Launch Options Guide
Best Launch Options in 2023
Every gaming setup has differences. Chances are, very few people have the exact same configuration of hardware, software, and internet connection as you. This is important because these factors, among many others, will affect what launch options are right for you.
You will find lots of guides on the internet claiming that certain configurations of launch options are the best, but the reality is at best, those launch options are best for the person writing that guide.
Unfortunately launch options aren't a silver bullet for most players, and as we said above, lots of guides will falsely claim that their selection of "best launch options" are. There most certainly isn't a "one size fits all" option - infact, a Valve employee on Reddit has said that "Best launch options are no launch options. They are the most used and most tested.".
Although we don't entirely disagree with what the Valve employee has said, we think that in some cases launch options can help out. There are some launch options that will offer a benefit to everyone, albeit a small one. We've separated this guide into several sections, so that you can view our recommendations based on your needs:
- Launch Options Everybody Should Be Using
- Launch Options for More FPS
- 144hz Launch Options
- ALT + TAB Launch Options
- Resolution Launch Options
- Autoexec Launch Options
Launch Options Everybody Should Be Using
We told a white lie when we said that launch options aren't a "one size fits all" tool. There are some launch options that will be useful for everyone, but the benefit they provide can be fairly small, so to be clear: they aren't a magic solution for bad aim!
The launch options that you should be running are:
-tickrate 128 +fps_max 0 -novid -nojoy
What Do These Do?
-tickrate 128 sets the tick rate of any "Offline With Bots" games, or any servers that you host via your client to 128 (as opposed to 64).
+fps_max 0 is actually a console command that you can use as a launch option. It removes the FPS cap that is enabled by default. Most players will have turned this off, but we have included this as it will offer a benefit to anyone who hasn't.
-novid will remove the short Valve video clip that plays when CS:GO launches. We've included it as players will find this video to be a minor inconvenience that they wouldn't mind getting rid of!
-nojoy will remove joystick support from the game, which may free up RAM. It's debated whether this has any noticeable effect on performance, but it's really, really unlikely that it'd hurt to have it in your launch options, so we've included it!
-high isn't a launch option that we've included in the above copy text because it can cause some issues for a small portion of computers. It will make the CS:GO process higher priority, and therefore, your computer will give resources (RAM, CPU, etc) to CS:GO instead of any other processes that you are running. We recommend you try it, and if it doesn't cause issues, keep it in your launch options.
Launch Options for More FPS
Firstly, if you aren't actually experiencing low FPS (and are likely of the mentality that "more is better"), we recommend that you don't use the launch options listed in this section. Why? Because you don't really need them to improve FPS, meaning negatives (many) will outweigh the positives (better FPS) - for example, we list a launch option that disables dynamic lighting. At times, this can make gun shots not flash, and make flashbangs not show a flash, which can be a major disadvantage when it comes to locating players and the location of flash bangs.
Secondly, if you are experiencing low FPS, make sure that you've had a good "play around" with your graphics settings to work out what works best for you - you'll get a better improvement from low graphics settings than you ever will from launch options.
Disclaimers out of the way, here are the launch options we recommend to improve FPS:
+fps_max 0 -nojoy -high -fullscreen +mat_disable_fancy_blending 1 +cl_forcepreload 1 -limitvsconst -forcenovsync +r_dynamic 0
Additionally, you may see an increase or decrease (depends on your computer) using the launch options below. The -disable_d3d9ex option will cause an FPS decrease for most people. These launch options are also less common and less tested. You should try these one-by-one to see if they offer any benefit, and if you have any problems (e.g. crashes) in future, consider these prime suspects:
+mat_queue_mode 2 -disable_d3d9ex -r_emulate_g -softparticlesdefaultoff
What Do These Do?
+fps_max 0 is actually a console command that you can use as a launch option. It removes the FPS cap that is enabled by default. Most players will have turned this off, but we have included this as it will offer a benefit to anyone who hasn't.
-nojoy will remove joystick support from the game, which may free up RAM. It's debated whether this has any noticeable effect on performance, but it's really, really unlikely that it'd hurt to have it in your launch options, so we've included it!
-high will make the CS:GO process higher priority, and therefore, your computer will give resources (RAM, CPU, etc) to CS:GO instead of any other processes that you are running at a lower priority. If you experience stutters when you have other windows open on your computer (e.g. a video playing on YouTube in the background), this can help reduce them.
-fullscreen starts CS:GO in fullscreen mode. Most players have this enabled by default, but this will offer a benefit if you were previously playing in windowed mode. When in windowed mode, your computer's resources are still used to render and process components of the Windows UI (e.g. the start bar) and also used for some other background processes - fullscreen mode improves FPS by stopping Windows from doing this.
+mat_disable_fancy_blending 1 is actually a console command commonly mislabeled as a launch option, so you can instead put it in your autoexec (without the +) if you'd prefer. This works to improve FPS by disabling "fancy blending" - the downside is that it makes textures look less detailed.
+cl_forcepreload 1, like some other "launch options" we've listed, is actually a console command that people commonly mistake for a launch option. It forces CS:GO to preload all models, sounds, and other files when loading up a map, instead of during gameplay. This can cause CS:GO to take longer to load maps, but you will have better FPS and reduced stuttering when actually playing. Note that if you have issues with not enough RAM available, you may want to remove this launch option to free up memory.
-limitvsconst will limit the game's number of vertex shaders to a maximum of 256, which may offer an FPS boost.
-forcenovsync disables VSync which often causes more problems than it solves. Most users will have already disabled VSync via their graphics settings, but we have included this for those that haven't. A small amount of players will experience screen tearing with this launch option, so remove this is you notice any after applying these launch options.
+r_dynamic 0 is a console command that is mistaken for a launch option (but works as one anyway). It disables dynamic lighting, which can cause an FPS boost. For the effects of this command, see this video.
+mat_queue_mode 2 is another console command that players often use as a launch option (it doesn't matter if you put this in your autoexec or as a launch option). This may offer an FPS improvement, but may also cause FPS issues, so we recommend you test this before using it in competitive games. It offers an FPS improvement by setting the queue/thread mode for the material system to an asynchronous queued mode.
-disable_d3d9ex will disable DirectX 9Ex, but will decrease FPS for most people. It might be worth trying if you're getting no luck with the other launch options listed here, just in case DirectX 9Ex is lowering your FPS (however unlikely).
-r_emulate_g will make CS:GO emulate OpenGL, which can cause an FPS boost for some players (reason unknown to us, but the source of this claim is Valve).
-softparticlesdefaultoff will make particles be rendered without feathering (scene depth blending), which can cause an FPS boost but decrease the graphics quality of your game.
144hz Launch Options
If you've got a 144hz monitor and want to make sure you're actually getting 144 refreshes a second, you should be using the following launch option:
-refresh 144
It's debated whether or not this command is needed, because CS:GO should set your refresh rate to 144 hertz by default, but it can't hurt to have it in your launch options just to be safe!
If you're not getting a refresh rate of 144hz after setting this launch option, make sure that you have changed your Windows graphics settings to 144hz. We've provided steps to do this on Windows below.
Windows 10
To enable 144hz on Windows 10:
- Go to your start menu, search "display settings" and click "Change display settings"
- At the bottom of the newly opened window, click "Advanced display settings"
- Click "Display adaptor properties for..." for the monitor you wish to set to 144hz (you may not get this step if you have just one monitor)
- Click the "Monitor" tab on the newly opened window
- Set "Screen refresh rate:" to 144 Hertz, click "Apply" and press "OK" - you're done!
Windows 7 and 8
To enable 144hz on Windows 7 and 8:
- Go to your desktop, right click, and press "Screen resolution"
- Select the monitor you wish to change settings for, and click "Advanced settings"
- Click the "Monitor" tab on the newly opened window
- Set "Screen refresh rate:" to 144 Hertz, click "Apply" and press "OK" - you're done!
ALT + TAB Launch Options
Before April 2019, DirectX 9Ex was not enabled by default. With DirectX 9Ex enabled, CS:GO "tabs back in" much faster. DirectX 9Ex is now enabled by default, so there's no need for this launch option. If you'd like to use it anyway, it is:
-d3d9ex
Resolution Launch Options
We recommend that you set your resolution via your CS:GO settings to avoid any potential problems, but if you wish to use a resolution that isn't pre-defined, use the below launch option:
-w [width] -h [height]
Replace [width] with your desired resolution width in pixels.
Replace [height] with your desired resolution height in pixels.
For example, to set your resolution to 800x600, you'd use the following launch option:
-w 800 -h 600
Autoexec Launch Options
An autoexec is simply a text file with a list of commands that are executed when you start CS:GO. This is useful because often commands will return to their default value when you restart your game, commands in your autoexec will keep their values.
After placing your autoexec file (named autoexec.cfg) in the "Steam\SteamApps\common\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\csgo\cfg" folder, set the following launch option to make it work:
+exec autoexec.cfg
If your autoexec file isn't named autoexec.cfg, replace autoexec.cfg with the name of your autoexec file.
Launch Options List
Below you can find a list of all known (and working) launch options for CS:GO on Steam. Note that launch options starting with + are actually just console commands (cvars) but work as launch options as well - we have included these are they are commonly mislabeled as launch options, and may be useful for some players.
| Launch Option | Description |
|---|---|
-tickrate [tick rate]
|
This launch option sets the tick rate of any server/single player game you run from your client to the number that you replace [tick rate] with ("-tickrate 128" recommended). In effect, any "Offline With Bots" games you play will be ran at this tickrate. |
-refresh [refresh rate]
|
The -refresh launch option sets the refresh rate of your client: replace [refresh rate] with your desired refresh rate. The refresh rate (in hz) is how many times per second your monitor will update - at 60hz, your monitor is effectively showing 60 frames per second. For 144hz monitors, set this to "-refresh 144" so that your game refreshes 144 times a second. |
-fullscreen
|
This launch option forces CS:GO to start in fullscreen mode. |
-windowed
|
This launch option forces CS:GO to start in windowed mode. |
-noborder
|
This launch option removes the border from windowed mode (i.e. there will be no Windows UI that usually shows the "X/Maximize/Minimize" buttons in the top right). |
-d3d9ex
|
This is one of the few launch options that may offer serious performance improvements for players, it enables DirectX 9Ex which can reduce CPU memory usage by up to 40% (as mentioned in this CS:GO blog post). As of 22nd April 2019, this is enabled by default in CS:GO, so there isn't much point to using it. |
+exec [file name]
|
This launch option will execute all commands a specified file - replace [file name] with the name of the file you wish to execute (e.g. autoexec.cfg). The file should be placed in the "Steam\SteamApps\common\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\csgo\cfg" folder. |
-disable_d3d9ex
|
This launch option disables DirectX 9Ex. |
+mat_disable_fancy_blending 1
|
This launch option will "disable fancy blending" of textures, making your game's textures appear less detailed and more smooth. May increase FPS. |
+cl_forcepreload 1
|
This is actually a console command, but commonly mislabeled as a launch option. It will force you client to preload models. |
-high
|
This launch option will make the CS:GO process run at "high priority" on your computer. Effectively, this means that CS:GO will take priority over other processes running on your computer at a lower priority. |
-r_emulate_g
|
This launch option only works for Windows - it will make the game emulate OpenGL, which can lead to an FPS boost. |
-softparticlesdefaultoff
|
This launch option makes CS:GO render particles without feathering (scene depth blending). |
+fps_max [amount]
|
This launch option sets the maximum frames-per-second your game will run at. Replace [amount] with the amount you want to limit your game to. Setting it to 0 ("-fps_max 0") will remove any limit, making your game run at the highest FPS possible. |
-no-browser
|
This launch option may no longer work since the introduction of Panorama UI. It should disable the in-game browser that shows in servers as welcome messages (not the Steam overlay). |
-nopreload
|
This launch option forces models not to be preloaded. Whilst this will have a different effect for every computer, chances are, this command will make games/maps load faster, but may cause worse performance during actual gameplay. This is because models not preloaded when the map/game is loading will need to be loaded at a later time, likely at the exact moment they are needed, and this will likely add extra latency. For example, if you have preloading disabled and enter an area of a map that requires you load a new model, you will need to wait for the game to load that model from your disk (slow) to memory/cache, adding latency - with preloading enabled, the model would already be in your memory, decreasing the amount of time it takes for the game to access and render that model. |
-nohltv
|
This launch option turns off all Source TV features. |
-console
|
This launch option makes the game start with the console opened. |
-novid
|
This launch option makes the game skip the Valve/CS:GO intro video when you load it up - i.e. you'll go straight to the game. |
-nojoy
|
This launch option makes the game drop all joystick support, which can decrease the amount of RAM it uses. |
-limitvsconst
|
This launch option limits hardware vertex shader constants to 256. |
-forcenovsync
|
This launch option forces CS:GO to not use VSync. VSync syncs the vertical refresh rate of your monitor with the FPS of your game. Whilst VSync can help prevent screen tearing and reduce power consumption, in most cases it will cause input lag, make your FPS seem slower, and cause other issues - i.e. the negatives will greatly outweigh the positives. |
-threads [amount]
|
This launch option sets the amount of processor threads that CS:GO will use (e.g. -threads 4 will make CS:GO use 4 threads). We recommend that you do not use this launch option as it can cause instability and other problems - generally, CS:GO does a good job of managing its thread usage. |
+violence_hblood 0
|
This launch option removes blood from the game. Since the removal of the -lv (low violence) launch option, this launch option is your best bet at getting a game close to the low violence version. |
-language [language name]
|
This launch option makes CS:GO start in the language that you replace [language name] with - e.g. "-language english" will make CS:GO start in English. |
-width [width]
|
This launch option sets the width of your CS:GO window in pixels (e.g. "-width 1920"). |
-height [height]
|
This launch option sets the height of your CS:GO window in pixels (e.g. "-height 1080"). |
-x [position horizontally]
|
This launch option sets the position of your CS:GO window on the X axis of your monitor. In other words, this sets how far to the right of the left side of your screen CS:GO should be. For example "-x 100" would make CS:GO start 100 pixels away from the left side of your screen (there would be a 100 pixel gap between the left side of your screen and the CS:GO window). |
-y [position vertically]
|
This launch option sets the position of your CS:GO window on the Y axis of your monitor. In other words, this sets how far down from the top of your screen CS:GO should be. For example "-y 100" would make CS:GO start 100 pixels down from the top of your screen (there would be a 100 pixel gap between the top of your screen and the CS:GO window). |
+r_dynamic [0 / 1]
|
Like some other "launch options" in this list, this is a console command commonly mislabeled as a launch option. Use either "+r_dynamic 0" to disable dynamic lighting or "+r_dynamic 1" to enable it (default). Setting this to 0 can improve FPS slightly but will remove some lighting features from the game, like the flash from flashbangs when they are near smokes, which can cause the negatives of no dynamic lighting to outweigh the positives. |
-autoconfig
|
This launch option will force your game to start up with the default configuration settings for the game - you can change the settings once the game has started, but when you restart with this launch option, they will be reset to default again. |
How to Set Launch Options
Thankfully, it is very easy to set launch options via Steam. Open up Steam, go to Library, right click Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and click "Properties":
Then, click "Set Launch Options..." to open up the launch options window:
Simply type the launch options you wish to set into the text box and press "OK" to set them. Restart your CS:GO for them to take effect. If you're experiencing problems:
- Make sure the launch options you've entered are separated by spaces.
- Make sure the launch options don't contain quotes around them (") or any other odd characters, the only characters that should be in launch options are letters, numbers, and these: +, -, and _.
- If you've used launch options from our guide, make sure you've replaced anything surrounded by square brackets (e.g. [height]) with a value.
- Most (if not all) launch options start with a - or a +, if a launch option in your launch options doesn't have a + or - before it, that's likely the one causing problems.