How to Switch Weapon Hand in CS2 (Left or Right)
The settings menu, the H key, switchhands console commands, binds for left hand knife and right hand rifles, and viewmodel offsets that go with it
Counter-Strike 2 launched without the old CS:GO option to move the weapon to the left side of the screen. cl_righthand was gone, and left-handed players had nothing.
That changed with the update of April 25, 2024: Valve added a Preferred Viewmodel Left/Right Handedness setting and a key to switch hands, H by default. Now you can change the weapon hand in the menu, with a bind or from the console. Here are all three ways, plus a few binds I actually use.
How to Change Weapon Hand in CS2 Settings
The easiest way, and the one that stays after a restart:
- Open Settings → Game → Item.
- Find Preferred Viewmodel Left/Right Handedness.
- Choose Left or Right.
The game describes it as the default hand, and that's exactly what it is: every round and every map starts with this hand. In the console the same setting is cl_prefer_lefthanded: 1 means left, 0 means right.
Right under it you'll see Go To Switch Hand Key Binding, a shortcut to the key setting from the next section.
Switch Hands With the H Key
By default H moves the weapon to the other hand right in the match. It's a temporary switch: the next map or a game restart puts the weapon back into your preferred hand.
To change the key: Settings → Keyboard / Mouse → Weapon Keys → Switch Viewmodel Left/Right Hand. Good if you switch hands depending on which side you peek.
Console Commands to Switch Hands in CS2
switchhands // switch to the other hand (same as H) switchhandsleft // weapon in the left hand switchhandsright // weapon in the right hand cl_prefer_lefthanded 1 // left hand by default cl_prefer_lefthanded 0 // right hand by default
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
switchhands |
Moves the weapon to the other hand, the H key runs it |
switchhandsleft |
Puts the weapon in the left hand, whatever hand it's in now |
switchhandsright |
Puts the weapon in the right hand |
cl_prefer_lefthanded |
The default hand from the settings menu, saved between sessions |
cl_righthand from CS:GO doesn't exist in CS2, so binds like toggle cl_righthand 0 1 from old configs do nothing. Use the commands above.
Binds to Switch Hands in CS2
Separate Keys for Left and Right
bind "x" "switchhandsleft" bind "z" "switchhandsright"
Better than a toggle when you switch in the middle of a fight: you always know where the weapon ends up.
Knife in the Left Hand, Guns in the Right
A popular setup: the knife goes to the left hand, everything else stays on the right. Add the hand to your weapon slot binds:
bind "1" "slot1; switchhandsright" bind "2" "slot2; switchhandsright" bind "3" "slot3; switchhandsleft" bind "4" "slot4; switchhandsright"
Same idea works the other way, for example a rifle on the left for peeks to the left side of the screen.
Binds save by themselves in CS2. Put them in your autoexec only if you keep a full config, more about that in CS2 config guide and where CS2 config files are stored.
Left or Right Hand: Which Is Better in CS2?
Switching hands is visual only. Bullets come from the center of the screen, so spread, recoil and spray patterns stay the same with either hand. What changes is what you see.
- Peeking corners. The weapon covers part of the screen on its side. When you hold an angle to the left, the right hand keeps the left side clean, and the other way around. Some players switch hands just for certain peeks.
- Clutter near the crosshair. CS2 weapon models are big. If the gun feels like it's in the way, try the other side, often that's enough.
- Habit. Most players stay with the right hand because it's the default and they're used to it. Left-handed players often prefer the left, it looks more natural to them.
There's no best option for everyone. Test both in an offline match with bots: peek corners, hold angles, track targets, and keep the side where you see more and feel better.
The hand you use is networked: spectators in first person see your weapon on the same side as you do.
Viewmodel Offsets and Position With the Weapon Hand
The hand decides the side, the offsets decide how far the weapon is from the center and how low it sits. Together they give you a clean screen without hiding the weapon completely.
| Command | Range | Default | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
viewmodel_offset_x |
-2 to 2.5 | 1 | Left/right: higher pushes the weapon away from the center |
viewmodel_offset_y |
-2 to 2 | 1 | Forward/back: lower pulls the weapon closer to you |
viewmodel_offset_z |
-2 to 2 | -1 | Up/down: lower moves the weapon down the screen |
viewmodel_fov |
60 to 68 | 60 | Viewmodel field of view: higher makes the weapon look smaller and further away |
There's also a menu option for ready positions: Settings → Game → Item → Viewmodel Position with Desktop and Classic.
A popular clean setup that pushes the weapon to the side and down:
viewmodel_fov 68 viewmodel_offset_x 2.5 viewmodel_offset_y 0 viewmodel_offset_z -1.5
To find your own values, bind a key that steps through them, test in game and write down what you like:
bind "c" "incrementvar viewmodel_offset_x -2 2.5 0.5" bind "v" "incrementvar viewmodel_offset_z -2 2 0.5"
More ready binds and scripts: CS2 useful binds and CS2 useful scripts.
Conclusion
Changing the weapon hand in CS2 takes a few seconds: set the default in Settings → Game → Item, press H to switch in a match, or bind switchhandsleft and switchhandsright to your own keys. Add viewmodel offsets if you want a cleaner screen, test it with bots and keep what feels right.
CS2 Weapon Hand FAQ
How do I switch to left hand in CS2?
Settings → Game → Item → Preferred Viewmodel Left/Right Handedness → Left. Or type cl_prefer_lefthanded 1 in the console.
What is the default key to switch hands?
H. You can rebind it in Settings → Keyboard / Mouse → Weapon Keys → Switch Viewmodel Left/Right Hand.
Does cl_righthand work in CS2?
No, that's a CS:GO command. In CS2 use switchhands, switchhandsleft, switchhandsright or cl_prefer_lefthanded.
Does switching weapon hand affect accuracy?
No. It only changes the picture. Shots, recoil and spray patterns stay the same.
Which hand is better, left or right?
Whatever gives you more vision and comfort. Most players stay right, but the left hand can clear up the screen on some peeks.
Why does my weapon go back to the right hand after a map change?
H and switchhands switch hands only for the moment. To keep the left hand, set it as the preferred hand in the settings.
Can I bind separate keys for left and right hand?
Yes: bind "x" "switchhandsleft" and bind "z" "switchhandsright".
Why did Valve add a switch hand animation?
To stop players from spamming the bind and making unfair holes with multiple gaps in smokes.
Do I need autoexec.cfg for hand switching?
No. Binds and the preferred hand are saved automatically. Autoexec is only useful if you keep a full custom config.
