How to Use Workshop Maps on a CS:GO Server

Last modified on Oct 26, 2022 in csgo

By Dalton Whalen

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Overview

In the world of CS:GO server hosting, there are many ways to customize your server. Whether you use various plugins or tweak the game with commands, each server can become completely unique. Another way to achieve this is through the use of custom workshop maps. These community-created maps can completely revamp the gameplay experience, providing new and exciting experiences that the base game doesn’t offer. Whether you load up a single workshop map or an entire collection, this process is simplified with the Apex Hosting customizations page. This tutorial was created to guide you through the necessary steps to use workshop maps on a CS:GO server.
 

Locating a Map ID

1. Visit the CS:GO Workshop Page.
2. Locate a map that you wish to use, then enter the page.
3. On the page URL, make note of the numbers following ?id=.
   
4. Copy this string of numbers for later.

 
E.g. If a map URL is https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2813425251, the ID number is 2813425251.
 

Loading Custom Maps on the Server

1. Navigate to your Apex Server Panel, then stop the server.
2. In the left-hand menu, enter the Customizations tab.
3. Scroll down to the Workshop File ID field.
   
4. Paste the ID number from earlier into here.
5. Return to the main panel page, then restart the server.

 
The server will now use the workshop map upon starting up. When connecting, the server will automatically download the map to your own computer, allowing you to connect and play without any hassle!
 

Creating a Collection

Instead of loading one map at a time, you can choose to load a collection of maps. This will allow players to vote on maps and switch between them without needing to restart the server each time.

1. From the CS:GO Workshop, locate a map you wish to use.
2. Press Add to Collection, then select or create a collection.
   
3. (Optional) If creating a collection, follow the prompts until it is published.
4. Continue to add any desired maps to the collection as needed.
5. Like before, make note of the ID number at the end of the collection URL

Loading a Collection on the Server

1. Visit the Apex Panel, then stop the server.
2. Enter the Customization tab in the left-hand menu.
3. Under the Workshop Collection ID field, enter the collection ID number.
   
4. Once done, return to the main panel page and restart the server.

Choosing the Start Map in a Collection

By default, the server will load maps in the order it was added to the collection. This can be overridden to load one of the collection maps by default on startup.

1. From the Apex Panel page, ensure the server is offline.
2. Proceed to the Config Files, followed by the autoexec.cfg file.
   
3. On an empty line, add the following:

   workshop_start_map ###

4. Replace the ### with the ID number of the desired start map.
   
5. Press Save, then restart the server when prompted.

Conclusion

Following these adjustments, the workshop map(s) will be available for all to play on your server. In addition to being simple to set up, any maps will be automatically downloaded by any players to connect to your server. While you can choose to only load one workshop map at a time, oftentimes using a collection allows for much more variability. Not only do collections allow for more maps, but players can vote to use any map within the collection instead of restarting to load a new one. With this knowledge of how to set a workshop map and collection, you are ready to jump into the action on your Counter Strike: Global Offensive server!
 

Helpful Links

How to Join a CS:GO Server
Steam Workshop Page