When Counter-Strike 2 launched, there was no way to hold your gun on the left. That changed with an update on 25 April 2024. Today the CS2 left hand viewmodel is a standard setting, and you can even swap sides during a round. This guide covers the menu option, the key bind and the console method.
How to set the CS2 left hand viewmodel in the menu
This is the permanent setting. It decides which hand your weapons use when you spawn.
- Open Settings and go to the Game tab.
- Find the Item section.
- Change Preferred Viewmodel Left/Right Handedness to Left.
The change applies straight away. You do not need to restart the game or the match.
How do you swap hands mid-round?
The same update added a bind called Switch Viewmodel Left/Right Hand. Its default key is H. Each press moves the weapon to the other side of the screen.
You can change the key in Settings, Keyboard/Mouse, under the weapon keys. If you play with your left hand on the keyboard, H may be awkward to reach, so a mouse side button can work better.
Why swap during a round?
A right-hand gun covers part of the right side of your screen. A left-hand gun covers part of the left. Some players switch so the model never hides the angle they are peeking. For example, you might hold the gun on the left when you clear a corner on your left.
This is a small edge at best. Your crosshair placement matters much more than which side the gun is on. Still, it costs nothing to try.
Console commands for left-handed play
If you like the console, two commands are useful. Enable the console first under Settings, Game. Our developer console guide walks you through it.
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
cl_prefer_lefthanded true | Makes the left hand your default |
cl_prefer_lefthanded false | Returns to the right hand default |
switchhands | Swaps hands once, like pressing H |
You can bind the swap to any key. For example, bind mouse4 switchhands puts it on a side mouse button.
The old CS:GO command no longer works
In CS:GO, players used cl_righthand 0. That command was replaced in CS2. Many older guides and videos still show it, so ignore them. If nothing happens when you type a command, check that you are using the CS2 name.
Who should use left-hand mode?
There are a few good reasons to try it:
- Comfort. Left-handed players often find it feels more natural.
- Screen space. If you peek left-side angles often, the gun stops covering that side.
- Habit from CS:GO. Long-time left-hand users can keep the setup they know.
It does not change your hitbox, your spray pattern or what other players see. It is a purely visual choice on your own screen.
Does left-hand mode change anything for the knife or grenades?
The setting applies to every item you hold, so knives, pistols and grenades follow the same side. The H key is a quick toggle, while the menu option is the setting that defines your normal side. That makes it easy to experiment in a casual match before using it in a ranked game.
Tune the rest of your viewmodel
Swapping hands moves the gun, but it does not change its size or distance. For that, use the viewmodel field of view and offset commands. Our guide to CS2 viewmodel commands lists the ranges and presets.
When you change sides, an extreme offset can look strange. For example, a gun pushed far out to one edge may look odd when it is mirrored. Test both sides on a practice map before a real match.
Common problems
The gun is on the wrong side after a restart. You probably used the swap key instead of the default setting. Change the menu option so Left is your default.
H does nothing. Another action may be bound to H. Check your key binds and look for conflicts.
The command is not found. You may be using an old CS:GO command. Use switchhands or cl_prefer_lefthanded instead.
Sources and checks
The update date, setting name and key bind were checked on 1 November 2026 against esports.gg and the console commands against CSDB. Menu names can shift after updates.
Frequently asked questions
When did CS2 add left-hand viewmodels?
Valve added the option in the update of 25 April 2024, along with a key bind to switch hands.
What is the default key to switch hands in CS2?
The default key is H. You can rebind Switch Viewmodel Left/Right Hand in the keyboard and mouse settings.
Does cl_righthand still work in CS2?
No. Use cl_prefer_lefthanded to set your default hand, or switchhands to swap once.
