How to Change the Map on Your Left 4 Dead Server
Learn how to change the active map, set up a map rotation, and use all available campaign maps on your Left 4 Dead server.
Left 4 Dead features four main campaigns, each with multiple chapters. You can change the active map, set a starting campaign, and configure a map cycle for your server.
Changing the Map via Config
Open the XGamingServer panel
Log in to the XGamingServer panel and stop your Left 4 Dead server.
Set the starting map
In the Startup tab, set the starting map using the +map parameter:
+map l4d_hospital01_apartmentStart your server
Start the server. It will load on the specified map.
Changing the Map via RCON
If you have RCON access, you can change maps without restarting:
Open the console
Press ~ to open the developer console.
Run the changelevel command
rcon changelevel l4d_hospital01_apartmentThe server will immediately load the specified map. All connected players will be transferred to the new map.
📝 Note: Use
changelevelrather thanmapto change maps. Themapcommand restarts the server process, whilechangeleveltransitions smoothly and keeps connected players.
Campaign and Map List
Left 4 Dead features four campaigns, each with five chapters:
No Mercy
| Map Name | Chapter |
|---|---|
l4d_hospital01_apartment | The Apartments |
l4d_hospital02_subway | The Subway |
l4d_hospital03_sewers | The Sewer |
l4d_hospital04_interior | The Hospital |
l4d_hospital05_rooftop | Rooftop Finale |
Death Toll
| Map Name | Chapter |
|---|---|
l4d_smalltown01_caves | The Turnpike |
l4d_smalltown02_drainage | The Drains |
l4d_smalltown03_ranchhouse | The Church |
l4d_smalltown04_mainstreet | The Town |
l4d_smalltown05_houseboat | Boathouse Finale |
Dead Air
| Map Name | Chapter |
|---|---|
l4d_airport01_greenhouse | The Greenhouse |
l4d_airport02_offices | The Crane |
l4d_airport03_garage | The Construction Site |
l4d_airport04_terminal | The Terminal |
l4d_airport05_runway | Runway Finale |
Blood Harvest
| Map Name | Chapter |
|---|---|
l4d_farm01_hilltop | The Woods |
l4d_farm02_traintunnel | The Tunnel |
l4d_farm03_bridge | The Bridge |
l4d_farm04_barn | The Train Station |
l4d_farm05_cornfield | Farmhouse Finale |
💡 Tip: For the best player experience, start each campaign from its first chapter (ending in
01). Starting from a later chapter is possible but players will miss the story progression and won't have accumulated items from earlier chapters.
Setting Up a Map Cycle
You can create a map rotation that the server follows after each campaign. Create or edit mapcycle.txt in the left4dead/cfg/ directory:
Open the XGamingServer panel
Go to Files and navigate to left4dead/cfg/.
Create or edit mapcycle.txt
Add one map per line. Typically you'd list the first chapter of each campaign:
l4d_hospital01_apartment
l4d_smalltown01_caves
l4d_airport01_greenhouse
l4d_farm01_hilltopSave and restart
Save all files and restart the server.
The server will advance to the next map in the cycle after each campaign is completed.
Versus Mode Maps
In Versus mode, both teams play through the same campaign chapters. The map names are the same as Campaign mode — the game mode determines the rules, not the map. Set your game mode in the Startup tab or server.cfg:
+map l4d_hospital01_apartment +sv_gametypes versusSurvival Mode Maps
Survival mode uses the same map names but focuses on defending a single location. Not all campaign chapters have Survival mode support. The most popular Survival maps are the finale chapters (ending in 05).
📝 Note: Custom maps can be added to your server, but all connecting players must have the same map files installed. Custom maps are typically distributed via community websites.
If you get stuck at any time, you can join our Discord.
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