The best Dota 2 launch options to optimize game performance

June 2023 · 3 minute read

Dota 2 is a game of pixels, and as a result, optimizing performance is crucial. Here’s everything you need to know about using Dota 2 launch options to make the game run better.

Dota 2 launch options are additional settings that let you customize things and optimize the game’s performance. The default ones typically suffice for casual players. However, changing them can make things better.

What works for some won’t work for others. It all comes down to your hardware, internet connection, and preferences. Still, you can tweak things accordingly to suit your needs, and some can give you an edge.

Using these Dota 2 launch options might just help you reign supreme.

How to change Dota 2 launch options

Changing Dota 2 launch options may seem complicated, but it’s actually a very simple process. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it.

  • Open Steam on your computer.
  • Click on the Library tab
  • Right-click on Dota 2 in your games list
  • Click on Properties.
  • Click on the General tab and look for Launch Options. It will be at the bottom of all the options.
  • Enter the desired Dota 2 launch options in the text box below.
  • This is easy enough, but actually choosing the best launch options can be tricky. Keep reading on to find out which ones you should use to optimize performance.

    Having smooth in-game performance is crucial in Dota 2.

    Dota 2 launch options: Best ones to optimize performance

    Here’s a list of some of the most useful Dota 2 launch options to boost performance, along with a brief explanation of what they do.

    Launch OptionFunction
    +fps_max #Set the maximum frames per second to a specific number
    -480Forces the engine to start at 480p resolution
    -autoconfigRestores video and performance settings to default  values
    -consoleEnables the in-game console
    -enable_addonsForces engine to search for white-listed custom game content placed inside the game’s installation directory instead of default game content
    -fullscreenSet display mode to full screen mode
    -highGives Dota 2 priority CPU usage
    -map dotaLoads the Dota 2 map when you launch the game, which helps load times after finding a game
    -noborderSet display mode to borderless window mode
    -nod3d9exDisables Windows Aero DirectX extensions, which may improve performance
    -noforcemaccelUse Windows mouse acceleration settings, but only works if -useforcedmparms is set
    -noforcemspdUse the Windows mouse speed settings, but only works if -useforcedmparms is set
    -nogammarampForces Dota to use desktop color profile.
    -nohltvDisables HLTV options in-game, which may boost performance
    -nojoyDisables joystick and gamepad modules, which can make things load faster
    -nomicsettingsStops Dota 2 from changing microphone output values when launching the game
    -novidSkips the introduction video
    -novrDisables  VR modules, which can boost load times and FPS
    -safe_modeRestores rendering API (DirectX 11, OpenGL) to default values
    -swSet display mode to windowed mode
    -useforcedmparmsAllows the use of -noforcemspd and -noforcemaccel

    Generally speaking, the best Dota 2 launch options to optimize performance are

    This will prioritize the game, place a high cap on FPS, and make loading times faster.

    If your set-up is dated or simply low-end in terms of hardware, we also recommend using -nod3d9ex, which may improve performance. However, you’ll need to experiment to figure out what works best for you.

    That’s everything you need to know about Dota 2 launch options. You can find an extended list of them by clicking here, courtesy of the Dota 2 wiki. However, the ones mentioned above are among the most useful.

    Optimizing your game’s performance could make the difference in crucial moments of the game, especially during team fights when it matters most. So, it’s definitely worth giving some of these a crack if you have issues.

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