This guide will teach you how to idle in TF2 without affecting your stats at all! It allows you to join a match as a spectator (so your class stats aren’t touched) and you can sit there for as long as you want without being kicked, dropped from the server, or anything else. The best part is, it runs using launch commands which you can run using a batch file. As far as I can tell, this is the best way of idling in TF2.
What is Idling?
Idling simply refers to connecting to a game server and sitting there, waiting for weapon drops. You can idle for as long as you want, meaning you can leave your game idling all night and day if you need to. As of right now, the drop system ticks over every Thursday at 00:01am – That’s just after midnight on Wednesday! After this time, you can unlock items and weapons until you reach your limit, which is usually around 12 items. As drops are made randomly, the more you idle, the bigger chance you have of getting items!
Is Idling Considered Cheating?
This is a very gray area, as it’s neither a yes or no answer. In the past, there was a time where an executable file was brought out, allowing everyone to idle and unlock stuff. Due to the fact that this was an executable file and wasn’t part of the actual game, Valve clamped down on it and called it cheating. They also went and removed all the items earned by idling from everyone’s backpacks, and gave the innocent players special hats.
The way of idling that I’m presenting to you doesn’t use ANY hacks, mods or executable files. It simply uses launch commands to run the game in a command shell, connect to a server and spectate. This means that IT ISN’T CHEATING! Yup, it’s a perfectly cheat-free way of idling on TF2.
How Do I Idle in TF2?
Open up Notepad, and type in the following;
cd "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam" start steam.exe -applaunch 440 -console -textmode -novid -nosound -nopreload -nojoy -noshader +map_background ctf_2fort
Replace that directory location with the directory of your Steam folder if you need to, as it might be different to mine. Once you’re done, name it and save it as a batch file! (That’s .bat to all you nubs, and don’t forget to select the “all file types” option in the drop down box.)
Is that… really all I need to do?
Yes, it really is. When you open up the batch file (note that you might need to run it as an administrator for it to work), a command shell should pop up on screen which should look like this…
If it takes ages for you to get to that stage, don’t worry. It will get there in the end 
And that’s how to idle in TF2 using launch commands, without cheating. Please note that I do not accept any responsibility for how this information is used. In the unlikely event that you get VAC banned or something, it’s not my fault. That said, I really doubt you will, so happy idling!
