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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Valve’s Counter-Strike 2 rule does not announce account bans for owning a Razer or Wooting keyboard. Its August 19, 2024 release notes say certain movement or shooting input automation—including hardware-assisted counter-strafing—will be detected on Valve official servers and can result in a kick from the match. Valve advises players to disable keyboard automation such as Snap Tap before joining.
What Valve’s Counter-Strike 2 rule says
Valve’s August 19, 2024 release notes describe a restriction on certain kinds of movement and shooting input automation. They say hardware-assisted counter-strafing will be detected on Valve official servers, resulting in a kick from the match. The notes also say that in-game binds containing more than one movement and/or attack action are ignored by default, and tell users of keyboards with automation such as Snap Tap to disable it before joining.
Valve’s accompanying “Side-stepping Skill” announcement explains the rationale: coordination and reaction time are core skills, and Valve will not allow scripting or hardware automation that circumvents them. Valve said the initial policy applies exclusively on Valve official servers and that players suspected of automating multiple actions from one input may be kicked.
Is Snap Tap banned, and can you use a Wooting keyboard?
The restriction concerns what an input mode does, not the keyboard’s brand. Valve names Snap Tap as an example of input automation; it does not publish a list banning all Razer or Wooting keyboards. PCWorld’s August 20, 2024 report connects Razer’s Snap Tap and Wooting’s related SOCD feature to the change, and notes that the keyboards can still be used with those features turned off.
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So, yes, you can use a Wooting keyboard in CS2, provided you disable the relevant automation feature when playing on Valve official servers. The same principle applies to a Razer keyboard with Snap Tap: the policy is not a ban on using or owning the hardware.
Snap Tap is not the same as adjustable actuation
Snap Tap and related SOCD features handle opposing inputs by choosing or prioritizing an input. Adjustable actuation changes how far a key must travel to register. These are different behaviors; do not assume that every keyboard setting marketed for faster response is the same as Snap Tap. Valve’s notice addresses input automation and gives Snap Tap as an example, but does not provide a technical taxonomy of every vendor’s mode. PCWorld’s report says adjustable-actuation keyboards remain usable with the automation feature off.
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What to do before joining a Valve official server
- Open your keyboard’s configuration software or onboard settings.
- Turn off Snap Tap, SOCD, or any comparable mode that automates the handling of opposing movement inputs.
- Check that the setting is disabled before joining a Valve official server. If you are unsure what a mode does, leave it off for play on those servers.
Valve warns that suspected automation may lead to a match kick. The release notes do not describe an account ban as the penalty for keyboard ownership.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How tournament rules differ from Valve’s server policy
Valve’s announcement concerns Valve official servers. Esports organizers can set separate rules for their events, and their prohibited features or penalties need not be identical.
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| Setting | Rule described in the cited source | Stated consequence or scope |
|---|---|---|
| Valve official servers | Valve’s August 19, 2024 release notes address certain movement/shooting automation, including hardware-assisted counter-strafing, and name Snap Tap as an example. | Detection can result in a kick from the match; Valve said the initial policy applied exclusively on Valve official servers. |
| ESL Pro Tour Counter-Strike events | ESL’s August 29, 2024 announcement says Snap Tap, Rappy Snappy, SOCD, and similar assistants producing the same outcome are not allowed. | Applies to ESL Pro Tour events; check the event’s rules for enforcement details. |
| BLAST Premier 2026 events | The 2026 BLAST Premier handbook search-result text lists ignoring a pressed keyboard stroke when another is pressed afterward, naming Razer Snap Tap and Wooting SOCD/Snappy Tappy. | Consult the relevant current handbook clause for the event’s exact rule and penalty; the cited search-result text alone does not establish those details. |
Before competing, check the current handbook for the specific tournament. A setting permitted for ordinary play or on a particular server is not automatically allowed at an event.
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