You deployed the server, so you are the admin. CS:GO admin commands run through SourceMod, which is installed and configured on every 2hours.gg CS:GO server, with your Steam account granted admin automatically. There is no web console for CS:GO (the legacy engine refuses the TCP RCON our browser console uses), so you run everything in-game.
Three kinds of command
It helps to know which is which, because they are typed differently:
- Admin commands (SourceMod) — kick, ban, change map, slay. Only admins can run them. Type them in chat with a ! (or / to hide the message from others), for example !kick. The same command works in the console as sm_kick.
- Server settings (cvars) — round time, bots, friendly fire. These are game variables, not admin commands. As admin you change them with sm_cvar <name> <value>, for example sm_cvar mp_roundtime 2.
- Player commands — anything any player runs on their own client (buying, voice, spectating). No admin needed, they affect only that player.
How to run admin commands
You need the developer console on (Settings > Game > Enable Developer Console, or add -console to your launch options). Then either:
- In chat: press Y, type the command with a ! prefix (!map de_nuke). Use / instead of ! to run it without other players seeing the message.
- In the console: press ~ (tilde, left of the 1 key) and type the sm_ version (sm_map de_nuke).
Easiest of all: type !admin in chat to open the SourceMod admin menu and point-and-click through every command below, no memorizing.
Managing players (admin)
!kick <name>- Remove a player from the server.
!ban <name> 30 <reason>- Ban a player for 30 minutes (use 0 for a permanent ban).
!slay <name>- Kill a player instantly for the current round.
!slap <name> 20- Deal 20 damage and knock a player around (0 for just the knockback).
!team <name> ct- Move a player to a team (ct, t or spec).
!gag <name>- Block a player from text chat. !ungag to undo.
!mute <name>- Block a player from voice chat. !unmute to undo.
!noclip <name>- Let a player fly through walls (toggle).
Match and map control (admin)
!map de_inferno- Change to a new map now. de_ maps are Bomb Defusal, cs_ maps are Hostage Rescue.
!nextmap de_nuke- Set the map that loads after this one.
sm_cvar mp_restartgame 1- Restart the match in 1 second: scores and rounds reset, everyone stays connected. This is what "restart game" means in CS:GO. (It does NOT restart the server itself.)
sm_cvar mp_warmup_start- Begin a warmup period (free buy, no score).
sm_cvar mp_warmup_end- End warmup and start the live match.
Server settings / cvars (admin)
Change these with sm_cvar <name> <value> in the console, or from the !admin menu:
mp_roundtime 2- Minutes per round.
mp_timelimit 30- Minutes before the map changes (0 = no limit).
mp_maxrounds 24- Rounds played before the match ends / sides switch.
mp_friendlyfire 1- Friendly fire on (1) or off (0).
mp_startmoney 16000- Money each player starts a match with.
bot_quota 6- How many bots to keep in the game.
bot_difficulty 2- Bot skill: 0 easy, 1 normal, 2 hard, 3 expert.
sv_alltalk 1- Let both teams hear each other on voice (1) or team-only (0).
sv_cheats 1- Enable cheat commands like noclip and god for testing (1). Turn off (0) for real games.
Fun and votes (admin)
!beacon <name>- Put a ring + ping on a player so everyone can find them.
!freeze <name>- Freeze a player in place for a few seconds.
!burn <name>- Set a player on fire.
!votemap de_dust2 de_mirage- Start a map vote between the listed maps.
!votekick <name>- Start a vote to kick a player.
!csay <message>- Show a message in the centre of everyone’s screen.
Player commands (anyone)
These need no admin and affect only the player who runs them:
status- Console: list connected players, their SteamIDs and ping. Handy for finding a name to kick.
timeleft- Chat: how long until the map changes.
nextmap- Chat: what the next map will be.
rcon_password <pw>- Console: log in with the RCON password (on your server card) to run native server commands directly, without SourceMod.
Commands we block (and why)
A handful of commands can leak your server’s identity, point players at malicious downloads, or kill the server process. For your safety these are blocked, the same list we block on CS2:
- quit, _restart, restart, shutdown, crash — kill the whole server (drops everyone). Use mp_restartgame to restart the match instead.
- sv_setsteamaccount, rcon_password changes, sv_downloadurl, logaddress_add, exec — can leak your login token, redirect downloads, or run arbitrary config.
- connect, disconnect, retry — client-only commands that would tear down the server’s network listener and leave it unreachable.
Everything else, all the useful admin, match and gameplay commands above, is yours to use.
Insecure servers (custom clients)
By default your server runs with VAC (Valve Anti-Cheat) on, the same as public matchmaking. When you deploy you can switch it to insecure instead: VAC off, so custom clients, scripts and modded setups can connect. It only affects your own server, and it never puts your Steam account at risk.
This one is up to you. Some private groups run insecure servers for testing, modding, or their own rules (HvH and similar). Leave VAC on for normal, protected play; switch it off for a private lobby where everyone knows the deal.