Half Life Console Commands: Cheats, Noclip and Impulse 101

November 12, 2026 · Cheat Codes, Shooter and Action

Quick answer: Half Life console commands need cheats on first. Open the console with the -console launch option and the tilde key, run sv_cheats 1, load a map, then use god, noclip or impulse 101 for all weapons.

Half Life console commands work in the original Half-Life and its expansions through the GoldSrc console, and cheat commands only run after sv_cheats is set to 1. The same steps cover Opposing Force and Blue Shift. This is a PC feature; no console is documented for the PlayStation 2 release.

Commands on this page were checked against a Steam Community thread, a Blue Shift cheat guide that uses the same engine, an Opposing Force hint page and the Valve Developer Community description of sv_cheats. The 25th anniversary update added a legacy beta branch, which matters if an old command stops working.

How to open the Half-Life console

Add -console to the Steam launch options, start the game and press the tilde key (~), the key above Tab.

In Steam, right-click Half-Life, choose Properties and open Launch Options.
Type -console. Some players report that -dev also works and enables cheats on a new game.
Start the game and press ~.
Type sv_cheats 1 and press Enter before loading a map or save.

For the retail disc version, the Blue Shift guide describes starting the executable with the -console flag from the Run menu. The Steam build also exposes the console through its options menu according to some players, but the launch option is the method most guides repeat.

Half-Life console commands list

These commands are repeated by the guides and the Steam thread. All of them except map and skill need sv_cheats 1.

Command	What it does
`sv_cheats 1`	Turns on cheat commands. Set it before loading the map or the save. Use 0 to turn off.
`god`	Toggles god mode. Some players report it not working until a new map is loaded.
`noclip`	Lets you fly and walk through walls. Enter it again to turn it off.
`impulse 101`	Gives all weapons and ammo. One guide adds a hazard suit and battery.
`sv_gravity x`	Changes gravity. 800 is the default and 0 removes gravity.
`sv_accelerate x`	Air acceleration. Default is 10; a higher value helps bunny hopping.
`skill x`	Sets difficulty: 1 easiest, 3 hardest.
`map name`	Loads a map by name. `changelevel name` also loads a map.

One Steam poster also reports that give commands worked in single player after cheats were on, but no item list is documented in the sources, so use impulse 101 for weapons.

How to enable cheats and make them work

The most common failure is turning cheats on after the level has already loaded. Cheats must be set first, and the map then has to be loaded again.

Open the console and run sv_cheats 1.
Start a New Game, load a save from the main menu, or use map or changelevel to load a level. A plain restart did not work for several posters.
Run impulse 101 and noclip.

You can also add sv_cheats 1 to config.cfg so it is set on every launch. Blue Shift and Opposing Force use the same commands, and the Blue Shift page lists its own map names such as ba_canal1 and ba_xen1 for the map command.

Commands after the 25th anniversary update

The anniversary update did not announce console changes, but it added a legacy branch and some new settings. The patch notes mention Half-Life: Uplink, four deathmatch maps and a Lower Input Latency option. The previous version is on a public beta branch named steam_legacy.

Players in a Steam bug thread also suggested a few console and launch fixes: -window for a black window, -novid for a black screen after the splash, snd_mixahead 0 for audio delay and r_shadows 1 for dynamic shadows. These are user suggestions, not Valve guidance, so confirm they help before keeping them.

Half-Life 2 and later Source games use a different, larger command set. See Half-Life 2 console commands for that engine and Black Mesa console commands for the Source remake of the first game. Multiplayer players can also use CS2 practice console commands, best CS2 console commands and Left 4 Dead 2 console commands. Browse all game cheat codes for more.

Cheats are for solo play. In online matches cheating can get you removed from servers, and some achievements or stats may stop counting.

Half-Life console commands not working

Console does not open: add -console to the launch options and restart the game.
Command ignored or says it needs cheats: run sv_cheats 1 first, then load a map or save.
God or noclip does nothing: reload the level after enabling cheats. Several players needed a fresh map load, and one Linux player had to reload another save.
Listen servers: one poster saw impulse 101 work but not god or noclip on a listen server.
Command missing on a modded copy: the mod may change the command set. Try the steam_legacy branch for old behaviour.

FAQ

How do I open the Half-Life console?

Add -console to the Steam launch options, start the game and press the tilde key. Then type sv_cheats 1 before loading a map or save.

What are the Half Life console commands for cheats?

After sv_cheats 1, use god for invulnerability, noclip to fly through walls and impulse 101 for all weapons and ammo. skill and map work without cheats.

How do I get all weapons in Half-Life?

Enable the console, run sv_cheats 1, load a level and type impulse 101. It gives all weapons and ammo and, per one guide, a hazard suit and battery.

Why does noclip not work in Half-Life?

Cheats were probably turned on after the level loaded. Run sv_cheats 1, load a new map or a save, then type noclip again.

Do the same commands work in Opposing Force and Blue Shift?

Yes. Guides for both expansions list sv_cheats 1, god, noclip and impulse 101, and Blue Shift has its own map names.

Is there a Half-Life console on PlayStation?

No console is documented for the PlayStation release. These commands are for the PC version.

Sources

Steam Community – Half-Life cheats discussion
SierraHelp – Half-Life Blue Shift cheats
Ultimate Hint System – Opposing Force hints
Valve Developer Community – sv_cheats
Prima Games – Half-Life 25th anniversary patch notes
Steam Community – 25th anniversary bug thread