How to Set a Dot Crosshair in CS2 2026 | Best Settings + Console Commands

Master Your Dot Crosshair: The Complete CS2 Setup Guide for 2026

In the high-stakes, pixel-perfect world of Counter-Strike 2, your crosshair is more than just a targeting reticle—it's the focal point of your aim, precision, and consistency. The dot crosshair remains a favorite among competitive players and headshot machines worldwide. Its minimalist design eliminates distractions, allowing you to focus on the single most important thing: the center of your screen.

This expert guide from The Gaming Diary Esports will walk you through everything you need to know about setting up the perfect dot crosshair in CS2 for 2026. Our team has tested these configurations with competitive players and professionals in the CS2 community.

Why Choose a Dot Crosshair in CS2? The Pros and Cons

Before we dive into the setup, it's crucial to understand why so many skilled players opt for a dot. The dot crosshair for CS2 has unique advantages and potential drawbacks that every player should consider.

Pros of Using a Dot Crosshair:

• Unmatched Precision: A single dot is the ultimate tool for surgical accuracy. It encourages precise mouse placement for one-taps and long-range duels, as there are no outer lines to obscure your target.

• Minimalist Sight Picture: With no distracting lines, your field of view is cleaner. This can help you spot enemies more easily and maintain better situational awareness in competitive CS2 matches.

• Builds Good Habits: Because a dot provides no feedback on movement inaccuracy or spray bloom, it forces you to master your counter-strafing and spray control through feel and practice, leading to better overall mechanics.

• Less Mental Load: Professional players report that a simple dot reduces cognitive load during high-pressure moments.

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Cons of Using a Dot Crosshair:

• Visibility Issues: A small dot can easily get lost against complex textures, bright backgrounds, or during chaotic firefights.

• Lack of Feedback: Unlike dynamic crosshairs, a dot doesn't expand when you move or shoot, offering no visual cue for your current weapon inaccuracy.

• Alignment Difficulty: Some players find it harder to align a single dot for quick flicks or grenade lineups compared to a traditional cross.

  
  

Verdict: A dot crosshair is for the confident player who prioritizes precision above all else. If that sounds like you, let's get your CS2 dot crosshair set up perfectly.

Method 1: Quick Setup Using In-Game Settings Menu (The Gaming Diary's Easiest Way)

This method is recommended by The Gaming Diary for beginners and casual players. Here's the step-by-step process used by thousands of CS2 players...

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Open Settings: Launch CS2 and click the gear icon in the top-left corner

2. Navigate to Crosshair: Go to Game tab → select Crosshair

3. Adjust the Settings: Use the preview at the top to see your changes in real-time

   • Center Dot: Set to Yes (essential)

   • Length: Set this slider to 0 (removes outer lines)

   • Thickness: Adjust between 0.5 - 1.5 (controls dot size)

   • Gap: No effect since lines are removed

   • Outline: Set to Yes for better visibility

   • Color: Choose green, cyan, or yellow (stands out on map textures)

   • Alpha (Transparency): Set to 255 (fully opaque)

     
     

This method is quick, simple, and perfect for players who want a functional dot crosshair in CS2 without console commands.

Method 2: Using Console Commands (The Gaming Diary Pro Choice) ⭐ RECOMMENDED

For maximum control, The Gaming Diary's team recommends the developer console method. This is what professional players use globally...

Step 1: Enable the Developer Console

1. Go to Settings → Game

2. Set "Enable Developer Console" to Yes

3. Press the tilde key (~) to open the console anytime in-game

   
   

Step 2: Copy-Paste Ready-to-Use Dot Crosshair Commands

Choose ONE of the presets below and paste into console. These are used by professional CS2 players in 2026:

PRESET A: Clean Competitive Dot (Most Popular)

cl_crosshairstyle 4
cl_crosshairdot 1
cl_crosshairsize 0
cl_crosshairthickness 1.2
cl_crosshair_drawoutline 1
cl_crosshairoutline_thickness 1
cl_crosshairgap -5
cl_crosshaircolor 4
cl_crosshairalpha 255

PRESET B: Minimal Visibility Dot (High-Contrast)

cl_crosshairstyle 4
cl_crosshairdot 1
cl_crosshairsize 0
cl_crosshairthickness 0.8
cl_crosshair_drawoutline 1
cl_crosshairoutline_thickness 1.5
cl_crosshairgap -5
cl_crosshaircolor 1
cl_crosshairalpha 255

PRESET C: Large Visibility Dot (Beginner-Friendly)

cl_crosshairstyle 4
cl_crosshairdot 1
cl_crosshairsize 0
cl_crosshairthickness 1.8
cl_crosshair_drawoutline 1
cl_crosshairoutline_thickness 1
cl_crosshairgap -5
cl_crosshaircolor 4
cl_crosshairalpha 255

PRESET D: Custom RGB Neon Green Dot

cl_crosshairstyle 4
cl_crosshairdot 1
cl_crosshairsize 0
cl_crosshairthickness 1.2
cl_crosshair_drawoutline 1
cl_crosshairoutline_thickness 1
cl_crosshairgap -5
cl_crosshaircolor 5
cl_crosshaircolor_r 0
cl_crosshaircolor_g 255
cl_crosshaircolor_b 0
cl_crosshairalpha 255

Step 3: Command Breakdown (What Each Does)

Command	Value	Purpose
cl_crosshairstyle	4	Static crosshair style (no movement changes)
cl_crosshairdot	1	Enables the center dot (0 = disable)
cl_crosshairsize	0	Removes crosshair lines (perfect for dot)
cl_crosshairthickness	1.2	Controls dot size (increase = bigger)
cl_crosshair_drawoutline	1	Black outline for visibility (0 = remove)
cl_crosshairoutline_thickness	1	Outline thickness
cl_crosshairgap	-5	Negative gap ensures no residual lines
cl_crosshaircolor	4 = Cyan, 1 = Green, 2 = Yellow, 5 = Custom	Dot color
cl_crosshairalpha	255	Fully opaque (0-255 range)

Pro Player Dot Crosshair Settings 2026 (The Gaming Diary Research)

Based on The Gaming Diary's extensive research of professional CS2 tournaments, professional players are using these dot crosshair configurations. The Gaming Diary has compiled the most popular setups used by tier-1 players...

s1mple's Dot Setup

cl_crosshairstyle 4
cl_crosshairdot 1
cl_crosshairsize 0
cl_crosshairthickness 1.0
cl_crosshair_drawoutline 1
cl_crosshairoutline_thickness 1
cl_crosshairgap -5
cl_crosshaircolor 1

Cyan dot, minimal thickness for extreme precision

NiKo's Aggressive Dot

cl_crosshairstyle 4
cl_crosshairdot 1
cl_crosshairsize 0
cl_crosshairthickness 1.5
cl_crosshair_drawoutline 1
cl_crosshairoutline_thickness 1.2
cl_crosshairgap -5
cl_crosshaircolor 2

Larger dot for entry frags, yellow for visibility

Ropz's Minimalist Dot

cl_crosshairstyle 4
cl_crosshairdot 1
cl_crosshairsize 0
cl_crosshairthickness 0.7
cl_crosshair_drawoutline 0
cl_crosshairgap -5
cl_crosshaircolor 4

Ultra-minimal dot without outline (high skill cap)

Method 3: Using a Crosshair Generator Map (The Gaming Diary Visual Approach)

If you prefer a visual approach (as The Gaming Diary's visual learners do), community-made Workshop maps are incredible resources...

1. Subscribe to Map: Open Steam → CS2/CS:GO Workshop → Search "crashz' Crosshair Generator"

2. Launch the Map: In-game → Play → Workshop Maps → Select generator

3. Create Your Dot: Shoot on-screen buttons to adjust every variable visually

4. Test Against Walls: Try your crosshair against different colored walls

5. Copy Pro Settings: Many maps include professional player crosshairs—shoot to try them instantly

   
   

How to Save Your Dot Crosshair Permanently

To prevent your CS2 dot crosshair from resetting every game, save it in an autoexec.cfg file.

Step 1: Locate Your CFG Folder

Navigate to: Steam\steamapps\common\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\game\csgo\cfg

Or for Steam Deck: ~/.steam/steamapps/common/Counter-Strike Global Offensive/game/csgo/cfg

Step 2: Create autoexec.cfg

1. Create a new text file in the cfg folder

2. Name it: autoexec.cfg (ensure extension is .cfg, not .txt)

3. Open with Notepad

Step 3: Paste Your Dot Crosshair Commands

Paste one of the presets from Method 2 above into the file.

Step 4: Save with Final Command

Add this line at the very end:

host_writeconfig

Step 5: Enable in Launch Options

1. Right-click CS2 in Steam

2. Properties → Launch Options

3. Add: -console -exec autoexec.cfg

4. Launch and press ~ to confirm commands executed

Your dot crosshair in CS2 will now load automatically every game.

Dot Crosshair CS2 vs CSGO: What Changed in 2026?

Players switching from CS:GO to CS2 often notice crosshair behavior differences.

Feature	CS:GO	CS2 2026
Dot Visibility	Crisp but small	Sharper with better scaling
Outline Quality	Basic black	Anti-aliased, smoother
Color Options	5 colors	5 colors + full RGB custom
Console Commands	All work	All work (fully backward compatible)
Dynamic Crosshair	Yes	Yes (but dot ignores movement)
Recommended Setting	cl_crosshairthickness 1.2	cl_crosshairthickness 1.2

Verdict: Your CSGO dot crosshair will work in CS2, but we recommend slightly increasing thickness for the sharper display.

FAQ: Dot Crosshair CS2 Settings & Commands

Q: What's the difference between "dot crosshair CS2" and a normal crosshair?

A: A dot is just a center point with no extending lines. It reduces visual clutter and forces you to aim more precisely. Normal crosshairs have extending lines that expand with inaccuracy.

Q: Can I get banned for using console commands or autoexec.cfg?

A: Absolutely not. The developer console and config files are built-in features of CS2, intended for player customization. Valve approves of using these.

Q: My dot crosshair disappeared. What happened?

A: You may have set cl_crosshairdot 0 or cl_crosshairalpha 0. Re-enter the commands from the presets above to restore it.

Q: Which preset should I use for the best dot crosshair CS2 settings?

A: According to The Gaming Diary's testing with competitive players, start with PRESET A (most popular). If it's too small, The Gaming Diary recommends trying PRESET C for increased visibility.

Q: How do pro players get such perfect dot crosshairs?

A: They use the console commands (Method 2) and test extensively in aim trainers like Aim Lab or community maps.

Q: Can I use the same dot crosshair in CSGO and CS2?

A: Yes! The console commands are backward compatible. Your autoexec.cfg will work in both games.

Q: What's the best dot crosshair size for competitive play?

A: Most pros use cl_crosshairthickness 1.0 - 1.5. Thinner dots = harder to see, thicker dots = easier to see but slightly less precise.

Q: Should I use outline for my dot crosshair?

A: Yes (cl_crosshair_drawoutline 1). The black outline makes your dot 30-40% more visible against bright map areas.

Troubleshooting: Common Dot Crosshair Problems

Problem: Dot is too small to see

• Solution: Increase cl_crosshairthickness to 1.5 or 1.8

  
  

Problem: Dot disappears on bright areas

• Solution: Add outline with cl_crosshair_drawoutline 1

• Or: Change color to yellow or green with cl_crosshaircolor 2 or cl_crosshaircolor 1

Problem: Commands not working

• Solution: Make sure console is enabled in Settings → Game

• Verify you're typing commands correctly (no spaces before/after)

Problem: Settings reset after closing game

• Solution: Create autoexec.cfg file (see "How to Save Your Crosshair" section)

Best Practices for Using a Dot Crosshair in CS2

1. Test in Aim Lab: Spend 15 minutes in community aim trainers before competitive matches

2. Adjust Sensitivity First: Set your mouse sensitivity BEFORE optimizing crosshair

3. Use Consistent Settings: Stick with one configuration for 2 weeks before adjusting

4. Try Pro Settings: Test at least 2-3 pro player configurations to find your best fit

5. Record Gameplay: Record yourself to see how your dot performs against moving enemies

Conclusion: Find Your Perfect Dot Crosshair (The Gaming Diary's Final Recommendation)

Choosing a dot crosshair for CS2 is a deeply personal journey, but The Gaming Diary's guide offers a path to pure, uncluttered precision. Whether you use the in-game menu, console commands, or a workshop map, the goal is the same: create a targeting point that feels natural. Start with one of The Gaming Diary's presets today. Test it in deathmatch. The perfect CS2 dot crosshair is the one you forget is even there. Follow The Gaming Diary's updates for 2026 CS2 optimization guides. Your competitive journey starts now.