{"id":2377,"date":"2023-02-05T19:58:58","date_gmt":"2023-02-05T19:58:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xgamingserver.com\/blog\/?p=2377"},"modified":"2026-06-15T14:37:40","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T14:37:40","slug":"how-to-change-the-default-map-in-your-garrys-mod-server","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xgamingserver.com\/blog\/how-to-change-the-default-map-in-your-garrys-mod-server\/","title":{"rendered":"How to change the default map in your Garry’s Mod server"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Every new Garry’s Mod dedicated server boots into the same place: gm_construct<\/code>, the gray sandbox playground that ships with the game. It’s a fine starting point, but if you’re running a DarkRP city, a Trouble in Terrorist Town round-based server, or just want to greet players on gm_flatgrass<\/code> instead, you’ll want to change which map loads. This guide covers every way to do it \u2014 live in the console, remotely over RCON, and permanently through your server’s launch parameters \u2014 plus how the map you pick interacts with your gamemode. Each command and convar below comes straight from the Facepunch dedicated-server documentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What the default map actually is<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Out of the box, the standard Garry’s Mod default (and the example used in Facepunch’s own dedicated-server walkthrough) is the map gm_construct<\/code> paired with the sandbox<\/code> gamemode. The other classic built-in map is gm_flatgrass<\/code> \u2014 a flat, empty plane that’s popular for building contraptions without scenery getting in the way. Both ship with the base game, so they’re always available with no Workshop downloads required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Item<\/th>Value<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Default example map<\/td>gm_construct<\/code><\/td><\/tr>
Default gamemode<\/td>sandbox<\/code><\/td><\/tr>
Other classic built-in map<\/td>gm_flatgrass<\/code><\/td><\/tr>
Server config file (auto-run on start)<\/td>garrysmod\/cfg\/server.cfg<\/code><\/td><\/tr>
Dedicated Server tool app ID<\/td>4020<\/code><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There are two fundamentally different moments you can set the map: at launch<\/strong> (the map the server boots into) and at runtime<\/strong> (changing maps on a server that’s already running). Both are covered below, and most admins end up using both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Change the map at runtime with the map command<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If your server is already up, the fastest way to switch is the map<\/code> command. Run it from the server console (the SRCDS window or your host’s web console):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

map gm_flatgrass<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
This immediately changes the level and reloads it. Everyone connected is pulled onto the new map, so expect a short loading screen for all players. The argument is the map’s filename without the .bsp<\/code> extension \u2014 so maps\/gm_construct.bsp<\/code> on disk is loaded with map gm_construct<\/code>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Use the map<\/code> command whenever you want an instant change \u2014 testing a new Workshop map, rotating to a fresh level after a round, or moving players off a broken map. Because it triggers a full level reload, it’s the clean, supported way to swap maps without restarting the whole server process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Change the map remotely over RCON<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You don’t need direct console access to change maps. If you’ve set an RCON password, you can drive the server from any connected client’s console. First authenticate, then issue the command remotely:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
rcon_password yourpasswordhere\nrcon changelevel gm_flatgrass<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
The RCON password is set with the rcon_password \"\"<\/code> convar inside garrysmod\/cfg\/server.cfg<\/code>, which is auto-executed every time the server starts. A blank or empty rcon_password<\/code> disables RCON entirely, so you must set one before remote commands work. Once authenticated, rcon <\/code> runs any server console command remotely \u2014 rcon status<\/code>, rcon map gm_construct<\/code>, and so on. External admin tools use the Source RCON Protocol over TCP (default port 27015<\/strong>), authenticating with the password before any command is accepted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because the RCON protocol authenticates in plaintext and is brute-forceable, use a long random password (12+ characters, mixed letters, numbers, and symbols), and restrict the RCON port to trusted IPs at the firewall where you can. For the full walkthrough, see our guide on how to modify the RCON feature on your Garry’s Mod server<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Set the startup map with launch parameters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The map<\/code> command only lasts until the next restart. To control which map your server boots into<\/em> permanently, you set it in the server’s launch parameters (also called the startup command line). The relevant parameters are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n