How to Change Viewmodel in CS2

Your viewmodel is the gun and hands you see on screen. CS2 viewmodel commands let you move that model, shrink it or push it to the side so it blocks less of your view. None of these change your hitbox or how bullets travel. They only change what you see.

Before you start: enable the console

Viewmodel changes are made through the developer console. Turn it on in Settings, Game, then Enable Developer Console. The default key to open it is the tilde key. If you are new to it, read our CS2 console guide first.

It helps to test changes on an empty practice map. You can see the model clearly and switch weapons without pressure.

Which CS2 viewmodel commands still work?

These are the main commands, with the defaults and ranges reported by current command references:

Values outside the range are clamped to the nearest limit. Typing a bigger number will not push the gun further.

viewmodel_fov is not your game FOV

This is the most common mix-up. viewmodel_fov only changes how large the weapon looks. It does not widen what your camera sees. Your actual field of view is fixed in CS2, so a higher value here gives no extra vision of the map.

How to build a cleaner viewmodel

Many players want the gun to take up less space. A simple approach is to raise the field of view and pull the model down and away. For example:

viewmodel_fov 68; viewmodel_offset_x 2.5; viewmodel_offset_y 2; viewmodel_offset_z -2

This pushes the weapon to the lower right corner. You see more of the screen, but the gun still feels present. If that feels too far away, lower viewmodel_offset_y to 0 or 1.

Others like the gun close and centred, because it helps them read recoil. There is no right answer here. Try one layout for a few matches before you judge it.

What the presets do

The three presets are quick starting points. Desktop is the default. Couch pulls the model in, and Classic copies the older Counter-Strike look. Be careful, because loading a preset overwrites your custom offsets. Set the preset first, then apply your own offset values.

How to keep your viewmodel after a restart

Most console values are saved to your config when you quit the game normally. If your settings reset, put the commands in an autoexec file so they load every time.

1. Create a text file named autoexec.cfg in the gamecsgocfg folder inside your CS2 install.
2. Add one command per line, such as viewmodel_fov 68.
3. Add +exec autoexec to your Steam launch options for CS2.

Old lines in an autoexec will override new menu changes. If a value keeps snapping back, check that file first.

What about bobbing and the weapon hand?

Some guides list bob commands that change how the gun sways while you run. Their behaviour has shifted between versions, so test them yourself rather than trusting an old list. Also note that many CS:GO-era commands no longer exist in CS2. A good example is cl_righthand, which was replaced.

Switching the gun to your left side is its own topic. Our guide to the CS2 left hand viewmodel covers the setting, the key bind and the command.

Does the viewmodel affect performance or aim?

Not directly. Your crosshair, sensitivity and placement matter much more. A smaller gun simply gives you a clearer picture of corners and the HUD. If you want real aim gains, spend the time on crosshair placement and counter-strafing instead.

Sources and checks

Command names, defaults and ranges were checked on 1 November 2026 against CSDB and setup.gg. Valve can change limits in updates, so test values in game.

CS2 settings Viewmodel Console commands