How To Change Crosshair In CS2

Alright, before we dive into the details of how you can change CS:GO crosshair settings, let’s begin first by understanding what the crosshair setting is about. 

A crosshair is not just a visual guide; it is an extension of your aim and marksmanship. The crosshair is one of the elements of your GUI (Graphics User Interface). It is a feature that shows where the player points with their current equipped weapon.

When you have a well-customized crosshair, you can be sure to improve your accuracy, reaction time, and overall gameplay when you have a well-customized crosshair setting. 

In CS:GO and CS2 you can change anything that concerns crosshair: from size and color to its shape and even behavior (how it changes when you move with your character when you shoot or aim). That’s exciting, right? 

Now, let’s move on to the next question: What are the different crosshair settings in CS:GO and CS2? 

One of your closest in-game partners is your crosshair setting, and there are two types of these settings in CS: static and dynamic. 

The exciting part is that these styles are both tailored to your preference in play style and taste.

Let’s look at them in more detail. 

1. Static Crosshairs

These crosshairs are stationary and keep their size and shape no matter where or when you move and shoot. 

When you are using a static crosshair, the reticle doesn’t change in size or shape. This crosshair style is best for players who love to know exactly where they will hit, like those with muscle memory. 

2. Dynamic Crosshairs

Moving crosshairs follow you and your bullets, i.e. they enlarge when you move and shrink when you shoot. They also provide real-time feedback about how well you’re moving and shooting. It’s great for newcomers – or anybody learning how to employ the movement or shooting mechanics – they’ll tell you if you’re less accurate because you’re moving or if you’re less accurate because you’re firing too fast.

We’re making progress; let’s examine some of the crosshair styles in the next section. 

Counter-strike provides you with several ways in which you can choose to customize your crosshair both in CS:GO and CS2. But these crosshair styles are not equally advantageous. You’d always need to find out which is best for you. 

Below is a list of the different styles and their respective command you’d find in CS.

1. Default Style

This is the default setting in games for beginners. It’s the ‘easy mode’ for new players. The crosshair is simple, intuitive, and user-friendly. It scales dynamically in terms of shape and size in response to what you’re doing with the controls, whether you are moving or starting to squeeze the trigger on your gun. 

Commands:

cl_crosshairstyle 0

cl_crosshairstyle 1

These settings enable the default dynamic crosshair that adjusts based on your actions.

2. Default Static Style 

It’s like the default style except for the sizing and shape of the crosshair, which doesn’t change as you play. This is the easiest of the three since the Default Static doesn’t force you too far off the beaten path of the default settings. If you like consistency, then the default static style is for you.

Command:

cl_crosshairstyle 2

This setting provides a static crosshair that does not change with movement or firing.

3. Classic Style 

A Classic crosshair is how it used to be in Counter-Strike earlier on. It’s very minimalist and straightforward. Many old-school players love it. 

Command:

cl_crosshairstyle 4

This command enables the traditional static crosshair used in older versions of the game.

4. Classic Dynamic Style 

For those who like the classic look but want dynamic feedback on how much their movement and rate of fire are affecting the beam size, there is the Classic Dynamic crosshair. It has a Classic look but dynamically widens and narrows the beam depending on player movement and fire rate.

Command:

cl_crosshairstyle 5

This command causes a crosshair to move along with you. Visual feedback is based on where the mouse was clicked, aimed, and moved.

5. Classic Static Style

On the other hand, the Classic Static crosshair is a static, unmoving crosshair of a set size and shape. This is a pure expression of the tradition of the FPS: where the above is not static but also not dynamic (and is thus not part of this tradition), this one is always static by design. It is for the deliberate, precision shooter whose muscle memory depends on that simple, classic look instead of other, more dynamic types.

Command:

cl_crosshairstyle 3

This setting leaves the crosshair steady and immobile, like the original, but with no dynamic behavior.

This table captures the essential aspects of crosshair customization for different styles in CS:GO and CS2, helping you understand which customizations are specific to particular styles and the ranges and increments available for each option.

Alright, Here we are! On to the main subject. 

With some very simple steps, I will show you three different ways to change your crosshair in CS2. Of course, these settings are also applicable in CS:GO. 

Method 1: Using the In-Game Settings Menu

The first method, which is the easiest way to modify your crosshair in CS2, would be going through the game settings menu, and here’s how you can go about it: 

1. 1. Open your Settings: Start by going to the top right-hand corner of CS2 and click on the little gear icon to open the Settings menu.

2. 2. Navigate to Crosshair Settings: In the ‘Game’ tab, you’ll find a sub-tab called ‘Crosshair’- click on it. 

3. Customize Your Crosshair: Then you can customize your crosshair. CS:GO and CS2 offer enhanced customization options; here are a few to try out:

• Style: Choose from the various crosshair styles that fit your playstyle.
• Color: Choose from a richer palette of colors, or use custom RGB values to create something unique to you.
• Size and Thickness: You can fine-tune the size and thickness of your crosshair for better visibility.
• Dynamic Behaviour: Change the behavior of the crosshair as you move and shoot so you get immediate feedback on each shot.

4. Apply your changes: Once you have your crosshair the way you want it, click Apply to save the settings. 

Method 2: Using the Developer Console

The second way is to go to the developer console and fine-tune it a little more. Here’s how you do that: 

1. 1. Enable Developer Console: Go to ‘Settings’ > ‘Game Settings’ > ‘Enable Developer Console’ and set it to ‘Yes’. 

2. Open Your Console by pressing the “~” key to open the console.

3. Enter Console Commands: You can use the following commands to customize your crosshair:

• cl_crosshairsize X: This command lets you set your crosshair size. You just need to change the ‘X’ to whatever you want.
• cl_crosshairthickness Y: This will change the size of your crosshair. Replace ‘Y’ with your number.
• cl_crosshairgap Z: This is the gap between the crosshair lines. Put your custom value in the place of Z.
• cl_crosshaircolor R G B: If you’re wondering how to change your crosshair color in CS:GO? here’s the command for that. This command lets you change your crosshair color by your own choice, and you can simply replace R, G, and B with the numbers you choose between 0 and 255.
• cl_crosshairalpha A: These set how transparent your crosshair will be. Where ‘A’ is replaced by a number between 0-255.
• cl_crosshairdot 1: This command puts the center of the crosshair into a dot (off with 0)
• cl_crosshairoutline 1: This allows you to activate the crosshair outline. Use ‘0’ to deactivate it.
• cl_crosshairdynamic 1: Ensures dynamic crosshair behavior that reacts to movement and shooting. Use ‘0’ to turn it off. 

4. Save Changes: Press “Enter” to apply the changes after entering the desired commands.

Method 3: Via CFG File

The other way to change your crosshair is via the game’s config (CFG) file. This one will give you a permanently saved crosshair.

1. Locate the CFG file: Find the path to your CFG file in the game folder. The default path is: 

Program Files\Steam\userdata\[your Steam ID]\730\local\cfg

Alternatively, you might find it at

Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\csgo\cfg

2. Edit the CFG File:

• Right-click the file and choose “Properties.”
• Turn off the “Read Only” mode to allow changes.

3. Edit Crosshair Commands: Open the CFG file with a text editor and add or modify crosshair commands. For examples, see below.

4. Save Changes: After making your adjustments, save the file.

These methods will provide you with a CS crosshair tailored just for you, adapting to your playstyle and preference and improving your tactical ability in the game.

In the next section, you’ll learn some simple tips you can apply when carrying out advanced crosshair customization. 

If you want to make the most out of your crosshair customization in CS:GO and CS2. then considering the following tips would be helpful. 

1. Use Crosshair Generators

2. Test Your Crosshair in Different Environments
3. Experiment with Dynamic Crosshairs
4. Monitor Your Performance

I’m sure you’ve learned a great deal from the article. Now it’s time for you to practice. 

When you know how to change CS:GO crosshair without sweating it, you can significantly enhance your gameplay experience and get higher victory rates. But it is possible only when you practice using them more often. 

So it doesn’t matter if you are a player who prefers using the in-game settings to configure your crosshair settings or you simply love the developer console method, the flexibility to change your crosshair feature is what matters most. 

So be sure to try out all the options to find the perfect crosshair to complement your playstyle and help you dominate the battlefield.