The quickest way to find a server IP in CS2, just as it was in CS:GO, is the status command: open the console with the "~" key, type status, and look for an address like 123.45.67.89:27015 in the output. You can save that address to your favorites or send it to a friend, who joins the same server with the connect command. This matters on community servers; in official matchmaking you connect through Valve's own network, so you never need an address there.
Every resource on the internet has an IP address: a website, a service, a game server. It is a sequence of numbers that tells your client which machine to reach, and for game servers a port number is added after a colon. Most of the time you never think about addresses, because you open a site by its name and matchmaking finds a match for you. To join a specific community server, invite friends to it, or troubleshoot technical problems such as high ping, though, you need the address.
How to See the Server IP in the Game
The fastest way to check a server's IP while you are playing is the status command. Open the console and type "status": several lines of information about the server appear, including its address. Copy the address together with the port and send it to a friend so they can connect. Keep in mind that this does not work in every mode; official matches are joined only through the lobby and matchmaking.
The command only works while you are connected to the server. If you did not note the address in time, check the "History" tab in the server browser, which lists the servers you have played on recently.
Once you have the IP, save it so you do not have to look it up again. In the Steam client, choose "Servers" from the "View" menu and add the server you just found to your favorites.
How to Open the Console to See the IP
If the developer console is not enabled yet, turn it on once in the CS2 settings:
Open the settings menu (the gear icon in the main menu).
Go to the "Game" tab.
Find "Enable Developer Console (~)" and set it to "Yes".
In the game, press the "~" key to open the console. You can rebind this key in the keyboard and mouse settings if you prefer.
From then on you can open the console at any time and enter commands such as status. The step is covered in more detail in how to open the console in CS2, and other useful commands are collected in our list of CS2 console commands.
Why You Need to Know the Server IP
Regular matchmaking does not require an IP: in Premier, Competitive, and Wingman the game finds the server for you, and connections to Valve's official servers go through Valve's own network. The address is what you need to play on community servers. If you already have it saved, open the console and type connect followed by the address and port, for example connect 123.45.67.89:27015.
The second way is the "Community Server Browser" in the main menu instead of official matchmaking. In the window that opens, click "Add Server" and enter the address. The list is saved, so servers you have added or visited stay in your favorites and history, and you do not have to look up the IP every time. This is also the easiest way to get a group onto the same server; other options are covered in how to play CS2 with friends.
Types of Servers in CS2
The community server list is not only for returning to servers you know; it is also a way to find new ones. Server names are often built from abbreviations, so it helps to know the most common types:
DM: Deathmatch servers. Variants include HSDM (damage only from headshots), FFA DM (free-for-all, no teams), and AWP DM or Pistol DM (a single weapon type only).
IDLE: servers where each map lasts one round and then changes. In CS:GO they were used to farm end-of-match item drops. In CS2 rewards come once a week as a choice of items when you level up, so these servers no longer make sense for drops.
BH (Bunny Hop): maps you complete by bunny hopping. RJ (Rocket Jump) is similar, except you gain height by shooting.
SURF: obstacle courses where you slide along angled walls, often without firing a shot.
Skin servers: community servers with plugins such as !ws that let you equip any skin, visible only on that server. How they work is explained in CS2 servers with skins.
Where Else to Find Server IPs
Beyond the official servers there are many modded ones: zombie modes, hide-and-seek, jump maps, and more. If you come across a server you like, saving its address is enough to come back later. Besides the in-game list, server catalog sites publish addresses, and a ready-made selection is available in our guide to the best CS2 public servers with skins.
Catalogs usually let you sort by slot count, map, and game type to find what you need faster. Knowing how to find servers and join them by IP is useful both for practice and for fun: DM and retake servers are good for drilling a specific map or weapon, while community servers with zombies, hide-and-seek, and jump maps are there when you just want to relax. If you want your own space for a group, see how to create a server in CS2.
In short: the status command shows a CS2 server's IP, the server browser favorites keep it saved, and the connect command takes you back. And when you want new skins for your weapons, browse the LIS-SKINS market.
