Can I hide the HUD in matchmaking?

Some elements, but not all. Full HUD hiding is for private matches and demos.

How to Hide the HUD in CS2

Updated October 10, 2026 · MyCS2Guru crew

Want clean screenshots or cinematic clips? Hide the HUD.

The command

Type cl_drawhud 0 in the console. Bring it back with cl_drawhud 1. You may need sv_cheats 1 in some cases.

Hide other elements

r_drawviewmodel 0 hides your weapon.
crosshair 0 hides your crosshair.
cl_draw_only_deathnotices 1 hides everything except the kill feed.

For demos

When watching demos, use the demo UI and cl_drawhud 0 for clean shots.

Why hide the HUD?

Content creators, screenshot collectors and skin showcasers all hide the HUD. A clean screen makes skins look better, makes clips feel cinematic and makes screenshots look like wallpapers. It's also useful for checking how a map looks without any UI clutter.

A complete clean-screen setup

cl_drawhud 0; r_drawviewmodel 0; crosshair 0

This removes the HUD, your weapon and your crosshair. Reverse it with:

cl_drawhud 1; r_drawviewmodel 1; crosshair 1

Showcasing skins

To show off a skin:

Load a private match on a map with good lighting.
Equip the skin.
Use cl_drawhud 0 and keep the viewmodel on.
Use inspect (default F) to show the skin's details.
Adjust viewmodel_fov and offset commands for the best angle.

Viewmodel tweaks for screenshots

Command	Effect
viewmodel_fov 68	Shows more of the weapon
viewmodel_offset_x	Moves the weapon left or right
viewmodel_offset_y	Moves it forward or back
viewmodel_offset_z	Moves it up or down

Hiding the HUD in demos

When watching demos, the demo controls let you play, pause and skip. Combine with cl_drawhud 0 and free camera mode for cinematic shots. This is how many fragmovie creators capture their clips.

Binding a toggle

Bind a key to toggle the HUD quickly: bind "F9" "toggle cl_drawhud 0 1". Press F9 to switch between hidden and visible.

Common problems

Command doesn't work: try enabling sv_cheats 1 in a private match.
Crosshair still showing: use crosshair 0.
Can't bring HUD back: type cl_drawhud 1.

More quick tips

Check out our other quick tips and in-depth guides.

Quick recap

cl_drawhud 0 hides the HUD, r_drawviewmodel 0 hides your weapon, and crosshair 0 hides the crosshair. Use them for clips and screenshots, and turn everything back on before matches.

Related guides

Pro tip

Bind a single key to toggle the HUD so you can switch between recording mode and play mode instantly.

Why it matters

Clean footage looks more professional. If you share clips on social media, hiding the HUD makes them stand out and lets viewers focus on the play itself rather than the interface.

Making cinematic clips

Hiding the HUD is the first step to making clips that look like fragmovies. Here's a simple workflow:

Record your demo. Demos record automatically for matchmaking games, or use record name and stop in a private match.
Open the demo from the Watch tab or with playdemo name.
Hide the HUD with cl_drawhud 0.
Use the demo controls to slow down, rewind and find the perfect moment.
Switch to free camera for third-person angles.
Record your screen with recording software at a high bitrate.

Getting the best-looking shots

Tip	Why
Max out graphics for recording	Visuals matter more than FPS for clips
Use high MSAA	Smoother edges
Turn on high shadows	More depth and atmosphere
Pick a map with good lighting	Skins look better
Hide your crosshair	Cleaner frames

Remember to switch back to your competitive settings afterwards.

Screenshots of skins

For skin screenshots, use inspect mode and position your viewmodel. A few viewmodel presets that look good:

viewmodel_fov 68; viewmodel_offset_x 2.5; viewmodel_offset_y 0; viewmodel_offset_z -1.5 for a classic wide look.
viewmodel_fov 60; viewmodel_offset_x 1; viewmodel_offset_y 1; viewmodel_offset_z -1 for a closer look.

Using HUD-hiding in practice

Some players hide parts of the HUD to reduce distractions during practice. For example, cl_draw_only_deathnotices 1 leaves only the kill feed, which is great for focused aim training. Just don't play real matches without your health and ammo visible.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Fix
HUD won't hide	Try `sv_cheats 1` in a private match
Weapon still visible	Use `r_drawviewmodel 0`
Kill feed still showing	Use `cl_drawhud 0` rather than only-deathnotices
Everything stays hidden	Reverse each command with 1

Remember to turn it back on

Before queueing a real match, make sure cl_drawhud 1, r_drawviewmodel 1 and crosshair 1 are set. Playing a match without your HUD by accident is a fast way to lose a round.

Hide HUD FAQ

Does hiding the HUD affect performance? Barely. It's purely visual.
Can I hide only the radar? Use cl_drawhud_force_radar -1 or adjust radar settings, depending on the current version.
Does it work in demos from matchmaking? Yes, demos are a great place to use it.
Is there a key to hide the HUD by default? No, but you can bind one with the toggle command above.