How to Play Counter-Strike on Android: A Step-by-Step Guide to CS 1.6

Counter-Strike is one of the biggest esports in the world. However, since it started in 1999, it has mainly stayed a PC-exclusive game, with only a few exceptions. From CS 1.6 to CS2, here’s the answer: can you play Counter-Strike on Android and iOS?

The simple answer is no, you can’t. Counter-Strike 2, powered by the Source 2 engine, needs very powerful hardware that modern mobile devices can't provide. Plus, the game is only available on Steam, so you can’t play Counter-Strike 2 on Android or iOS.

The same goes for CS. There’s no way to play CS on Android or Ios.
Officially, you can’t play Counter-Strike on mobile. Unofficially, it’s a bit more complicated. You can't install CS 1.6 on iOS due to its closed platform. But you can play CS 1.6 on Android with a series of steps that we’ll explain here. 

How to Play CS 1.6 on Android

1.    Install CS 1.6 on Your PC: Make sure you have CS 1.6 installed on your PC. Create a new folder on your desktop named “xash”.
2.    Copy Game Folders: Find the CS 1.6 installation directory (this might be under “Half-Life” in your Steamapps folder). Copy the “cstrike” and “valve” folders and paste them into your new “xash” folder.
3.    Prepare Your Android Device: Connect your Android phone to your PC. Move the “xash” folder onto your Android phone.
4.    Install Necessary Apps: Download and install “CS16 Client” and “Xash3D FWGS” from the Play Store on your Android device.
5.    Load Game Data: Open “Xash3D FWGS” on your phone and load both the “cstrike” and “valve” folders in the app. Let them fully install before doing anything else. Your app should look like this when finished.
6.    Launch the Game: Once everything is set up, launch the game from “CS16Client”. You’ll be able to join games online and offline, giving you the classic CS 1.6 experience on Android.

While it may not be as simple as playing on a PC, this method lets you enjoy Counter-Strike 1.6 on your Android device.