CS2 Crosshair Codes Explained: How to Import and Share

A CS2 crosshair code is a short text string that stores every crosshair setting in one line. You paste it into the game to copy someone else's crosshair, or copy your own code to share it. Valve rebuilt the crosshair system in September 2026 and then changed the code format, so many codes copied from older guides and videos no longer load.

This guide explains how to import and share codes, what changed in 2026, and what each setting inside a code controls.

Last checked: November 9, 2026, against Valve's September and October 2026 update notes and the current game files.

How do you import a crosshair code in CS2?

Open Settings and go to the Crosshair / Scopes tab.
Click the share-and-import button. Its tooltip reads "Share or import a crosshair code."
Paste the code into the text box.
If the code is valid, the apply button becomes active. Click it and confirm that you want to replace your current crosshair.

If the box shows "Invalid or old crosshair code," the code is either mistyped or was made in a format the game no longer accepts. See the section on old codes below.

Before you import anything, copy your own code from the same window and save it somewhere. That way you can always go back.

How do you copy your crosshair code?

Open the same share-and-import window and click the copy button. The game copies your current code to the clipboard and shows it in the text box. Paste it into a text file, a Discord message, or straight into our CS2 crosshair generator to preview and tweak it.

How do you copy another player's crosshair in a match?

You do not need their code. During a match, open the scoreboard, enable the mouse on it (the key is set under Settings, Game, "Scoreboard Mouse Enable"), click the player, and choose Copy Crosshair from the menu. The game asks you to confirm that you want to replace your current crosshair, then applies theirs. The option only appears for other players who are connected to the match you are in.

To see other players' crosshairs while spectating, use the Show Player Crosshairs setting in the same tab. It can be set to no one, friends and party, or everyone.

What changed with CS2 crosshairs in 2026?

The crosshair system changed in three steps:

Date	Change
September 22, 2026	New Crosshair / Scopes settings tab, new styles, crosshairs became resolution independent, and the default became Dynamic Quad
September 23, 2026	Length, thickness and gap switched to pixel units; half outlines and a Static Square style were added
September 30, 2026	Outline color added, Static Quadrant style added, negative gaps allowed for the classic dynamic style, scope dot size and color added to the code, and the code format changed

The pixel change is the one that matters most. Before it, sizes used an abstract scale that turned into a different number of pixels depending on your resolution. Now the numbers are pixels: thickness 1, length 8 and gap 4 really mean a 1-pixel line, 8 pixels long, 4 pixels from the center.

The game also rescales your crosshair when you change resolution so it keeps the same proportions. Valve's example: a 2-pixel thickness set at 1280x720 becomes 4 pixels at 2560x1440.

Why does my old crosshair code not work?

Because the format changed on September 30, 2026, when Valve added new settings, such as the outline color and scope dot preferences, to the code. A code made before that date may be rejected with the "Invalid or old crosshair code" message.

Even if an older code did load, it would not look the same, because the size values from before September 23 used the old scale rather than pixels. The fix is the same either way: rebuild the crosshair by eye in the settings menu or in the crosshair generator, then copy the new code it gives you.

Old "pro crosshair" lists from CS:GO or early CS2 are useful only as a rough idea of the shape and color a player likes.

What settings does a crosshair code store?

The code is a compact version of the console variables behind the settings menu. These are the current names from the game files:

Setting	Console variable	Range or values
Style	`cl_crosshairstyle`	0 to 9 (see the style table below)
Length	`cl_crosshair_length`	0 to 255 pixels
Thickness	`cl_crosshair_thickness`	0 to 32 pixels
Gap	`cl_crosshair_gap`	0 to 128 pixels; down to -10 on Dynamic Cross (Classic)
Center dot	`cl_crosshairdot`	0 or 1
T-style (no top line)	`cl_crosshair_t`	0 or 1
Outline	`cl_crosshair_drawoutline`	Full, half or none
Color and transparency	`cl_crosshaircolor_r`, `_g`, `_b`, `_a`	Red, green, blue and alpha
Outline color	`cl_crosshairoutline_r`, `_g`, `_b`, `_a`	Red, green, blue and alpha
Follow recoil	`cl_crosshair_recoil`	0 or 1
Dynamic spread limit	`cl_crosshair_dynamic_spread_limit`	Caps how far dynamic styles spread
Scope dot uses crosshair color	`cl_ironsight_usecrosshaircolor`	0 or 1
Scope dot size	`cl_ironsight_dot_scale`	0.1 to 2

Older names such as cl_crosshairsize and cl_crosshairthickness come from the pre-2026 system. If a config file still uses them, replace those lines with the new names above.

Which crosshair styles are there?

Value	Style
0	Dynamic Cross
1	Dynamic Circle
2	Dynamic Cross (Classic)
3	Static Circle
4	Static Cross
5	Dynamic Cross (Legacy/Shot Feedback)
6	Dot Only
7	Dynamic Quadrant, shown as Dynamic Quad
8	Static Square
9	Static Quadrant

Styles with "Dynamic" in the name react to your accuracy as you move and shoot, while "Static" styles stay the same size. Dynamic Quad is the default since September 2026. Valve chose it because it represents weapon accuracy better: the new dynamic styles spread to show your real inaccuracy, up to the limit you set with the dynamic spread limit. Static styles never grow, which many experienced players prefer because the crosshair does not cover the target.

How do you choose a crosshair?

There is no correct crosshair, but a few rules hold up for most people:

Use a color that stands out on every map. Test it against bright walls and the sky on each Active Duty map.
Add an outline if it disappears. A thin dark outline helps a bright crosshair stay visible on busy backgrounds.
Keep it small enough to see past. A crosshair that covers a head at long range makes small corrections harder.
Try a static and a dynamic style. Dynamic styles teach you when your shots are inaccurate; static styles keep your view clean.
Test before you queue. Load the new crosshair in a practice match with bots and shoot at range before taking it into Premier.

Your crosshair is only one part of your setup. Our best CS2 settings guide covers video, mouse and audio, and the viewmodel generator handles where your gun sits on screen.

Frequently asked questions

How do you put in a crosshair code in CS2?

Open Settings, go to the Crosshair / Scopes tab, click the share-and-import button, paste the code and apply it. The game asks you to confirm before it replaces your current crosshair.

Why does CS2 say my crosshair code is invalid?

The code is probably from before September 30, 2026, when Valve changed the code format, or it was copied incorrectly. Rebuild the crosshair in the settings menu or in a generator and copy the new code.

Can you copy a crosshair from another player in CS2?

Yes. During a match, open the scoreboard, click the player and choose Copy Crosshair. It works for other connected players in the same match, and the game asks you to confirm first.

What is the default crosshair in CS2?

Since September 22, 2026, the default style is Dynamic Quad, a dynamic style that spreads to match your weapon's real inaccuracy. You can switch to any of ten styles in the Crosshair / Scopes tab.

Do CS:GO crosshair codes work in CS2?

Not reliably. Codes from CS:GO and early CS2 use the old format and the old size scale, so they may be rejected or look different. Rebuild the crosshair by eye instead.

Will my crosshair look the same at a different resolution?

Yes, in proportion. Since September 2026 the game rescales the pixel values when your resolution changes, so a crosshair keeps the same relative size on a different monitor.