Most problems with a Counter Strike 2 server come down to a few causes. Start with the one that matches what you see.
The server shows as running but nobody outside your network can join, and it does not appear in the server list
Why: No Steam Game Server Login Token is set. The game logs in anonymously and restricts connections to the local network.
Fix: Create a token for App ID 730 at steamcommunity.com/dev/managegameservers with your own Steam account, paste it into Steam Game Server Login Token under Settings, then Game Settings, and restart the server.
The server stays on Starting for ever although the game seems to be running
Why: The token is wrong, so the Steam login fails, VAC turns off and the server drops out of the list; the panel waits for a Steam login line that never comes.
Fix: Re-copy the 32-character token carefully (letters and numbers only) or create a new one, then restart.
A token that worked stops working
Why: Valve expires tokens that go unused, tokens can be revoked, and a token used on two servers at once is invalidated.
Fix: Use one token per server, created on your own Steam account, and generate a fresh one on the same page if it expired.
The server runs but your plugins are not loaded and the log gives no explanation
Why: A Counter-Strike 2 update changed the game and there is not yet a matching CounterStrikeSharp release; the startup log names the game build and loader version it chose.
Fix: Keep Plugin support on and restart once a matching CounterStrikeSharp release is out. Pin an older version in CounterStrikeSharp version only if you have also turned Auto-update server off to stay on an older game build.
Players are told the server is insecure when they connect
Why: VAC anti-cheat is switched off.
Fix: Turn VAC anti-cheat back on and restart, unless a modded mode really needs it off.
Chat commands such as kick or ban do nothing, or you are not treated as an admin
Why: CounterStrikeSharp only supplies the permission system and the commands come from individual plugins. Also, the admins file is JSON and a missing comma or quote stops it loading, and the identity must be your 17-digit SteamID64.
Fix: Install an admin plugin, check that admins.json is valid JSON with your SteamID64 as the identity and every flag starting with @ (for example @css/generic), then restart the server.
The server will not install or start and mentions disk space
Why: The Counter-Strike 2 server needs roughly 68 GB on disk, and the storage on your server is too small for it.
Fix: Contact support and mention the disk space message; you cannot change the storage limit yourself.
Players cannot join with the password you set, or the password will not save
Why: Join passwords accept letters, numbers, dashes and underscores only, up to 30 characters.
Fix: Choose a password in that format (up to 30 characters) and connect with connect address:port; password yourpassword in the console.
Still stuck?
Open a ticket in the category that fits and include the last 50 to 100 lines of the console. See How to open a support ticket and How to fix a server that will not start.
