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Counter-Strike 2 servers get custom maps from the Steam Workshop. This guide shows you how to play a single workshop map right away, and how to host a whole collection as your server’s map rotation.

Difficulty

Beginner

Time

10 minutes

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How custom maps work in CS2

CS2 doesn’t use FastDL. The server downloads workshop maps from Steam, and players download them from Steam when they join. You don’t upload map files yourself. You need the map’s Workshop ID: the number at the end of its address. For example, in https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3070284539 the ID is 3070284539.
Only use maps made for Counter-Strike 2. CS:GO workshop maps don’t work in CS2.

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Play a workshop map now

1

Start the server

The server must be running.
2

Open Server settings

Click Server settings in the sidebar and find Workshop map under Game mode and map.
Game mode and map section with game mode tiles, the Start map drop-down with a Change now button, the Workshop map field where you paste a Steam Workshop address with its own Change now button, and the Map group field

The Workshop map field

3

Paste the map

Paste the map’s Workshop address, or just its number.
4

Click Change now

The server downloads the map and switches to it. The first time can take a minute.
A workshop map can’t be the start map. When the server restarts, it goes back to your Start map. Run Change now or host_workshop_map again after a restart, or host a collection (below) so your workshop maps are always there.

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Host a collection

A Workshop collection is a list of maps you put together on Steam. Your server can host the whole collection as its map group, so it rotates through your maps.

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Create the collection

1

Create it on Steam

On the CS2 Workshop, open Collections and create a new collection. Add the maps you want.
2

Make it public

Set the collection’s visibility to Public. The server can’t download a private or friends-only collection. The maps in it must be public too.
3

Copy its ID

Copy the number at the end of the collection’s address.

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Set it on your server

1

Open Startup

Click Startup in the sidebar.
2

Turn on collection hosting

Set Host Workshop Collection to 1.
3

Enter the collection

Paste the collection number into Workshop Collection ID. Each field saves when you click outside it.
4

Clear the map group

In Server settings, leave Map group empty, so the collection is used as the map group.
5

Restart

Restart the server. It downloads every map in the collection, which can take a while the first time.
After you add or remove maps in the collection on Steam, restart the server to pick up the changes.

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Switch between workshop maps

Once your server has workshop maps, use their names: With CS2-SimpleAdmin, admins can use !wsmap <id or name> in chat. See admin and commands.

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Map rotation with workshop maps

  • Collection hosted: the server rotates through the collection’s maps when each match ends.
  • To always change map at the end of a match, add mp_match_end_changelevel 1 to server.cfg.
  • Built-in maps only? Use the Map group field instead. See map rotation.

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Troubleshooting

Check the ID, make sure the map is public and made for CS2, and wait for the first download to finish. Watch the Console for errors.
Check Host Workshop Collection is 1, the Workshop Collection ID is right, the collection is public, and Map group in Server settings is empty. Then restart.
Large maps take time on a slow connection. Ask the player to try again. Very large maps can put players off, so keep your collection to maps people really play.
Yes, through the Workshop with the MultiAddonManager plugin. See custom content.

Server configuration

Start map, map group and startup variables.

Admin and commands

Change maps from the console.

Frameworks and plugins

MultiAddonManager and other plugins.

Troubleshooting

Fixes for common problems.

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Need Extra Help?

If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist:

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Last Updated: October 2026