Gaming · Team Fortress 2 on Windows, macOS, or Linux

Safe Launch Options for Team Fortress 2

Source-checked About 5 minutes

Answer

Leave Team Fortress 2's Launch Options box empty if the game starts normally. To fix a startup or display problem, remove old commands and try -autoconfig once. Remove it after TF2 opens. Use -safe only if the game still cannot reach its video settings.

Before you continue
  • ClearRemove old launch-command lists before testing.
  • RecoverUse -autoconfig or -safe only for a specific problem.
  • RemoveDelete recovery commands after a successful launch.
Open Steam's Valve game display guide
Guide steps8 steps
  1. Open TF2's Launch Options box
  2. Copy and clear old commands
  3. Start TF2 with no commands
  4. Use -autoconfig for a bad graphics state
  5. Remove -autoconfig immediately afterward
  6. Try -safe only if TF2 still cannot open
  7. Return to normal display settings
  8. Verify the installation if startup still fails
  9. If it still does not work

Open TF2's Launch Options box

Open Steam > Library, right-click Team Fortress 2, and choose Properties. Find Launch Options in the General section.

Copy and clear old commands

Save the current text in a private note if you may need it later, then clear the box. Long lists copied from old guides can conflict with current updates or hardware.

Start TF2 with no commands

Close Properties and launch the game once. If TF2 starts and performs normally, keep the Launch Options box empty and make graphics changes inside the game.

Use -autoconfig for a bad graphics state

If TF2 crashes while starting or a display setting prevents it from opening, enter only -autoconfig and launch the game. Steam describes this as a way to choose suitable settings for a Valve or Source game.

Remove -autoconfig immediately afterward

Close TF2 after the successful test, return to Properties, and delete -autoconfig. Valve specifically says to remove it after the graphics state has been reset.

Read Valve's TF2 note

Try -safe only if TF2 still cannot open

Remove -autoconfig, enter only -safe, and launch the game. Safe mode uses minimal video settings and a small window so you can reach the normal graphics menu.

Return to normal display settings

After TF2 opens, remove -safe and use the in-game Video menu to select the monitor's normal resolution and a suitable detail level.

Verify the installation if startup still fails

Restart the computer, then open TF2 Properties > Installed Files > Verify integrity of game files. Wait for Steam to finish before launching TF2 again.

Follow Steam's file verification steps

If it does not work

  • If performance is low but the game starts, lower one in-game graphics setting at a time and test the same map area.
  • If the screen is unreadable after a test, use -safe once, correct the resolution in-game, then remove -safe.
  • If TF2 still crashes with an empty box and verified files, record the error and contact Steam Support rather than adding more undocumented commands.
Sources and verification

Checked against official documentation on . Scope: Team Fortress 2 on Windows, macOS, or Linux.

The written steps follow the current official pages linked below. The saved video is an older walkthrough and may show different labels.

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