Before learning how to access the console and how to use it, you should first understand what it is and what it can be used for. The developer’s console (or simply console, as is most commonly referred as) is a text-based input/output interface available in games that run on the Source Engine. It runs as an overlay in the game you can easily access with a key bind as long as it is activated first – it comes turned off by default.

It allows executing commands embedded into the game by Valve, allowing you to access different options that you may otherwise be locked out. It also serves as a way to fully configure your own servers, whether online or offline. With the console, you can tune your game exactly to what you want (if allowed by Valve) and even insert commands that allow changing settings way faster than the usual way though the menus. Just to give one example of output features - in a MM game you can easily check all the damage you made to other players and even to which players. This feature is disabled in other PUG services such as FACEIT and ESEA and it is only available after the round ends, to preserve the competitive integrity of the game.

If all those reasons are not enough to justify its use to you, I’ll give you one more: if using a third-party service like FACEIT, you generally receive a connect command, with an IP to enter the server. You can only insert it in the developer’s console, which allows you to automatically enter the server. I know that in FACEIT you also have a button that allows for easy entering the server, but it is also known that there is a weird bug that can make you have FPS issues if using the button – even FACEIT recommends you enter through the connect command.

How to Enable it

Enabling the console is very straight forward but can sometimes be erratic and buggy. To make sure it works as it is supposed, the first step below is the most important.

1 – In the Steam Library, with the game closed, right click on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and go to Properties. In the General Tab, click on Set Launch Options. In the line that appears, insert the following text exactly as I’ve written it (the hyphen is part of it):

-console

Just click OK and close the Properties window. After that, start up the game.

2 – In the Main Menu, go to Options and Game Settings. Change the Enable Developer Console (~) option to Yes (it’s the fourth option in the list).

3 – In the Options drop-down, go to Keyboard and Mouse. Set the key bind for the Console there – it’s the last line in the list. The most common key bind that almost everybody uses is the ~ key (the one below the Esc, above the Tab and to the left of the 1). But you’re free to use whichever you want.

4 – If needed, restart the game. Every time you start the game, you will have the console opened. Just close and open it as needed.

Opening it in the Main Menu after closing it can be tricky, because of a known bug that is still to be fixed after all these years. If you need the console and the key binds does not open it, simply hover the mouse above the top bar (the one with the Play, Inventory, Watch, Awards and Options buttons) and the key bind should work. Everywhere else in the game, it works as intended.

The Console and Its Usability

The first time you open it, you may be overwhelmed with text. Remember that almost everything the game is doing behind-the-scenes is being transcribed there. Most of the text has no interest to the common player. Just familiarize yourself with it slowly, understanding what can be of interest to you and what is not.

The console is also a very good way of trouble-shooting when you’re having an issue with the game. If lucky, you can understand what is wrong by simply glancing it and reading the last lines.

Whether you’re a casual player, someone who wants to get far in competitive Counter-Strike or even a Video Creator, the console will fast become your best friend, thanks to the immense array of commands it has available to you.

To finish up this brief article, I’m going to list a few commands that may be useful to you right off the bat:

quit – Closes the game;

connect (ip) – Enters the server the IP corresponds to;

disconnect – Quickly disconnects from the server;

clear – Erases all the lines in the console;

sv_cheats 1 – activates cheat commands (no, it does not work in official servers, only in offline and local servers, for practice purposes);

fps_max [value] – Allows you to set the maximum FPS you want your game to achieve (if your PC can handle it);

volume [value] – Allows you to change the volume of your game (Set numbers between 0 and 1);

voice_enable 0 – Disables the voice chat in game (1 will enable it again).

These are just some of the numerous commands you can use to create the game experience as close as you want it to be as possible. Most of the commands will be very straightforward with what they do, but if you don’t know always do your research first as you may end up changing something you do not want to – remember that some settings may interfere with your game and you do not want that. Also, important to note that some settings may have different results in different PC configurations as some may be better for high-end setups while others are best for mid-range and lower end ones.

Search for the best configuration you can, create your own way of playing and seeing the game and above everything, have fun.

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