Key bindings

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This is a list of the default key bindings of the standard game. Please note that PlayStation 4 and Xbox One bindings have not been included as of yet for either the Enhanced Edition or the original port! (the Enhanced Edition pause menu does have a list of controls)

Modifier key

Because KSP can run on different operating systems the modifier key (Mod) differs between them. In the table below, the default Mod key is mapped to the following keys (to use a different key, edit the entry in the "MODIFIER_KEY" section of the settings.cfg file):

  • Windows: Alt (e. g. Alt+L)
  • Mac OS: Option (e. g. Opt+L)
  • Linux: KSP 1.1+: Right-Shift (e. g. Right-Shift+L) Don't confuse this with Left-Shift, which will fire your engines! KSP 1.0.5 and earlier uses a different key, which can cause issues in some window managers when playing in windowed mode. [1]

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, Macs and some Linux devices such as ThinkPad, require Fn+F5.

It is advisable to shutdown your engines if you don't plan on activating them, such as before resource transfers, or if maneuvers have been completed. This will prevent accidental engine activation from a mistyped key. You can disable engines via control groups, or by right clicking on the engine to manually shut it down or activate it. This can be handy for contracts that require an engine to be tested through staging, but you don't want to discard the usable stage before it: Kill thrust with X, move the engine to be tested to the next stage, then activate the engine through staging. After activation, manually shut down the it tested engine (you'll need to manually re-enable/activate it later). Now you've completed your contract, and haven't wasted any useful stages. Using this, in combination with lock staging Mod+L, will help avoid mishaps due to operator error.

Highlight legend

Key Bindings for QWERTY keyboard layout

Key Effect Since
System/UI Controls
F1 Screenshot 0.07.3
F2 Toggle UI visibility 0.13.0
F3 Toggle results screen 0.14.0
F4 Toggle ship labels - this includes docking target/distance indicators 0.14.0
F5 Quicksave 0.14.0
Mod + F5 Make a specific, user-inputted quicksave 0.23.5
F6 Previous action set 1.7.1
F7 Next action set 1.7.1
F9 (Hold) Load quicksave 0.14.0
Mod + F9 Load a specific quicksave 0.23.5
F10 Toggle temperature gauges 1.0.1
Mod + F10 Load saved game state dialogue box (hidden feature, looks in KSP/saves/scenarios/) 0.14.1?
F11 Toggle temperatures overlay 1.0.1
F12 Toggle aerodynamic forces overlay 1.0.1
Mod + F12 Debug/cheat menu 0.19.0
Escape Pause Menu 0.90.0
↑/↓/←/→ Turn view Up/Down/Left/Right  ?
Numpad + Zoom in 0.08.5
Numpad - Zoom out 0.08.5
Home Scroll stage icons up 0.09.0
End Scroll stage icons down 0.09.0
Flight Controls
W Pitch adjustment (down) 0.07.3
S Pitch adjustment (up) 0.07.3
A Yaw adjustment (left) 0.07.3
D Yaw adjustment (right) 0.07.3
Q Roll adjustment (left) 0.07.3
E Roll adjustment (right) 0.07.3
Caps Lock Toggle precision ("softer") controls 0.08.5
Left-Shift Increase throttle 0.07.3
Left-Control Decrease throttle 0.07.3
Space Launch or detach stage 0.07.3
F (Hold) Invert SAS state 0.07.3
T Toggle SAS 0.07.3
C Toggle IVA view 0.17.0
V Toggle camera view (auto/free/orbital/chase) 0.17.0
` (back quote) Reset camera 1.2.1
\ Toggle camera movement with mouse 1.2.1
R Toggle RCS 0.11.0
H RCS - translate forward 0.11.0
N RCS - translate backwards 0.11.0
I RCS - translate down 0.11.0
K RCS - translate up 0.11.0
J RCS - translate left 0.11.0
L RCS - translate right 0.11.0
X Cut throttle 0.12.0
Z Full throttle 0.25.0
G Toggle landing gear 0.14.0
U Toggle lights 0.15.0
B Wheel brake 0.15.0
(none but can be modded)[2] Parking brake discontinued
M Toggle orbital map 0.11.0
Tab Cycle focus in orbital map 0.11.0
Shift + Tab Reverse cycle focus in orbital map 0.11.0?
` Reset focus in orbital map 0.17.0?
. Time warp increase 0.11.0
, Time warp decrease 0.11.0
Mod + . Forced time warp increase (Physical time warp) 0.17.0
Mod + , Forced time warp decrease (Physical time warp) 0.17.0
/ Stop time warp 1.1.0
. (numpad del) Toggle navball 1.1.0
Insert Staging (default) controls 0.18
Delete Docking controls 0.18
] Focus through ships (next) 0.14.0
[ Cycle through ships (previous) 0.14.0
1-9, 0 Activate custom action group 1-10 0.18.0
Backspace Activate abort action group 0.18.0
Mod + L Lock current stage (very useful before you accidentally hit the spacebar) 0.08.4
Mod + W/S/A/D/Q/E Trim pitch/yaw/roll 0.15.0
Mod + X Reset trim 0.15.0
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
Docking Controls
Space Toggle translation/rotation 0.18.0
W Pitch adjustment (down) / Translate forward 0.18.0
S Pitch adjustment (up) / Translate backwards 0.18.0
A Yaw adjustment (left) / Translate left 0.18.0
D Yaw adjustment (right) / Translate right 0.18.0
Q Roll adjustment (left) 0.18.0
E Roll adjustment (right) 0.18.0
Left-Shift Translate up 0.18.0
Left-Control Translate down 0.18.0
EVA Controls
W Walk/jetpack forward 0.16.0
S Walk/jetpack backwards 0.16.0
A Walk/jetpack left 0.16.0
D Walk/jetpack right 0.16.0
Q Jetpack rotate left 0.16.0
E Jetpack rotate right 0.16.0
Left-Shift Jetpack up 0.16.0
Left-Control Jetpack down 0.16.0
R Toggle jetpack 0.16.0
Space Jump 0.16.0
Left-Shift (Hold) Run 0.16.0
Mod Toggle movement 0.16.0
F Use part 0.16.0
I Toggle EVA Construction Mode 1.11.0
B Board 1.0.0
Space Jetpack - Reorient camera 0.16.0
U Toggle lights 1.1.3
O Toggle helmet 1.6.0
P Deploy parachute 1.4.0
Shift + (W/S/A/D) + Space Jump to different directions when on ladders  ?
Left-click and drag left Jet counter clockwise  ?
Left-click and drag right Jet clockwise  ?
Left-click and drag up Pitch down by jet  ?
Left-click and drag down Pitch up by jet  ?
VAB/SPH Controls
S Rotate part up 0.15.0
W Rotate part down 0.15.0
A Rotate part left (flat) 0.15.0
D Rotate part right (flat) 0.15.0
Q Rotate part left 0.15.0
E Rotate part right 0.15.0
Shift + W/S/A/D/Q/E Rotate parts in 5° instead of 90° steps 0.15.0
Space Reset part rotation 0.15.0
` (back quote) Search part 1.1.0
Delete Delete selected part 0.08.5
1 Place Mode 0.90.0
2 Offset Mode 0.90.0
3 Rotate Mode 0.90.0
4 Root Mode 0.90.0
F In Place mode: Toggle Symmetry between vessel or parent part 0.90.0
F In Offset mode: Toggle between absolute or load centered offset 0.90.0
F In Rotate mode: Toggle between absolute or relative rotation 0.90.0
R Toggle Symmetry Method between mirror or radial 0.90.0
X Cycle symmetry settings (next) 0.08.5
Shift + X Cycle symmetry settings (previous) 0.18.0
C Toggle Angle Snap 0.15.0
Enter Reset staging list 0.90.0
Ctrl + Z Undo last action 0.08.5
Ctrl + Y Redo last action 0.08.5
Mod (hold) Disable surface attach/exclusively use node attach 0.25.0
Shift + Left-click Move the entire ship 0.09.0
Control + Left-click Navigate to clicked part in part list  ?
Mod + Left-click Duplicate part or assembly in VAB 0.08.5
Page Up Scroll view up 0.08.5
Page Down Scroll view down 0.08.5

External links

  • Linux versions 1.0.5 and earlier used the Alt as the modifier key. In XFCE/Xubuntu, the Alt key can be used to change the window size and position. This is a ill-conceived "usability" feature that is on by default. To resolve this, you will need to disable some of the window manager's key bindings: Go to Settings > Window Manager Tweaks >Accessibility and set the "Key used to grab and move windows" to "None." Or only play in full screen mode, where the Alt isn't trapped by the window manager.
  • Double tap brakes mod