1}} (use <code>-nobackground</code>), and {{p3|1}} (use <code>-nostartupmenu</code>).
|-
|-
| '''-debugdxsupport''' || Writes debug DirectX information as keyvalues to the console as shader devices are loading configuration.
| '''-disable_d3d9ex''' {{csgo|only}} || Forcefully disables Direct3D 9Ex.
|-
|-
| '''-disallowhwmorph''' || Same as <code>mat_disablehwmorph 1</code>. Disables HW morphing for particular mods.
| '''-disallowhwmorph''' || Same as <code>mat_disablehwmorph 1</code>. Disables HW morphing for particular mods.
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| '''-dumpvidmemstats''' || Spews video memory statistics to vidmemstats.txt. This forces CModelLoader to quit.
| '''-dumpvidmemstats''' || Spews video memory statistics to vidmemstats.txt. This forces CModelLoader to quit.
|-
|-
| '''-dvd''' || Enables strict DVD mode. Allows loading files from DVD only. Xbox 360 only.
| '''-dvd''' || {{360}} Enables strict DVD mode. Allows loading files from DVD only. Xbox 360 only.
|-
|-
| '''-dvddev''' || Enables developer DVD mode. Allows loading files from a remote path as a fallback as well as the DVD. Xbox 360 only.
| '''-dvddev''' || {{360}} Enables developer DVD mode. Allows loading files from a remote path as a fallback as well as the DVD. Xbox 360 only.
|-
|-
| '''-dxlevel <level>''' || Forces the game to start using specified DirectX API version. Officially supported values are: 60, 70, 80, 81, 90, 91, 95 (recommended), 98 (Xbox 360 only), and 100. After starting the game with this launch parameter, the selected value will be saved for future start ups and video settings will be temporarily reset (but not saved), so it is highly recommended to remove this launch parameter after first launch with it. See [[mat_dxlevel]].
| '''-dx9''' {{only|{{hl2}}{{hls}}{{l4d2}}{{portal}}{{p2}}{{tf2branch}}}} || {{Windows}} Forces the game to never use DXVK, even in cases where it would be automatically enabled (such as when {{code|-gamepadui}} is passed in). {{Note|To force OpenGL (using ToGL) on Linux, use {{code|-gl}} instead.}}
|-
| '''-dxlevel <level>''' {{removed|{{l4d}}}} || Forces the game to start using specified DirectX feature levels. After starting the game with this launch parameter, the selected value will be saved for future start ups and video settings will be temporarily reset (but not saved), so it is highly recommended to remove this launch parameter after first launch with it. See [[mat_dxlevel]].<br>Please note that changing DirectX levels does not change the Direct3D renderer to use any other versions of Direct3D. All {{src|1}} games will always run on Direct3D 9 (or Direct3D 11/12 in some third-party games).
;Supported values{{colon}}
:60 (DX6, Source 2004/2006 only)<br>
:70 (DX7, Source 2004/2006 or RTX Remix games only)<br>
:80 (DX8)<br>
:81 (DX8.1)<br>
:90 (DX9.0 / SM 2.0)<br>
:92 (equivalent to both "90" and "95". Mac/Linux only, translates [[Direct3D|DirectX]] to [[OpenGL]] using [[ToGL]]). Has partial SM 3.0 support.<br>
:95 (DX9.0+ / SM 3.0, default on modern hardware)<br>
:98 ({{360|1}} only, always enabled)<br>
:100 ({{l4dbranch|2}}, {{sfm|2|nt=0}} and {{dota2|2}} pre-Reborn only, always enabled)<br>
{{Warning|If you are using Vulkan renderer ({{code|-vulkan}}), having dxlevel set lower than 90 (such as 80/81) will cause graphical glitches and crashes the game.<br>Similarly, playing on maps that ship with custom models/props which only support {{code|dxlevel 90}} or higher can cause the game to crash on {{code|dxlevel 81}} or lower.}}
|-
|-
| '''-edit''' || According to comments, intended to replace -tools. Does nothing except disable all file logging for building reslists.
| '''-edit''' || According to comments, intended to replace -tools. Does nothing except disable all file logging for building reslists.
|-
| '''-enablefakeip''' {{only|{{tf2}}}}|| Tells [https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/features/multiplayer/steamdatagramrelay Steam Datagram Relay] to use a "FakeIP" and an anonymous server ID when local server hosting.
|-
|-
| '''-endgamevid''' || If specified startup videos will not be skipped, and EndGameVids.txt will be used instead of StartupVids.txt. This can also be invoked by the command "startupmenu playendgamevid", which bails back to the menu and plays the end game video.
| '''-endgamevid''' || If specified startup videos will not be skipped, and EndGameVids.txt will be used instead of StartupVids.txt. This can also be invoked by the command "startupmenu playendgamevid", which bails back to the menu and plays the end game video.
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| '''-exit''' || Quits the game after fully loading into a map.
| '''-exit''' || Quits the game after fully loading into a map.
|-
|-
| '''-filmgrain''' || Enables the <code>filmgrain</code> screen space effect.
| '''-fake_stale_server''' || {{csgo}} Skip check game version from Steam and goes straight to '''out-of-date''' state
|-
| '''-force32bit''' {{tf2branch|only}} || Forces the game to run in 32-bit mode, even if running on a 64-bit operating system. {{note| Windows: Create new shortcut from 32-bit executable program and add in launch parameter -force32bit, launch game from shortcut.}}
|-
|-
| '''-flushlog''' || Causes log files to be flushed to disk once per second (rather than after every 4kbytes of log data).
| '''-force64bit''' {{tf2branch|only}} || Forces the game to run in 64-bit mode.
|-
| '''-filmgrain''' || Enables the {{code|filmgrain}} screen space effect. Crashes the game on {{hl2}}. In {{dods}} effect works and enabled by default
|-
|-
| '''-floathdr''' || Forces HDR to use float values.
| '''-floathdr''' || Forces HDR to use float values.
|-
| '''-flushlog''' || Causes log files to be flushed to disk once per second (rather than after every 4kbytes of log data).
|-
| '''-forceallmips''' || Always load mipmaps below 32x32, regardless of if the "no minimum mipmap" [[VTF]] flag is enabled.
|-
|-
| '''-forcenovsync''' || Forces vsync to be disabled.
| '''-forcenovsync''' || Forces vsync to be disabled.
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| '''-forcestartupmenu''' || Forces the background menu map to always load, even if developer mode is active or the game is loading straight to a level.
| '''-forcestartupmenu''' || Forces the background menu map to always load, even if developer mode is active or the game is loading straight to a level.
|-
|-
| '''-forcexboxreconfig''' || Forces default config settings to be loaded on Xbox 360.
| '''-forcexboxreconfig''' || {{360}} Forces default config settings to be loaded on Xbox 360.
|-
| '''-force_device_id''' {{Csgo|since}} {{also|{{Src13}}}} ||rowspan="2"| Forces the GPU to be recognized as a different graphics card depending on the vendor set. This is used for either debugging purposes or for graphical workarounds, such as avoiding an Intel crash in L4D2 when both Shaders and Memory Pool are set to high, aswell as forcing the "High" shadows setting to be shown on systems with Intel GPUs. {{tip|{{code|-force_vendor_id 0x10DE -force_device_id 0x0191}} will force the game to recognizing the GPU as a Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti (most Source games will detect this as "NVIDIA Unknown" according to {{Code|[[dxsupport.cfg]]}}).<br>And {{code|-force_vendor_id 0x10DE -force_device_id 0x1088}} will force the game to be recognized as GeForce GTX 590, which was listed in {{Code|dxsupport.cfg}} (in most Source games, some may only recognizes older GPUs), and set most of the graphical settings to high by default.
}}
|-
| '''-force_vendor_id'''
|-
|-
| '''-forever''' || When you get to the end of the maplist, start over from the top
| '''-forever''' || When you get to the end of the maplist, start over from the top
|-.
| '''-freq <rate>''' || Same as -refresh
|-
|-
| '''-fs_log''' || Starts creating a batch file to copy files at the specified filename. This works on the latest engine branch.
| '''-fs_log''' || Starts creating a batch file to copy files at the specified filename. This works on the latest engine branch.
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| '''-fs_target''' || Sets the target game directory to copy files to, used with -fs_log.
| '''-fs_target''' || Sets the target game directory to copy files to, used with -fs_log.
|-
|-
| '''-full_memory_dumps''' ||
| '''-full_memory_dumps''' ||  
|-f
| '''-fullscreen''' or '''-full''' || Forces the engine to start in fullscreen mode.
|-
|-
| '''-fullscreen''' or '''-full''' || Forces the engine to start in fullscreen mode.
| '''-g15''' || Enables Logitech G15 support. G15 is only supported in {{sineps|4}}. {{confirm}}<br>{{MConfirm|Does this also works with other Logitech G series keyboards with LCD screens, such as G19?}}
|-
|-
| '''-g15''' || Enables Logitech G15 support. G15 is only supported in [[SiN Episodes: Emergence]]. {{confirm}}
| '''-game''' || Sets game or mod directory to load the game from. Usually is set by default if not user specified. Default is "-defaultgamedir"'s setting. If -defaultgamedir is not set, "hl2" is used.
|-
|-
| '''-game''' || Sets game or mod directory to load the game from. Usually is set by default if not user specified. Default is "-defaultgamedir"'s setting. If -defaultgamedir is not set, "hl2" is used.
| '''-gamepadui''' || {{hl2}}{{hls}}{{portal}}{{ez2}} Enables the [[Gamepad UI in mods|alternate controller-friendly UI used on Steam Deck]], and since {{hl2}} 20th Anniversary Update (and {{Portal}} May 2025 update), makes VGUI elements larger.<br>{{l4d2}}{{portal2}}{{tf2branch}} Makes various UI elements larger. In {{tf2branch|1}}, also makes VGUI elements bigger.<br>When used, keyvalues in VGUI resource files tagged with {{code|$DECK}} will evaluate as true. This is used by default on {{steamdeck|4}} and in {{ez2|4}}; use <code>-nogamepadui</code> if the original UI is desired.<br>This also automatically enables DXVK (except {{hl2}} and {{hls}} since 20th anniversary, and {{portal}} since May 2025 update); use {{code|-dx9}} to prevent this. Only present with updates released since 2020 - 2022 in any of those games.<br>{{Note|On {{portalrtx|2}}, to enable Gamepad UI, you must use {{code|-dx9}} alongside it, otherwise it would break the renderer.}}{{Bug|Gamepad UI is also available on {{hls|2}} due to shared binaries with {{hl2|2}}, but is broken.}}
|-
|-
| '''-gamestatslogging''' || Enables game stats logging.
| '''-gamestatslogging''' || Enables game stats logging.
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| '''-gamestatsloggingtofile''' || Enables game stats logging out to a file, gamestats.log. Passing this parameter automatically forces -gamestatslogging.
| '''-gamestatsloggingtofile''' || Enables game stats logging out to a file, gamestats.log. Passing this parameter automatically forces -gamestatslogging.
|-
|-
| '''-gl_enablesamplerobjects''' || (Linux) Use OpenGL Sampler Objects for better texture preloading
| '''-gamestatstag <tag>''' || Tags each map reported with the specified tag.
|-
|-
| '''-gl_texclientstorage''' || (MacOS) Reduce memory usage by relying on GPU memory instead of a host copy
| '''-gl''' {{only|{{tf2branch}}}} || {{linux}} Forces the game to runs on OpenGL instead of Vulkan (through DXVK). You can also select "Legacy OpenGL" option when launching the game on Steam (if available), to force OpenGL. <!-- not available on Windows -->
|-
|-
| '''-gamestatstag <tag>''' || Tags each map reported with the specified tag.
| '''-gl_enablesamplerobjects''' || {{linux}} Use OpenGL Sampler Objects for better texture preloading
|-
|-
| '''-h <height>''' || Forces the engine to start with resolution set to <code><height></code>. Ex: <code>-h 768</code>
| '''-gl_texclientstorage''' || {{macos}} Reduce memory usage by relying on GPU memory instead of a host copy
|-
|-
| '''-height <height>''' || Same as -h
| '''-heapcheck''' || {{windows}} Check if the heap isn't damaged or empty at the initiation of the game and every frame
|-
|-
| '''-heapcheck''' || (Windows only) Check if the heap isent damaged or empty at the initiation of the game and every frame
| '''-heapsize <kilobytes>''' || Specifies the heapsize (in kilobyte) the game will use. <br>This [http://store.steampowered.com/news/4371/ has been since deprecated] on later version of {{src09|4}} and {{srcmp|4}}, but can still be changed through console commands ({{code|mem_min_heapsize}} and {{code|mem_max_heapsize}})
|-
|-
| '''-heapsize <kilobytes>''' || Specifies the heapsize (in kilobyte) the game will use. This [http://store.steampowered.com/news/4371/ no longer exists] on the [[Source 2009]].
| '''-height <height>, -h''' || Forces the engine to start with resolution set to <code><height></code>. Ex: <code>-h 768</code>
|-
|-
| '''-hideconsole''' || Forces the console hidden, whatever parameters are passed. This overrides -console, -dev, and all others.
| '''-hideconsole''' || Forces the console hidden, whatever parameters are passed. This overrides -console, -dev, and all others.
|-
|-
| '''-high''' || Sets the game's priority to High
| '''-high''' || Sets the game's priority to High.<br>{{Bug|In {{Apex|2}}, this may cause the game into thinking that there is a Origin update available. [https://imgur.com/SwRjOWJ A screenshot of this issue can be found here].}}
|-
|-
| '''-hijack''' || Take control of an existing instance of the game, if any, instead of complaining about already running.
| '''-hijack''' || Take control of an existing instance of the game, if any, instead of complaining about already running.
|-
|-
| '''-host''' || Sets hostname. On Xbox 360, this sets the host computer name to be used for RFS. Xbox name must be <HostPC>_360.
| '''-host''' || Sets hostname. On Xbox 360, this sets the host computer name to be used for RFS. Xbox name must be <HostPC>_360.
|-
|-
| '''-hushasserts''' || Disables a number of asserts in core Source libraries, skipping some error checks and messages.
| '''-hushasserts''' || Disables a number of asserts in core Source libraries, skipping some error checks and messages.
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| '''-ignoredxsupportcfg''' || Skips reading DirectX support file, dxsupport.cfg.
| '''-ignoredxsupportcfg''' || Skips reading DirectX support file, dxsupport.cfg.
|-
|-
| '''-insecure''' || Disable Valve Anti Cheat (VAC).
| '''-insecure''' || Disable [[Valve Anti-Cheat]] (VAC).
|-
|-
| '''-interactivecaster''' || (CSGO only) Starting your client with this will switch it into camera man mode (reference tv_allow_camera_man_steamid/tv_allow_camera_man_steamid2)
| '''-internalbuild''' || Causes the bug reporter panel to be drawn as internal
|-
|-
| '''-internalbuild''' || Causes the bug reporter panel to be drawn as internal
| '''-interactivecaster''' {{csgo|only}}|| Starting your client with this will switch it into camera man mode (reference tv_allow_camera_man_steamid/tv_allow_camera_man_steamid2)
|-
|-
| '''-ip''' || Does the same as the ipname Cvar
| '''-ip''' || Does the same as the ipname Cvar
|-
|-
| '''-language %l''' || Sets the game language to the one specified. (Examples: "english", "german").
| '''-language {{var|<language>}}''' || Sets the game language to the one specified. (Examples: "english", "german").
|-
|-
| '''-leakcheck''' || Dumps statistics about memory leaks.
| '''-leakcheck''' || Dumps statistics about memory leaks.
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|-
|-
| '''-localcser''' || Sets a custom gamestats CSER other than the Steam-provided public one (default is steambeta1:27013)
| '''-localcser''' || Sets a custom gamestats CSER other than the Steam-provided public one (default is steambeta1:27013)
|-
| '''-log_opened_files''' || Logs all opened files to {{code|opened_files.txt}} file. (useful for debugging which files are failing to load)
|-
|-
| '''-low''' || Sets the game's priority to Low
| '''-low''' || Sets the game's priority to Low
|-
|-
| '''-makedevshots''' || Used for taking screenshots, causing entities to not fade. Enables the use of the devshots_nextmap concommand
| '''-lv''' || Short for low violence. Enables German censorship like <code>-sillygibs</code> in {{tf2|2}} with blood/gore disabled.
|-
| '''-makedevshots''' || Used for taking screenshots, causing entities to not fade. Enables the use of the devshots_nextmap concommand. Also disables the automatic loading of menu background maps.
|-
|-
| '''-makereslists''' || Makes reslists. Need to run with -textmode. Passing a parameter here uses a script file to control more complex makereslists operations (multiple passes, etc.)
| '''-makereslists''' || Makes reslists. Need to run with -textmode. Passing a parameter here uses a script file to control more complex makereslists operations (multiple passes, etc.)
|-
|-
| '''-mat_aaquality''' || Set MSAA quality level, does the same as the Convar mat_aaquality
| '''-mat_softwaretl''' || Enables software vertex processing.
|-
| '''-mat_antialias''' || Antialiasing. Can be set to 8, amount past 8 won't sharpen the edges of game world.
|-
|-
| '''-mat_vsync''' || Enables Vertical Sync
| '''-mat_vsync''' || Enables Vertical Sync
|-
|-
| '''-mat_softwaretl''' || Enables software vertex processing.
| '''-maxdownloadfilesizemb''' || CS:GO 5/1/2014, client launch option -maxdownloadfilesizemb N if clients needs to download even larger files from community servers.
|-
|-
| '''-maxdxlevel''' || Limits the maximum <code>dxlevel</code> to use. Default is 0.
| '''-maxdxlevel''' || Limits the maximum <code>dxlevel</code> to use. Default is 0.
|-
|-
| '''-maxdownloadfilesizemb''' || CS:GO 5/1/2014, client launch option -maxdownloadfilesizemb N if clients needs to download even larger files from community servers.
| '''-maxplayers''' || Set the maximum players allowed to join the server. This does the same as the maxplayers convar, the maximum you can set it to is limited by the game/mod.<br>{{note|In {{csgo|4}}, Maxplayers is deprecated, and should either be set in <code>gamemodes_server.txt</code> or with '''-maxplayers_override'''.}}
|-
| '''-maxplayers''' || Set the maximum players allowed to join the server. This does the same as the maxplayers convar, the maximum you can set it to is limited by the game/mod  
|-
|-
| '''-minmemory''' || Set startup memory to mem_min_heapsize ?*1024 * 1024?
| '''-minmemory''' || Set startup memory to mem_min_heapsize ?*1024 * 1024?
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| '''-monitorTextureSize''' || Set the size of the texture used to render [[point_camera]]s.
| '''-monitorTextureSize''' || Set the size of the texture used to render [[point_camera]]s.
|-
|-
| '''-navanalyze''' ||  
| '''-multirun'''  {{Src13|only}}{{also|{{strata}}}} || Allows the game to run even if another Source game is already open. {{note|Source games that do not support this (or <code>-allowmultiple</code>) can be run at the same time as a game that does, as long as the other game is started first.}} {{note|In {{strata|2}}, both <code>-allowmultiple</code> and <code>-multirun</code> are supported, and using either will disable creating the Source mutex entirely, so any other game can still be started at the same time.}} {{note|Not supported in {{sfm|2|nt=0}}. Multirun is still possible by starting other games first as explained above.}} {{Bug|On some systems, running the game after another Source game is already open, cause the menu logo and/or menu options to become invisible|tested={{css|2}} and {{hl2|2}}}} {{Note|Windows only. Does not work on Linux. Mac untested.}}
|-
| '''-navanalyze''' || Used for developer purposes when launching a map. Immediately analyzes the navigation map of the loaded map to provide data about hiding spots and other data. [[Nav Mesh Commands]]
|-
| '''-navforceanalyze''' || Used for developer purposes when launching a map. Forces an immediate navigation analyze even if the action is not necessary to perform.
|-
| '''-netconport <number>''' {{l4d|since}} || Creates a remotely accessible server console on the specified port.  This can be connected to with telnet or similar applications, and allows controlling of the server as if the commands were being typed in at the console
|-
|-
| '''-navforceanalyze''' ||  
| '''-netconpassword <password>''' {{l4d|since}} || If set, users must type PASS "password" to use the remote console described above
|-
|-
| '''-netspike''' || Sets the trace threshold to the specified value (the limit of the number of records that will be written to netspike.txt before all records are removed).
| '''-netspike''' || Sets the trace threshold to the specified value (the limit of the number of records that will be written to netspike.txt before all records are removed).
|-
|-
| '''-newdialogs''' || Forces new Steam dialog to be used.
| '''-newdialogs''' || Forces new Steam dialog to be used.
|-
| '''-no_texture_stream'''  {{only|{{tf2}}}}{{confirm}} || Disables the use of lower quality textures while higher quality versions load, favoring immediate loading of higher quality textures. Disabling texture streaming can improve performance on systems with GPUs that have low VRAM. Can be found on [https://wiki.teamfortress.com/wiki/Ultra_high_settings Ultra high settings] on the Official Team Fortress Wiki or [https://wiki.teamfortress.com/wiki/Scripting#Launch_Options a wiki dedicated to TF2 command line options].
|-
|-
| '''-no_compressed_verts''' || Disables vertex compression for shaders.
| '''-no_compressed_verts''' || Disables vertex compression for shaders.
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| '''-noasync''' || Disables asynchronous filesystem access.
| '''-noasync''' || Disables asynchronous filesystem access.
|-
|-
| '''-noborder''' || When used with the game set to windowed mode, will make the game act as if in fullscreen mode (no window border).
| '''-nobackground''' {{only|{{hl2}}{{portal}}}} || Prevents background maps from loading, displaying only static background images instead. {{note|Added in the HL2 Anniversary Update (and corresponding Portal update). Prior to this, <code>-dev</code> and <code>-console</code> would automatically disable background maps.}}
|-
| '''-noborder''' || When used with the game set to windowed mode, will make the game act as if in fullscreen mode (no window border), commonly refers to '''Borderless Windowed mode'''. <br>This will allows you to switching between application and the game (Alt+Tabbing) without a 2-3 seconds delay. It is only supported in {{src07|4}} and above, and can be changed in menu starting with {{l4dbranch|4}}, later available in {{gmod|4}}, some {{src13|4}} games (such as {{hl2|4}} with Steam Deck update) and some third-party Source games.<br>For games that does not support borderless windowed mode, you can use third-party software such as Borderless Gaming, or {{pcgw|Glossary:Windowed#Force_borderless_fullscreen_windowed_mode|other listed here at PCGW}}.
|-
|-
| '''-nobots''' || Allows Counter-Strike server hosts to force bots disabled to enforce CPU limits.
| '''-nobots''' || Allows Counter-Strike server hosts to force bots disabled to enforce CPU limits.
|-
|-
| '''-nobreakpad''' ||
| '''-nobreakpad''' || Disable the ''Breakpad'' crash handler.
|-
|-
| '''-noconvert''' || (xbox360) "No conversions during retail"
| '''-noclearsave''' || Skips clearing the save directory after restoring a save.
|-
|-
| '''-noclearsave''' || Skips clearing the save directory after restoring a save.
| '''-noconvert''' || {{360}} "No conversions during retail"
|-
|-
| '''-nocrashdialog''' || Stop some windows crash message boxes from showing up.
| '''-nocrashdialog''' || Stop some windows crash message boxes from showing up.
|-
| '''-nod3d9ex''' {{only|{{srcmp}} {{src13}}}} {{also|{{tf2branch}}}} || Forcefully disables Direct3D 9Ex.
|-
| '''-nodefaultmap''' || (Linux only{{confirm}}) Supresses the addition of -map
|-
|-
| '''-nodev''' || Disables -dev and -allowdebug during startup so sv_cheats and developer mode dosent get set.
| '''-nodev''' || Disables -dev and -allowdebug during startup so sv_cheats and developer mode dosent get set.
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|-
|-
| '''-nogamedll''' || Do not load the Game DLL, this most likely will cause your game/server to crash
| '''-nogamedll''' || Do not load the Game DLL, this most likely will cause your game/server to crash
|-
| '''-nogamepadui''' || Overrides <code>-gamepadui</code>, forcibly disabling its effects when they would otherwise be automatically turned on (such as on Steam Deck or in {{ez2|4}}).
|-
|-
| '''-nogamestats''' ||  
| '''-nogamestats''' ||  
|-
|-
| '''-nohltv''' || Disable SourceTV
| '''-nohltv''' || Disable [[SourceTV]]
|-
|-
| '''-noip''' || Do not bind to an ip and disables all multiplayer support
| '''-noip''' || Do not bind to an ip and disables all multiplayer support
|-
|-
| '''-nojoy''' || Disables joystick support.
| '''-nojoy''' {{not|{{L4D2}}}} || Disables joystick support.
|-
|-
| '''-NoLoadPluginsForClient''' ||  
| '''-nomaster''' || Hides server from master serverlist.
|-
|-
| '''-nomaster''' || Hides server from master serverlist.
| '''-nomenuvid''' {{only|{{L4D}}{{L4D2}}{{portal2}}}} || Disables main menu background videos. In the {{l4dseries|4}}, it will render the game startup image instead. In {{portal2|4}}, it will render a static image corresponding to the video that would have been used.
|-
|-
| '''-nomessagebox''' || Stop various windows error message boxes from showing up
| '''-nomessagebox''' || Stop various windows error message boxes from showing up
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|-
|-
| '''-nomouse''' || Disables in-game mouse support.
| '''-nomouse''' || Disables in-game mouse support.
|-
| '''-NoLoadPluginsForClient''' ||
|-
|-
| '''-nop4''' || Forces the Engine to bypass Perforce Integration
| '''-nop4''' || Forces the Engine to bypass Perforce Integration
|-
| '''-nophysx''' {{only|{{p3}}}} || Completely disable [[W:PhysX|NVIDIA PhysX]] physics engine, used for cloth simulation on Postal Dude's coat, but also prevent {{Code|[[p3_prop_cloth]]}} entities (which uses PhysX) from displaying.
|-
|-
| '''-nopreload''' || Forces models to not be preloaded. Takes priority over cl_forcepreload and -preload.
| '''-nopreload''' || Forces models to not be preloaded. Takes priority over cl_forcepreload and -preload.
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| '''-noqueuedload''' || Disables queued loading of map resources.
| '''-noqueuedload''' || Disables queued loading of map resources.
|-
|-
| '''-NoQueuedPacketThread''' || (Linux) No queued packet thread will be created.
| '''-NoQueuedPacketThread''' || {{linux}} No queued packet thread will be created.
|-
|-
| '''-norebuildaudio''' || Opposite of and overrides -rebuildaudio for the map reslist generator.
| '''-norebuildaudio''' || Opposite of and overrides -rebuildaudio for the map reslist generator.
|-
|-
| '''-nodefaultmap''' || (Linux only{{confirm}}) Supresses the addition of -map
| '''-norfs''' || {{360}} Forces Remote Filesystem disabled. Xbox 360 only.
|-
|-
| '''-norfs''' || Forces Remote Filesystem disabled. Xbox 360 only.
| '''-norussian''' {{only|{{p3}}}} || Preventing the game from switching to Russian language (Russian retail copies only).
|-
|-
| '''-noshaderapi''' || Loads a non-existent shader API dll, shaderapiempty.dll. Effectively disables shader and texture loading completely. May be useful with -textmode to load the game quickly since a GUI is not required.
| '''-noshaderapi''' || Loads a non-existent shader API dll, {{code|shaderapiempty.dll}}. Effectively disables shader and texture loading completely. May be useful with -textmode to load the game quickly since a GUI is not required.
|-
|-
| '''-nosound''' || Disables sound support
| '''-nosound''' || Disables sound support {{Warning|{{Src13}}causes crash of the game on startup}}
|-
|-
| '''-nosrgb''' || Disables support for SRGB.
| '''-nosrgb''' || Disables support for SRGB.
|-
| '''-nostartupmenu''' {{only|{{p3}}}} || Prevent the game from loading the main menu map if used alongside {{code|-dev}}. <span id="nostartupmenu"></span>
|-
|-
| '''-nostartupsound''' || Disables menu music (<code>sound/ui/gamestartup*.mp3</code>) to play on startup.
| '''-nostartupsound''' || Disables menu music (<code>sound/ui/gamestartup*.mp3</code>) to play on startup.
|-
|-
| '''-nosteamcontroller''' || Disables Steam controller system
| '''-nosteamcontroller''' || Disables Steam controller system<br>{{Note|This does not disable Steam Input whatsoever.}}
|-
|-
| '''-nouserclip''' || Uses software clipping instead of hardware user clip planes
| '''-nouserclip''' || Uses software clipping instead of hardware user clip planes
|-
|-
| '''-NoVConfig''' || Prevents the filesystem library from running VConfig if it encounters a filesystem error where it cannot find the game content.
| '''-novid''' || When loading a game with this parameter, the intro video will not play.
|-
|-
| '''-novid''' || When loading a game with this parameter, the intro video will not play.
| '''-NoVConfig''' || Prevents the filesystem you nexem library from running VConfig if it encounters a filesystem error where it cannot find the game content.{{Todo|Fix grammar.}}
|-
|-
| '''-olddialogs''' || Forces old Windows dialogs instead of new Steam ones.
| '''-olddialogs''' || Forces old Windows dialogs instead of new Steam ones. {{Todo|Does it do anything nowadays?}}
|-
|-
| '''-override_vpk''' || Forces actual files to override VPK.
| '''-override_vpk''' || Forces actual files to override VPK.
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| '''-particles''' || Sets the number of beam trails to allow (2048 by default, minimum is 512).
| '''-particles''' || Sets the number of beam trails to allow (2048 by default, minimum is 512).
|-
|-
| '''-phonehome''' || If debug mode is also enabled, forces the init of phonehome ?which handles some build information and sends them via netmessages to steam?
| '''-phonehome''' || If debug mode is also enabled, forces the init of phonehome? which handles some build information and sends them via netmessages to steam?
|-
|-
| '''-pidfile <pidfile>''' || Use the specified <pidfile> to store the server pid. Default is srcds.pid{{confirm}} (Unix/Linux only).
| '''-pidfile <pidfile>''' || Use the specified <pidfile> to store the server pid. Default is srcds.pid{{confirm}} (Unix/Linux only).
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|-
|-
| '''-pixel_offset_y''' || Sets the pixel offset to translate on the Y axis in MatSystemSurface.
| '''-pixel_offset_y''' || Sets the pixel offset to translate on the Y axis in MatSystemSurface.
|-
| '''-playtest''' || Tells the engine to record the names of all sounds played via {{code|S_StartSound}} call without any of the sound flags {{code|SND_CHANGE_PITCH}}, {{code|SND_CHANGE_VOL}}, and {{code|SND_STOP}}. {{note|You may dump this list of sounds using ''ConCommand'' {{command|snd_dump_filepaths}}.}}{{Bug|In {{L4D2|4}}, ''ConCommand'' {{command|snd_dump_filepaths}} will ignore ''ConVar'' {{code|snd_store_filepaths}} and attempt to write to an inaccessible hard-coded path.}}
|-
|-
| '''-pme''' || Activate the performance monitoring events code, this again only works on Intel processors newer then PENTIUM4
| '''-pme''' || Activate the performance monitoring events code, this again only works on Intel processors newer then PENTIUM4
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|-
|-
| '''-publicbuild''' || Is this build a public one? If not, phonehome will not post information of this build to steam
| '''-publicbuild''' || Is this build a public one? If not, phonehome will not post information of this build to steam
|-
| '''-r_emulate_gl''' || Emulates OpenGL on Windows, provides a framerate boost for most GPUs<br>{{Confirm|Doesn't seems to work at all. RTSS and other overlays applications still report it as DirectX 9.}}
|-
|-
| '''-random_invariant''' || Forces the game's random number generator value to be invariant.
| '''-random_invariant''' || Forces the game's random number generator value to be invariant.
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|-
|-
| '''-ref''' || Sets MATERIAL_INIT_REFERENCE_RASTERIZER on the shader material adapter.
| '''-ref''' || Sets MATERIAL_INIT_REFERENCE_RASTERIZER on the shader material adapter.
|-
| '''-remote''' || Sets the remote file path to be used with -dvddev.
|-
| '''-replay''' || Increases maxplayers by 1 at startup and automatically executes replay.cfg for the server.
|-
| '''-requirecubemaps''' || If a map dosen't have cubemaps, the game will promt up with "Map X does not have cubemaps!"
|-
|-
| '''-reflectionTextureSize''' || Set the size of the texture used to render the [[Water_(shader)|Water shader]]'s real-time reflection and refraction.
| '''-reflectionTextureSize''' || Set the size of the texture used to render the [[Water_(shader)|Water shader]]'s real-time reflection and refraction.
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| '''-refreshrate <rate>''' || Same as -refresh
| '''-refreshrate <rate>''' || Same as -refresh
|-
|-
| '''-freq <rate>''' || Same as -refresh
| '''-remote''' || Sets the remote file path to be used with -dvddev.
|-
| '''-replay''' || Increases maxplayers by 1 at startup and automatically executes replay.cfg for the server.
|-
|-
| '''-r_emulate_gl''' || Emulates OpenGL on Windows, provides a framerate boost for most GPUs
| '''-requirecubemaps''' || If a map dosen't have cubemaps, the game will promt up with "Map X does not have cubemaps!"
|-
|-
| '''-resizing''' || Allows resizing the window lower than a specific resolution.
| '''-resizing''' || Allows resizing the window lower than a specific resolution.
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| '''-reslistdir''' || Default is "reslists", use this to override. Reslist generator only.
| '''-reslistdir''' || Default is "reslists", use this to override. Reslist generator only.
|-
|-
| '''-reuse''' || Reuse network sockets
| '''-reuse''' || Reuse network sockets
|-
| '''-rpt''' || Remote perf testing. Same as having -condebug, -conclearlog, and -console enabled
|-
|-
| '''-rpt''' || Same as having -condebug, -conclearlog, and -console enabled
| '''-ru''' {{p3|only}} || Set the game language to Russian.
|-
|-
| '''-safe''' || Enables video safe mode, which sets the game to windowed, the width to 640, the height to 480, refresh rate to default, and disables antialiasing.
| '''-safe''' || Enables video safe mode, which sets the game to windowed, the width to 640, the height to 480, refresh rate to default, and disables antialiasing.
|-
|-
| '''-shader''' || Loads a specific shader library instead of depending on hardware. Debug only.
| '''-shader''' || Loads a specific shader library instead of depending on hardware. Debug only.
|-
|-
| '''-shaderdll''' || Loads a different shader dll. Default is shaderapidx9.dll. {{Todo|Is this the same as -shader?}}
| '''-shaderdll''' || Loads a different shader dll. Default is shaderapidx9.dll. {{Todo|Is this the same as -shader?}}
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| '''-shadersondemand''' || Creates shaders on access, helps reduce D3D memory for tools, but causes I/O hitches.
| '''-shadersondemand''' || Creates shaders on access, helps reduce D3D memory for tools, but causes I/O hitches.
|-
|-
| '''-sillygibs''' || (Goldsource only) Forces more gibs like skull and others to be spawned all time on NPC's death.
| '''-sillygibs''' {{tf2|only}} || Forces gibs to be spawned as random [https://wiki.teamfortress.com/wiki/Gibs#Silly_gibs common objects].
|-
| '''-skiploadingworkshopaddons''' {{asrd|only}}|| Only load addons from the addons folder, not subscriptions on the Steam Workshop.
|-
|-
| '''-small''' || Allow window sizing smaller then 640x480
| '''-small''' || Allow window sizing smaller than 640x480
|-
|-
| '''-sndcachedebug''' || Prints sound cache debug messages (developer must be enabled to see)
| '''-sndcachedebug''' || Prints sound cache debug messages (developer must be enabled to see)
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| '''-snoforceformat''' || Skips sound buffer creation
| '''-snoforceformat''' || Skips sound buffer creation
|-
|-
| '''-soft''' || Enables Software hardware rendering mode.
| '''-soft''' || Enables Software hardware rendering mode.
|-
|-
| '''-softparticlesdefaultoff''' || Sets particles to be rendered without feathering (scene depth blending) by default.
| '''-softparticlesdefaultoff''' || Sets particles to be rendered without feathering (scene depth blending) by default.
|-
|-
| '''-softparticlesdefaulton''' || Opposite of -softparticlesdefaultoff.
| '''-softparticlesdefaulton''' || Opposite of -softparticlesdefaultoff.
|-
|-
| '''-spewsentences''' || Spew out vox sentence names during reslist generation
| '''-spewsentences''' || Spew out vox sentence names during reslist generation
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| '''-startstage''' || When running from script file, this starts at specified stage, and sets current work item (default is 0). Reslist generator only.
| '''-startstage''' || When running from script file, this starts at specified stage, and sets current work item (default is 0). Reslist generator only.
|-
|-
| '''-steam''' || Enables Steam support (if the game is launched from Steam, this is enabled by default). Working directory must be Steam directory. Works only for singleplayer games.
| '''-startwindowed, -windowed, -window, -sw''' || Forces the engine to start in Windowed mode.
|-
|-
| '''-steamlocal''' || Similar to -steam. Runs Steam in local filesystem mode (all content off HDD), as opposed to remote filesystem mode (requiring Steam backend).
| '''-steam''' || Enables Steam support (if the game is launched from Steam, this is enabled by default). Working directory must be Steam directory. Works only for singleplayer games.
|-
| '''-steamlocal''' || Similar to -steam. Runs Steam in local filesystem mode (all content off HDD), as opposed to remote filesystem mode (requiring Steam backend).
|-
|-
| '''-steamport''' || Master server updater port. Steam authentication port is this port + 1. (default is 26900)
| '''-steamport''' || Master server updater port. Steam authentication port is this port + 1. (default is 26900)
|-
|-
| '''-strictportbind''' || If you launch the game with this option it will quit with an error message if it can't bind to the default or specified port.
| '''-strictportbind''' || If you launch the game with this option it will quit with an error message if it can't bind to the default or specified port.
|-
|-
| '''-sv_benchmark''' || Enables benchmarking through sv_benchmark_force_start.
| '''-sv_benchmark''' || Enables benchmarking through sv_benchmark_force_start.
|-
|-
| '''-swapcores''' || Swaps threads for the particle and material systems each init
| '''-swapcores''' || Swaps threads for the particle and material systems each init
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| '''-tempcontent''' || Searches for game content in a folder called "_tempcontent" relative to the absolute game path. This option is enabled by default for Portal 1
| '''-tempcontent''' || Searches for game content in a folder called "_tempcontent" relative to the absolute game path. This option is enabled by default for Portal 1
|-
|-
| '''-testscript <filename>''' || Loads a .[[vtest]] file.
| '''-testscript <filename>''' || Loads a .[[vtest]] file.
|-
|-
| '''-testshaders''' || Loads the shader_test library. Debug only.
| '''-testshaders''' || Loads the shader_test library. Debug only.
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| '''-textmessagedebug''' || Spews client text messages to console.
| '''-textmessagedebug''' || Spews client text messages to console.
|-
|-
| '''-textmode''' || Runs the game without graphics
| '''-textmode''' || Runs the game without graphics, and instead launches a command prompt that displays the [[Developer Console]] outputs. Additionally, if the game is already running, launching the game with this command will simply boot the game up, instead of displaying the message "Only one instance of the game can be running at one time." (like {{code|-allowmultiple}} or {{code|-multirun}}).
|-
|-
| '''-threads''' || Number of threads to allocate for the thread pool, default is 3
| '''-threads''' || Number of threads to allocate for the thread pool, default is 3
|-
|-
| '''-tickrate''' || Sets the game tick interval. Disabled in code for TF2 because "server ops are abusing it".
| '''-tickrate''' || Sets the game tick interval. Disabled in code for {{tf2|4}} because "server ops are abusing it". Also disabled in {{css|4}}, {{dods|4}}, {{l4d|4}} and {{l4d2|4}}.<br>In older versions on some of those games, or using [[Source_Multiplayer_Networking#Server_plugins|server plugins]], or by enabling it in the code, it can be changed.
|-
|-
| '''-timedemoloop''' ||  
| '''-timedemoloop''' ||  
|-
|-
| '''-toconsole''' || Starts the engine directly in the console, unless a map is specified with <code>+map</code>.
| '''-toconsole''' || Starts the engine directly in the console, unless a map is specified with <code>+map</code>.
|-
|-
| '''-tools''' || Enables [[engine tools]].
| '''-tools''' || Enables [[engine tools]].
|-
|-
| '''-trackdeletions''' || Logs what files are marked for deletion in Reslist Generator.
| '''-trackdeletions''' || Logs what files are marked for deletion in Reslist Generator.
|-
|-
| '''-tvmasteronly''' || Only one person allowed in HLTV.
| '''-tvmasteronly''' || Only one person allowed in HLTV.
|-
| '''-unrestricted_maxplayers'''  {{tf2|only}} ||  Set the maximum players allowed to join the server. Unlike -maxplayers, this can allow for up to 100 players in a single server.<br>{{Warning|This feature is unsupported and not recommended, causing stability issues at maximum players.}}
|-
|-
| '''-usedevshotsfile''' || Get map list from specified file, default is to build for maps/*.bsp
| '''-usedevshotsfile''' || Get map list from specified file, default is to build for maps/*.bsp
|-
|-
| '''-useforcedmparms''' || Allows the use of -noforcemspd and -noforcemaccel.
| '''-useforcedmparms''' || Allows the use of -noforcemspd and -noforcemaccel.
|-
|-
| '''-usegh''' || Loads ghostinj.dll to allow support for third party dlls (gamehost)
| '''-usegh''' || Loads ghostinj.dll to allow support for third party dlls (gamehost)
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| '''-usereslistfile''' || Get map list from specified file, default is to build for maps/*.bsp. Reslist generator only.
| '''-usereslistfile''' || Get map list from specified file, default is to build for maps/*.bsp. Reslist generator only.
|-
|-
| '''-usetcp''' || Disable TCP support
| '''-usetcp''' || Disable TCP support
|-
|-
| '''-vcrplayback''' || Plays back a VCR recording. Nothing is simulated on the server, but all server packets are recorded.
| '''-vcrplayback''' || Plays back a VCR recording. Nothing is simulated on the server, but all server packets are recorded. Note: VCR recording and playback only fully working on a leaked HLS build, other games and versions crash
|-
|-
| '''-vcrrecord''' || Records a client's game and allows you to play it back and reproduce it exactly. {{Todo|how is this different from a demo?}}
| '''-vcrrecord''' || Records a client's game and allows you to play it back and reproduce it exactly. Requires -nosound See [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8YDS46MwS0 this] video on how it is different.
|-
|-
| '''-vguifocus''' || Enables debug VGUI messages related to input focus.
| '''-vguifocus''' || Enables debug VGUI messages related to input focus.
|-
|-
| '''-vguimessages''' || Enables debug VGUI messages.
| '''-vguimessages''' || Enables debug VGUI messages.
|-
| '''-vxconsole''' || Waits for Valve Xbox console to initialise. Xbox 360 only.
|-
|-
| '''-vproject''' || Manually sets the VProject directory to load game content for tools.
| '''-vproject''' || Manually sets the VProject directory to load game content for tools.
|-
|-
| '''-w <width>''' || Forces the engine to start with resolution set to <code><width></code>. Ex: <code>-w 1024</code>
| '''-vulkan''' {{only|{{hl2}}{{hl2dm}}{{hls}}{{hldms}}{{css}}{{dods}}{{l4d2}}{{portal}}{{p2}}{{tf2}}}} || Enables the use of the DXVK library to translate Direct3D graphics calls to the [[Vulkan]] API. On Windows, where Direct3D itself is supported, this is of little use and should usually not be enabled (except in {{portal2}}, where it can be used to work around some specific rendering bugs). On Linux, it is usually recommended for games which support it, due to providing better performance and less graphical issues compared to the OpenGL translation layer usually used on this platform. <br> A newer version of the respective games from 2021-2025 or later, and a graphics card that supports Vulkan (such as {{nvidia|3.1}} GeForce 600-series/Kepler-based, AMD GCN 1.0 (or later) and Intel Skylake) are required in order to enable DXVK. {{Warning|Enabling DXVK may crash the game if a third-party program tries to hook its overlay to the game unsuccessfully, and/or your GPU does not support Vulkan.}}
|-
|-
|'''-width <width>''' || Same as -w
| '''-vxconsole''' || {{360}} Waits for Valve Xbox console to initialise. Xbox 360 only.
|-
|-
| '''-wavonly''' || Disables DirectSound and makes the engine attempt to play all sounds in PCM format.
| '''-wavonly''' || Disables DirectSound and makes the engine attempt to play all sounds in PCM format.
|-
|-
| '''-window''' || Forces the engine to start in windowed mode
| '''-x <x position>''' || In borderless windowed mode, determines where the window should be horizontally. Ex: <code>-x 0</code>. '''Note:''' Setting this to 0 will make it align with the left side of your main monitor, rather than its center. Negative values also aren't accepted.
|-
| '''-sw''' || Same as -window
|-
| '''-startwindowed''' || Same as -window
|-
| '''-windowed''' || Same as -window
|-
| '''-xnet_bypass_security''' || Disables Xbox 360 secure networking, to allow cross-platform testing.
|-
| '''-x <x position>''' || In borderless windowed mode, determines where the window should be horizontally. Ex: <code>-x 0</code>
|-
| '''-y <y position>''' || In borderless windowed mode, determines where the window should be vertically. Ex: <code>-y 0</code>
|-
| '''+connect''' || Console Command
|-
| '''+load''' || Console Command
|-
| '''+mat_hdr_level''' || Console Command
|-
| '''+maxplayers''' || Console Command
|-
| '''+playdemo''' || Console Command
|-
|-
| '''+port''' || Console Command
| '''-xnet_bypass_security''' || {{360}} Disables Xbox 360 secure networking, to allow cross-platform testing.
|-
|-
| '''+timedemo''' || Console Command
| '''-y <y position>''' || In borderless windowed mode, determines where the window should be vertically. Ex: <code>-y 0</code>. '''Note:''' Setting this to 0 will make it align with the top side of your main monitor, rather than its center. Negative values also aren't accepted.
|-
|-
| '''+timedemoquit''' || Console Command
|'''-width <width>, -w''' || Forces the engine to start with resolution set to <code><width></code>. Ex: <code>-w 1024</code>
|}
|}


=== Console variables ===
==== Deprecated Command-Line Parameters ====
* '''+<console variable> <arg>''' - Sets the Cvar (or [[:Category:Console_Variables|console variable]]) to the specified setting.


==== Some useful console variables ====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Argument !! Description
! Argument !! Description
|-
|-
| '''+map <map-name[.bsp]>''' || Loads the map specified after the engine starts.
| '''-lowmemworkshop''' {{csgo|only}} || Allow updating very large map files on Steam Workshop. While the option still works, Valve most likely no longer allow users to upload CS:GO items to Workshop in favor of CS2.
|-
| '''+map_background <map name>''' || Forces a specified background map to be used. Useful for testing custom background maps. To avoid loading standard background maps for speed reasons, use the <code>-dev</code> command-line parameter.
|-
| '''+sv_lan <0/1>''' || When set to 1, launches the game in LAN mode. Useful to stop players from joining your game from the Internet.
|-
|-
| '''+sv_cheats <0/1>''' || When set to 1, starts the game with cheats enabled.
| '''-mat_aaquality''' || Set CSAA quality level, does the same as the Convar mat_aaquality. This no longer works on most modern GPUs (starting with NVIDIA GeForce 750Ti/800M/900 series).<br>{{Confirm|Does not work on latest version/Source 2013 as the console command with the same name remains unchanged. Confirm whether this does anything on older engine.}}
|-
|-
| '''+physcannon_mega_enabled 1''' || Makes Gravity gun a super gravity gun
| '''-mat_antialias''' || Antialiasing. Can be set to 8, amount past 8 won't sharpen the edges of game world.<br>{{Confirm|Also does not work on latest version/Source 2013. Confirm whether this does anything on older engine.}}
|-
|-
| '''+cl_showfps <0/1/2/3>''' || When set to 2, shows the framerate and map name.
|}
|}


== Goldsource Games ==
=== Console commands on startup ===
These command-line parameters will work with any [[Goldsource]] engine games (Half-Life, Counter-Strike, etc.).
* '''+<console command> <arg>''' - Runs command in console shortly after [[autoexec.cfg]] is executed. These are run by ConCommand {{cmd|stuffcmds}} issued from [[valve.rc]].


{{syntax|hl.exe <parameter1> <parameter2> <cvar1> <cvar2>}}
==== Useful console commands ====
 
{| class="wikitable sortable"
=== Usage ===
! Console commands !! Description
These options can be used with:
* Hammer editor [[Hammer_Run_Map_Normal|Run Map]] dialog.
* Windows shortcuts pointing to <code>hl.exe</code> directly.
* Windows shortcuts pointing to <code>steam.exe</code> with the proper <code>-applaunch <AppID></code> specified (see '''Steam''' section below).
* Command-line batch script files launching these applications.
* Game launch options from Steam's Library.
 
=== Examples ===
* <code>steam.exe -applaunch 70 -dev -console -sw +sv_lan 1 +map MyMap</code>
* <code>hl.exe -game cstrike -dev -console -fullscreen +sv_lan 1 +map de_dust</code>
 
=== Command-line parameters ===
* '''-game <[[Game Name Abbreviations|game]]>''' - Specifies which game/mod to run. Default is "valve".
* '''-dll <name.dll>''' - Specifies which game DLL to use. Ex: <code>-dll dlls/zbotcz.dll</code>.
* '''-condebug''' - Stores console output to "Half-Life\qconsole.log".{{Note|Can be toggled with '''condebug''' console command.}}
* '''-dev''' - Enables developer mode.
* '''-glext''' - When paired with "-dev" setting, outputs all OpenGL extensions supported by your graphics card.{{Note|Can do the same with '''gl_dump''' console command.}}
* '''-gl''' - Sets the rendered to OpenGL.
* '''-soft''' - Sets the rendered to Software.
* '''-full''' - Forces the engine to start in fullscreen mode.
* '''-window''' or '''-sw''' or '''-startwindowed''' or '''-windowed''' - Forces the engine to start in windowed mode.
* '''-w <width>''' or '''-width <width>''' - Forces the engine to start with resolution set to <code><width></code>. Ex: <code>-w 1024</code>.
* '''-h <height>''' or '''-height <height>'''- Forces the engine to start with resolution set to <code><height></code>. Ex: <code>-h 768</code>.
* '''-stretchaspect''' - The game by default adds black bars based on your game screen resolution. Use '''-stretchaspect''' on your command line if you want the old behavior back (just always fill the screen). Setting "-nofbo" also implies "-stretchaspect".
* '''-freq <variable>''' - Force a specific refresh rate when running in fullscreen AND your monitor supports the frequency in question. {{Note|If you don't have a CRT monitor chances are you can't use this option.}}
* '''-mousethread''' - If set we poll the mouse position in another thread running at 100hz by default, to get better movement accuracy. Set the "m_mousethread_sleep" cvar to the number of seconds to sleep between mouse polls to change this rate.
* '''-joy_advanced''' - Use advanced joystick options (allows for multiple axes).
* '''-joy_advr, -joy_advu, -joy_advv, -joy_advx, -joy_advy, -joy_advz''' - {{Todo}}
* '''-nosound''' - Disables sound support. {{Note|Can do the same with '''nosound <0 or 1>''' console command.}}
* '''-nocdaudio''' - Disables mp3 support. Also disallows '''cd''' console command to load mp3 tracks.
* '''-wavonly''' - Disables DirectSound and makes the engine attempt to play all sounds in PCM format.
* '''-nointro''' - Disables intro movies.
* '''-noip''' - Disables network support.
* '''-noipx''' - Disables IPX support.
* '''-nojoy''' - Disables joystick support.
* '''-nomouse''' - Disables in-game mouse support.
* '''-noforcemparms''' - Forces the engine to use operating system mouse parameters.
* '''-noforcemaccel''' - Forces the engine to use operating system mouse acceleration.
* '''-noforcemspd''' - Forces the engine to use operating system mouse speed.
* '''-nofbo''' - Disables using the new method for rendering.
* '''-nomsaa''' - Disables MSAA (Anti-Aliasing), setting "-nofbo" also implies "-nomsaa".
* '''-noborder''' - When used with the game set to windowed mode, will make the game act as if in fullscreen mode (no window border).{{Bug|Doesn't hide window border, only control buttons.}}
* '''-nodirectblit''' - Disables direct blitting (Blit is shorthand for "block image transfer" or bit blit).
* '''-nobots''' - Disables bots.
* '''-port <port>''' - Specifies which port to use for client connections for a listen server. Default is 27015.{{Note|Can do the same with '''port''' console command.}}
* '''-demoedit''' - Enables hidden Demo editor.{{Note|Use '''viewdemo''' console command to get access.}}
* '''-num_edicts <variable>''' - Sets the entity limit for map/game entities (not temporary entities, which is still locked to 500). 900 is default. 4096 is a good limit, beyond that seems to cause hunk_alloc errors{{confirm}}. Both clients and servers need matching values for best compatibility{{confirm}}.
* '''-heapsize <kilobytes>''' - Specifies the amount of heap(or free store - cache, an area of memory used for dynamic memory allocation) the engine will use. Minimum value is 14336(14 MB). Maximum value is 131072(128 MB). By default this is set to 40960 (40 MB) and automatically adjusted to suit your system.{{Note|Low value causes "Unable to allocate X.X MB" exit error.}}
* '''-zone <bytes>''' - Specifies the amount of Bytes of memory for use with the console system.{{Note|Low or very high value causes [[Z_malloc|Z_Malloc]] exit error.}}
* '''-exec <file>''' - Executes specific config file immediately after the engine is loaded.
* '''+<console variable> <arg>''' - Sets the Cvar (or [[console variable]]) to the specified setting.
 
==== Useful console variables ====
* '''+_setgamedir <[[Game Name Abbreviations|game]]>''' - Specifies which game/mod to run.
* '''+_setrenderer <variable>''' - Sets the rendering mode. Available parameters are '''opengl''' and '''software'''.{{Note|Parameter '''D3D''' is deprecated.}}
* '''+_setvideomode''' - {{Todo}}
* '''+_set_vid_level <0 or 1>''' - Toogles "Low video quality".
* '''+_setaddons_folder <0 or 1>''' - Toogles "Allow custom addon content".
* '''+_sethdmodels <0 or 1>''' - Toogles "Enable HD models if available".
* '''+clientport <port>''' - Specifies which port to use to communicate with a server. Default is 27005.
* '''+gg <demoname>''' or '''+cl_gg 1 +playdemo <demoname>''' - Runs the demo in Game Gauge mode. This is a benchmark utility that runs through a demo as fast as possible and stores the framerate in the file fps.txt in the GameMod directory.
* '''+log on''' or '''+log off''' - Toogles logging before the engine loads config files.
 
==== Deprecated command-line parameters ====
* '''-console''' - Enables console. Can be opened either from menu (button in top-left corner in old Half-Life builds or button in main menu in new builds), or by pressing tilde (~) in-game.{{Note|Always enabled by default.}}
* '''-toconsole''' - Opens the console right when the game is launched.{{Note|No longer works.}}
* '''-gldrv <driver name>''' - Selects the GL Driver. The two choices are "Default" and "3dfxgl.dll".{{Note|No longer works.}}
* '''-d3d''' - Sets the rendered to Direct3D.{{Note|Removed.[http://steamcommunity.com/games/70/announcements/detail/1028213937978037958]}}
* '''-vid_mode <variable>''' or '''-vt <variable>''' - Sets the rendering mode. Available parameters are '''gl''' and '''software'''.{{Note|No logner works. Use '''-gl''', '''-soft''' or '''-d3d'''(see above) instead.}}
* '''-16bpp''' - Forces 16-bit color mode (bit depth).{{Note|Not allowed.}}
* '''-32bpp''' - Forces 32-bit color mode (bit depth).{{Note|Enabled by default.}}
* '''-nowinmouse''' - Don't capture mouse in-game.{{Note|Renamed to '''-nomouse'''.}}
* '''-gamegauge <demoname>''' - Runs the demo in Game Gauge mode. This is a benchmark utility that runs through a demo as fast as possible and stores the framerate in the file fps.txt in the GameMod directory.{{Note|Use console commands instead.}}
* '''-numericping''' - Displays ping in server browsers in milliseconds instead of dots.{{Note|Enabled by default.}}
* '''-particles <variable>''' - The number of particles for which to set aside buffer space.{{Note|No longer works.}}
* '''-nosierra''' - Disables Sierra logo on GoldSrc games that have it.{{Note|Only works on retail editions of Half-Life; removed when it was transferred to Steam.}}
* '''-noaff''' - Disables setting of thread affinity.{{Note|No longer works.}}
 
== Steam (Windows) ==
 
These command-line parameters work when launching the Steam application (<code>steam.exe</code>) under Windows.
 
=== Command-line parameters ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Argument !! Description
|-
|-
| '''-applaunch [[Steam Application IDs|<appID>]] [launch parameters]''' || Launches an Game or Application through Steam.
| '''+cl_showfps <0/1/2/3>''' || When set to 2, shows the framerate and map name.
|-
|-
| '''-cafeapplaunch''' || Launch apps in a cyber cafe context (Forces apps to be verified / validated before launch).
| '''+connect''' || Immediately connects to a server address.
|-
|-
| '''-clearbeta''' || Opts out of beta participation (in case for some reason it can't be done via settings).
| '''+load <save name>''' || Immediately loads the save specified after the engine starts.
|-
|-
| '''-complete_install_via_http''' || Run installation completion over HTTP by default.
| '''+map <map name[.bsp]>''' || Immediately loads the map specified after the engine starts.
|-
|-
| '''-console''' || Enables the Steam debug console tab.
| '''+map_background <map name[.bsp]>''' || Forces a specified background map to be used. Useful for testing custom background maps. To avoid loading standard background maps for speed reasons, use the <code>-dev</code> command-line parameter.
|-
|-
| '''-ccsyntax''' || Spew details about the localized strings we load.
| '''+mat_hdr_level''' || Sets HDR level (off, LDR/SDR with Bloom, and HDR) before the background map loads. See [[HDR Lighting Basics]].
|-
|-
| '''-debug_steamapi''' || Enables logging of Steam API functions.
| '''+maxplayers <number>''' || Sets maxplayers. This will set maxplayers before the background map loads. To change when running, run <disconnect> to escape the current map, including background maps.
|-
|-
| '''-dev''' || Sets the 'developer' variable to 1. Can be used to open the VGUI editor by pressing F6 or VGUI zoo by pressing F7. Intended for skin development, also enables the debug console tab.
| '''+physcannon_mega_enabled <0/1>''' || Makes Gravity gun a super gravity gun.
|-
|-
| '''-fs_log''' || Log file system accesses.
| '''+playdemo <demo>''' || Immediately plays a demo file.
|-
|-
| '''-fs_target''' || Set target syntax.
| '''+ip''' || Specifies the IP when multiple network cards are installed (Old, but still works).
|-
|-
| '''-fs_logbins''' || Log the binaries we load during operation.
| '''+hostname "Hostname"''' || Specifies the name of the server (Spaces between words won't work here!).
|-
|-
| '''-forceservice''' || Run Steam Client Service even if Steam has admin rights.
| '''+hostport <port>''' || Specifies the host port (Port specification before -port was added, but can still be used).
|-
|-
| '''-gameoverlayinject''' || Sets the method how GameOverlay is injected.
| '''+clientport <port>''' || Specifies the client port (The port the server advertises to clients, the same as -port and clientport in console)
|-
|-
| '''-install <path>''' || Install a product from a specified path (e.g. "D:" for the DVD-ROM drive if D: is one).
| '''+sv_cheats <0/1>''' || When set to 1, starts the game with cheats enabled.
|-
|-
| '''-installer_test''' || changes installing a retail game to emit all files to install_validate/ folder instead of to the steam cache.
| '''+sv_lan <0/1>''' || When set to 1, launches the game in LAN mode. Useful to stop players from joining your game from the Internet.
|-
|-
| '''-language <language>''' || Sets the Steam language to the one specified. (Examples: "english", "german").
| '''+sv_use_steam_networking <0/1>''' || {{only|{{tf2branch}}}} When set to 0, disable Steam Networking. Useful to stop players from joining your game from the Internet.
|-
|-
| '''-login <nowiki><[username]|anonymous></nowiki> [password]''' || Logs into Steam with the specified Username and Password combination. '''Note:''' Steam must be off for this to work.
| '''+timedemo''' || Console Command
|-
|-
| '''-lognetapi''' || Logs all P2P networking info to log/netapi_log.txt.
| '''+timedemoquit''' || Console Command
|-
| '''-log_voice''' || Writes voice chat data to the logs/voice_log.txt file.
|-
| '''-noasync''' || Don't use async file operations, run them synchronous instead.
|-
| '''-nocache''' || Starts steam with no cache (Steam must be off for this to work properly).
|-
| '''-nofriendsui'''|| [https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/6312#issuecomment-500640603 No longer does anything.] It used to start Steam without the [https://steamcommunity.com/updates/chatupdate new steam friends list.]
|-
| '''-noverifyfiles''' || Prevents from the client from checking files integrity, especially useful when testing localization.
|-
| '''-no-browser''' || Steam's description for this parameter says it "unconditionally disables CEF". CEF is Chromium Embedded Framework, which Steam uses for its built-in web browser components (including the in-game overlay browser), and also for WebViews used by the new Panorama-based friends/chat UI. Using this option will—among other things—disable the new friends and chat UI.
|-
| '''-no-dwrite''' || Forces vgui to use GDI text even if DWrite support is available.
|-
| '''-script <file name>''' || Runs a Steam script. All scripts must be in a subdirectory of the Steam folder called test scripts (Steam must be off for this to work).
|-
| '''-shutdown''' ||Shuts down (exits) Steam.
|-
| '''-silent''' || Suppresses the dialog box that opens when you start steam. It is used when you have Steam set to auto-start when your computer turns on. (Steam must be off for this to work).
|-
| '''-single_core''' || Force Steam to run on your primary CPU only.
|-
| '''-tcp''' || Forces connection to Steam backend to be via TCP.
|-
| '''-voice_quality''' || Sets audio quality, range [1,3].
|-
| '''-voicerelay''' || Only allow 'relay' connections for voice (testing).
|-
| '''-tenfoot''' || Start Steam in Big Picture Mode.
|}
|}


== HldsUpdateTool (Windows), steam (Linux) ==
== Dedicated Server ==
'''Syntax:''' <code>hldsupdatetool -command <command> [parameters] [flags]</code>


=== Commands ===
Command-line arguments for the Source Dedicated Server executable (<code>srcds.exe</code>, <code>srcds_run</code>)
*'''-command update''' - Install or update HLDS.
*'''-command version''' - View installed versions.
*'''-command list''' - View available games.


=== Parameters for the update command ===
*'''-beta <betaname>''' - Name of the beta (optional parameter for taking part in a beta test)
*'''-game [[Game Name Abbreviations|<game>]]''' - The name of the game to install (see [[Dedicated Server Name Enumeration|enumeration]]).
*'''-dir <installdir>''' - HLDS Install directory (if dir not specified, will use value from last run of tool).
The following parameters are only needed to access limited content.
*'''-username <username>''' - Steam account username
*'''-password <password>''' - Steam account password


=== Flags for the update command ===
=== Command-Line Parameters ===
*'''-verify_all''' - Verify all HLDS files are up to date.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
*'''-retry''' - Automatically retry every 30 seconds if the Steam Network is busy.
! Argument !! Description
*'''-remember_password''' - Remember password (if a username is supplied).
 
=== Optional parameters for all commands ===
 
*'''-nobootstrapupdate''' - Do not check for updates to the update tool
 
== SteamCMD ==
The Steam Console Client or [[SteamCMD]] is a new tool to install and update dedicated servers using a command line interface. It only works with games that have switched over to the SteamPipe content system. Eventually all Steam games will switch from HLDSUpdateTool to this.
 
{{syntax|steamcmd.exe <parameter1> <parameter2> <cvar1> <cvar2>}}
 
To view the most up to date version of SteamCMD commands visit this GitHub repo:
https://github.com/dgibbs64/SteamCMD-Commands-List
 
=== Usage ===
* <code>steamcmd.exe +COMMAND1 [ARG] +COMMAND2 [ARG]</code>
* <code>steamcmd.exe +runscript SCRIPTFILE</code>
 
=== Command-line parameters ===
{{Todo}}
=== Commands ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Argument !! Parameter(s) !! Description
|-
| api_logging || <enabled> <verbose> || Enable/disable verbose API logging in SteamCMD
|-
| app_build_all_depots || [-desc <text>] -depotconfigpath <folder> -contentroot <folder> -buildoutput <folder> <appid> || Build all depots for one app
|-
| app_dlc_status || app_status <appId> <dlcId> ||
|-
| app_info_print || || Dumps app info for appID
|-
| app_info_print || ||Dumps app info for appID
|-
| app_info_request || <AppID> || Issue an appinfo request for the given appid. Does not wait for results from the server.
|-
| app_info_update || <nowiki>[0|1]</nowiki> || Trigger app info update, optionally for update all
|-
| app_license_request || <AppID> || Requests a free licenses for this app if not already owned.
|-
| app_run|| <AppID> || Launches the app.
|-
| app_set_config || <AppID> <key> <value> || Sets a config value for given app.
|-
| app_set_update_flag || <appId> ||
|-
| app_status || <appId> ||
|-
| app_stop || <appid> <nowiki>[force:0|1]</nowiki> || Stop this running app
|-
| app_uninstall || [-complete] <appId> ||
|-
| app_update || <appid> [-validate] [-language <lang>] [-beta <betaname>] [-betapassword <pwd>] || Make sure a Steam application is up-to-date
|-
| app_update_cancel || <EAppUpdateError> ||
|-
| apps_installed || ||
|-
| apps_running || || Displays information about running games tracked by Steam
|-
| async_disconnect || || Async disconnect
|-
| build_installer || <project file> <target folder> [beta key] [beta pwd] ||
|-
| ceg_wrap || <appid> <orig filename> <stripped filename> <strips filename> || Upload executable to back end for CEG wrapping
|-
| cm_force_change || || Change CM List
|-
| device_authorize_status || || Prints device authorization status
|-
| download_depot || <appid> <depotid> [<target manifestid>] [<delta manifestid>] [<depot flags filter>] || Download a single depot
|-
| download_sources || || Dumps list of download sources
|-
| drm_wrap || <appid> <input filename> <output filename> <toolname> <flags> || Upload executable to back end for DRM wrapping
|-
| dump_scheduled_functions || || Displays internal Steam function callback timers
|-
| exit || || Stops Steam client console
|-
| find || || Find substrings in console commands
|-
| force_install_dir || <directory> || Sets the directory to install the server in
|-
| get_download_throttle || ||
|-
| help || || Show help information
|-
| info || || Dump various Steam info
|-
| install_folder_list || || List all mounted Steam volumes
|-
| licenses_for_app ||<appid> || Shows active licenses for appid
|-
| licenses_print || || Display users's Steam3 licenses
|-
| log_callbacks || <first callbackID> [last callbackID] ||
|-
|-
| log_ipc || [verbose] <filter> || Enables IPC logging. Specifying "counts" or "verbose" is optional, defaulting to counts.
| '''-allowdebug''' || (Same as -debug ?)
|-
|-
| login || <nowiki>[<password>|anonymous]</nowiki> [<Steam guard code>] || Login to Steam
| '''-autoupdate''' || {{linux}} Autoupdate the game. Requires -steam_dir and -steamcmd_script to be set.
|-
|-
| logon || || See "login"
| '''-binary <binary>''' || {{linux}} Use the specified binary (no auto detection).
|-
|-
| logoff || || Disconnect from Steam
| '''-console''' || {{windows}} SrcDS will run in console mode.
|-
|-
| logout || || See "logoff"
| '''-debug''' || Run debugging on failed servers if possible. Requires -gdb to be set {{confirm}}
|-
|-
| manifest_dump || <filename> ||
| '''-debuglog <logname>''' || {{linux}} Log debug output to this file.
|-
|-
| mem_stats || || Dump memory stats
| '''-dev''' || Show developer messages.
|-
|-
| net_msgdump || || Dumps list of sent net messages
| '''-fork <number>''' {{l4d|since}} || {{linux}} Starts up the specified number of instances as subprocesses at once.  They will each use the first available port number at 27015 or above. When using this functionality, other server parameters support substitution. For instance, if you specify <code>+exec autoexec##.cfg</code>, then the first server will execute <code>autoexec01.cfg</code>, the second <code>autoexec02.cfg</code>, and so on.
|-
|-
| net_msgspew || || Spews sent net messages
| '''-game <game or path>''' || Specifies which game/mod to run. Accepts either a path to a [[gameinfo.txt]], or [[Game Name Abbreviations|one of these pre-set values]].
|-
|-
| p2p_info || || Displays the current state of the P2P networking subsystem.
| '''-gdb <gdb>''' || {{linux}} Use <dbg> as the debugger of failed servers.
|-
|-
| package_info_print || || Dumps package info for packageID
| '''-help''' || {{linux}} ?
|-
|-
| quit || || Stops & close Steam client console
| '''-insecure''' || Starts the server without [[Valve Anti-Cheat]].
|-
|-
| render_ipc_connections || ||
| '''-ignoresigint''' || {{linux}} Ignore signal INT (prevents CTRL+C quitting).
|-
|-
| run_app_build || [-preview] [-desc <text>] <appbuildfile> || Run app depot build as specified in appbuildfile
| '''-ip''' || Specifies the address to use for the bind(2) syscall, which controls on which IP addresses the program is reachable on. It must either be a local address (an addresses of the host it runs on) or 0.0.0.0 (the wildcard). This has nothing to do with externally-visible addresses in NAT setups.
|-
|-
| run_app_build_http || || Alias for run_app_build
| '''-maxplayers <number>''' || Specifies how many player slots the server can contain.
|-
|-
| runscript || <script file, such as TXT> || Runs a console command script
| '''-netconport <number>''' {{l4d|since}} || Creates a remotely accessible server console on the specified port.  This can be connected to with telnet or similar applications, and allows controlling of the server as if the commands were being typed in at the console
|-
|-
| set_download_throttle || <Kb/s> <bPersistent = false> ||
| '''-netconpassword <password>''' {{l4d|since}} || If set, users must type PASS "password" to use the remote console described above
|-
|-
| set_spew || <group> <level> <logLevel> || Set spew levels for the given group
| '''-nobots''' || Disable bots.
|-
|-
| set_spew_level || <SpewLevel LogLevel> || Sets spew and log level for all groups
| '''-nohltv''' || Disables [[SourceTV]] and closes its port (usually 27020).
|-
|-
| set_steam_guard_code || || Authorize this computer by adding the Steam Guard email code
| '''-norestart''' || Won't attempt to restart failed servers.
|-
|-
| sign_install_script || <appid> <input filename> <output filename> || Upload install script to back end for signing
| '''-notrap''' || {{linux}} Don't use trap. This prevents automatic removal of old lock files.
|-
|-
| test_dropcon || || Tests dropping a connection
| '''-port''' || The port the server advertises to clients.
|-
|-
| test_failnextconnect || || Tests failing the next connection
| '''-steam''' || Use this (along with <code>-console</code>) when you are running the version of SRCDS downloaded through Steam{{confirm}}. Original Description "Quit on steam update failure"
|-
|-
| upload_controller_config || <appid> <filename> || Upload controller config to cloud
| '''-steamcmd_script <path>''' || {{linux}}{{confirm}} Path to the steam script to execute. Example: ~/Steam/hl2_ds.txt.
|-
|-
| user_friends || || Dumps list of friends
| '''-steamerr''' || {{linux}} Quit on steam update failure.
|-
|-
| verify_chunk_store || <appid> <depotid> <datafile> || Run app depot build as specified in appbuildfile
| '''-steamuser''' || {{linux}} Steam user ID?
|-
|-
| verify_vpk ||<datafile> || Verifies content of given VPK
| '''-steampass''' || {{linux}} Steam Login Password?
|-
|-
| voice_game_usage || || Displays information about the game's use of Steam voice
| '''-steam_dir <path>''' || {{linux}} Dir that steam.sh resides in. Example: ~/Steam
|-
|-
| workshop_build_item || <build config filename> || Build a workshop item
| '''-tickrate <number>''' || Specifies Server-Tickrate (for more info see [[Source Multiplayer Networking]]). This cannot be altered on {{tf2|1|nt=0}} (except older versions), {{css|1|nt=2}} (except older versions), {{l4d|1|nt=2}}, and {{l4d2|1|nt=1}}.
|-
|-
| workshop_create_legacy_item || <appid> <workshop file> || Build a legacy workshop item
| '''-timeout <number>''' || Sleep for <number> seconds before restarting a failed server.
|-
|-
| workshop_download_item || <appid> <PublishedFileId> || Download a workshop item
| '''-dumplongticks''' || Generate minidumps when there are long server frame
|-
| workshop_status || <appId> ||
|}
|}


=== ConVars ===
{{Source topicon}}  
* app_info_http_min = "0"          : 
* app_info_http_num_sockets = "8"          : 
* AsyncFileIODisableWrite = "0"          : 
* AsyncFileIOExpectOutstandingIO = "16"        : 
* AsyncFileIOForceGenericIO = "1"          : 
* AsyncFileIOMaxPending = "128"        : 
* AsyncFileIOReadHandleCache = "32"        : 
* AsyncFileIOWriteHandleCache = "32"        : 
* batterypercent = "0"          : 
* batterytime = "0"          : 
* bCheckForFreeGamesOnLogin = "0"          : 
* bCheckUGCIntegrity = "1"          : 
* @bContentManifestUseProtobufs = "1"          : 
* @bCSClientRateLimitUseDelays = "0"          : 
* @bCSForceNoCache = "0"          : 
* @bDepotBuilderReadBufferSizeKB = "8192"      : 
* @bDepotBuilderUnbufferedReads = "1"          : 
* bDisableTenFootOverlay = "0"          : 
* @bEnableMovieRecording = "0"          : 
* @bEnableOfflineLogonTicket = "1"          : If true, an offline logon ticket will be requested during logon if none is cached
* @bEnableSpewThrottle = "1"          : 
* bEnableSubscribedFileListCache = "1"          : 
* bFinishStagedDepotVersions = "1"          : 
* @bForceStreamUnsupportedApp = "0"          : 
* @bLANPeerConnectionTimeoutSec = "5"          : 
* bLogLegacyDiskDetails = "0"          : 
* @bMsgErrorDump = "0"          : 
* @bRequireOfflineLogonTicket = "0"          : If true, a valid offline logon ticket is required when logging in in offline or no connection mode
* @bRequireSignedParentalSettings = "1"          : If true, a valid set of signed parental settings is required when logging in in offline or no connection mode
* broadcast_upload_drop_sec = "6"          : 
* broadcast_upload_update_sec = "3"          : 
* bSteam3LimitedUserEnable = "1"          : 
* bSteamLoaderEnable = "1"          : 
* bSubscribedFilesDecompressOnClient = "1"          : 
* bSubscribedFilesPollForUpdates = "0"          : 
* bSubscribedFilesUseRangeRequests = "0"          : 
* bVerifyAllDownloads = "0"          : 
* cAppUpdateWorkingSetMB = "128"        : 
* @cbPartnerUploadChunkSize = "1000000"    : Chunk size to use for POSTing partner uploads
* @cCSClientMaxNumSocketsPerHost = "8"          : 
* @cDepotBuilderFileChunkingThreads = "4"          : 
* cFileValidationMaxLog = "100"        : 
* ClientStatsUploadRateSeconds = "10"        : 
* @cMaxContentServersToRequest = "20"        : 
* @cMaxInitialDownloadSources = "-1"        : 
* @cNetEncryptionHandshakeWorkMax_HighPri = "8000"      : 
* @cNetEncryptionHandshakeWorkMax_LowPri = "2000"      : 
* @cNetEncryptionHandshakeWorkMax_MedPri = "4000"      : 
* countrycode = ""          : 
* cPreallocateMinimumSizeKB = "256"        : 
* @csecCSRequestProcessorTimeOut = "300"        : 
* @csecFavoriteGameAccountCacheTime = "86400"      : Control how often we refresh the account IDs in the game server favorites list
* @csecIncomingDataRatePeriod = "1"          : 
* csecManifestDownloadTimeout = "120"        : 
* @csecUpdateTargetNumConnectionsEpoch = "10"        : 
* @cSecUploadDownloadRates = "300"        : 
* @CSInterfaceProxyPassword = ""          : 
* @CSInterfaceProxyUsername = ""          : 
* @cUDPSendRetries = "8"          : 
* @CustomBinaryRequestRetryTimes = "20"        : 
* @DepotBuilderAppInfoTimeout = "120"        : 
* @DepotBuilderConfigRoot = "./depotscripts" : 
* @DepotBuilderContentRoot = ""          : 
* @DepotBuilderMaxParallelUploadChunks = "24"        : 
* @DepotBuilderNoReslist = "0"          : 
* @DepotBuilderNumHTTPSocketsToMDS = "12"        : 
* @DepotBuilderOutputRoot = ""          : 
* @DepotBuilderParallelUploadChunks = "6"          : 
* @DepotBuilderProgressTimeout = "1000"      : 
* DepotDownloadProgressTimeout = "120"        : 
* DepotReconstructionLowPrio = "1"          : 
* DepotReconstructionNumIOThreads = "1"          : 
* DepotUseAlternatingReadWrite = "1"          : 
* developer = "0"          : 
* @EnableUDPHistory = "0"          : 
* @fDownloadRateImprovementToAddAnotherConnection = "1.2"        : 
* findbestcellstartupdelay = "600"        : 
* @fMinDataRateToAttemptTwoConnectionsMbps = "0.5"        : 
* @GCNameOverride = ""          : 
* @IOCPGetCompletionBatchSize = "1"          : 
* @LocalContentServer = ""          : 
* log_files_always_flush = "0"          : 
* log_matchmaking_callbacks = "0"          : 
* @MaxOutstandingSendThreadItem = "1000"      : 
* mic_autogain = "16000"      : automatic gain control level for microphone input
* mic_inputfile = ""          : causes voice data to be read from the specified file instead of from the microphone
* mic_outputfile = ""          : causes microphone data to be written out to the specified file
* musiclogging = "0"          : 
* nBroadcastSessionHearbeatSec = "120"        : 
* nBroadcastSessionMaxDropFrames = "100"        : 
* nClientBackgroundAutoUpdateTimeSpreadMinutes = "0"          : Number of minutes to spread background auto-updates out over
* nClientCMUDPPingTimeGoodEnoughThresholdMS = "50"        : 
* nClientCMUDPPingTimeoutUseGoodEnoughMS = "250"        : 
* nCloudDownloadMinIntervalSec = "60"        : 
* nCloudFileCompressionMinFileSizeKB = "16"        : 
* nCloudFileCompressionMinFileSizeKBSharedFile = "128"        : 
* nCloudFileCompressionPercentageMin = "10"        : 
* nCloudFileCompressionPercentageMinSharedFile = "50"        : 
* nCloudSyncIntervalSec = "30"        : 
* nCloudUploadMinIntervalSec = "1800"      : 
* nContentStatsReportInterval = "72"        : In Hours
* @nCSClientRateLimitKbps = "0"          : 
* @nDownloadLANChunkCacheSizeMB = "128"        : 
* @nDownloadLANPeerGroup = "0"          : 
* @net_backlog_bytes_allowed = "12000000"  : 
* @net_backlog_time_allowed_sec = "5"          : 
* @NetConnectionBufferMsgLimit = "1000"      : Max # of message that will be buffered into a single zipped packet
* @NetConnectionBufferThreaded = "1"          : 
* net_incomingcheck = "1"          : 
* @net_loopback = "1"          : 
* net_maxresendsperframe = "32"        : 
* @nLANPeerRateLimitKbps = "0"          : 
* @nNetConnectionBufferZipLevel = "1"          : 
* @NoPromptForPassword = "0"          : 
* @nParentalSettingsLogLevel = "4"          : Control the amount of spew written to the parental log file
* nProductInfoUpdateInterval = "900"        : 
* @nSpewThrottleNagFrequencyMs = "5000"      : 
* n@SpewThrottlePeriodMs = "1000"      : 
* @nSpewThrottleResumeThreshold = "3"          : 
* @nSpewThrottleTriggerThreshold = "10"        : 
* @nSpewThrottleUnconditionalResumeMs = "5000"      : 
* @nSpewThrottleUnconditionalTriggerCount = "50"        : 
* nSubscribedAutoDownloadMaxSimultaneous = "8"          : 
* @nTCPLargeSendBufSizeMB = "16"        : 
* p2p_connecttimeout = "15"        : 
* p2p_unusedtimeout = "120"        : 
* rtime32EarliestSubscribedFileToDownload = "1348857570" : 
* @sCSDSVirtualHostHeader = ""          : 
* ServerBrowserPingSurveySubmitPct = "5"          : 
* @ShutdownOnFailedCommand = "1"          : Exit steamcmd immediately upon any failed build-related command
* spew_controller_loss = "0"          : 
* @sSteamCmdForcePlatformBitness = ""          : Must be one of: [32 | 64]
* @sSteamCmdForcePlatformType = ""          : Must be one of: [windows | macos | linux]
* @strCSNoCacheHeader = "no-cache"  : 
* @StreamClientArgs = ""          : 
* testappcloudpaths = "0"          : 
* uForcePreloadApp = "0"          : 
* UGCCDNReportPct = "100"        : 
* voice_autogain = "0"          : 
* voice_minabs = "0.15"      : 
* voice_minavg = "1.0"        : 
* voice_outputdevice = "0"          : 0=>Miles 1=>XAudio2
* voice_outputfile = ""          : causes output from voice system to be written out to the specified file
* voice_preprocess = "1"          : enables voice cleanup on incoming microphone data
* voice_quality = "4"          : 
* workshop_items_cache_days = "14"        : 
* workshop_items_update_interval = "900"        :
=== Examples ===
* <code>steamcmd.exe +login <username> <password> +force_install_dir <path> +app_update <appid> -validate
 
== Source Dedicated Server ==
 
Command-line arguments for the Source Dedicated Server executable (<code>srcds.exe</code>, <code>srcds_run</code>)
 
=== Command-line parameters ===
 
; <code>-allowdebug</code>
: (Same as -debug ?)
; <code>-autoupdate</code>
: Autoupdate the game. Requires -steam_dir and -steamcmd_script to be set (Linux/Unix only).
; <code>-binary <binary></code>
: Use the specified binary (no auto detection) (Linux/Unix only).
; <code>-console</code>
: SrcDS will run in console mode (Windows only).
; <code>-debug</code>
: Run debugging on failed servers if possible. Requires -gdb to be set {{confirm}}
; <code>-debuglog <logname></code>
: Log debug output to this file (Linux/Unix only).
; <code>-dev</code>
: Show developer messages.
; <code>-game <game or path></code>
: Specifies which game/mod to run. Accepts either a path to a [[gameinfo.txt]], or [[Game Name Abbreviations|one of these pre-set values]].
; <code>-gdb <gdb></code>
: Use <dbg> as the debugger of failed servers (Linux/Unix only).
; <code>-help</code>
: ? (Linux/Unix only).
; <code>-insecure</code>
: Will start the server without [[Valve Anti-Cheat]].
; <code>-ignoresigint</code>
: (Linux/Unix only) Ignore signal INT (prevents CTRL+C quitting).
; <code>-ip</code>
: Specifies the address to use for the bind(2) syscall, which controls on which IP addresses the program is reachable on. It must either be a local address (an addresses of the host it runs on) or 0.0.0.0 (the wildcard). This has nothing to do with externally-visible addresses in NAT setups.
; <code>-maxplayers <number></code>
: Specifies how many player slots the server can contain. (CSGO Maxplayers is deprecated, set it in gamemodes_server.txt or use '''-maxplayers_override''' instead.)
; <code>-nobots</code>
: Disable bots.
; <code>-nohltv</code>
: Disables [[SourceTV]] and closes its port (usually 27020).
; <code>-norestart</code>
: Won't attempt to restart failed servers.
; <code>-notrap</code>
: (Linux/Unix only) Don't use trap. This prevents automatic removal of old lock files.
; <code>-port</code>
: The port the server advertises to clients.
; <code>-steam</code>
: Use this (along with <code>-console</code>) when you are running the version of SRCDS downloaded through Steam{{confirm}}. Original Description "Quit on steam update failure"
; <code>-steamcmd_script <path></code>
: Path to the steam script to execute. Example: ~/Steam/csgo_ds.txt (Linux/Unix only{{confirm}})
; <code>-steamerr</code>
: Quit on steam update failure (Linux/Unix only).
; <code>-steamuser</code>
: Steam user ID? (Linux/Unix only).
; <code>-steampass</code>
: Steam Login Password? (Linux/Unix only).
; <code>-steam_dir <path></code>
: Dir that steam.sh resides in. Example: ~/Steam (Linux/Unix only)
; <code>-tickrate <number></code>
: Specifies Server-Tickrate (for more info see [[Source Multiplayer Networking]]). This doesn't exist on TF2, CSS, L4D, and L4D2.
; <code>-timeout <number></code>
: Sleep for <number> seconds before restarting a failed server.
; <code>-dumplongticks</code>
: Generate minidumps when there are long server frames
; <code>-usercon</code>
: Enables RCON for CS:GO Servers
 
=== Console variables ===
* '''+<console variable> <arg>''' - Sets the Cvar (or [[:Category:Console_Variables|console variable]]) to the specified setting.
 
==== Some useful console variables ====
* '''+hostname "Hostname"''' - Specifies the name of the server (Spaces between words won't work here!).
* '''+ip''' - Specifies the IP when multiple network cards are installed (Old, but still works).
* '''+map <map>''' - Specifies which map to start.
* '''+maxplayers <number>''' - Specifies how many player slots the server can contain (Old, but still works).
* '''+hostport <port>''' - Specifies the host port (Port specification before -port was added, but can still be used).
* '''+clientport <port>''' - Specifies the client port (The port the server advertises to clients, the same as -port and clientport in console)
* '''+sv_lan <0/1>''' - If set to 1, server is only available in Local Area Network (LAN).
 
=== Linux command options in Left 4 Dead (2) ===
The linux version of [[Left 4 Dead]] and [[Left 4 Dead 2]] dedicated server added extra server commands.
 
As part of the forking functionality mentioned below, the server parameters support substitution.  For instance, if you specify ''+exec autoexec##.cfg'', then the first server will execute ''autoexec01.cfg'', the second ''autoexec02.cfg'', and so on.
 
* '''-netconport <number>''' - Creates a remotely accessible server console on the specified port.  This can be connected to with telnet or similar applications, and allows controlling of the server as if the commands were being typed in at the console
* '''-netconpassword "password"''' - It set, users must type PASS "password" to use the remote console described above
* '''-fork <number>''' - Starts up the specified number of instances as subprocesses at once.  They will each use the first available port number at 27015 or above.
 
== Half-Life Dedicated Server ==
These command-line parameters are used with <code>hlds.exe</code> for [[Goldsource]] (Half-Life) games.
 
{{syntax|hlds.exe <parameter1> <parameter2> <cvar1> <cvar2>}}
 
=== Examples ===
* <code>hlds.exe -console -game cstrike +sv_lan 0 +maxplayers 22 +map de_dust2</code>
* <code>./hlds_run -game cstrike -autoupdate -pingboost 2 -port 27016 +maxplayers 20 +map de_dust2</code>
 
=== Command-line parameters ===
* '''-condebug''' - Stores console output to "Half-Life\qconsole.log".{{Note|Can be toggled with '''condebug''' console command.}}
* '''-dev''' - Enables developer mode.
* '''-autoupdate''' - Autoupdate the game. Requires -steam_dir and -steamcmd_script to be set (Linux/Unix only)
* '''-console''' - HLDS will run in console mode (Windows only).
* '''-game [[Game Name Abbreviations|<game>]]''' - Specifies which game/mod to run. Default is "valve".
* '''-dll <name.dll>''' - Specifies which DLL to use. Ex: <code>-dll addons\metamod\dlls\metamod.dll</code>.
* '''-nomaster''' - Disable communication with Master server. Use this parameter if you do not want your server to be listed in Server Browser.{{Note|Also disables [[server queries]].}}
* '''-insecure''' - Disables Valve Anti-Cheat technology.
* '''-port <port>''' - Specifies which port to use for client connections. Default is 27015.{{Note|Can do the same with '''port''' console variable.}}
* '''-sport <port>''' - Specifies the VAC port the server should use. Default is 26900.{{Note|You only need to change -sport if VAC connections fail through the primary port.}}
* '''-noip''' - Disables network support.
* '''-noipx''' - Disables IPX support.
* '''-tos''' - Enables the LOWDELAY TOS header in the udp/ip packets the server generates. (Linux only)
* '''-nobreakpad''' - Let plugin authors still get old style minidumps if they need it (win32 only)
* '''-num_edicts <variable>''' - Sets the entity limit for map/game entities (not temporary entities, which is still locked to 500). 900 is default. 4096 is a good limit, beyond that seems to cause hunk_alloc errors{{confirm}}. Both clients and servers need matching values for best compatibility{{confirm}}.
* '''-heapsize <kilobytes>''' - Specifies the amount of heap(or free store - cache, an area of memory used for dynamic memory allocation) the engine will use. Minimum value is 14336(14 MB). Maximum value is 131072(128 MB). By default this is set to 40960 (40 MB) and automatically adjusted to suit your system.{{Note|Low value causes "Unable to allocate X.X MB" exit error.}}
* '''-zone <bytes>''' - Specifies the amount of Bytes of memory for use with the console system.{{Note|Low value causes [[Z_malloc|Z_Malloc]] exit error.}}
* '''-maxplayers <number>''' - Sets the maximum number of players that will be able to join your server.{{Note|Can do the same with '''maxplayers''' console variable.}}
* '''-sys_ticrate''' - Overrides sys_ticrate cvar.
* '''-exec <file>''' - Execute specific config file immediately after the engine is loaded.
* '''+<console variable> <arg>''' - Sets the Cvar (or [[console variable]]) to the specified setting.
 
=== Useful console variables ===
* '''+hostname "Server Name"''' - Specifies the name of the server.
* '''+ip <address>''' - Specifies the IP when multiple network cards are installed. Required for VAC2 operation.{{Note|Usually you do not need to specify this.}}
* '''+map <map>''' - Specifies which map to start with.
* '''+sv_lan <0/1>''' - If set to 1, server is only available in Local Area Network (LAN).
* '''+mapchangecfgfile <file>''' - Like Server.cfg, ran after every round change, before Plugins are started.
* '''-pingboost <1/2/3>''' - Selects between optimized HLDS network code stack. Set this on 2 usually reduces latency toward 1ms without loss of activity input packets.
 
== Troubleshooting the Server Console ==
Specifying a map is necessary, otherwise the server is not ready to accept connections from players to your server. You may wish to specify the "ip" and "port" parameters if you are experiencing problems.
{{note|This only applies to dedicated servers.}}
 
== See also ==
 
[[Developer Console]]
 
[[Category:Steam]]
[[Category:Source SDK FAQ]]
[[Category:Source SDK FAQ]]
[[Category:Dedicated Server]]
[[Category:Dedicated Server]]

Latest revision as of 04:09, 1 September 2025

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Example of Half-Life 2 launch options in Steam, with -dxlevel 95 -high applied.

Command line options (frequently command line arguments or command line parameters; launch options on Steam) are additional arguments specified before the program starts, these functionally change the behavior of the program in some way, such as launching the game and start the game with the specified map directly, or play a demo for example.

Command line arguments are traditionally prefixed with a hyphen (-), but some Windows Windows applications (especially system ones) will use a forward slash (/) instead. Quake Quake uses plus (+) as a prefix for console commands or cvars that will get executed by the game as soon as it starts, and all Valve engines inherit this syntax.

Engine

These command-line parameters will work with any Source engine games (Half-Life 2 Half-Life 2, Counter-Strike: Source Counter-Strike: Source, etc.).

Syntax: hl2.exe <parameter1> <parameter2> <cvar1> <cvar2>

Usage

These options can be used with:

  • Hammer editor Run Map dialog.
  • Windows shortcuts pointing to hl2.exe directly.
  • Windows shortcuts pointing to steam.exe with the proper -applaunch <AppID> specified (see Steam section below).
  • Launch options on the game's properties in Steam library.
  • Command-line batch script files launching these applications. For example: A bat file containing only "left4dead2.exe -dev -tools -nop4" to launch Left 4 Dead 2 Left 4 Dead 2 in tools mode.
  • Linux shell scripts pointing to the application with launch options. executable -command

Examples

  • steam.exe -applaunch 240 -dev -console -sw +sv_lan 1 +map MyMap
  • hl2.exe -game cstrike -dev -console -fullscreen +sv_lan 1 +map de_dust
    • Same as above but launched from the game executable directly, with the map de_dust. Note that latest version of Counter-Strike: Source and other games on Team Fortress 2 branch has it's own executable name based on the game's moddir (cstrike, dod, etc.), like cstrike.exe for Counter-Strike: Source, dod.exe for Day of Defeat: Source, hl2mp.exe for Half-Life 2: Deathmatch, and so on. The -game cstrike command line parameter are also no longer required to be used for those games, as in the case of Counter-Strike: Source, boots directly to Counter-Strike: Source instead of Half-Life 2 (which will always crash with a message "Could not load library client").
  • hl2_win64.exe -game cstrike -dev -console -fullscreen +sv_lan 1 +map de_dust
    • Same as above, but with 64-bit executable.

Command-Line Parameters

Argument Description
-adapter Sets the GL graphics adapter. Default is 0.
-all_languages Loads all language files.
-allowdebug Allows for debug modules to be loaded in games that disable them and fakes a debugger for phonehome, and is the same as -dev, unless -nodev is specified.
-allowmultiple (in all games since Portal 2) Allows multiple Source games to run at the same time. Only works if a VPROJECT environment variable is set. Use -multirun instead for Source 2013 Source 2013.
Note.pngNote:Source games that do not support this (or -multirun) can be run at the same time as a game that does, as long as the other game that doesn't support it was started first.
Note.pngNote:In Strata Source Strata Source, both -allowmultiple and -multirun are supported, VPROJECT is not required, and using either will disable creating the Source mutex entirely, so any other game can still be started at the same time.
Confirm:Does this work on Mac/Linux?
-allowstalezip Suppresses console warnings from stale.txt existing.
-allow_third_party_software (only in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive) Previously -untrusted, this launches the game in "Untrusted Mode", which allow third-party programs to injecting its code into game executable.
-anticheat_settings (only in Apex Legends) This command are most likely used to change Epic Games Launcher/Easy Anti-Cheat settings for the game. It was also used to enable Direct3D 12 (DX12), using -anticheat_settings=SettingsDX12.json. Previously -eac_launcher_settings.
-audiolanguage (only in Team Fortress 2) Changes the audio (spoken) language. Due to the way it works, only -audiolanguage english works. However, it is possible to make other languages to work.
-autoconfig Restores video and performance settings to default for the current hardware detected. Ignores settings inside any .cfg files until this parameter is removed.
-background <n> (only in Left 4 Dead 2Portal 2) Forces the main menu background ID to the integer n for the current session.
-basedir Sets the base directory for the game files. On Xbox 360 RFS, this is forced to smb://hostname/game.
-bi Defines the build identifier ID which is used in phonehome
-bugbait Used internally to tell the game it is loading a Bugbait (the name of the bug reporting system) bug report.
-bugreporterdll Name of the bug reporter DLL to use
-buildcubemaps Builds cubemaps when fully loaded into a map, then quits the game.
-ccsyntax Spew details about the localized strings we load.
-clientport Sets the client port. Default is 27002.
-collate Skips everything, just merges the reslist from temp folders to the final folder again.
-conclearlog Clears the console.log text file on start. Only works if -condebug set.
-condebug Logs all console output into the console.log text file.
-console Starts the game with the developer console enabled, and allows it to be opened even if con_enable is set to 0. Disables the automatic loading of menu background maps, except in Half-Life 2 and Portal - use -nobackground if you want this.
-deathsonly Supposed to only count deaths while parsing tf2 gamestats, but actually pointless because there is only code for deaths.
-debugdxsupport Writes debug DirectX information as keyvalues to the console as shader devices are loading configuration.
-debugsteam2wrapper (only in Source SDK Base 2006Source SDK Base 2007) Writes debug information for files accessed through the Steam 2 Wrapper to the debugger. Includes creation and deletion of file handles. See Fixing VPK mounting for older Source SDK Bases for more information.
-defaultgamedir Fallback directory if "-game" is not set. Default is "hl2".
-demo Enters the game into demo mode. Only works for Half-Life 2 and Portal
-dev Enables the developer ConVar, which prints console output to the top-left of the screen and enables extra debug messages. Also has various other effects depending on the engine branch and game.

Disables the automatic loading of menu background maps, except in Half-Life 2, Portal (use -nobackground), and Postal III (use -nostartupmenu).

-disable_d3d9ex (only in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive) Forcefully disables Direct3D 9Ex.
-disallowhwmorph Same as mat_disablehwmorph 1. Disables HW morphing for particular mods.
-dti Prints the datatable when being sent
-dumpvidmemstats Spews video memory statistics to vidmemstats.txt. This forces CModelLoader to quit.
-dvd Xbox 360 Enables strict DVD mode. Allows loading files from DVD only. Xbox 360 only.
-dvddev Xbox 360 Enables developer DVD mode. Allows loading files from a remote path as a fallback as well as the DVD. Xbox 360 only.
-dx9 (only in Half-Life 2Half-Life: SourceLeft 4 Dead 2PortalPortal 2Team Fortress 2 branch) Windows Forces the game to never use DXVK, even in cases where it would be automatically enabled (such as when -gamepadui is passed in).
Note.pngNote:To force OpenGL (using ToGL) on Linux, use -gl instead.
-dxlevel <level> (removed since Left 4 Dead) Forces the game to start using specified DirectX feature levels. After starting the game with this launch parameter, the selected value will be saved for future start ups and video settings will be temporarily reset (but not saved), so it is highly recommended to remove this launch parameter after first launch with it. See mat_dxlevel.
Please note that changing DirectX levels does not change the Direct3D renderer to use any other versions of Direct3D. All Source games will always run on Direct3D 9 (or Direct3D 11/12 in some third-party games).
Supported values:
60 (DX6, Source 2004/2006 only)
70 (DX7, Source 2004/2006 or RTX Remix games only)
80 (DX8)
81 (DX8.1)
90 (DX9.0 / SM 2.0)
92 (equivalent to both "90" and "95". Mac/Linux only, translates DirectX to OpenGL using ToGL). Has partial SM 3.0 support.
95 (DX9.0+ / SM 3.0, default on modern hardware)
98 (Xbox 360 only, always enabled)
100 (Left 4 Dead engine branch Left 4 Dead engine branch, Source Filmmaker SFM and Dota 2 Dota 2 pre-Reborn only, always enabled)
Warning.pngWarning:If you are using Vulkan renderer (-vulkan), having dxlevel set lower than 90 (such as 80/81) will cause graphical glitches and crashes the game.
Similarly, playing on maps that ship with custom models/props which only support dxlevel 90 or higher can cause the game to crash on dxlevel 81 or lower.
-edit According to comments, intended to replace -tools. Does nothing except disable all file logging for building reslists.
-enablefakeip (only in Team Fortress 2) Tells Steam Datagram Relay to use a "FakeIP" and an anonymous server ID when local server hosting.
-endgamevid If specified startup videos will not be skipped, and EndGameVids.txt will be used instead of StartupVids.txt. This can also be invoked by the command "startupmenu playendgamevid", which bails back to the menu and plays the end game video.
-exit Quits the game after fully loading into a map.
-fake_stale_server Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Skip check game version from Steam and goes straight to out-of-date state
-force32bit (only in Team Fortress 2 branch) Forces the game to run in 32-bit mode, even if running on a 64-bit operating system.
Note.pngNote: Windows: Create new shortcut from 32-bit executable program and add in launch parameter -force32bit, launch game from shortcut.
-force64bit (only in Team Fortress 2 branch) Forces the game to run in 64-bit mode.
-filmgrain Enables the filmgrain screen space effect. Crashes the game on Half-Life 2. In Day of Defeat: Source effect works and enabled by default
-floathdr Forces HDR to use float values.
-flushlog Causes log files to be flushed to disk once per second (rather than after every 4kbytes of log data).
-forceallmips Always load mipmaps below 32x32, regardless of if the "no minimum mipmap" VTF flag is enabled.
-forcenovsync Forces vsync to be disabled.
-forcestartupmenu Forces the background menu map to always load, even if developer mode is active or the game is loading straight to a level.
-forcexboxreconfig Xbox 360 Forces default config settings to be loaded on Xbox 360.
-force_device_id (in all games since Counter-Strike: Global Offensive) (also in Source 2013) Forces the GPU to be recognized as a different graphics card depending on the vendor set. This is used for either debugging purposes or for graphical workarounds, such as avoiding an Intel crash in L4D2 when both Shaders and Memory Pool are set to high, aswell as forcing the "High" shadows setting to be shown on systems with Intel GPUs.
Tip.pngTip:-force_vendor_id 0x10DE -force_device_id 0x0191 will force the game to recognizing the GPU as a Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 Ti (most Source games will detect this as "NVIDIA Unknown" according to dxsupport.cfg).
And -force_vendor_id 0x10DE -force_device_id 0x1088 will force the game to be recognized as GeForce GTX 590, which was listed in dxsupport.cfg (in most Source games, some may only recognizes older GPUs), and set most of the graphical settings to high by default.
-force_vendor_id
-forever When you get to the end of the maplist, start over from the top
-freq <rate> Same as -refresh
-fs_log Starts creating a batch file to copy files at the specified filename. This works on the latest engine branch.
-fs_logbins Logs binaries to the batch file from -fs_log.
-fs_nopreloaddata Loads in the precompiled keyvalues data for each type. Works only with dedicated servers.
-fs_target Sets the target game directory to copy files to, used with -fs_log.
-full_memory_dumps
-fullscreen or -full Forces the engine to start in fullscreen mode.
-g15 Enables Logitech G15 support. G15 is only supported in SiN Episodes SiN Episodes. [confirm]
Confirm:Does this also works with other Logitech G series keyboards with LCD screens, such as G19?
-game Sets game or mod directory to load the game from. Usually is set by default if not user specified. Default is "-defaultgamedir"'s setting. If -defaultgamedir is not set, "hl2" is used.
-gamepadui Half-Life 2Half-Life: SourcePortalEntropy : Zero 2 Enables the alternate controller-friendly UI used on Steam Deck, and since Half-Life 2 20th Anniversary Update (and Portal May 2025 update), makes VGUI elements larger.
Left 4 Dead 2Portal 2Team Fortress 2 branch Makes various UI elements larger. In Team Fortress 2 branch, also makes VGUI elements bigger.
When used, keyvalues in VGUI resource files tagged with $DECK will evaluate as true. This is used by default on Steam Deck Steam Deck and in Entropy : Zero 2 Entropy : Zero 2; use -nogamepadui if the original UI is desired.
This also automatically enables DXVK (except Half-Life 2 and Half-Life: Source since 20th anniversary, and Portal since May 2025 update); use -dx9 to prevent this. Only present with updates released since 2020 - 2022 in any of those games.
Note.pngNote:On Portal with RTX Portal with RTX, to enable Gamepad UI, you must use -dx9 alongside it, otherwise it would break the renderer.
Icon-Bug.pngBug:Gamepad UI is also available on Half-Life: Source Half-Life: Source due to shared binaries with Half-Life 2 Half-Life 2, but is broken.  [todo tested in ?]
-gamestatslogging Enables game stats logging.
-gamestatsloggingtofile Enables game stats logging out to a file, gamestats.log. Passing this parameter automatically forces -gamestatslogging.
-gamestatstag <tag> Tags each map reported with the specified tag.
-gl (only in Team Fortress 2 branch) Linux Forces the game to runs on OpenGL instead of Vulkan (through DXVK). You can also select "Legacy OpenGL" option when launching the game on Steam (if available), to force OpenGL.
-gl_enablesamplerobjects Linux Use OpenGL Sampler Objects for better texture preloading
-gl_texclientstorage macOS Reduce memory usage by relying on GPU memory instead of a host copy
-heapcheck Windows Check if the heap isn't damaged or empty at the initiation of the game and every frame
-heapsize <kilobytes> Specifies the heapsize (in kilobyte) the game will use.
This has been since deprecated on later version of Source 2009 Source 2009 and Source Multiplayer Source Multiplayer, but can still be changed through console commands (mem_min_heapsize and mem_max_heapsize)
-height <height>, -h Forces the engine to start with resolution set to <height>. Ex: -h 768
-hideconsole Forces the console hidden, whatever parameters are passed. This overrides -console, -dev, and all others.
-high Sets the game's priority to High.
Icon-Bug.pngBug:In Apex Legends Apex Legends, this may cause the game into thinking that there is a Origin update available. A screenshot of this issue can be found here.  [todo tested in ?]
-hijack Take control of an existing instance of the game, if any, instead of complaining about already running.
-host Sets hostname. On Xbox 360, this sets the host computer name to be used for RFS. Xbox name must be <HostPC>_360.
-hushasserts Disables a number of asserts in core Source libraries, skipping some error checks and messages.
-hushsteam
-ignoredxsupportcfg Skips reading DirectX support file, dxsupport.cfg.
-insecure Disable Valve Anti-Cheat (VAC).
-internalbuild Causes the bug reporter panel to be drawn as internal
-interactivecaster (only in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive) Starting your client with this will switch it into camera man mode (reference tv_allow_camera_man_steamid/tv_allow_camera_man_steamid2)
-ip Does the same as the ipname Cvar
-language <language> Sets the game language to the one specified. (Examples: "english", "german").
-leakcheck Dumps statistics about memory leaks.
-limitvsconst Limits the number of vertex shaders to a maximum of 256.
-localcser Sets a custom gamestats CSER other than the Steam-provided public one (default is steambeta1:27013)
-log_opened_files Logs all opened files to opened_files.txt file. (useful for debugging which files are failing to load)
-low Sets the game's priority to Low
-lv Short for low violence. Enables German censorship like -sillygibs in Team Fortress 2 Team Fortress 2 with blood/gore disabled.
-makedevshots Used for taking screenshots, causing entities to not fade. Enables the use of the devshots_nextmap concommand. Also disables the automatic loading of menu background maps.
-makereslists Makes reslists. Need to run with -textmode. Passing a parameter here uses a script file to control more complex makereslists operations (multiple passes, etc.)
-mat_softwaretl Enables software vertex processing.
-mat_vsync Enables Vertical Sync
-maxdownloadfilesizemb CS:GO 5/1/2014, client launch option -maxdownloadfilesizemb N if clients needs to download even larger files from community servers.
-maxdxlevel Limits the maximum dxlevel to use. Default is 0.
-maxplayers Set the maximum players allowed to join the server. This does the same as the maxplayers convar, the maximum you can set it to is limited by the game/mod.
Note.pngNote:In Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Maxplayers is deprecated, and should either be set in gamemodes_server.txt or with -maxplayers_override.
-minmemory Set startup memory to mem_min_heapsize ?*1024 * 1024?
-monitorTextureSize Set the size of the texture used to render point_cameras.
-multirun (only in Source 2013)(also in Strata Source) Allows the game to run even if another Source game is already open.
Note.pngNote:Source games that do not support this (or -allowmultiple) can be run at the same time as a game that does, as long as the other game is started first.
Note.pngNote:In Strata Source Strata Source, both -allowmultiple and -multirun are supported, and using either will disable creating the Source mutex entirely, so any other game can still be started at the same time.
Note.pngNote:Not supported in Source Filmmaker SFM. Multirun is still possible by starting other games first as explained above.
Icon-Bug.pngBug:On some systems, running the game after another Source game is already open, cause the menu logo and/or menu options to become invisible  (tested in: Counter-Strike: Source Counter-Strike: Source and Half-Life 2 Half-Life 2)
Note.pngNote:Windows only. Does not work on Linux. Mac untested.
-navanalyze Used for developer purposes when launching a map. Immediately analyzes the navigation map of the loaded map to provide data about hiding spots and other data. Nav Mesh Commands
-navforceanalyze Used for developer purposes when launching a map. Forces an immediate navigation analyze even if the action is not necessary to perform.
-netconport <number> (in all games since Left 4 Dead) Creates a remotely accessible server console on the specified port. This can be connected to with telnet or similar applications, and allows controlling of the server as if the commands were being typed in at the console
-netconpassword <password> (in all games since Left 4 Dead) If set, users must type PASS "password" to use the remote console described above
-netspike Sets the trace threshold to the specified value (the limit of the number of records that will be written to netspike.txt before all records are removed).
-newdialogs Forces new Steam dialog to be used.
-no_texture_stream (only in Team Fortress 2)[confirm] Disables the use of lower quality textures while higher quality versions load, favoring immediate loading of higher quality textures. Disabling texture streaming can improve performance on systems with GPUs that have low VRAM. Can be found on Ultra high settings on the Official Team Fortress Wiki or a wiki dedicated to TF2 command line options.
-no_compressed_verts Disables vertex compression for shaders.
-no_compressed_vvds Enables thin VVD data, even if the client is not an Xbox 360.
-noassert Allows attaching to a debugger instead of directly asserting.
-noasync Disables asynchronous filesystem access.
-nobackground (only in Half-Life 2Portal) Prevents background maps from loading, displaying only static background images instead.
Note.pngNote:Added in the HL2 Anniversary Update (and corresponding Portal update). Prior to this, -dev and -console would automatically disable background maps.
-noborder When used with the game set to windowed mode, will make the game act as if in fullscreen mode (no window border), commonly refers to Borderless Windowed mode.
This will allows you to switching between application and the game (Alt+Tabbing) without a 2-3 seconds delay. It is only supported in Source 2007 Source 2007 and above, and can be changed in menu starting with Left 4 Dead engine branch Left 4 Dead engine branch, later available in Garry's Mod Garry's Mod, some Source 2013 Source 2013 games (such as Half-Life 2 Half-Life 2 with Steam Deck update) and some third-party Source games.
For games that does not support borderless windowed mode, you can use third-party software such as Borderless Gaming, or Pcgw icon.png other listed here at PCGW.
-nobots Allows Counter-Strike server hosts to force bots disabled to enforce CPU limits.
-nobreakpad Disable the Breakpad crash handler.
-noclearsave Skips clearing the save directory after restoring a save.
-noconvert Xbox 360 "No conversions during retail"
-nocrashdialog Stop some windows crash message boxes from showing up.
-nod3d9ex (only in Source Multiplayer Source 2013) (also in Team Fortress 2 branch) Forcefully disables Direct3D 9Ex.
-nodefaultmap (Linux only[confirm]) Supresses the addition of -map
-nodev Disables -dev and -allowdebug during startup so sv_cheats and developer mode dosent get set.
-nodns Disable DNS requests and resolving DNS adresses.
-nodttest Skips datatable testing.
-noff Disables force feedback for controllers.
-noforcemaccel Use the Windows mouse acceleration settings. Only works if -useforcedmparms is set.
-noforcemspd Use the Windows mouse speed settings. Only works if -useforcedmparms is set.
-nogamedll Do not load the Game DLL, this most likely will cause your game/server to crash
-nogamepadui Overrides -gamepadui, forcibly disabling its effects when they would otherwise be automatically turned on (such as on Steam Deck or in Entropy : Zero 2 Entropy : Zero 2).
-nogamestats
-nohltv Disable SourceTV
-noip Do not bind to an ip and disables all multiplayer support
-nojoy (not in Left 4 Dead 2) Disables joystick support.
-nomaster Hides server from master serverlist.
-nomenuvid (only in Left 4 DeadLeft 4 Dead 2Portal 2) Disables main menu background videos. In the Left 4 Dead seriesLeft 4 Dead series Left 4 Dead series, it will render the game startup image instead. In Portal 2 Portal 2, it will render a static image corresponding to the video that would have been used.
-nomessagebox Stop various windows error message boxes from showing up
-nominidumps Dont write minidumps
-nomouse Disables in-game mouse support.
-NoLoadPluginsForClient
-nop4 Forces the Engine to bypass Perforce Integration
-nophysx (only in Postal III) Completely disable NVIDIA PhysX physics engine, used for cloth simulation on Postal Dude's coat, but also prevent p3_prop_cloth entities (which uses PhysX) from displaying.
-nopreload Forces models to not be preloaded. Takes priority over cl_forcepreload and -preload.
-nopreloadmodels Same as -nopreload
-nops2b Disables Pixel Shader 2b support.
-noqueuedload Disables queued loading of map resources.
-NoQueuedPacketThread Linux No queued packet thread will be created.
-norebuildaudio Opposite of and overrides -rebuildaudio for the map reslist generator.
-norfs Xbox 360 Forces Remote Filesystem disabled. Xbox 360 only.
-norussian (only in Postal III) Preventing the game from switching to Russian language (Russian retail copies only).
-noshaderapi Loads a non-existent shader API dll, shaderapiempty.dll. Effectively disables shader and texture loading completely. May be useful with -textmode to load the game quickly since a GUI is not required.
-nosound Disables sound support
Warning.pngWarning:Source 2013causes crash of the game on startup
-nosrgb Disables support for SRGB.
-nostartupmenu (only in Postal III) Prevent the game from loading the main menu map if used alongside -dev.
-nostartupsound Disables menu music (sound/ui/gamestartup*.mp3) to play on startup.
-nosteamcontroller Disables Steam controller system
Note.pngNote:This does not disable Steam Input whatsoever.
-nouserclip Uses software clipping instead of hardware user clip planes
-novid When loading a game with this parameter, the intro video will not play.
-NoVConfig Prevents the filesystem you nexem library from running VConfig if it encounters a filesystem error where it cannot find the game content.
Todo: Fix grammar.
-olddialogs Forces old Windows dialogs instead of new Steam ones.
Todo: Does it do anything nowadays?
-override_vpk Forces actual files to override VPK.
-particles Sets the number of beam trails to allow (2048 by default, minimum is 512).
-phonehome If debug mode is also enabled, forces the init of phonehome? which handles some build information and sends them via netmessages to steam?
-pidfile <pidfile> Use the specified <pidfile> to store the server pid. Default is srcds.pid[confirm] (Unix/Linux only).
-pixel_offset_x Sets the pixel offset to translate on the X axis in MatSystemSurface.
-pixel_offset_y Sets the pixel offset to translate on the Y axis in MatSystemSurface.
-playtest Tells the engine to record the names of all sounds played via S_StartSound call without any of the sound flags SND_CHANGE_PITCH, SND_CHANGE_VOL, and SND_STOP.
Note.pngNote:You may dump this list of sounds using ConCommand snd_dump_filepaths.
Icon-Bug.pngBug:In Left 4 Dead 2 Left 4 Dead 2, ConCommand snd_dump_filepaths will ignore ConVar snd_store_filepaths and attempt to write to an inaccessible hard-coded path.  [todo tested in ?]
-pme Activate the performance monitoring events code, this again only works on Intel processors newer then PENTIUM4
-port <variable> Sets port for a listen server. Default is 27015.
-preload Does the same as the sv_forcepreload Cvar. If -nopreload or -nopreloadmodels, this behaviour is disabled
-primarysound If surround sound isn't enabled, forces the use of the primary sound buffer
-profile If using Xbox360 or enabling this, additional debugging information are logged like the map startup time and similar
-publicbuild Is this build a public one? If not, phonehome will not post information of this build to steam
-r_emulate_gl Emulates OpenGL on Windows, provides a framerate boost for most GPUs
Confirm:Doesn't seems to work at all. RTSS and other overlays applications still report it as DirectX 9.
-random_invariant Forces the game's random number generator value to be invariant.
-rebuildaudio Forces rebuild of _other_rebuild.cache (metacache) file at exit for the map reslist generator.
-recapvid RecapVids.txt will be used instead of EndGameVids.txt. This can also be invoked by the command "startupmenu playrecapvid", which bails to the mainmenu and plays the recap video.
-ref Sets MATERIAL_INIT_REFERENCE_RASTERIZER on the shader material adapter.
-reflectionTextureSize Set the size of the texture used to render the Water shader's real-time reflection and refraction.
-refresh <rate> Force a specific refresh rate. Ex: -refresh 60
-refreshrate <rate> Same as -refresh
-remote Sets the remote file path to be used with -dvddev.
-replay Increases maxplayers by 1 at startup and automatically executes replay.cfg for the server.
-requirecubemaps If a map dosen't have cubemaps, the game will promt up with "Map X does not have cubemaps!"
-resizing Allows resizing the window lower than a specific resolution.
-reslistdir Default is "reslists", use this to override. Reslist generator only.
-reuse Reuse network sockets
-rpt Remote perf testing. Same as having -condebug, -conclearlog, and -console enabled
-ru (only in Postal III) Set the game language to Russian.
-safe Enables video safe mode, which sets the game to windowed, the width to 640, the height to 480, refresh rate to default, and disables antialiasing.
-shader Loads a specific shader library instead of depending on hardware. Debug only.
-shaderdll Loads a different shader dll. Default is shaderapidx9.dll.
Todo: Is this the same as -shader?
-shadersondemand Creates shaders on access, helps reduce D3D memory for tools, but causes I/O hitches.
-sillygibs (only in Team Fortress 2) Forces gibs to be spawned as random common objects.
-skiploadingworkshopaddons (only in Alien Swarm: Reactive Drop) Only load addons from the addons folder, not subscriptions on the Steam Workshop.
-small Allow window sizing smaller than 640x480
-sndcachedebug Prints sound cache debug messages (developer must be enabled to see)
-snoforceformat Skips sound buffer creation
-soft Enables Software hardware rendering mode.
-softparticlesdefaultoff Sets particles to be rendered without feathering (scene depth blending) by default.
-softparticlesdefaulton Opposite of -softparticlesdefaultoff.
-spewsentences Spew out vox sentence names during reslist generation
-startmap Restarts devshot generation at the specified map if resuming from a crash.
-startstage When running from script file, this starts at specified stage, and sets current work item (default is 0). Reslist generator only.
-startwindowed, -windowed, -window, -sw Forces the engine to start in Windowed mode.
-steam Enables Steam support (if the game is launched from Steam, this is enabled by default). Working directory must be Steam directory. Works only for singleplayer games.
-steamlocal Similar to -steam. Runs Steam in local filesystem mode (all content off HDD), as opposed to remote filesystem mode (requiring Steam backend).
-steamport Master server updater port. Steam authentication port is this port + 1. (default is 26900)
-strictportbind If you launch the game with this option it will quit with an error message if it can't bind to the default or specified port.
-sv_benchmark Enables benchmarking through sv_benchmark_force_start.
-swapcores Swaps threads for the particle and material systems each init
-tempcontent Searches for game content in a folder called "_tempcontent" relative to the absolute game path. This option is enabled by default for Portal 1
-testscript <filename> Loads a .vtest file.
-testshaders Loads the shader_test library. Debug only.
-testsub
-textmessagedebug Spews client text messages to console.
-textmode Runs the game without graphics, and instead launches a command prompt that displays the Developer Console outputs. Additionally, if the game is already running, launching the game with this command will simply boot the game up, instead of displaying the message "Only one instance of the game can be running at one time." (like -allowmultiple or -multirun).
-threads Number of threads to allocate for the thread pool, default is 3
-tickrate Sets the game tick interval. Disabled in code for Team Fortress 2 Team Fortress 2 because "server ops are abusing it". Also disabled in Counter-Strike: Source Counter-Strike: Source, Day of Defeat: Source Day of Defeat: Source, Left 4 Dead Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2 Left 4 Dead 2.
In older versions on some of those games, or using server plugins, or by enabling it in the code, it can be changed.
-timedemoloop
-toconsole Starts the engine directly in the console, unless a map is specified with +map.
-tools Enables engine tools.
-trackdeletions Logs what files are marked for deletion in Reslist Generator.
-tvmasteronly Only one person allowed in HLTV.
-unrestricted_maxplayers (only in Team Fortress 2) Set the maximum players allowed to join the server. Unlike -maxplayers, this can allow for up to 100 players in a single server.
Warning.pngWarning:This feature is unsupported and not recommended, causing stability issues at maximum players.
-usedevshotsfile Get map list from specified file, default is to build for maps/*.bsp
-useforcedmparms Allows the use of -noforcemspd and -noforcemaccel.
-usegh Loads ghostinj.dll to allow support for third party dlls (gamehost)
-uselogdir Logs various data to logs/(mapname)/*
-usercon Enable RCON for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive servers
-usereslistfile Get map list from specified file, default is to build for maps/*.bsp. Reslist generator only.
-usetcp Disable TCP support
-vcrplayback Plays back a VCR recording. Nothing is simulated on the server, but all server packets are recorded. Note: VCR recording and playback only fully working on a leaked HLS build, other games and versions crash
-vcrrecord Records a client's game and allows you to play it back and reproduce it exactly. Requires -nosound See this video on how it is different.
-vguifocus Enables debug VGUI messages related to input focus.
-vguimessages Enables debug VGUI messages.
-vproject Manually sets the VProject directory to load game content for tools.
-vulkan (only in Half-Life 2Half-Life 2: DeathmatchHalf-Life: SourceHalf-Life Deathmatch: SourceCounter-Strike: SourceDay of Defeat: SourceLeft 4 Dead 2PortalPortal 2Team Fortress 2) Enables the use of the DXVK library to translate Direct3D graphics calls to the Vulkan API. On Windows, where Direct3D itself is supported, this is of little use and should usually not be enabled (except in Portal 2, where it can be used to work around some specific rendering bugs). On Linux, it is usually recommended for games which support it, due to providing better performance and less graphical issues compared to the OpenGL translation layer usually used on this platform.
A newer version of the respective games from 2021-2025 or later, and a graphics card that supports Vulkan (such as Nvidia GeForce 600-series/Kepler-based, AMD GCN 1.0 (or later) and Intel Skylake) are required in order to enable DXVK.
Warning.pngWarning:Enabling DXVK may crash the game if a third-party program tries to hook its overlay to the game unsuccessfully, and/or your GPU does not support Vulkan.
-vxconsole Xbox 360 Waits for Valve Xbox console to initialise. Xbox 360 only.
-wavonly Disables DirectSound and makes the engine attempt to play all sounds in PCM format.
-x <x position> In borderless windowed mode, determines where the window should be horizontally. Ex: -x 0. Note: Setting this to 0 will make it align with the left side of your main monitor, rather than its center. Negative values also aren't accepted.
-xnet_bypass_security Xbox 360 Disables Xbox 360 secure networking, to allow cross-platform testing.
-y <y position> In borderless windowed mode, determines where the window should be vertically. Ex: -y 0. Note: Setting this to 0 will make it align with the top side of your main monitor, rather than its center. Negative values also aren't accepted.
-width <width>, -w Forces the engine to start with resolution set to <width>. Ex: -w 1024

Deprecated Command-Line Parameters

Argument Description
-lowmemworkshop (only in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive) Allow updating very large map files on Steam Workshop. While the option still works, Valve most likely no longer allow users to upload CS:GO items to Workshop in favor of CS2.
-mat_aaquality Set CSAA quality level, does the same as the Convar mat_aaquality. This no longer works on most modern GPUs (starting with NVIDIA GeForce 750Ti/800M/900 series).
Confirm:Does not work on latest version/Source 2013 as the console command with the same name remains unchanged. Confirm whether this does anything on older engine.
-mat_antialias Antialiasing. Can be set to 8, amount past 8 won't sharpen the edges of game world.
Confirm:Also does not work on latest version/Source 2013. Confirm whether this does anything on older engine.

Console commands on startup

  • +<console command> <arg> - Runs command in console shortly after autoexec.cfg is executed. These are run by ConCommand stuffcmds issued from valve.rc.

Useful console commands

Console commands Description
+cl_showfps <0/1/2/3> When set to 2, shows the framerate and map name.
+connect Immediately connects to a server address.
+load <save name> Immediately loads the save specified after the engine starts.
+map <map name[.bsp]> Immediately loads the map specified after the engine starts.
+map_background <map name[.bsp]> Forces a specified background map to be used. Useful for testing custom background maps. To avoid loading standard background maps for speed reasons, use the -dev command-line parameter.
+mat_hdr_level Sets HDR level (off, LDR/SDR with Bloom, and HDR) before the background map loads. See HDR Lighting Basics.
+maxplayers <number> Sets maxplayers. This will set maxplayers before the background map loads. To change when running, run <disconnect> to escape the current map, including background maps.
+physcannon_mega_enabled <0/1> Makes Gravity gun a super gravity gun.
+playdemo <demo> Immediately plays a demo file.
+ip Specifies the IP when multiple network cards are installed (Old, but still works).
+hostname "Hostname" Specifies the name of the server (Spaces between words won't work here!).
+hostport <port> Specifies the host port (Port specification before -port was added, but can still be used).
+clientport <port> Specifies the client port (The port the server advertises to clients, the same as -port and clientport in console)
+sv_cheats <0/1> When set to 1, starts the game with cheats enabled.
+sv_lan <0/1> When set to 1, launches the game in LAN mode. Useful to stop players from joining your game from the Internet.
+sv_use_steam_networking <0/1> (only in Team Fortress 2 branch) When set to 0, disable Steam Networking. Useful to stop players from joining your game from the Internet.
+timedemo Console Command
+timedemoquit Console Command

Dedicated Server

Command-line arguments for the Source Dedicated Server executable (srcds.exe, srcds_run)


Command-Line Parameters

Argument Description
-allowdebug (Same as -debug ?)
-autoupdate Linux Autoupdate the game. Requires -steam_dir and -steamcmd_script to be set.
-binary <binary> Linux Use the specified binary (no auto detection).
-console Windows SrcDS will run in console mode.
-debug Run debugging on failed servers if possible. Requires -gdb to be set [confirm]
-debuglog <logname> Linux Log debug output to this file.
-dev Show developer messages.
-fork <number> (in all games since Left 4 Dead) Linux Starts up the specified number of instances as subprocesses at once. They will each use the first available port number at 27015 or above. When using this functionality, other server parameters support substitution. For instance, if you specify +exec autoexec##.cfg, then the first server will execute autoexec01.cfg, the second autoexec02.cfg, and so on.
-game <game or path> Specifies which game/mod to run. Accepts either a path to a gameinfo.txt, or one of these pre-set values.
-gdb <gdb> Linux Use <dbg> as the debugger of failed servers.
-help Linux ?
-insecure Starts the server without Valve Anti-Cheat.
-ignoresigint Linux Ignore signal INT (prevents CTRL+C quitting).
-ip Specifies the address to use for the bind(2) syscall, which controls on which IP addresses the program is reachable on. It must either be a local address (an addresses of the host it runs on) or 0.0.0.0 (the wildcard). This has nothing to do with externally-visible addresses in NAT setups.
-maxplayers <number> Specifies how many player slots the server can contain.
-netconport <number> (in all games since Left 4 Dead) Creates a remotely accessible server console on the specified port. This can be connected to with telnet or similar applications, and allows controlling of the server as if the commands were being typed in at the console
-netconpassword <password> (in all games since Left 4 Dead) If set, users must type PASS "password" to use the remote console described above
-nobots Disable bots.
-nohltv Disables SourceTV and closes its port (usually 27020).
-norestart Won't attempt to restart failed servers.
-notrap Linux Don't use trap. This prevents automatic removal of old lock files.
-port The port the server advertises to clients.
-steam Use this (along with -console) when you are running the version of SRCDS downloaded through Steam[confirm]. Original Description "Quit on steam update failure"
-steamcmd_script <path> Linux[confirm] Path to the steam script to execute. Example: ~/Steam/hl2_ds.txt.
-steamerr Linux Quit on steam update failure.
-steamuser Linux Steam user ID?
-steampass Linux Steam Login Password?
-steam_dir <path> Linux Dir that steam.sh resides in. Example: ~/Steam
-tickrate <number> Specifies Server-Tickrate (for more info see Source Multiplayer Networking). This cannot be altered on TF2 (except older versions), CSS (except older versions), L4D, and L4D2.
-timeout <number> Sleep for <number> seconds before restarting a failed server.
-dumplongticks Generate minidumps when there are long server frame

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