How to Set Up CS2 Config, Aliases, and Binds - Counter-Strike 2 Guide - IGN (2024)

CS2 Config files execute any console commands contained within them, from key binds to visual settings and more. Using config files, you can fine-tune your settings according to your needs. For example, if you're looking to set up your CS2 binds to allow you to execute precise moves, including jump throws and crouch jumps, the best way to do this is by creating and loading a custom config file that will bind a key/keys of your choice to multiple commands at once, using an alias to create a reference to a group of commands.

Note: Modifying CS2 config files and bindings can result in unintended interactions in your game and should be attempted with caution.

CS2 Configs

How to Create and Edit CS2 Configs

To modify your CS2 configs, you'll need to find the cfg folder on your PC. This can be found in the following location:

SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\game\csgo\cfg

To create a new config file to contain your custom keybinds and settings, follow these steps:

• Right click in the cfg folder -> New -> Text Document
• Type the name of the config you wish to create. This can be anything, but it must end in .cfg
  • When you type the name of the config, Windows will automatically append .txt, making it a text document and not a config file. Ensure you have file name extensions showing in the 'View' tab of your browser, then you can manually highlight the whole name and ensure it ends in .cfg

• When you've created your .cfg file, you can open and edit the file by right clicking -> Open With -> More Apps -> Notepad. After editing you may need to remove the .txt extension again and ensure it ends in .cfg.

How to Execute CS2 Configs

There are two ways to execute configs - manually, in the CS2 console, or automatically at launch, by modifying your CS2 launch options.

To set a config to execute automatically on game launch, right-click CS2 in your Steam Library and go to Properties -> General -> Launch Options. Then add +exec NAME.cfg (substituting NAME with your config file name) to the launch options.

In-game, you can execute a specific config file manually from the CS2 console using the following command (substituting NAME with your config file name).

exec NAME

If you execute your config file like this, it won't stay enabled if you quit and relaunch the game - you'll have to execute it again.

CS2 Binds

The command to set up a CS2 bind is

bind KEY ACTION

The "action" can be any console command, including a movement command, a previously-defined alias that contains multiple commands, or even a config file. You can also bind an input to a series of actions by chaining them together with ;.

You can run a bind command using the in-game console, but if you're setting up binds for long-term use, we recommend you add it to your config file.

Important Note: You'll see movement commands prefixed with + and -, for example, +jump and -jump. The + denotes pressing the key and - denotes releasing the key. These are two distinct messages for the server to process.

Binding or running a + command without quotation marks around it, like

 bind v +jump 

will automatically run the - version of the command when v (the bound key) is released.

However, binding or running a + command inside quotation marks means the game will only process that specific command and nothing else, so it won't automatically conclude. For example,

bind v "+jump"

will run the +jump command when you press v, so you'll jump once, but you won't be able to jump again afterwards as the game thinks you still have the key held down. So you need to use

bind v "+jump;-jump"

which performs +jump and -jump, one straight after the other, when you press the bound key. This is still functionally slightly different to bind v +jump, which performs -jump when you release the key, whereas with bind v "+jump;-jump" you don't need to release the key to send the -jump message.

CS2 Aliases and Binds

If you want to create a bind to trigger multiple actions at the same time, like crouch jump, or jump throw, you’ll need to create something called an alias. Using the alias command, you create a name for your particular combination of inputs. Then, you can use the bind command to bind the alias to a specific input, so when you use that input, it triggers everything under that alias name.

You can use the console to define an alias and bind it, but as it'll be reset if you relaunch the game, that's quite a lot of work to re-do every time. For this reason, we recommend you add the alias and bind commands you wish to use to your CS2 config file.

The alias command should be followed by the name you wish to use for the alias, in quotation marks, and then the commands you wish to be executed, chained together with;, also in quotation marks.

alias "NAME" "COMMAND; COMMAND"

Since we're using quotation marks, as explained above, you need to ensure you create an alias for both the + and - versions of the command.

Useful CS2 Binds and Configs

Below you'll find a few CS2 binds shared by players, which you'll need to add to your config file in order to use.

CS2 Bhop Jump Bind

This bind, shared by Tripp on YouTube, reportedly allows you to perform consistent jumps using the Mouse Wheel, to help you perform Bhops (bunny hops).

alias "+myjump" "+jump"

alias "-myjump" "-jump"

bind "mwheeldown" "+myjump;-myjump"

bind "mwheelup" "+myjump;-myjump"

CS2 Jump Throw Bind

While it is now possible to Jump Throw in CS2 without using binds, VentsiR on YouTube shares this bind for consistent jumps:

alias "+jt1" "+jump"

alias "+jt2" "-attack; -attack2"

alias "+jt3" "-jump"

bind [key] "+jt1; +jt2; +jt3"

CS2 Michael Jackson Peek

Courtesy of T1ckbase on Reddit, this set of CS2 binds allows you to perform the "Michael Jackson peek". By binding your movement keys to both movement and controller commands to move in the other direction, your body moves but leaves your feet in the same place, which results in the Michael Jackson leaning effect.

// Check Michael Jackson Variables

alias "check_mj_forward_1" "forwardback 0 0 0"

alias "check_mj_back_1" "forwardback 0 0 0"

alias "check_mj_left_1" "rightleft 0 0 0"

alias "check_mj_right_1" rightleft 0 0 0"

alias "check_mj_forward_2" ""

alias "check_mj_back_2" ""

alias "check_mj_left_2" ""

alias "check_mj_right_2" ""

alias "check_mj_forward_3" "+forward"

alias "check_mj_back_3" "+back"

alias "check_mj_left_3" "+left"

alias "check_mj_right_3" "+right"

// Calculations?

alias "+mj_forward" "check_mj_forward_3; forwardback 0.5 0 0; alias check_mj_forward_1 forwardback 0.5 0 0; alias check_mj_forward_2 +forward"

alias "+mj_back" "check_mj_back_3; forwardback -0.5 0 0; alias check_mj_back_1 forwardback -0.5 0 0; alias check_mj_back_2 +back"

alias "+mj_left" "check_mj_left_3; rightleft -0.5 0 0; alias check_mj_left_1 rightleft -0.5 0 0; alias check_mj_left_2 +left"

alias "+mj_right" "check_mj_right_3; rightleft 0.5 0 0; alias check_mj_right_1 rightleft 0.5 0 0; alias check_mj_right_2 +right"

alias "-mj_forward" "-forward; check_mj_back_1; alias check_mj_forward_1 forwardback 0 0 0; alias check_mj_forward_2"

alias "-mj_back" "-back; check_mj_forward_1; alias check_mj_back_1 forwardback 0 0 0; alias check_mj_back_2"

alias "-mj_left" "-left; check_mj_right_1; alias check_mj_left_1 rightleft 0 0 0; alias check_mj_left_2"

alias "-mj_right" "-right; check_mj_left_1; alias check_mj_right_1 rightleft 0 0 0; alias check_mj_right_2"

alias "+michael_jackson" "-forward; -back; -left; -right; alias check_mj_forward_3; alias check_mj_back_3; alias check_mj_left_3; alias check_mj_right_3"

alias "-michael_jackson" "check_mj_forward_2; check_mj_back_2; check_mj_left_2; check_mj_right_2; alias check_mj_forward_3 +forward; alias check_mj_back_3 +back; alias check_mj_left_3 +left; alias check_mj_right_3 +right"

// Bind Michael Jackson Peak to WSAD + ALT modifier

bind "w" "+mj_forward"

bind "s" "+mj_back"

bind "a" "+mj_left"

bind "d" "+mj_right"

bind "alt" "+michael_jackson"