RCON Commands

Guide to accessing and using RCON (Remote Console) on your CS2 server.

What RCON Is

RCON stands for Remote Console. It lets you send commands to your server from your own game client, so you can change the map, kick a player or adjust settings without touching the panel.

Valve RCON Is Currently Broken

Valve's built-in RCON system for CS2 is not working, with no fix date announced. Any guide telling you to use the rcon or rcon_password command will fail on CS2.

FSHOST installs a plugin called FakeRcon that does the same job. Every command on this page uses fake_rcon instead of rcon. This is the supported method on both Free and Pro servers.

Before You Start

You need three things in place before any command on this page works.

Step 1: Turn On the Developer Console

In CS2, open Settings → Game → set Enable Developer Console (~) to Yes.

The console is off by default in a fresh CS2 install, which is why commands appear to do nothing for most first-time server owners.

Step 2: Open the Console

Press the ` key (backtick or tilde, above Tab on most keyboards) while in game. Press it again to close.

Console Key Does Nothing

On some keyboard layouts the default key does not register. Rebind it in Settings → Keyboard/Mouse → UI Keys → Toggle Console.

Step 3: Join Your Own Server

RCON commands are sent to the server you are currently connected to, so you must be in your server, not in the main menu.

Find the IP and port on your panel, then connect from the console:

connect 123.45.67.89:27015

Commands Do Nothing in the Main Menu

Typing fake_rcon from the main menu produces no output and no error. If nothing happens, check that you are actually connected to your server.

Where to Type Commands

CS2 servers accept two different kinds of commands, and mixing them up is the most common reason a command appears to be ignored.

Type	Looks like	Where to type it	Used for
Console command	fake_rcon status	Developer console (`)	Server settings, cvars, admin control
Chat command	!map dust2	In-game chat (Y or U)	Game modes, map presets, plugin features

A chat command can also be sent from the console by putting say in front of it:

say !map dust2

This is the same as typing !map dust2 in chat. Both forms appear on this page.

Getting RCON Access

For Free Servers

Your RCON password is shown on the Free Server Panel. It is the same password used for server administration.

Step 1 - Authenticate:

In the console, type fake_rcon_password followed by your password:

fake_rcon_password your_rcon_password

Replace your_rcon_password with the password from the panel. You only need to do this once per game session.

Step 2 - Verify Access:

fake_rcon say Test message

Expected Output:

[Client] You can now use the fake_rcon command
Console: Test message

If you see the message appear in the in-game chat, RCON is working and every command below is available to you.

Never Type Your Password in Chat

fake_rcon_password belongs in the console only. Typed in chat, it is sent to every player on the server. If that happens, change your password in the panel straight away.

For Pro Servers

Pro servers use a full admin system with per-user permissions instead of a single shared password. See the Server Admin Guide for setup instructions.

Essential Commands

Server Information

View connected players and server status:

fake_rcon status

List available maps:

fake_rcon maps *

Player Management

Command	Description	Example
fake_rcon kick <name/id>	Remove player from server	fake_rcon kick "Player1"
fake_rcon say <message>	Broadcast to all players	fake_rcon say "Match starting soon"

Map Control

Change map (preserves server state):

fake_rcon changelevel de_dust2

Load map (full reset):

fake_rcon map de_mirage

Quick map change via chat:

say !map dust2
say_team !map nuke

Available maps: ancient, anubis, dust2, inferno, mirage, nuke, overpass, vertigo, train

Game Configuration

Match Settings

Restart current game:

fake_rcon mp_restartgame 5

Restarts after 5 seconds (Free servers only)

Starting money:

fake_rcon mp_startmoney 800
fake_rcon mp_startmoney 16000  # Max money start

Default: 800

Maximum rounds:

fake_rcon mp_maxrounds 30

Round Timing

fake_rcon mp_roundtime 1.92        # Round duration (1:55 for competitive)
fake_rcon mp_freezetime 15         # Freeze time at start
fake_rcon mp_buytime 20            # Buy period in seconds
fake_rcon mp_c4timer 40            # Bomb timer

Competitive Standard

For standard competitive matches, use mp_roundtime 1.92 which equals 1 minute 55 seconds.

Economy Settings

fake_rcon mp_startmoney 800
fake_rcon mp_maxmoney 16000
fake_rcon cash_player_killed_enemy_default 300

Server Settings

Server Identity

Change server name:

fake_rcon hostname "Your Custom Name - free @ fshost.me"

Branding Requirement

Free servers must retain the FSHOST branding in the hostname.

Access Control

Set server password:

fake_rcon sv_password "mypassword"

Remove password:

fake_rcon sv_password ""

Movement & Physics

Auto bunny hopping:

fake_rcon sv_autobunnyhopping 1  # Enable
fake_rcon sv_autobunnyhopping 0  # Disable (default)

Development Commands

Cheat Commands

These commands should only be used in practice environments.

Enable cheat commands:

fake_rcon sv_cheats 1

Disable cheat commands:

fake_rcon sv_cheats 0

Free Server Presets

Quick configuration presets available via chat commands.

Game Modes

Command	Mode	Notes
!dm	Deathmatch	Classic FFA deathmatch
!wingman	Wingman	2v2 competitive
!retake	Retakes	Currently disabled due to Valve bug

Match Configurations

Command	Config	Details
!esl5on5	ESL 5v5	Standard competitive (no ready system)
!scrim	Scrim	All rounds enabled (no pause/unpause)
!prac	Practice	Basic practice (no commands)

Pro Features

For full practice commands like .throw, .bot, etc., a Pro server is required.

Quick Map Loading

say !map ancient
say !map dust2
say !map mirage

Troubleshooting

RCON command not working

Check in this order:

1. You are connected to your server, not sitting in the main menu
2. You ran fake_rcon_password this session, and it returned [Client] You can now use the fake_rcon command
3. The password matches the one on the panel, with no trailing space
4. You used fake_rcon, not rcon, which is the broken Valve command

Nothing happens when I press the console key

The console is disabled by default. See Before You Start to enable it in Settings → Game.

Messages not appearing in-game

Commands with spaces require quotes:

fake_rcon say "Your message here"

A command works for other people but not for me

Check whether it is a chat command or a console command. See Where to Type Commands. Chat commands starting with ! or / do not work when typed directly into the console.

Usage Examples

# Start a competitive match
fake_rcon mp_maxrounds 30
fake_rcon mp_startmoney 800
fake_rcon mp_roundtime 1.92

# Change map and configure deathmatch
say !map dust2
say !dm

# Practice configuration
say !prac
fake_rcon sv_cheats 1

# Announce to players
fake_rcon say "Tournament starting in 10 minutes"