Key bindings

This is a list of the default key bindings of the standard game.

Modifier key

Because KSP can run on different operating systems the modifier key (Mod) differs between them. In the table below, the generic Mod key is mapped to the following keys:

• Windows: ⎇ Alt (e. g. ⎇ Alt+L)
• Mac OS: ⌥ Option (e. g. ⌥ Opt+L)
• Linux: ⇧ Right Shift or ⌘ Win (e. g. ⌘ Win+L). As of version 0.23, ⌘ Win key appears to be the default mod key. In windowed mode but not in fullscreen mode ⌘ Win may have special meanings to the Window Manager (e.g. ⌘ Win+↑←↓→ may resize and/or move the active window).

As an example, Mod+L locks the current stage. The key combinations in brackets show an example of the respective operating system's key combination: just swap Mod with the operating system's designated modifier.

Some keyboards also require to press a Fn key to access some special keys like F5. For example, a Mac requires Fn+F5.

Highlight legend

•     - RCS
•     - SAS
•     - VAB/SPH
•     - EVA
•     - Docking

Key Bindings

Key	Effect	Since	Action group
System/UI Commands
←/→/↑/↓	Turn view L/R/U/D	?
Numpad +	Zoom view in	0.08.5
Numpad -	Zoom view out	0.08.5
Mod + F12	Open debug console	0.08.5
M	Orbital map toggle	0.11.0
Tab	Cycle focus in orbital map	0.11.0
Left-Shift + Tab	Reverse cycle focus in orbital map	0.11.0?
Backspace	Reset focus in orbital map	0.17.0
Insert	Staging (default) controls	0.18
Delete	Docking controls	0.18
.	Time warp (physical time warp in atmosphere) increase	0.11.0
,	Time warp (physical time warp in atmosphere) decrease	0.11.0
Mod + .	Physical time warp increase (compulsory)	0.17.0
Mod + ,	Physical time warp decrease (compulsory)	0.17.0
. (numpad del)	Toggle navball	0.12.0?
]	Cycle through active ships (forwards)	0.14.0
[	Cycle through active ships (backwards)	0.14.0
F1	Screenshot	0.07.3
F2	Toggle UI visibility	0.13.0
F3	Toggle results screen	0.14.0
F4	Toggle ship labels	0.14.0
F5	Quicksave	0.14.0
hold F9	Load quicksave	0.14.0
Mod + F5	Make a specific, user-inputted quicksave	0.23.5
Mod + F9	Load a specific quicksave	0.23.5
Ctrl + F10	Load saved game state dialogue box (hidden feature, looks in KSP/saves/scenarios/)	0.14.1?
Mod + F12	Debug/cheat menu	0.19.0
Flight Controls
W	Pitch adjustment (up/back)	0.07.3
S	Pitch adjustment (down/forward)	0.07.3
A	Yaw adjustment (port/left)	0.07.3
D	Yaw adjustment (starboard/right)	0.07.3
Q	Roll adjustment (counter clockwise)	0.07.3
E	Roll adjustment (clockwise)	0.07.3
C	Toggle IVA view	0.17.0
V	Toggle camera view (auto/free/orbital/chase)	0.17.0
Left-Shift	Increase throttle	0.07.3
Left-Control	Decrease throttle	0.07.3
Space	Detach stage or launch	0.07.3	Stage
T	Toggle SAS	0.07.3	SAS
F	Hold to temporarily invert SAS state	0.07.3
Mod + L	Lock current stage (very useful before you accidentally hit the spacebar)	0.08.4
Caps Lock	Toggle precision ("softer") controls	0.08.5
R	Toggle RCS	0.11.0	RCS
H	RCS thrust translate forward	0.11.0
N	RCS thrust translate backward	0.11.0
I	RCS thrust translate down	0.11.0
J	RCS thrust translate left	0.11.0
K	RCS thrust translate up	0.11.0
L	RCS thrust translate right	0.11.0
X	Cut throttle	0.12.0
G	Toggle landing gear	0.14.0	Gear
Mod + W/S/A/D/Q/E	Trim pitch/yaw/roll	0.15.0
Mod + X	Reset trim	0.15.0
B	Wheel brakes	0.15.0	Brakes
U	Toggle vehicle lights	0.15.0	Lights
1-9, 0	Activate custom action group 1-10	0.18.0	Custom 01-10
Backspace	Activate abort action group	0.18.0	Abort
Right-click	Open part info window	0.15.0
Mod + Right-click	Open multiple info windows for fuel transfer (right-click on two fuel tanks)	0.18.0
Home	Scroll stage icons up	0.09.0
End	Scroll stage icons down	0.09.0
Docking mode
W	Pitch adjustment (up/back) / Translate forward	0.18.0
S	Pitch adjustment (down/forward) / Translate backward	0.18.0
A	Yaw adjustment (port/left) / Translate left	0.18.0
D	Yaw adjustment (starboard/right) / Translate right	0.18.0
Q	Roll adjustment	0.18.0
E	Roll adjustment	0.18.0
Left-Shift	Translate up	0.18.0
Left-Control	Translate down	0.18.0
Space	Toggle translation/rotation	0.18.0	SAS
EVA Commands
W	Walk/jet forward	0.16.0
S	Walk/jet back	0.16.0
A	Walk/jet left	0.16.0
D	Walk/jet right	0.16.0
Q	Turn left by jet	?
E	Turn right by jet	?
Left-click and drag left	Jet counter clockwise	?
Left-click and drag right	Jet clockwise	?
Left-click and drag up	Pitch up by jet	?
Left-click and drag down	Pitch down by jet	?
Shift	Jet up	0.16.0
Control	Jet down	0.16.0
Space	Jump/Let go of part	0.16.0
Space	Reorient attitude to camera by jet	0.16.0
F	Use/board part	0.16.0
Shift + (W/S/A/D) + Space	Jump to different directions when on ladders	?
Shift + (W/S/A/D)	Sprint	?
L	Toggle headlamps	0.16.0
R	Toggle jetpack	0.16.0
Mod	Toggle movement	0.16.0
]	Cycle through active ships/EVAs (forwards)	0.14.0
[	Cycle through active ships/EVAs (backwards)	0.14.0
VAB/SPH Commands
Ctrl + Z	Undo last action	0.08.0
Ctrl + Y	Redo last action	0.08.0
Mod + Left-click	Duplicate part or assembly in VAB	0.08.5
C	Toggle Angle Snap	0.15.0
X	Cycle symmetry settings (forward)	0.08.5
Shift + X	Cycle symmetry settings (backward)	0.18.0
Page Up	Scroll view up	0.08.5
Page Down	Scroll view down	0.08.5
Shift + Left-click	Move the entire ship	0.09.0
Shift + Scroll Up	Zoom view in	0.08.5
Shift + Scroll Down	Zoom view out	0.08.5
W	Rotate part backwards	0.15.0
S	Rotate part forwards	0.15.0
A	Rotate part counterclockwise (flat)	0.15.0
D	Rotate part clockwise (flat)	0.15.0
Q	Rotate part counterclockwise	0.15.0
E	Rotate part clockwise in VAB	0.15.0
Shift	Hold to rotate parts in 5° instead of 90° steps	0.15.0
Space	Reset part rotation	0.15.0

External links

• As PDF – Controls of version 0.22.0 as one single paged PDF

• As XLSX – Controls of version 0.22.0 as Excel Spreadsheet

• As PDF – Controls of version 0.18.0 as one single paged PDF