Players Cannot Connect Print

If players are unable to connect to your Counter-Strike 2 server, this guide will help you quickly identify and fix the most common causes. Follow each step carefully to restore connectivity and get your server running smoothly again.

Step 1: Confirm the Server Is Running

Log in to your FinnishHost Game Panel and check that your server status shows as Online. If it’s Stopped or Starting and not progressing, click Start and open the Web Console to watch for errors during boot.

Step 2: Verify

1. In the panel, look under Connection Info for your server’s IP and Port.
2. Make sure players are connecting using that full address — for example:
   connect 123.45.67.89:27015
3. Make also sure you have an Auth token and its correct.

Step 3: Check for Firewall or Port Blocking

Our hosting environment keeps required ports open automatically, but if you are using a custom port or external firewall from your end, confirm these are accessible:

UDP 27015–27020  
TCP 27015

Third-party firewalls or DDoS filters can occasionally interfere; disabling those temporarily for testing can help isolate the problem.

Step 4: Verify Game Version Match

Connection failures often happen when your server and players are running different game builds. Run the following in your console to verify the version:

version

If the build number is outdated, click Update Server Files in your panel, then restart.

Step 5: Check Authentication and Password Settings

1. Open Configuration Files → server.cfg.
2. Look for these lines:

sv_password ""
sv_lan 0

• sv_password — leave blank for a public server, or share the password with your players.
• sv_lan 0 — ensures the server is public and not LAN-only.

Step 6: Confirm Startup Parameters

In your Commandline Manager, check that the server has a valid map and game-mode set:

+map de_inferno +game_mode 1 +game_type 0

Without a map loaded, players can’t join. If you’re running Workshop maps, make sure your Workshop ID and API key are valid.

Step 7: Test Direct Connection

Have players connect manually using the in-game console:

connect YOURSERVERIP:PORT

If this works but the server doesn’t show in the community list, the Steam master list may just need time to refresh (can take several minutes after startup).

Step 8: Review Console Errors

Open the Web Console in your panel and scroll for warnings like Failed to init Steamworks or Connection Refused. These messages usually indicate either an outdated build or a temporary Steam network issue.

Notes

We provide support for hosting, configuration, and connectivity issues only. We don’t provide support for third-party mods, plugins, or custom scripts. Always keep your server updated and make backups before major changes.