Skip to content

IW4x command line arguments

Command line arguments, or short CLI Args, are used to tell a program to do a specific task or behave in a certain way. IW4x supports various command line arguments that allow you to make it do stuff the way you like.

There are multiple ways to use CLI Args with IW4x. The recommended way is adding them to the launcher config file.

See Launcher configuration for details on the config file.
The arguments have to be added to the args key, for example like this:

{
..
"args": "-stdout +map mp_rust -nointro",
..
}

With this example, when running the IW4x Launcher, IW4x will open a console window that logs what ever is currently happening, it will skip the IW4x intro and it will load the map Rust.

You can create a shortcut of the IW4x Launcher by right-clicking it and selecting “Create shortcut”. You can then right-click the shortcut, select properties and append the arguments in the Target field like this:

E:\iw4x\iw4x-launcher.exe --args "-stdout +map mp_rust -nointro"

We do not recommend this approach as you will not get automatic updates! Create a shortcut like above, but this time for the iw4x.exe. Add arguments like this:

E:\iw4x\iw4x.exe -stdout +map mp_rust -nointro
ArgumentDescription
+<command>Execute a command on startup
-entriesPrint to the console a list of every asset as they are loaded from zonefiles.
-stdoutRedirect all logging output to a console.
-consoleAllow the game to display its own separate interactive console window.
-dedicatedStarts the game as a headless dedicated server.
-bigminidumpsInclude all code sections from loaded modules in the dump.
-reallybigminidumpsInclude data sections from all loaded modules in the dump.
-dumpWrite info of loaded assets to the raw folder as they are being loaded.
-nointroSkip game’s cinematic intro.
-versionPrint IW4x build info on startup.
-steamEnable friends feature and other Steam integrations.
-unprotect-dvarsAllow the server to modify saved/archive dvars.
-zonebuilderStart the interactive zonebuilder tool console.
-original-str-parsing(ZoneBuilder only) Parse .str files in the same manner as the CoD4 Mod Tools.
-disable-notifiesDisable “Anti-CFG” checks
-disable-mongooseDisable Mongoose HTTP server
-disable-rate-limit-checkDisable RCon rate limit checks
-disable-mod-unloadingDisable automatic mod (fs_game) unloading when disconnecting

If you’re having trouble with CLI args, you can join our Discord server for help!

Discord Server