> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.wasabihosting.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Join a Counter-Strike 2 Server - Console Connect Guide

> Connect to your Counter-Strike 2 server hosting at Wasabi Hosting - enable the developer console, use the connect command, and join password-protected servers.

Joining your Counter-Strike 2 server takes seconds once you know the console commands. This guide shows you how to enable the developer console, connect directly, handle server passwords, and find your server in the community browser.

## Enable the Developer Console

The console is disabled by default in CS2:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Settings">
    Launch CS2 and click the **gear icon** to open Settings.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Go to the Game tab">
    Under **Game**, find **Enable Developer Console (\~)** and set it to **Yes**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the console">
    Press the **`~`** (tilde/backquote) key — just below Escape on most keyboards — to open and close the console at any time.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Connect to Your Server

Your server's IP address and port are shown in the [Wasabi Hosting Game Panel](https://panel.wasabihosting.com) on the server overview page. CS2 uses port **27015** by default.

Open the console and type:

```
connect 203.0.113.10:27015
```

Press Enter and you'll load straight into the server.

### Password-Protected Servers

If the server has `sv_password` set (common for scrim and practice servers), set your password **before** connecting:

```
password "yourpass"
connect 203.0.113.10:27015
```

If you connect without setting it first, CS2 will simply refuse the connection with a "bad password" message — set the password and try again.

<Tip>
  You can combine everything into one line to share with teammates: `password "scrim123"; connect 203.0.113.10:27015` — they just paste it into their console.
</Tip>

## Community Server Browser and Favorites

Your server can also be found without typing commands:

* In CS2, open **Play → Community Server Browser** and search for your server's `hostname`.
* Public listing requires a valid **Game Server Login Token (GSLT)** — see [Server Configuration](/games/cs2/server-configuration).
* In the browser, select your server and add it to **Favorites** so it's one click away next time. Servers you've joined also appear under the browser's history/recent tabs.

<Note>
  A brand-new server may take a few minutes after startup to appear in the browser. Direct `connect` always works immediately, listed or not.
</Note>

## Check Server Status from the Panel

Not sure the server is actually up before telling ten friends to join? Open the live **Console** in the Game Panel and run:

```
status
```

The output shows the server's hostname, current map, and connected players — if `status` responds, the server is running and reachable.

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Connection failed after N retries">
    * Confirm the server shows **Online** in the Game Panel and the console has finished loading the map.
    * Double-check the IP and port (default `27015`).
    * Make sure a rule in the [Firewall Manager](/firewall-manager) isn't blocking game traffic.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Bad password / rejected connection">
    Set `password "yourpass"` in your console before connecting, and ask the owner to confirm the current `sv_password` — it may have changed after a config edit and restart.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Server not in the community browser">
    The server needs a valid GSLT set via `+sv_setsteamaccount`, and `sv_lan` must be `0`. See the [GSLT section of the configuration guide](/games/cs2/server-configuration). Meanwhile, connect directly by IP.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Stuck on loading a workshop map">
    Workshop maps download on first join and large maps can take a minute. If it never loads, the server may be missing its Steam Web API key for workshop downloads — see [Custom Maps](/games/cs2/custom-maps).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Server Configuration" icon="gears" href="/games/cs2/server-configuration">
    Set your hostname, password, game mode, and GSLT.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Admin Commands" icon="terminal" href="/games/cs2/admin-commands">
    Control the server with RCON from your own console.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

<Card title="No server yet?" icon="rocket" href="https://wasabihosting.com/game-servers/counter-strike-2">
  Get CS2 server hosting from **€9.99/month** at Wasabi Hosting — deployed in about 2 minutes with DDoS protection included.
</Card>