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NolimitHost

How to Change the Map on Your Team Fortress 2 Server

Last updated: September 18, 2026

You can change the map on a Team Fortress 2 server in two ways: force a change right now from the console, or set up a rotation so the server cycles maps automatically.

Changing the Map Live

Run these commands in the Console page of the NolimitHost Game Panel.

Command What it does
changelevel <map>Switches the map and keeps players connected. This is the usual choice.
map <map>Loads the map as a fresh server start and disconnects everyone.
nextlevel <map>Sets the map that loads when the current one ends.
maps *Lists all maps available on the server.

For example, changelevel ctf_2fort or maps * to see what is installed.

Tip: If a map change keeps getting delayed, SourceTV can hold it back. Set tv_delaymapchange_protect 0 and try again.

Setting the Rotation with mapcycle.txt

The rotation lives in tf/cfg/mapcycle.txt. List one map per line, without the .bsp extension, in the order you want them played.

  1. Stop the server and open tf/cfg/mapcycle.txt in Files.
  2. Add your maps, one per line: 
    // tf/cfg/mapcycle.txt
ctf_2fort
cp_dustbowl
pl_badwater
pl_upward
koth_harvest_final
  3. Save the file and start the server.

Changes take effect on the next map change, so a full restart is not required.

Setting the First Map

The map the server starts on is set with a launch parameter. In the panel, open the Startup tab and set the map (often the same field used for launch options), or add +map <map> to the startup command.

Adding a Custom Map

  1. Upload the map's .bsp file to tf/maps/.
  2. Add the map's name (without .bsp) to mapcycle.txt.
  3. To make it download quickly for players, set up FastDL.
Note: Steam Workshop maps download automatically from Steam, so they do not need FastDL.