To watch FACEIT demos in CS2, download the match recording with the "Watch Demo" button on the FACEIT match page, extract the .zip archive, put the .dem file in …\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\game\csgo and start it from the console with playdemo filename. Team voice is turned on with tv_listen_voice_indices -1 and tv_listen_voice_indices_h -1, entered before you start the demo. Each step is covered in detail below, along with playback controls and fixes for common errors.
Reviewing your own matches is still one of the most effective ways to improve in Counter-Strike 2: professional players regularly rewatch rounds, look for mistakes and work on their weak spots. One thing to keep in mind: FACEIT keeps demos for a limited time, about 30 days. After that the recording is deleted from the servers and cannot be recovered, so download important games right after the match.
Where to Find and How to Download FACEIT Demos
The first step is getting the demo file. All recordings live in the match history of your profile on the official FACEIT website, so start by logging in. If you are new to the platform, read up on how to play on FACEIT in CS2 first: demos only appear after you have played matches.
Once logged in, open your profile and go to the "Matches" or "Statistics" tab. It shows your full game history with the date, map, result and stats for each match. Pick the game you want to open its match page, where you will find the "Watch Demo" button among the other options.
Downloading a FACEIT demo for CS2 takes one click on that button. A .zip archive starts downloading to your browser's default downloads folder, and from there you can move it anywhere convenient. The file size depends on how long the match lasted.
Mind the storage window. FACEIT keeps demos on its servers for about 30 days after the match ends and then deletes them automatically, so do not put off downloading the games you want to keep.
| Demo source | Storage | Team voice | File format |
|---|---|---|---|
| FACEIT | About 30 days | Yes (enabled with console commands) | .zip → .dem |
| Valve matchmaking (Competitive) | Limited time, Watch tab in CS2 | No | .dem |
| Premier | Limited time, Watch tab in CS2 | No | .dem |
The table shows the key difference between demo sources. FACEIT's advantage is that the recording keeps both teams' voice chat, which matters for a proper review of the game. Valve's official matchmaking demos do not offer this.
Where to Put the Demo in CS2 for FACEIT
After downloading comes the step where most players go wrong. Where you put a FACEIT demo in CS2 matters, because the wrong folder leads to a "Demo Not Found" error at launch. Step-by-step placement:
Extract the archive. The download is a compressed archive, so unpack it with any archiver: WinRAR, 7-Zip or the tool built into Windows. You will get a file with the .dem extension, which is the match recording.
Rename the file. Before moving the file, give it a simple name with only Latin letters, numbers and underscores, no spaces or special characters. For example, use "faceit_match_1201.dem" instead of "faceit match 12.01.dem". Spaces in the name are a common reason the game cannot find a demo.
Place it in the right folder. This is the main CS2 difference from the old game. The correct path is: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\game\csgo. Note the structure: inside the main game folder, open the "game" subfolder and then "csgo". The folder is still named Counter-Strike Global Offensive, and that is expected.
Find the folder through Steam. The easiest way to reach it is through the Steam client: open your library, right-click Counter-Strike 2 and choose "Manage" → "Browse local files". Steam opens the game's root directory; go to "game" → "csgo" and copy the renamed .dem file there.
Out of habit, many players drop the file into the old ...\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\csgo path or the "replays" folder, which worked in CS:GO. That does not work in Counter-Strike 2: the playdemo command looks for demos in the \game\csgo directory. Getting the path right solves most launch problems.
How to Launch a FACEIT Demo in CS2
With the file in place, all that is left is to start it. Launching a FACEIT demo in CS2 works the same way as any other Counter-Strike 2 demo and is done through the developer console.
First, enable the console if it is not active yet: in the CS2 settings, open the "Game" section and set "Enable Developer Console" to "Yes". By default the console opens with the tilde key (~), to the left of the 1 key. We have a separate guide on how to open the console in CS2.
Then open the console and type playdemo followed by the filename, without the .dem extension. For example, if the file is named "faceit_match_1201.dem", the command is: playdemo faceit_match_1201.
Type the filename exactly as written, including any capital letters. With the right command, the demo loads and plays from the point where recording began, usually the pre-match warmup.
If you see a "Demo Not Found" error, the usual causes are: the file is in the wrong folder, the name contains spaces or special characters, or the .dem extension was typed into the command.
How to Enable Voice in FACEIT Demos
One of the most common questions is how to hear team voice chat. By default, voice does not play in a FACEIT demo in CS2, which confuses many players the first time. It is not a bug or a broken file: the voice chat is in the recording, but you have to turn it on with console commands. We cover voice in matches and demos separately in our guide on how to enable voice chat on FACEIT.
How to watch FACEIT demos with both teams' voice:
Launch Counter-Strike 2 and open the console with the ~ (tilde) key.
Enter the voice chat commands. Important: they must be entered before playdemo, or they will not work.
tv_listen_voice_indices -1 covers player slots 0 to 31;
tv_listen_voice_indices_h -1 covers slots 32 to 63, so together they cover everyone in the match.
Optionally, show text chat with tv_relaytextchat 2.
Start the demo with playdemo filename.
The value -1 turns on listening to all players at once. These commands are widely used to review team communication; for more useful commands, see our list of CS2 console commands. Keep in mind that some older demos may have no voice recorded at all.
Demo Playback Controls
Once the recording is running, you will want to control playback. The easiest way is the built-in Demo UI, which has all the core tools for analysis.
The control panel opens with the demoui console command or the Shift + F2 shortcut. It has play, pause, rewind and round navigation buttons. The slider lets you move quickly along the match timeline, and the previous and next round buttons jump between rounds instantly.
Hotkeys speed things up noticeably. Space pauses and resumes playback, which is handy for studying specific moments. Tab opens the scoreboard with player stats, and the number keys 1 to 0 switch between players without the mouse.
For deeper analysis, console commands give you more control over playback. The demo_timescale command changes the playback speed: 0.5 slows the recording to half speed, while 2 or 3 speeds it up to skip through the slow parts.
| Command | Description | Practical use |
|---|---|---|
| demo_pause | Pause playback | Freeze a moment for analysis |
| demo_resume | Resume after a pause | Continue watching |
| demo_timescale 0.5 | Half speed | Study fast peeks and flashes |
| demo_timescale 2 | Double speed | Skip through eco rounds |
| demo_gototick 15000 | Jump to tick 15000 | Go straight to the moment you need |
Combine these commands with the hotkeys to set up a review process that suits you.
Camera modes add even more options. First-person view (POV) shows exactly what the player saw, including the crosshair and mouse movement. Third-person view lets you judge positioning from the outside. The free camera lets you fly around the map and see both teams' setups at once, which is invaluable for understanding tactics.
Fixing Common Problems
Players run into the same few issues with demos again and again. Below are the most common problems and how to fix them. If the error comes from the platform itself rather than the demo, see what to do if FACEIT gives an error.
What to do about the "Demo Not Found" error?
"Demo Not Found" is the most common problem. Causes and fixes:
The file is in the wrong directory. Make sure the demo sits in \game\csgo, not in the root folder or in \csgo without the game subfolder.
Spaces or non-Latin letters in the filename. The fix is simple: rename the file with Latin characters and no spaces.
The .dem extension is in the command. The playdemo command does not need the extension.
Why won't the demo launch, or why does the game crash?
Launch problems or crashes while loading a demo usually point to a corrupted file. What helps:
Verify the CS2 files in Steam: right-click the game → "Properties" → "Installed Files" → "Verify integrity of game files".
Extract the demo again from the original .zip file.
Give the file a simpler name without unusual characters.
How to fix missing sound in a demo?
Missing voice usually means the voice commands were not entered before launch. The fix:
Enter tv_listen_voice_indices -1 and tv_listen_voice_indices_h -1 before the playdemo command.
If the demo is already running, exit with the disconnect command, enter the voice commands and start the demo again.
What to do about an "Access Denied" error when downloading?
An "Access Denied" error during download is usually a temporary problem on FACEIT's side. Fixes:
Refresh the match page in your browser, which often solves it.
Try the download again a little later or from another browser.
Most problems go away once you follow the steps carefully and check each one. If the error persists and you still cannot watch the demo, contact FACEIT support through the platform's official website.
Why Demo Review Pays Off
Watching your own matches regularly gives you a real edge in improving. During a game, many mistakes go unnoticed because of stress and focus on the current moment, while a demo lets you calmly break down every decision.
Reviewing mistakes starts with positioning. Players often do not notice that they stand in predictable spots or leave angles open. Watching from the opponent's camera shows how easy or hard you were to kill. Rotation timings, utility usage, save or force-buy decisions: all of it becomes obvious on replay.
Studying opponents reveals their habits. Some players hold the same positions on certain maps, use signature peeks or react to utility the same way every time. Remembering these details gives you an edge the next time you meet, and professional teams spend hours on opponent demos before big matches.
Content is another reason to download demos. Players record their best moments for YouTube, TikTok or a personal collection: clutches, precise wallbangs and well-executed tactics are worth keeping.
Approached systematically, demo review turns from entertainment into a tool for progress, and the results show up in your stats and ELO.
Summary
Working with FACEIT demos in Counter-Strike 2 comes down to a few clear steps: download the archive from the match page, extract the file, put it in the \game\csgo directory and start it from the console with playdemo. Both teams' voice chat is turned on with the tv_listen_voice_indices commands before the recording starts.
Remember that FACEIT keeps demos for about 30 days, so download valuable matches right away. Regular review of your own play remains a proven way to improve for players at every level, from beginners to pros.
FAQ
How do I watch a FACEIT demo in CS2 with voice?
Before starting the demo, enter tv_listen_voice_indices -1 and tv_listen_voice_indices_h -1 in the console, then launch the recording with playdemo filename. If the demo is already playing, exit with disconnect and repeat the steps.
How long does FACEIT keep demos?
About 30 days after the match ends. After that the "Watch Demo" button stops working and the recording is removed from the servers, so download the matches you need right away.
How do I skip to a specific round?
Open the Demo UI panel with Shift + F2 or the demoui command and switch rounds with the navigation buttons. For a precise jump, use demo_gototick with a tick number.
How do I check my AVG on FACEIT?
Average stats (AVG) are not in the demo but in your FACEIT profile statistics. The steps are covered in our guide on how to check your AVG on FACEIT.
