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DayZ Controls for PC, Xbox, & PlayStation
For those of you who are new to DayZ, mastering the controls is essential for your survival. Whether you’re on PC, Xbox, or PlayStation, there are many keybinds and inputs you need to understand. Going from a combat stance to managing your inventory under fire involves you knowing which buttons to press in quick succession. In this Nitrado guide, we’ll explain all the default controls for DayZ for PC and console 👏
DayZ PC Controls
| Category | Key / Input | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Character | W | Move forward |
| Character | S | Move backward |
| Character | A | Strafe left |
| Character | D | Strafe right |
| Character | Q | Lean left |
| Character | E | Lean right |
| Character | Left CTRL | Double-tap to toggle walk/jog (hold to temporarily switch) |
| Character | Left SHIFT | Run (hold to temporarily switch) |
| Character | Space | Jump or vault across surfaces |
| Character | C | Toggle crouch (hold to prone) |
| Character | F or Left-click | Use / action button |
| Character | Mouse wheel up | Previous action |
| Character | Mouse wheel down | Next action |
| Character | G | Tap to throw held item (hold to drop item) |
| Character | L | Press to toggle head lamp (hold for Night Vision goggles) |
| Character | Tab | Open or close inventory screen |
| Camera | Mouse movement | Look / Aim |
| Camera | V or Enter | Toggle between first- and third-person perspectives |
| Camera | Middle-click | Eye focus |
| Camera | Left Alt | Double-tap to toggle free look (hold for temporary) |
| Combat | X | Toggle weapon firing mode (if applicable) |
| Combat | Left-click | Use equipped weapon |
| Combat | F | Heavy melee attack |
| Combat | R | Change firearm mechanism |
| Combat | Right-click | Ready weapon |
| Combat | Mouse scroll wheel | Use optics or sights on the firearm |
| Combat | Page Up | Zeroing – up |
| Combat | Page Down | Zeroing – down |
| Combat | Hold Left CTRL | Hold breath |
| Combat | Left Shift | Toggle aiming down sights |
| Vehicle Usage | W | Accelerate |
| Vehicle Usage | S | Decelerate / brake |
| Vehicle Usage | A | Turn left |
| Vehicle Usage | D | Turn right |
| Vehicle Usage | Q | Shift down one gear |
| Vehicle Usage | E | Shift up one gear |
| Vehicle Usage | Left SHIFT | Turbo |
| Vehicle Usage | Left CTRL | Slow accelerate |
| Vehicle Usage | Spacebar | Handbrake |
| Vehicle Usage | H | Horn |
| Gestures | F1 | Greeting emote |
| Gestures | F2 | Wave emote |
| Gestures | F3 | Heart with hands emote |
| Gestures | F4 | F*ck off emote |
| Gestures | F6 | Magnifique emote |
| Gestures | F7 | Point emote |
| Gestures | F8 | Taunt elbow emote |
| Gestures | F9 | Thumbs Up emote |
| Gestures | F10 | Cut throat emote |
| Gestures | F11 | Suicide emote |
| Others | Enter | Text chat |
| Others | Caps Lock | Hold to speak in voice chat (double-tap to toggle) |
| Others | Up button | Voice range up |
| Others | Down button | Voice range down |
| Others | M | Toggle Map |
| Others | Numbers 0 to 9 | Use items on hotkey slots |
| Others | . | Gestures radial menu |
| Others | ‘ | Toggle quickslots |
| Unsorted | \ | Open MiniMap |
| Unsorted | + (Numpad) | Whistle |
| Unsorted | / (Numpad) | Follow |
| Unsorted | * (Numpad) | Patrol |
| Unsorted | – (Numpad) | Stay here |
| Unsorted | 9 (Numpad) | Toggle emotes |
DayZ Xbox Controls
| Category | Key / Input | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Movement | Start | Pause/Menu |
| Movement | Back | Open inventory |
| Movement | Left analog stick | Walk or jog (press to toggle run) |
| Movement | Right analog stick | Look around (double tap to change perspective) |
| Movement | Left Trigger | Hold to raise hands |
| Movement | Right Trigger | Attack with raised hands |
| Movement | Left Bumper | Hold for free look mode or double press to zoom in |
| Movement | Right Bumper | Hold to open hotbar or quickslot menu |
| Movement | A | Jump or vault |
| Movement | B | Toggle crouch or hold to prone |
| Movement | X | Press to interact or hold to take item to hands |
| Movement | Right directional button | Hold to open gesture menu |
| Movement | Down directional button | Hold for voice chat |
| Movement | Hold Left Trigger + Left Bumper | Lean left while raising hands or weapon |
| Movement | Hold Left Trigger + Right Bumper | Lean right while raising hands or weapon |
| Movement | Press Left Trigger + Left Bumper | Barrel roll to the left while raising hands or weapon |
| Movement | Press Left Trigger + Right Bumper | Barrel roll to the right while raising hands or weapon |
| Weapons and Actions | Left Trigger | Hold to raise hands |
| Weapons and Actions | Right Trigger | Attack with raised hands |
| Weapons and Actions | X | Press to interact, hold to drop the item you’re holding, or double press to enter throwing stance |
| Weapons and Actions | Y | Hold to reload weapon or double press to eject a round on held weapon |
| Weapons and Actions | Right analog stick | Press to use sights on equipped weapon |
| Weapons and Actions | Right directional button | Press to use scope or hold to return to iron sights |
| Weapons and Actions | Up directional button | Zeroing-up |
| Weapons and Actions | Down directional button | Zeroing-down |
| Weapons and Actions | Left directional button | Toggle weapon firing mode (if applicable) |
| Weapons and Actions | Right Bumper | Hold to open hotbar or quickslot menu |
| Vehicles | Right Trigger | Accelerate or slow accelerate when pressed lightly |
| Vehicles | Left Trigger | Decelerate |
| Vehicles | Left analog stick | Turn left or right, depending on the direction pressed |
| Vehicles | A | Shift down one gear |
| Vehicles | B | Shift up one gear |
| Vehicles | Y | Toggle headlights |
| Inventory | Windows | Open or close inventory screen |
| Inventory | Y | Equip item or split a stack |
| Inventory | B | Combine item or stacks |
| Inventory | A | Press to hold item in your hands or hold (while using the directional pad) to move an item into a different slot |
| Inventory | X | Press to place item in the inventory or hold to throw item to the ground |
| Inventory | Left analog stick | Hold to assign item(s) to hotbar or quickslot |
DayZ PlayStation Controls
| Category | Key / Input | Action |
|---|---|---|
| General | L2 | Hold for combat stance |
| General | L1 | Hold for free look (double tap to zoom) |
| General | Up directional arrow | Next option |
| General | Right directional button | Hold for gestures menu |
| General | Down directional button | Previous option |
| General | Left analog stick | Tilt to run or slight tilt to walk |
| General | Right analog stick | Tilt to look around |
| General | L3 | Toggle sprint |
| General | R3 | Tap twice to switch camera |
| General | R2 | Use item |
| General | R1 | Hold for quickslots |
| General | △ | Hold to reload held weapon |
| General | ▢ | Press to interact, hold to drop item, or double press to throw item |
| General | O | Change stance |
| General | X | Jump or vault |
| Combat Stance | L2 | Hold for combat stance |
| Combat Stance | L1 | Hold to lean to the left |
| Combat Stance | R1 | Hold to lean to the right |
| Combat Stance | Up directional button | Zeroing-up |
| Combat Stance | Down directional button | Zeroing-down |
| Combat Stance | Right directional button | Optics mode |
| Combat Stance | L3 | Hold to hold breath |
| Combat Stance | R2 | Attack or shoot |
| Combat Stance | △ | Press for heavy melee attack or hold to reload firearm |
| Combat Stance | ▢ | Firearm melee |
| Combat Stance | O | Change stance |
| Combat Stance | X | Change fire mode |
| Inventory | L2/R2 | Change container to the left |
| Inventory | L1/R1 | Change inventory tab |
| Inventory | Up directional button | Move selection |
| Inventory | L3 | Hold for quickslots |
| Inventory | △ | Equip or split stacks |
| Inventory | ▢ | Place item to inventory or hold to drop item |
| Inventory | O | Close inventory or combine items |
| Inventory | X | Take item to hands |
| Inventory | R3 | Press to open or close container |
| Vehicles | L2 | Decelerate to brake |
| Vehicles | R2 | Accelerate |
| Vehicles | R1 | Hold for handbrake |
| Vehicles | L3 | Hold for horn |
| Vehicles | Left analog stick | Steer vehicle |
| Vehicles | Right analog stick | Look around |
| Vehicles | △ | Toggle headlights |
| Vehicles | O | Gear up |
| Vehicles | X | Gear down |
| Menus | Touchpad | Open or close inventory |
| Menus | Left directional button | Hold for push-to-talk or double tap to toggle voice activation |
| Menus | Left directional button + L1/R1 | Change voice range volume |
| Menus | X | Confirm |
Controls & Keybinds
Now that you know the default controls for PC and console, you’re ready to survive in DayZ. Practice these inputs until it becomes second nature in any combat situation. With this Nitrado guide by your side, you can focus on staying alive in Chernarus. Good luck out there, survivors! 🙌
DayZ PC Controls
DayZ Xbox Controls
DayZ PlayStation Controls
Controls & Keybinds
#DayZ
#Gameserver
#top10
9/8/2026
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