6 Aug 2026 · 3 min read
How to connect to a CS2 community server
A short Tickrate guide: enable the developer console, use connect IP:port, or one-click Steam Join from the website.
Original Tickrate cover · not a game screenshot
Community servers do not always appear first in the in-game browser. Direct connect is the reliable path — and it takes under a minute once the console is on.
In Counter-Strike 2 open Settings → Game → Enable Developer Console → Yes. Press the tilde key (~) to open the console. Type a connect command, for example: connect 138.201.131.228:27015 for Tickrate Retakes #1.
Prefer clicking? Open tkrate.com, pick a server, and use Join. That launches a steam://connect link with the same IP and port. Ports: retakes 27015 / 27016, bhop 27017, surf 27024.
On our retake servers, type !guns in chat after you spawn to choose weapons for the round. If something fails, check that you are not on an insecure client and that the server shows Online on the site.
This guide describes Tickrate’s own join flow. Always verify connect strings on tkrate.com — we do not publish third-party server lists.