Glossary:Command line arguments

Key points

Commonly used to force windowed modes, custom specific resolutions or certain hidden settings.

General information

Command-line argument at Wikipedia

A command line argument/parameter/option is additional data provided to an application at launch that might affect how the application behaves. They usually follow at the end of a launch command, after the name of the executable being run. For example, while many Windows users might be familiar with ipconfig /all or ping google.com for network diagnostics, those "commands" are made up of the application to run as well as the appropriate command-line argument to affect how the application runs. The full launch command used behind-the-scene in those examples are in reality:

"C:\Windows\System32\ipconfig.exe" /all
"C:\Windows\System32\PING.EXE" google.com

Many games and software exposes certain parameters and options for command-line use to allow developers or users to configure the application in a certain way directly at launch, without requiring what might otherwise be rather cumbersome ways to do the same thing. This is often used to enable or configure settings not exposed through the built-in configuration menu of the application, or to load specific configurations (such as benchmark runs, listening servers, etc). While many command line arguments might be the same across multiple games, these are often the result of using the same engine or similar internal naming schemes among separate developers.

An application only supports the command line arguments it has been developed to support, and ignores those it does not recognize. Supported command line arguments must be either revealed by the developer or found by users by data mining the application. One such way of finding supported command lines involves using Process Explorer to extract all found strings of the executable and then going through those to find and test what might be applicable as an argument, parameter, or option.

Command line arguments often supported by games includes:

• -fullscreen, -windowed, or a variation thereof to specify display mode to use.
• -resolution, -width or -height to specify resolution to use.
• -console to enable the built-in console if the application has one.

Windows

Follow the instructions for the desired environment.

Desktop shortcuts

Desktop shortcut

For generic Windows desktop shortcuts.

Instructions
Create a new shortcut, then Right Click on the shortcut and choose Properties. Under the Shortcut tab, find the Target field. Write any arguments after the quotes, then click OK. "<path-to-game>\game.exe" -command Notes Use the Arrow Keys or End to get the cursor at the end of the path. Push Space ␣ if more spaces are required, right after the quotes.

Battle.net

Battle.net

Instructions
Open Games tab on the top-left menu, then select a game by clicking on it. Select Options on the menu below the game's title. Select Game Settings on the drop down menu. Tick the Additional command line arguments radio button. Write any arguments in the text field, then click Done button at the bottom of the page.

Epic Games Store

Epic Games Store - Method 1

Epic Games Store - Method 2

Instructions
Method 1 Right Click on the games's cover art or the burger menu, and select Manage. Enable the slider checkbox on Launch Options. Write any arguments in the text box.

Instructions
Method 2 Click your profile icon in the top right, then select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom and select the desired game. Tick the Additional Command Line Arguments box. Write any arguments in the text box.

Both methods sync options with each other, so any commands written in the former box are also stored in the latters' box too.

GOG Galaxy

GOG Galaxy

Instructions
Right Click on the game's title and select Settings. Fill the checkbox next to Add command line arguments. Write any arguments in the text box.

GOG Galaxy 2.0

GOG Galaxy 2.0

Instructions

Right Click on installed game in your GOG Library. Select Manage installation -> Configure. Under features tab enable Custom executables / arguments. Duplicate the entry that leads to game's executable that you want to apply custom command-line arguments for (in most cases File 1) or Add another executable. Scroll down to a new position and provide custom arguments in Arguments field. Modify My label field if needed to more easily differentiate it. Check Default executable field, if you want this position to be used when launching the game from GOG Galaxy (alternatively, it can be launched manually by Right Clicking on the game in library and choosing it from Additional Executables.

Origin

Origin

Instructions
Open the Library, then Right Click on the game's box art and select Game Properties. Select Advanced Launch Options. Write any arguments in the field box, then click Save.

Rockstar Games Launcher

Rockstar Games Launcher

Instructions
Open the Settings page, then select game in My installed games. Scroll down to Launch arguments. Write any arguments in the field box.

Steam

Steam

Instructions
Open the Library, then Right Click on the desired game and select Properties... On the bottom of the General tab, write any arguments in the text field below Launch Options. Close the window to save the changes.

Ubisoft Connect

Ubisoft Connect

Instructions
Open Games tab on the top-left menu, then select a game by clicking on it. Select Properties on the menu below Play button. Click on Add launch arguments button at the bottom of the page. Write any arguments in the text field, then click Save button.