IW4x command line arguments

What are 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.

Using command line arguments

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

Launcher config file (recommended)

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.

Launcher shortcut

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"

IW4x shortcut

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

Available command line arguments

Argument	Description
`+<command>`	Execute a command on startup
`-entries`	Print to the console a list of every asset as they are loaded from zonefiles.
`-stdout`	Redirect all logging output to a console.
`-console`	Allow the game to display its own separate interactive console window.
`-dedicated`	Starts the game as a headless dedicated server.
`-bigminidumps`	Include all code sections from loaded modules in the dump.
`-reallybigminidumps`	Include data sections from all loaded modules in the dump.
`-dump`	Write info of loaded assets to the raw folder as they are being loaded.
`-nointro`	Skip game’s cinematic intro.
`-version`	Print IW4x build info on startup.
`-steam`	Enable friends feature and other Steam integrations.
`-unprotect-dvars`	Allow the server to modify saved/archive dvars.
`-zonebuilder`	Start the interactive zonebuilder tool console.
`-original-str-parsing`	(ZoneBuilder only) Parse .str files in the same manner as the CoD4 Mod Tools.
`-disable-notifies`	Disable “Anti-CFG” checks
`-disable-mongoose`	Disable Mongoose HTTP server
`-disable-rate-limit-check`	Disable RCon rate limit checks
`-disable-mod-unloading`	Disable automatic mod (fs_game) unloading when disconnecting

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