Antivirus blocks or deletes CS2 files: how to add an exclusion
What to do if your antivirus or Windows Defender deletes CS2 files, blocks the launch or slows the game down. How to exclude the Steam and CS2 folders.
Sometimes antivirus wrongly flags game files: it deletes them, blocks the launch or scans every file during map loading, causing stutters.
📌 Signs
CS2 stopped launching after an antivirus scan.
Steam re-downloads the same files every time you verify.
Map loading became very slow.
🔧 Windows Defender exclusion
Start → Windows Security → Virus & threat protection.
Manage settings → Exclusions → Add or remove exclusions.
Add the folders:
Steam\steamapps\common\Counter-Strike Global Offensive
Steam
🛡️ Third-party antivirus
In other antivirus products, look for "Exclusions", "Trusted applications" or "Game mode" and add the Steam folder and cs2.exe.
📁 After adding exclusions
Check the antivirus quarantine and restore game files if they are there.
Verify CS2 files in Steam.
⚠️ Important
Do not disable your antivirus completely. Only exclude the official Steam and game folders, not programs downloaded from third-party sites.