How to Fix Counter-Strike 2 Stuck on Loading Screen

How to Fix Counter Strike 2 Stuck on Loading Screen

Getting stuck on the loading screen in Counter-Strike 2 can be frustrating, preventing you from joining matches. This guide provides several solutions to fix the issue and get you back in the game.


1. Check Your Internet Connection

A slow or unstable internet connection can cause the game to hang on the loading screen.

  1. Restart your router and modem to refresh the connection.
  2. Use a wired connection (Ethernet) instead of Wi-Fi for better stability.
  3. Run a speed test on speedtest.net to check your internet speed.
  4. If your speed is low, contact your ISP or try playing during non-peak hours.

2. Verify Game File Integrity

Corrupted or missing game files can cause loading issues, and verifying them through Steam can fix the problem.

  1. Open Steam and go to Library.
  2. Right-click Counter-Strike 2 and select Properties.
  3. Navigate to the Installed Files tab.
  4. Click Verify integrity of game files and wait for the process to complete.
  5. Restart Steam and launch the game.

3. Update Your Graphics Drivers

Outdated drivers can cause the game to freeze during loading, so updating them may resolve the issue.

  1. Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
  2. Expand Display adapters and right-click on your GPU (NVIDIA or AMD).
  3. Select Update driver and choose Search automatically for drivers.
  4. If no updates are found, visit the official NVIDIA or AMD website and download the latest drivers.
  5. Install the driver and restart your PC.

4. Run the Game as Administrator

Running Counter-Strike 2 with admin privileges can fix permission-related loading issues.

  1. Locate cs2.exe in the game’s installation folder.
  2. Right-click the file and select Properties.
  3. Go to the Compatibility tab.
  4. Check Run this program as an administrator.
  5. Click Apply and OK, then start the game.

5. Disable Background Applications

Too many background apps can interfere with the game and cause it to get stuck on loading.

  1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. In the Processes tab, find apps consuming high CPU or RAM.
  3. Right-click on them and select End Task.
  4. Disable startup apps from Settings > Apps > Startup if necessary.

6. Adjust In-Game Settings

Incorrect game settings can cause loading screen freezes, so lowering them might help.

  1. Launch Counter-Strike 2 and go to Settings.
  2. Open Video settings and lower graphics options.
  3. Disable V-Sync and set Texture Filtering to low.
  4. Apply changes and restart the game.

7. Modify Launch Options in Steam

Changing launch options can optimize performance and fix loading issues.

  1. Open Steam and go to Library.
  2. Right-click Counter-Strike 2 and select Properties.
  3. In the Launch Options field, enter:diffCopyEdit-novid -high -dx11 -nojoy -nod3d9ex
  4. Close the window and try launching the game.

8. Disable Steam and Discord Overlays

Overlays can conflict with the game and cause loading screen freezes.

Disable Steam Overlay:

  1. Open Steam and go to Library.
  2. Right-click Counter-Strike 2 and select Properties.
  3. In the General tab, uncheck Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game.

Disable Discord Overlay:

  1. Open Discord and go to User Settings.
  2. Navigate to Game Overlay and toggle off Enable in-game overlay.

9. Update Windows and DirectX

Outdated system software can lead to loading problems, so keeping them updated is essential.

  1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
  2. Go to Windows Update and click Check for updates.
  3. Install any available updates and restart your PC.
  4. To update DirectX, visit Microsoft’s official website and download the latest version.

10. Reinstall Counter-Strike 2

If none of the above solutions work, reinstalling the game might be necessary.

  1. Open Steam and go to Library.
  2. Right-click Counter-Strike 2 and select Uninstall.
  3. Restart your PC.
  4. Reinstall the game from Steam and check if the issue is resolved.

These solutions should help fix the loading screen issue in Counter-Strike 2. Try them one by one until you find the fix that works for you. Happy gaming!