Heya there,

I have seen several topics in which people ask how to play custom maps on Portal 2, so I decided to create a guide for people.

The first thing you want to do is to download a map from the downloads section, be it singleplayer or co-op, it doesn't matter as this guide shows you both. Links are below.

Link to Single Player Maps
Link to Co-op Maps

Extract the files to your desktop. You will need WinRar or 7zip to be able to extract it. When extracted you should be able to see a .bsp or a .vpk file. If the extracted files contain a readme file, then it's best to take a look at that.

**Singleplayer**

(map needs to be launched with the console at the main menu)

1. Once you have the files extracted, you should be able to see a **.bsp** or a **.vpk** file. **NOTE:** If you have a Mac, your Portal 2 folder location will be the following... "Users/**your_admin_name**/Library/ApplicationSupport/Steam/SteamApps/**Steam_user_name**/portal 2/portal2/maps/". If the file is a **.bsp** file, skip ahead to step 3. If the file is a **.vpk** file, then continue reading on to step 2.
2. If the file is a **.vpk** file, you need to add an additional folder to your maps folder called 'addons'. Your path should look something like 'C:/Program Files/Steam/steamapps/common/portal 2/portal2/addons/'.
3. Place the **.bsp** file in the folder of 'maps' located in your steam directory. The path to the folder should be 'C:/Program Files/Steam/steamapps/common/portal 2/portal2/maps'.
4. Restart or launch Portal 2 through Steam. If you have the developer console enabled, skip to step 6.
5. To play custom maps you need to have the developer console enabled. To do this, go into 'Options' in Portal 2, and then click 'Advanced'. You can then check that the 'Enable Developer Console' is checked. If you have a non-US/UK console, skip to step 7.
6. Once you are back at the main menu of Portal 2, you can then open up the developer console. If you have a UK/US keyboard, take a look at the pictures below. If you have a non-US/UK keyboard, take a look at the little guide below the pictures. pic.png img.png However on non-UK/US keyboards the layout is slightly different and the console needs to be set up. To set up the console follow the mini-guide below... - Open up the 'Options' in the Portal 2 menu - Click 'Keyboard/Mouse' - Click 'Edit Keys/Buttons' - Where it says 'Toggle Developer Console', double click on it and press the key which you want to enable/disable the developer key - The easiest key would be F11 but it's up to you. - Then click 'Apply'
7. Now that you have your developer console opened, you are almost there. Go into the folder where you placed your map. You should see a file with '<MAPNAME>.bsp' or '<MAPNAME>.vpk'. Remember the name of the '<MAPNAME>' or note it down.
8. In the developer console type in 'map' followed by a space, then the '<MAPNAME>' from earlier and press enter.
9. Enjoy playing the custom Portal 2 Map.

**Co-Op**

(map needs to be launched with the console when you are in the co-op hub)

1. Follow step 1-4 of the singleplayer guide. Make sure that BOTH players do this, as both player need the maps in their directories.
2. Invite your friend or other player to play Portal 2.
3. You need to be hosting to be able to change the level, if you are hosting, you will be Atlas, if not then you will be P-Body.
4. Once both players have done step 1, then the person playing Atlas needs to open up the developer console. Follow steps 5-7 if you don't have the developer console enabled.
5. If you are Atlas, open up the console.
6. Look at step 7 of the singleplayer guide.
7. You should have the console opened. Remember that **only Atlas** can change the level. Type in 'changelevel' followed by a space. Then type in the '<MAPNAME>' from earlier and hit enter. Make sure you don't type in 'map' like you did in singleplayer, as this will disconnect the player.
8. Enjoy playing your co-op map.

Hope you like this little guide.

I like the guide, but there's one thing I had to go over with someone else the other day. In step 8, to change the key required to open the console, all you have to do is go into the keyboard settings in game and change it. Aside from that, though, it's quite a comprehensive guide; well done.

Rubrica wrote:
I like the guide, but there's one thing I had to go over with someone else the other day. In step 8, to change the key required to open the console, all you have to do is go into the keyboard settings in game and change it. Aside from that, though, it's quite a comprehensive guide; well done.

Ah that I didn't know. I shall update it soon.

A few things:

1. Go ahead and write it like it's a sticky, so it's ready to be moved. (i.e. take out the "Can you make this a sticky?", etc)
2. Use the ordered list BBCode. Click "quote" on this post to see how it's done.

Hober wrote:
A few things:

1. Go ahead and write it like it's a sticky, so it's ready to be moved. (i.e. take out the "Can you make this a sticky?", etc)
2. Use the ordered list BBCode. Click "quote" on this post to see how it's done.

Done. Where's my cookie? =P

The BBCode is a little strange for a list to what I am usually used to. I did code my own BBCode ages in ago in PHP.

If anyone else has anything they want to see in the guide, message me or post in here and I'll throw it in.

Well, um, if you're still online and editing... That thing about the developer console key is still there. ;P Sorry, it's just that I have OCPD (OCD, but without the impulsive, inappropriate thoughts) so little things like this really catch my eye. Loving the BBCode, though!

Rubrica wrote:
Well, um, if you're still online and editing... That thing about the developer console key is still there. ;P Sorry, it's just that I have OCPD (OCD, but without the impulsive, inappropriate thoughts) so little things like this really catch my eye. Loving the BBCode, though!

Done. Completed forgot about that, sorry.

On our keyboards, tilde doesn't even exist... but the button to the left of "1" sometimes works as if the tilde was there.

xdiesp wrote:
On our keyboards, tilde doesn't even exist... but the button to the left of "1" sometimes works as if the tilde was there.

I shall be updating the guide within the next few days.

Guide has been updated for Mac users.

Alright, call me crazy, but I'm on a mac, running OSX Lion, the latest version, and my Folder listening goes as such...

User/Library/Application Support/Steam/SteamApps/Portal2/Portal2...but you claim that when I got to SteamApps/My User Name there should be a Portal2 folder in there, which there isn't! There are only a few of my games in there and I don't know why! I've been trying all night to figure it out. Help? sniffle And I also tried putting maps in Portal2/Portal2/Maps/Addons (the folder I added) with the .vpk file in there. But when I got to load the map, it says it doesn't exist. Please help? Much love for ever? Companion cube?

refreakasoid wrote:
Alright, call me crazy, but I'm on a mac, running OSX Lion, the latest version, and my Folder listening goes as such...

User/Library/Application Support/Steam/SteamApps/Portal2/Portal2...but you claim that when I got to SteamApps/My User Name there should be a Portal2 folder in there, which there isn't! There are only a few of my games in there and I don't know why! I've been trying all night to figure it out. Help? sniffle And I also tried putting maps in Portal2/Portal2/Maps/Addons (the folder I added) with the .vpk file in there. But when I got to load the map, it says it doesn't exist. Please help? Much love for ever? Companion cube?

Not a single one of my Steam games was ever installed into my user folder... but into the "common" folder. Did you check that one?

KenJeKenny!? wrote:
Not a single one of my Steam games was ever installed into my user folder... but into the "common" folder. Did you check that one?

Could you please tell me which directory you install your maps to? As that would be helpful so I could update the guide. I lack a Mac system to fully determine where maps are supposed to be.

Also, refreakasoid, for .vpk game files you put in the 'addons' folder whilst the game is running...after you have put it in the folder, type in the console 'update_addon_paths'.

Lostprophetpunk wrote:
Could you please tell me which directory you install your maps to? As that would

Sorry, im a PC user...

Hey! So I figured it out guys. And if you would like to update the guide, I'm more than happy to share the information!

In the guide it says to put the makeshift addons folder into the folder called "Maps" BUT DON'T DO THAT! When you make the folder Addons, put it directly into the portal2/portal2 folder, then place the .vpk file into that folder. Type in update addons_path thing, and viola! You've officially got the map to load. Not sure on sounds yet. I dropped those directly into the media folder, still checking to see if those work.

Cheers!

EDIT?: Yup, just verified. In the map la_bringing_together, the designer got Ellen to do the voice of GLaDOS and when I started playing, I didn't hear her voice which is sad because I was really looking forward to it. For some reason my Mac doesn't want to recognize the .bik files...it makes them look foreign. I hope this isn't on all custom maps that have their own sounds and such. I'll let you know again!

The guide was updated earlier. I didn't realise I left it as 'maps' until someone pointed it out.

Mac users should place it in: ~/Library/Application Support/Steam/SteamApps/common/Portal

I'm a PC user, but I believe Valve knows what they're saying...
It's at the bottom of this page, on how to 'check the out the winning maps'.

I feel like a total idiot, but a friend and I can't get .vpk maps started ... I hope you can find our blind spot. I'm running on Windows Vista 64 bit.
I download the map and put the .vpk file in \steam\steamapps\common\portal 2\portal2\addons. Following the guide, I should be able to start the map just right now, but I am not. The developer console doesn't autocomplete the name and if I enter it manually, I get an error that the given map doesn't exist.
So, since the DLC was released, I tried putting the .vpk files in \portal 2\portal2_dlc1\addons, but that didn't work, either.
I also tried using the "update_addon_paths"-command I found, but the console does not give me any response after entering the command while I'm not running the server. But - now it's getting really frustrating - if I start a server for coop and enter this command, portal2 crashes and Windows tells me that it has been shut down by Data Execution Prevention (DEP). So I tried disabling DEP for portal2, but - it just keeps getting better - Windows says that DEP cannot be disabled for this program (I have no idea, why ...).
I googled and searched this board, but unfortunately I couldn't find any solutions. Please help.

To cut a long story short: .vpk in \addons folder is not recognized by the game, what did I do wrong?

Thanks everyone for your help in advance!

Since the dlc has been real eased and downloaded, people couldn't use vpk. I recommend using GCFscape to extract the vpk to use the files.

spongylover123 wrote:
Since the dlc has been real eased and downloaded, people couldn't use vpk. I recommend using GCFscape to extract the vpk to use the files.

Valve should really undo development processes after they have done them. Valve might fix this later on?