How to open the in-game console in Source engine games?

Question

In PC games, developer console is commonly opened by pressing ~ (tilde) key. The key is commonly placed directly below Esc key (in my keyboard layout § is on the place, has no effect). For me the console often doesn't open and I have to rebind keys or look for alternative methods, if supported.

I'm using the Sámi Extended (Nordic) keyboard layout:

Can this issue be caused by the keyboard layout? How could I open the in-game console?

You can easily verify it by temporarily setting different keyboard layout with more usual tilde key location, like English. — gronostaj, Jul 20 '17 at 19:35
Have you tried pressing the § key? See Entering Cheat Codes with International Keyboards. — DavidPostill, Jul 20 '17 at 19:36
@DavidPostill: Yes, often. Sorry for not mentioning that in the first place. Editing... — user198350, Jul 20 '17 at 19:39
For e.g. Fallout 4, a game that uses the "tilde above the tab" key for the console, I think I recall that the Nordic keyboard uses the Ø key. Or was it lower-case ö? actually, I am not sure — Yorik, Jul 20 '17 at 20:48
The default bound key is not a tilde (~) but rather a backtick (`). It might be configured as a dead key on some keyboards. On yours, it looks like shift+ the key left of your backspace. — Bob, Feb 28 '19 at 13:01
@Bob: I've always expected that the § key (screenshot) opens the the console by default in games. I don't even know why I've mentioned ~, may have been an error. The question should be edited for accuracy. — user198350, Feb 28 '19 at 18:03

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 26 '19 at 19:10

According to PC Gaming Wiki the Source engine's default keybind is only compatible with the US keyboard layouts. The recommended solution is to rebind the key in each Source game you play:

Navigate through your Steam library and open the game's properties.

Add -console to the game's launch options. Start the game.

Type in the console bind x toggleconsole (where x is the button you want permanently assign to this).

How to open the in-game console in Source engine games?

1 Answers1