Controls

Minecraft offers controls tailored for different input methods. While Java Edition is playable only with a keyboard and mouse, Bedrock Edition has a wider variety of control schemes in order to accommodate players across all platforms. These controls can be changed in the options menu.

Java Edition

Non-configurable controls

On many laptops and most Mac computers, function keys (e.g. F1, F2, F3, etc.) do not operate in their default configuration. Players can often get around this by holding the Fn key or sometimes the ⇧ Shift key while they press a function key.

Java Edition uses a combination of the mouse and keyboard for controls, generically known as "mouselook/keymove." Many prior games (such as DOOM and Quake) have used such a scheme, but those who have not played such a game before may need practice to get around effectively. Creative mode or Peaceful difficulty in Survival mode are helpful for a player to gain familiarity with the controls.

Action	Function
	Pick an item up from a slot; split a stack evenly (hold and drag); sort loose items into one stack (double click).
	Pick an item on a slot in half; Place one item from a stack in each inventory slot (hold and drag).
	Turning; aiming; camera movement.
	Selects an item on the Hotbar. Scrolls through any menu screens when opened, including Video Settings, Select World screen, chat overlay, server list, etc.
`Esc` `Pause / Break`	Opens up the pause menu and gives back cursor control. Pauses singleplayer games. Closes any open GUI, including but not limited to: chat window, inventory, crafting table, furnace, command block, dialog, and more.
`Ctrl` + `B`	Toggles the Narrator.
`F1`	Toggles the Heads-Up Display. Use this in conjunction with `F2` to take screenshots without the HUD. This option is also useful when exploring with a map.
`F3`	Debug screen Main article: Debug screen Pressing this key toggles the appearance of extra debug information on the top of the screen alongside the game's version, such as FPS (frames per second), coordinates, and available memory. Pressing the keys `1`–`9` while in the debug screen shows a more detailed view of the graph on the right. Pressing `0` shows a less detailed graph. (Hold `⇧ Shift` before pressing `F3` to display the Profiler graph.) Debug hotkey Main article: Debug hotkey Pressing `Q` while holding `F3` brings up a help menu, showing all `F3` shortcuts. Pressing `A` while holding `F3` reloads all chunks. Pressing `T` while holding `F3` reloads all textures, sounds and web-loaded client resources, which is useful for resource pack authors. Pressing `T` while holding `F3` and the left or right mouse buttons causes input from said buttons to be pressed repeatedly, which is useful for operating automatic farms while on different tasks. Pressing `P` while holding `F3` toggles the auto-pause when the window loses focus. Pressing `H` while holding `F3` toggles detailed item descriptions. Shows tool and armor durability as a fraction on damaged items Displays the zoom level of a map Pressing `C` while holding `F3` copies current location data with the format `/execute in <dimension> run tp @s <position> <rotation>`. Pressing `C` while holding `F3` for at least 6 seconds triggers a manual debug crash on purpose after the keys are released. Pressing `C` while holding `F3` and `Ctrl` for at least 6 seconds triggers a Java runtime crash on purpose after the keys are released. Pressing `B` while holding `F3` toggles showing the hitbox around entities. Pressing `D` while holding `F3` clears chat history (including previously typed commands). Pressing `N` while holding `F3` switches the player's game mode between the previous game mode and Spectator. Pressing `G` while holding `F3` shows the chunk boundaries immediately surrounding the player. Pressing `Esc` while holding `F3` pauses the game without bringing up the pause menu. Pressing `F4` while holding `F3` brings up the gamemode changer menu. Pressing `L` while holding `F3` begins a ten-second recording, which captures information such as tick durations and used heap sizes. Pressing `S` while holding `F3` dumps contents of dynamic textures and font textures to `screenshots/debug/`. Pressing `V` while holding `F3` prints client-side version information.
`F4`	Toggles the currently active post-processing shader, such as screen filters when spectating as certain mobs.
`F5`	When the `F5` key is pressed while on the multiplayer screen, it refreshes the server list.
`⇧ Shift`	When the inventory is open, `⇧ Shift` +  clicking on an item or stack moves it between the inventory and the hotbar. `⇧ Shift` +  clicking on a piece of armor, a carved pumpkin, a mob head or a pair of elytra moves it between the inventory and the corresponding armor slot. `⇧ Shift` +  clicking on a shield moves it between the inventory and the off-hand slot. When a container is open, `⇧ Shift` +  clicking on an item moves up to a stack between the container and the inventory. Existing stacks are filled first, then empty slots from top to bottom then from left to right. `⇧ Shift` +  double clicking moves all items of the same kind. To `⇧ Shift` +  double click, get one item in hand, and while holding `⇧ Shift`, double click on another item type to move it. When a crafting table is open, `⇧ Shift` +  clicking an item or stack in the inventory moves it into the 3×3 crafting grid. The slots are filled from left to right and then top to bottom. When any type of furnace is open, `⇧ Shift` +  clicking an item or stack in the inventory moves it into the input (upper left) slot of the furnace. Items that can serve as fuel move to the fuel (lower left) slot. When crafting, `⇧ Shift` +  clicking the crafting output automatically crafts the maximum number of that item for the materials being used (up to one stack), and moves all crafted items to the inventory. In the survival inventory tab of the Creative inventory, `⇧ Shift` +  clicking the X clears the whole inventory. In any other tab, `⇧ Shift` +  clicking an item puts a stack onto the hotbar. When in the Multiplayer server selection menu, `⇧ Shift` + `↑` and `⇧ Shift` + `↓` moves a server name to a specific position. Holding `⇧ Shift` while a server name is selected and left clicking another server name causes them to swap.
`↵ Enter` `Numpad Enter`	When chat is open, sends the typed chat message (if it's not empty) and closes chat. When creative inventory or the recipe book is open, focuses the search box.
`⇞ Page Up`, `⇟ Page Down`	When chat is open, scrolls an entire page in the given direction.
`Space` `↵ Enter` `Numpad Enter`	After loading a recipe from the recipe book to the crafting grid, press (or hold) this key to automatically refill the grid using any available materials in the inventory. Hold `⇧ Shift` to refill entire stacks.

Menu controls

Menus out of the game and some in-game menus can be full navigated using the keyboard. Notable exception that can't be fully navigated are the various inventories and the Advancements screen.

Action	Function
`↑`, `↓`, `←`, `→`	Moves focus to the element in the given direction.
`Tab ↹`	Moves focus to the next element. Skips list items for quicker navigation.
`⇧ Shift` + `Tab ↹`	Moves focus to the previous element. Skips list items for quicker navigation.
`Ctrl` + `Tab ↹`	Moves to next tab in screens with tabs, such as the Create New World screen.
`Ctrl` + `⇧ Shift` + `Tab ↹`	Moves to previous tab in screens with tabs.
`↑`, `↓`	Scrolls the focused list in the given direction.
`↵ Enter` `Numpad Enter` `Space`	Activates the focused element. This usually has the same function as left clicking it. If the focused element doesn't have an action, the main "Done" action of the current screen will be activated instead. Sliders When active, pressing `←` and `→` will decrease and increase the value respectively. Pressing the activation key again deactivates the active slider.
`Esc` `Pause / Break`	Exits the current screen.

Semi-configurable controls

While aspects of these controls can be modified to an extent, full control over them is not possible.

Default	Option name	Function
Movement
`W`	Sprint (secondary)	This is always the same as the current forward key. When pressed twice in quick succession, causes the player to sprint (unless the character is too hungry). Attempting to sprint (Double-Tap) while fully submerged underwater initiates swimming. This functionality cannot be separated from the forward key.

Configurable controls

These are controls that a user may change at their preference.

Default	In-game option name	Keybind identifier	Function
Movement
`Space`	Jump	key.jump	Jump. When swimming, keeps the player afloat. When double-tapped, toggles Fly Mode (Creative only). When Fly Mode is on, causes the player to gain altitude (ascend). Player flies faster if sprinting.
Left `⇧ Shift`	Sneak	key.sneak	Sneak. When Fly Mode is on, causes the player to lose altitude (descend) unless jump is held. Holding `⇧ Shift` and pressing use on an usable block with a block in hand overrides the USE action and places the block instead. For example, using a lever on a block that would usually open an internal inventory (such as a dispenser) places the lever instead. Used to get off rideable entities.
Left `Ctrl`	Sprint	key.sprint	Start sprinting. Increase speed when Fly Mode is on.
`A`	Strafe Left	key.left	Strafe left.
`D`	Strafe Right	key.right	Strafe right.
`S`	Walk Backward	key.back	Move backward.
`W`	Walk Forward	key.forward	Move forward. The secondary sprint is permanently tied to this.
Gameplay
	Attack/Destroy	key.attack	Destroy blocks (hold down); Attack entity (click once).
	Pick Block	key.pickItem	Pressing that button while looking at a block or an entity makes the game attempt to put a corresponding item for the block or entity in the player's hand. For blocks, it is simply the block in item form. For mobs, the game places the corresponding spawn egg in the player's hand. This also works on boats, all types of minecarts, paintings, and armor stands‌^[1] to get the entity in item form. If the item is in the hotbar, it switches the selected hotbar slot to the slot with that item. If the item is not in the hotbar, but in the player's inventory, it moves that item from the inventory into the hotbar. If no hotbar slot is empty, the item selected is replaced. In creative mode, if the item is not in the inventory, the game gives the player that item. Hovering over an item in any inventory and clicking with the mouse wheel when in creative gives one full stack of that item. Dragging over slots of inventory/container while holding an item fills them with full stacks of copies of that item. If used on a tile entity while holding `Ctrl`, or `⌘ Cmd` (for some Mac computers), the tile entity's nbt data are copied. The block given to the player has the Lore: (+DATA)‌.
	Use Item/Place Block	key.use	Place blocks, summon entities with spawn eggs, toggle levers/doors (click once), charge a bow (release to fire), crossbow, use crossbow, block using a shield, use special blocks like chests, doors, and levers, enter vehicles, eat food, drink potions, till farmland, shear or dye a sheep, command tamed wolves and cats to sit, trade with villagers, place fire using flint and steel or a fire charge, name a mob with a name tag, attach a lead to an animal or attach an animal on a lead to a fence, cast or reel in a fishing rod, throw a splash potion, egg, ender pearl, eye of ender, bottle o' enchanting, or snowball, equip armor from the hotbar if the associated armor slot is empty, eating cake, starting a furnace minecart, open book and quill and written book, use debug stick, add mob in a monster spawner. Commonly, if both the item held and the block clicked on has a such purpose (like trying to place dirt on a chest), the block overrules the item. This also means a player can punch an entity while eating/drinking, however the eating/drinking resets when a player presses Button 1. This button also uses items in the off-hand. Only items with a right click function can be used, and they are available only if the item in the main hand does not have a right click action, or its right click action cannot be performed.
Inventory
`Q`	Drop Selected Item	key.drop	Drop/toss an item. If items are stacked, only one gets thrown/tossed/dropped. In recent versions of Java edition, holding the key causes single items to be dropped quickly from a stack. There is no actual "throw" command; "drop" (default `Q`) tosses an object approximately 2 to 3 blocks from the player. Eggs, ender pearls, eyes of ender, and snowballs can be thrown by the "use" command (default right-clicking). `Ctrl` + `Q` drops the whole stack of items. (On Mac, even though most shortcuts prefer `⌘ Cmd` over `Ctrl`, `Ctrl` + `Q` is still the "drop stack" bind. This is because `⌘Q` is MacOS’s standard shortcut for quitting apps.) Note that there is no corresponding Pick Up command. Dropped items are picked up (if there is room in inventory/hotbar) by moving near them. Placed items are picked up by "mining" (e.g. chopping up a sign with an axe), when they behave as dropped items and can be picked up as such.
`1`–`9`	Hotbar Slot 1–9	key.hotbar.1–key.hotbar.9	Selects the appropriate hotbar item. When in the inventory GUI, swap the contents of the inventory slot under the mouse pointer and the corresponding hotbar slot.
`E`	Open/Close Inventory	key.inventory	Opens the inventory. Close any open GUI.
`F`	Swap Items In Hands	key.swapOffhand	Switches the items in the players main and off-hand. When in the inventory GUI, swap the contents of the inventory slot under the mouse pointer and the off-hand slot.
Creative Mode
`X`	Load Toolbar Activator	key.loadToolbarActivator	Press this key + any number, to access any of the 9 saved toolbars.
`C`	Save Toolbar Activator	key.saveToolbarActivator	Press this key + any number, to save the current toolbar under that number.
Multiplayer
`Tab ↹`	List Players	key.playerlist	In Multiplayer, hold the `Tab ↹` key to see a list of players. When in the chat window, `Tab ↹` cycles through possible commands or arguments and also complete player names.
`T`	Open Chat	key.chat	Chat and server commands. If pressed while the Creative mode inventory is open, it switches to the Search tab.
`/`	Open Command	key.command	Opens the chat window with the "/" character already typed. On some keyboards (Nordic layout at least) this button might be asterisk/apostrophe: `^* _'`.
`P`	Social Interactions Screen	key.socialInteractions	Gives players the ability to disable chatting with certain players, thus hiding any messages receiving from them. Whether a player is hidden resets when re-joining a server.
Miscellaneous
`L`	Advancements	key.advancements	Open the advancements screen.
Not bound	Highlight Players (Spectators)	key.spectatorOutlines	Highlights players in Spectator mode.
`G`	Quick Actions	key.quickActions	Opens a dialog or a list of dialogs in the `minecraft:quick_actions` dialog tag configured by the world or server.
`F2`	Take Screenshot	key.screenshot	Simply pressing this key takes a screenshot and place it in: %appdata%\.minecraft\screenshots on Windows ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/screenshots on macOS ~/.minecraft/screenshots on Linux.
Not bound	Toggle Cinematic Camera	key.smoothCamera	Toggles mouse smoothing. Looking around becomes a slow, smooth and more cinematic motion.
`F11`	Toggle Fullscreen	key.fullscreen	Toggles full-screen mode. When using some Apple keyboards, `F11` must be pressed while holding `Fn` and `⌥ Option` to enter fullscreen. Using `F11` alone toggles Exposé, and pressing `F11` while holding `Fn` turns down the volume or vice versa, depending on system preferences. Some people are experiencing a bug while exiting from full-screen mode that causes an inescapable black screen. When that's the case, use `Alt` + `Tab ↹` to switch out of Minecraft and switch it back to windowed mode. On Linux, mouse input is often buggy while in full-screen mode. After entering full-screen mode on Linux, the mouse typically restricts the player to a single 360-degree rotation. This can be fixed by hitting `Esc` to release the mouse then hitting `Esc` again to regrab it. Also, note that this may not respect multiple monitors and Minecraft may occupy all screens instead of the one it is active on.
`F5`	Toggle Perspective	key.togglePerspective	Toggles between first person, third person from the back and third person from the front.

Visual map

Bedrock Edition

This article is missing information about: Bedrock Edition controls in VR (on PC and PS4).

Please expand the article to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page.

Keyboard & Mouse

The keyboard and mouse controls are similar to Java Edition, with a few differences. These controls can be changed in the Options. Keyboard controls are unavailable on the Nintendo Switch and are normally unavailable on Android, iOS, iPadOS, and Fire, but are possible to use from connected external keyboards. Mouse controls are unavailable on the Nintendo Switch.

The game will enter keyboard & mouse mode when it receives a mouse event, but key event won't.

Non-configurable controls

Action	Function
	Picks up an item from a slot (a stack from Creative inventory) (click once); Splits a stack evenly (hold and drag); sort loose items into one stack (double-click)
	Picks up an item from a slot; Picks up an item from a slot in half; Places one item from a stack in each inventory slot (hold and drag);
	Turning; aiming; camera movement.
	Scrolls through the Hotbar, inventory menus, and the chat when opened.
`Esc`	Opens up the menu and gives back cursor control. Closes any open GUI. Exits the chat/command window.
`F1`	Toggles the Heads-Up Display.
`F8`	Toggles the paper doll from showing.
`F11`	Toggles full screen mode.
`⇧ Shift`	When the inventory is open, `⇧ Shift` +  clicking on an item or stack moves it between the inventory and the hotbar. `⇧ Shift` +  clicking on a piece of armor moves the piece between inventory and the armor slots. When a container is open, `⇧ Shift` +  clicking on an item transfers it between the container and the inventory. Existing stacks are filled first, then empty slots from top to bottom then from left to right. When a furnace is open, `⇧ Shift` +  clicking an item or stack in the furnace moves it to the inventory, and `⇧ Shift` +  clicking an item or stack in the inventory moves it into the input slot of the furnace. Fuel items move into the fuel slot first if it is empty or if the item that occupied the slot is less than a stack of the same kind. When crafting, `⇧ Shift` +  clicking the crafted item automatically crafts the maximum number of that item for the materials being used (up to one stack), and moves all crafted items to the inventory. `⇧ Shift` +  clicking an item from the Creative inventory menu puts the maximum stack of the item onto the hotbar (inventory if full).
`↑`, `↓`, `←`, `→`	Switch the highlighted slot or interactable buttons onto another; Move the dragged item onto a different slot or other interactable buttons.

Configurable controls

Default	In-game option name	Function
	Attack/Destroy	Destroys blocks (hold down); Attacks (click once).
	Pick Block	Pressing that button while looking at a block or an entity causes the game to attempt placing a corresponding item for the block or entity in the player's hand. For blocks, it is simply the block in item form. For mobs, the game places the corresponding spawn egg in the player's hand. This also works on boats, all types of minecarts, paintings, and armor stands‌^[2] to get the entity in item form. If the item is in the hotbar, it switches the selected hotbar slot to the slot with that item. If the item is not in the hotbar, but in the player's inventory, it moves that item from the inventory into the hotbar. If no hotbar slot is empty, the item selected is replaced. In creative mode without the item in the inventory, the game gives the player that item. If used on a tile entity while holding `Ctrl`, the tile entity's nbt data is copied. The block given to the player has the Lore: "(+DATA)."
	Use Item/Place Block	Places blocks, interact with blocks, entities, or items, equip armor from the hotbar if the associated armor slot is empty. If both the item held and the faced block interactable, the block overrules the item; that is, the player interacts with the block.
`Q`	Drop Item	Drop/toss an item. If items are stacked, only one is thrown/tossed/dropped. `Ctrl` + `Q` drops the whole stack of items.
`1`–`9`	Hotbar Slot 1–9	Selects the appropriate hotbar item.
`E`	Inventory	Opens the Inventory. Closes any open GUI.
`F5`	Toggle Perspective	Toggles between first person, third person from the back, and third person from the front.
`Space`	Jump/Fly Up	Jumps the player. When swimming, keeps the player afloat. Double-tapping toggles Fly Mode (Creative only). Causes the player to ascend while flying.
`⇧ Shift`	Sneak/Fly Down	Sneak. When Fly Mode is on, causes the player to sneak midair and lose altitude (descend). Holding `⇧ Shift` and pressing use on an interactable block with a block in hand overrides the use action and places the block instead. Dismounts the player from rideable entities.
`Ctrl`	Sprint	Starts sprinting. Speed increases when Fly Mode is on.
`A`	Strafe Left	Moves the player leftward.
`D`	Strafe Right	Moves the player rightward.
`S`	Walk Backward	Moves the player backward.
`W`	Walk Forward	Moves the player forward.
`Z`	Mob Effects	Opens/closes the Status effects window.
`T`, `↵ Enter`	Chat button	Opens/closes the chat window.
`/`	Open Command	Opens the chat window with the "/" character already typed.
`B`	Emote	Open/closes the emote menu.
`F2`	Take Screenshot	Simply pressing this key takes a screenshot and stores it in the screenshot gallery, which is accessible under the profile screen. Screenshots are automatically saved on the `com.mojang/Screenshots` directory.
`[`	Menu Tab Left	Cycles the inventory/world menu/settings tabs to the left.
`]`	Menu Tab Right	Cycles the inventory/world menu/settings tabs to the right.
`BUTTON5`(the return button on a mouse)	Menu Cancel	Closes a menu screen/returns to the previous menu screen.
`N`	Open Notification	Opens/closes a toast notification.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `C`	Copy Coordinates.	Copies the player's current coordinates. Only available when the "Copy Coordinate GUI" option in the Creator settings tab is enabled. Only the last key of this keybind is configurable.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + `X`	Copy Facing Coordinates.	Copies the coordinates of the block the player is facing. Only available when the "Copy Coordinate GUI" option in the Creator settings tab is enabled. Only the last key of this keybind is configurable.

If "Full Keyboard Gameplay" is enabled, the following inputs are made available/used instead.

Default	In-game option name	Function
`-`	Look Up Slight	Moves the camera 15 degrees up.
`+`	Look Down Slight	Moves the camera 15 degrees down.
Numpad `9`	Look Up Right	Moves the camera 45 degrees up-right.
Numpad `8`	Look Up	Moves the camera 45 degrees up.
Numpad `7`	Look Up Left	Moves the camera 45 degrees up-left.
Numpad `6`	Look Right	Moves the camera 45 degrees right.
Numpad `5`, `End`, `\`	Look Center	Moves the camera to the middle.
Numpad `4`	Look Left	Moves the camera 45 degrees left.
Numpad `3`	Look Down Right	Moves the camera 45 degrees down-right.
Numpad `2`	Look Down	Moves the camera 45 degrees down.
Numpad `1`	Look Down Left	Moves the camera 45 degrees down-left.
`↑`	Look Up Smooth	Moves the camera up smoothly.
`↓`	Look Down Smooth	Moves the camera down smoothly.
`←`	Look Left Smooth	Moves the camera left smoothly.
`→`	Look Right Smooth	Moves the camera right smoothly.
`PgUp`	Cycle Item Left	Cycles the selected hotbar to the left.
`PgDn`	Cycle Item Right	Cycles the selected hotbar to the right.
`N`	Open Notification	Opens/closes a toast notification.
`Q`	Attack/Destroy	Functions are equivalent to left click in normal mode.
`X`	Pick Block	Functions are equivalent to middle click in normal mode.
`E`	Use Item/Place Block	Functions are equivalent to right click in normal mode.
`Z`	Drop Item	Functions are equivalent to `Q` in normal mode.
`1`–`9`	Hotbar Slot 1–9	Functions are the same as in normal mode.
`C`	Inventory	Functions are equivalent to `E` in normal mode.
`F5`	Toggle Perspective	Functions are the same as in normal mode.
`Space bar`	Jump/Fly Up
`⇧ Shift`	Sneak/Fly Down
`Ctrl`	Sprint
`A`	Strafe Left
`D`	Strafe Right
`S`	Walk Backward
`W`	Walk Forward
`Tab ↹`	Mob Effects	Functions are equivalent to `Z` in normal mode.
`T`, `↵ Enter`	Chat button	Functions are the same as in normal mode.
`/`	Open Command
`B`	Emote
`F2`	Take Screenshot
`[`	Menu Tab Left
`]`	Menu Tab Right
`P`	Menu Cancel
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + Unassigned	Copy Coordinates.	Copies the player's current coordinates. Only available when the "Copy Coordinate GUI" option in the Creator settings tab is enabled. Only the last key of this keybind is configurable.
`Ctrl` + `Alt` + Unassigned	Copy Facing Coordinates.	Copies the coordinates of the block the player is facing. Only available when the "Copy Coordinate GUI" option in the Creator settings tab is enabled. Only the last key of this keybind is configurable.

Controller

The "Controller" controls for gamepads are similar to the Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4 editions, with some differences. All of these controls, except the control sticks and menu controls, can be changed in the Options. The Nintendo Switch version can be played with a pair of Joy-Con or Joy-Con 2 controllers, the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, or the Nintendo Switch Lite. It cannot be played with a single Joy-Con or Joy-Con 2 controller, as they do not have enough buttons or control sticks. If the gamepad has two control sticks, then the left stick (////) would be used for moving and the right stick (////) would be used for looking. The blank spaces mean that the function is, by default, left unassigned and it is up to the player to assign a button to it. All platforms support gamepads.

Default						Function


						Menu (non-configurable)
						Look (non-configurable)
						Jump/Fly Up
		/				Drop Item
						Attack/Destroy
						Use Item/Place Block
						Crafting
						Inventory
						Cycle Item Left
						Cycle Item Right
		/				Toggle Perspective
						Sneak/Fly Down
						Sprint
						Fly Up Slow
						Fly Down Slow
		/				Emote
						Open Notification/Mob Effects
		/				Chat button
						Strafe Left
						Strafe Right
						Walk Backwards
						Walk Forwards
						Pick Block

Default Xbox controller diagram
Default Nintendo Switch controller diagram
Default PS4 controller diagram

Touch

"Touch" controls for touchscreen devices use controls shown on the screen. Split-touch controls displays a cross hair, which can be set in Settings. Movement and interact controls can be changed by selecting control mode in Settings, with the ability to customize the buttons. Touch controls are available on devices that is touch-enabled except the Nintendo Switch, where the touchscreen can only be used to interact with the hotbar, inventory, and menus.

The game will enter touch mode when it receives a touch event.

Action	Function
	Joystick. Moves the player. Moving the knob to the top causes the player to sprint if "Sprint using the joystick" is turned on.
	Sprint button, joystick only. Increase speed when Fly Mode is on. The button disappears if "Sprint using the joystick" is turned on.
	Move forward. When double-tapped, causes the player to sprint (unless the character is too hungry). When Fly Mode is on, double-tapping increases the speed at which the player flies. Attempting to sprint (Double-Tap) while fully submerged underwater initiates swimming. While tapped, and appears.
	Move backward. While tapped, and appears.
	Strafe left. While tapped, and appears.
	Strafe right. While tapped, and appears.
	Strafe left while moving forward.
	Strafe right while moving forward.
	Strafe left while moving backward.
	Strafe right while moving backward.
	Jump. When swimming, keeps the player afloat, the button changes to . When double-tapped in Creative mode, the player is able to fly, the button changes to .
	Double tap to toggle sneaking, and the button changes to . Double tap again to toggle back, the button reverts to . When swimming, the button changes to . When flying, the button changes to .
	Swim up. When getting out of the water or lava, the button reverts to .
	Swim down. When getting out of the water or lava, the button reverts to .
	Fly up, when flying in Creative mode. When double-tapped, the player no longer flies, the button reverts to .
	Fly down, when flying in Creative mode. When double-tapped, the player no longer flies, the button reverts to .
	Unused button, apparently it would be the mount button. Mount the player from horse or camel.
	Dismount button. Dismounts the player from horses or camels.
	Unused button, apparently it would be the mount button. Mount the player from boats or mine carts.
	Dismount button. Dismounts the player from boats or mine carts.
	Attack button, only visible with "Joystick & aim crosshair" control mode. Attack mobs and destroy blocks.
	Interact button, only visible with "Joystick & aim crosshair" control mode. Places blocks, interact with blocks, entities, or items, equip armor from the hotbar if the associated armor slot is empty. If both the item held and the faced block interactable, the block overrules the item; that is, the player interacts with the block.
	Pick block button, can be turned on with the toggle. Pressing that button while looking at a block causes the game to attempt placing a corresponding item for the block in the player's hand.
	Opens the Emotes menu.
	Opens the Chat screen.
	Opens the game menu.
	Perspective button, can be turned on with the toggle. Toggles between first person, third person from the back, and third person from the front.
	Used for the Agent.‌
Move Camera	Slide/move finger across the screen.
Place Block	By default (split controls is disabled), tap the desired area to place the block. When split controls is enabled, position the camera so that the crosshair is pointed at the desired area and tap anywhere on the screen (excluding the HUD) to place the block.
Break Block	Hold finger down on the desired block to break. How long it takes to break the block is indicated by an icositetragonal icon on the screen, varying on the tool being used to break it. When split controls is enabled, position the camera so that the pointed at the desired block and hold anywhere on the screen (excluding the HUD) to break the block.
Drop item	Long-press on a hotbar slot for about 2 seconds to drop the entire stack. You can also open the GUI, tap on the stack, then tap somewhere outside of GUI.
Use Block	By default (split controls is disabled), tap the desired block to use its functionality. When split controls is enabled, position the camera so that the crosshair is pointed at the desired area and tap anywhere on the screen (excluding the HUD) to use its functionality.
Interact button	An interact button for breeding. Some items have extra functionality, and these can be executed when either long-pressing on the target or tapping the interaction button, located on top of the hotbar. These are listed below: Ignite: to ignite a creeper while holding a flint and steel. Edit: to edit an NPC’s message Leave Boat: to leave the boat when riding it Feed: to feed an animal while holding food, feed another animal so that both of them can breed Fish: to cast and uncast the rod while holding a fishing rod Milk: to milk a cow when holding a bucket Shear: to shear sheep and mooshrooms while holding shears Milk Stew: to get mushroom stew from a mooshroom while holding a bowl Board: to board a boat Ride: to ride a minecart, horse or strider Sit: to make a pet sit Stand: to make a pet stand Talk: to talk to an NPC in premade world maps like world templates Dye: to dye sheep or a wolf's collar while holding a dye Cure: to cure a zombie villager while holding a golden apple Open: to open a minecart with chest or a minecart with hopper Create Map: to create a map while holding an empty map Take Picture: to take a picture using the camera Saddle: to put a saddle onto a pig or a strider Mount: to mount onto a pig or a strider Boost: to boost a pig or a strider while holding a carrot on a stick or a warped fungus on a stick, respectively. Write: to write in a book and quill Leash: to leash a mob while holding a lead Unleash to unleash a leashed mob Attach Chest: to attach a chest into a donkey, mule or a llama Trade: to trade with a villager Pose: to pose an armor stand Equip: to equip an armor stand while holding a piece of armor Read: to read a written book while holding it Wake Villager: to wake a villager when a villager is in a bed Brush: to brush an armadillo Barter: to barter with piglins while holding a gold ingot
Split stack	Stack progress bar. Open GUI and long-press on a stack. A small progress bar with stack number appears right above the stack, pressing and moving to the left or right increases or decreases the number of selected items. Tap on an empty slot, a proportional part of the stack is moved there.
Split stack evenly	Open GUI and tap on a stack, then tap-and-slide across two or more empty slots to split the stack evenly between them.
Consolidate stacks	Open GUI and double-tap on a stack. Partial stacks of this item consolidate into a single stack.
Mass crafting	Long-press on recipe result for mass crafting. Works faster if no other visible recipe is affected by the current one (for example, while converting sugarcane into paper, the number of potential sugar available is recalculated on the go. Switching to – for example – Construction tab, speeds up the process because no other recipe needs to be recalculated now.)

Legacy versions

These versions have either been discontinued or long forgotten about. However, their controls are documented here for historical purposes.

Pi Edition

All of the controls in the Pi Edition are fixed and cannot be changed.

Action	Function
	Turning; aiming; third person camera movement.
	Destroy blocks (hold down shortly); Move a block from the selection screen to the first hotbar slot, pushing the rest of the items one slot to the right.
	Place blocks; Charge a bow (firing is broken).
	Scrolls through the Hotbar.
`Esc`	Opens up or closes the menu and gives back cursor control.
`1`–`8`	Selects the appropriate Hotbar item.
`W`	Move forward.
`A`	Strafe left.
`S`	Move backward.
`D`	Strafe right.
`Space bar`	Jump. When double-tapped, toggles Fly Mode. When Fly Mode is on, causes the player to gain altitude (ascend).
Left `⇧ Shift`	Sneak. When Fly Mode is on, causes the player to lose altitude (descend).
`E`	Open the list of blocks.
`Tab ↹`	Release the mouse cursor from the game window without opening the pause menu.

Pocket Edition: Xperia Play

Action	Function
Right Bumper	Place block
Left Bumper	Destroy block
	Open inventory
	Cycle right in the hotbar
	Jump
	Cycle left in the hotbar
Directional Keys	Movement
Left Touch Pad	Sneak
Right Touch Pad	Moves the camera
Menu	Open game menu
Touch Screen	Chat (multiplayer only). Tap to change selection in hotbar
Search Button	Toggle third person view

Note: For Xperia Play owners using the gamepad, while in creative mode, the lowest two rows of items are beneath the screen, and one cannot scroll down to see them. They are still accessible, but it requires either remembering how many times one has to press the directional buttons to access them, or trial-and-error. This is most prominent in the 4.0 update, as the amount of items has increased, and now sixteen items are hidden. The only way to see them is to turn on the option to use touch controls in the options menu.

Legacy Console Edition

Notes

On the PlayStation Vita Edition (when playing on the PlayStation Vita), Wii U Edition (when playing on the Wii U GamePad), and Nintendo Switch Edition (when playing in Tabletop or Handheld mode), the touchscreen can be used to control the tooltips shown at the bottom of the screen (if enabled), as well as the menus and inventory.
- Likewise, on the PlayStation 4 Edition, the Touch pad can be used to move the inventory cursor as well as control the menus by swiping.
The Wii U Edition can be played with a Wii U GamePad, Wii U Pro Controller, Classic Controller, or Classic Controller Pro. It cannot be played with a Wii Remote, Wii Remote Plus, or Nunchuk.
- Note: While the Wii U Edition can not be played with a Wii Remote or Wii Remote Plus, a Wii Remote or Wii Remote Plus is required to play with a Classic Controller or Classic Controller Pro.
The Nintendo Switch Edition can be played with a pair of Joy-Con, the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, or the Nintendo Switch Lite. It cannot be played with a single Joy-Con, as it does not have enough buttons or control sticks.

Gameplay

	In-game option name	Function
	In-game option name	Function
	Pause	Pause the game
	Players	Shows the list of players in-game.
	Move	Look/move; when quickly pushed forward and then moved, enables sprinting while the button is held.
	Look	Look/move
(press)^[a]/^[b]	Change Camera Mode	Change the camera angle (toggles First Person, Second Person, and Third Person view)
(press)^[a]/^[b]	Sneak	Sneak/walk or in Creative mode, to lower the height while flying.
	Jump	Jump
	Drop	Drop/toss an item from the Hotbar. If items are stacked, only one gets thrown/tossed/dropped.^[c]
	Crafting / Creative	Open up Crafting menu, or the item list if in creative mode If the "Classic Crafting" option is enabled, it opens the inventory.
	Inventory	Open up the Inventory
	Cycle Held Item (Left)	Cycle left in the Hotbar
	Cycle Held Item (Right)	Cycle right in the Hotbar
	Place	Place blocks; Fire with a bow; block using a sword; use special blocks such as chests, doors, and levers; enter vehicles; toggle levers/doors (click once) Also: Eat food, hoe farmland, shear sheep
	Mine	Destroy blocks; Mine/destroy blocks (hold down); attack (click once).

↑ ^a ^b Wii U GamePad and Wii U Pro Controller.
↑ ^a ^b Classic Controller and Classic Controller Pro.
↑ There is no actual "throw" command; "drop" (default //////) tosses an object approximately 2 to 3 blocks from the player. Eggs and snowballs can be thrown by the "use" command (default //////). The eggs and snowballs fly in an arc.

In crafting

Default							In-game option name	Function
							In-game option name	Function
//	//	//	///	///	//	///	Pointer/Move	Move pointer/selected block/item
							Craft	Create items
							Exit	Exit the crafting table menu
							Split and Desc.	Take half of the highlighted stack/show information about the selected block/item
							Quick Move	Quickly moves a block/item into its appropriate space
							Change Group (Left)	Changes the groups of craftable items, moving left
							Change Group (Right)	Changes the groups of craftable items, moving right

New Nintendo 3DS Edition

All of the controls in the New Nintendo 3DS Edition are fixed and cannot be changed.

Action	Function
	Function
START/SELECT	Pause
Circle Pad	Move
C Stick	Look
	Jump/Fly Up
	Drop Item
`R`	Attack/Destroy
`L`	Use Item/Place Block
	Crafting
	Inventory
`ZL`/	Cycle Item Left
`ZR`/	Cycle Item Right
	Toggle Perspective
	Sneak/Fly Down

Old keys

It has been suggested that this section be split into its own page.

^[discuss^]

If this split affects many pages, or may potentially be controversial, do not split until a consensus has been reached.
Reason: either relocate this list to a separate page, or have a proper history section for controls. there are other elements of controls which require historical documentation such as addition dates. for example, when did horizontal scrolling start to have an effect on the hotbar?

This section describes content that has been removed from the game.

This feature was present in earlier versions of Minecraft, but has since been removed.

These keys are no longer usable in the current versions of the game.^[3]

Java Edition

Key	Versions used	Function
`B`	0.0.20a–Java Edition Indev 0.31 20091223-1457	Brought up the list of usable blocks in Classic Creative, and the first two Creative Indev 0.31 versions.
`B`	Java Edition Indev 0.31 20100128-2200-Java Edition Indev 0.31 20100129-1447	Brought up the crafting GUI.
`I`	Java Edition Indev 0.31 20091231-1856–Beta 1.3_01	Brought up inventory before Beta 1.4 changed the key to `E`. (If preferred, this key can still be used by binding it in Options... → Controls... → Key Binds... → Inventory → Open/Close Inventory).
`↵ Enter`	0.0.14a_04–0.30	Set spawn point in Classic Creative.
`R`	(Respawn above random^{[note 1]} points of the map) rd-132211–0.0.13a_03 (Respawn at set spawn point) 0.0.14a_04–0.30	Moved the player to random points of the map, before 0.0.14a_04. Respawned the player at set spawn point.
`Tab ↹`	Java Edition Classic 0.24 SURVIVAL TEST-0.30	Shot arrows.
`F4`	Java Edition Alpha v1.2.2	Spawned a nether portal. Used for debug by Notch and removed in a second revision of the same version, without changing the version number.
`F5`	0.26 SURVIVAL TEST–Java Edition Indev 20100207-1703	Toggled rain in Classic and Indev.
`F6`	Java Edition Infdev 20100624–Alpha v1.1.2_01	Shows lagometer if held down.
`F3`	Alpha v1.1.1–Alpha v1.1.2_01	Shows FPS, and debug info, if held down.
`F6` and `F7`	Beta 1.8 Pre-release	Moved the day/night cycle backward and forward, respectively (only in singleplayer).
`Esc`	0.0.10a - 0.0.12a_03	On Windows, focuses on the icon of the window and freezes all of Minecraft's processes, thus stopping setting the location of the mouse to the center of the window and letting the cursor become visible, although the cursor bounds stay the same, allowing for review before taking a screenshot. Holding a movement key then toggling this on then off again makes that key stuck on, even if it is let go. Pressing the same movement key again stops it.
`←`	rd-132211 - 0.0.22a_05	Functioned the same way as `A`, would move the player left; WASD keys and arrow keys could be both used as movement.
`→`	rd-132211 - 0.0.22a_05	Functioned the same way as `D`, would move the player right; WASD keys and arrow keys could be both used as movement.
`↑`	rd-132211 - 0.0.22a_05	Functioned the same way as `W`, would move the player forward; WASD keys and arrow keys could be both used as movement.
`↓`	rd-132211 - 0.0.22a_05	Functioned the same way as `S`, would move the player backward; the WASD keys and arrow keys could be both used as movement.
`G`	rd-160052 – 0.0.23a_01	Spawned a mob in Pre-Classic and Classic Creative.
`Y`	Java Edition pre-Classic mc-161616–0.0.22a_05	Inverted mouse in Classic Creative.
`F`	0.0.12a–0.0.22a_05 0.0.23a_01-Beta 1.7.3	Toggled render distance (fog), changed to `F3` + `F` in Beta 1.8.
`M`	0.0.22a_01-0.0.22a_05	Toggled both sound and music.
`N`	0.0.12a - 0.0.12a_03	Generated a new map in Classic Creative.
`F7`	Java Edition Indev 0.31 20091231-1856 – Java Edition Indev 20100223	Isometrically rendered a finite map in Minecraft Indev and 0.31 Indev.
`⇧ Shift` + `F2`	Beta 1.2_02 – Beta 1.4_01	Called an unfinished experimental screenshot function that attempted to generate a huge 645 megapixel TGA image with a resolution of 36,450×17,700 pixels.^[4] Pressing this key combination would cause Minecraft to either freeze for a while, displaying several clipped tiles of the current view or crash, depending on available RAM. During this time it would attempt to generate a file of 1.8 GB in size that may end up corrupt.
`F8`	Beta 1.3–12w08a	Slowly pans the camera when moving. (Now must be configured in Options... → Controls... → Key Binds... → Miscellaneous → Toggle Cinematic Camera).
`F7`	13w47a–1.8.9	Pause/unpause the Twitch stream
Any Key (defaults to NONE)		Mute/unmute microphone, if applicable
Any Key (defaults to NONE)		Show stream commercials
`F6`		Start/stop the Twitch stream

Debugging controls

These controls are used for debugging and were unintentionally left in-game in the following versions: Beta 1.8 Pre-release (pre-reupload only), Beta 1.9 Prerelease 5 and snapshot 12w08a.^[5]^[6] The controls are called the "deadmau5 camera".^[7]

Key	Function
`Y`	Zooms in camera.^[5] This and the controls below are the deadmau5 camera.^[7]
`H`	Zooms out camera.^[5]
`Y` + `H`	Resets the camera's zoom.^[5]
`N`	Rotates camera Counter-Clockwise.^[5]
`M`	Rotates camera Clockwise.^[5]
`N` + `M`	Resets the camera's rotation.^[5]
`U`	Pans camera forward.^[5]
`O`	Pans camera backward.^[5]
`I`	Slowly pans the camera up.^[5]
`K`	Slowly pans the camera down.^[5]
`J`	Slowly pans the camera left.^[5]
`L`	Slowly pans the camera right.^[5]
`F6`	Freezes the player's y-axis position if pressed once, and pressing it again unfreezes their y-axis position.^[5]
`F9`	Freezes the player's camera in place.^[5]

Bedrock Edition

Button	Versions used	Function
Search Button	Alpha 0.1.2	The search button used to be able to change the camera to and from third person view on all Android devices (with a search button), but now this has to be done via the pause screen, since many devices do not have a search button. The Xperia PLAY retains this functionality.
	0.12.1-1.20.70	The button was used to disable fly mode in Creative mode. When double clicked, the player would stop flying, the button would revert to , and the and buttons would disappear.
	1.18.30-1.21.80	The button was used to dismounts the player from rideable entities. The horse or camel jumped (Joystick only).
	1.18.30-1.21.80	The button was used to dismounts the player from horse or camel (Joystick only).
`;`	1.16.200-1.21.90	(for Windows only) Toggles between RTX rendering and the default. This only works if there is an active RTX resource pack.

History

This section is missing information about:

Missing information from Java Edition and legacy console, when each button had its action added or changed?.

Please expand the section to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page.

Java Edition
1.2.1			?				Added pick block.
1.3.1			?				Pick block now actually choses the targeted block. Previously the item was chosen based on the item the block drops. For example pick blocking gravel had a chance to give a flint. Pick blocking entities always chose bedrock.
1.7.2			13w36a				The camera switching key, default set to `F5`, can now be rebound.
1.7.2			13w36a				Added "Sprint" button, defaulting to Left Ctrl.
1.21.4			24w44a				The pick block function now also works on entities in survival and adventure mode. Previously it only worked in creative mode.
1.21.2			24w34a				`Space bar`, `↵ Enter`, `Numpad Enter` now repeat the last recipe from the recipe book. Holding `⇧ Shift` repeats entire stacks.
1.21.6			25w20a				The `G` key now opens the new dialog screen as a configurable button.
Pocket Edition Alpha
v0.1.1							The dpad has been added for touch devices.
v0.1.2							The search button was added used to be able to change the camera to and from third person view on all Android devices.
v0.3.0							The pause button has been added for touch devices.
v0.3.0							The search button was removed.
v0.6.0							The dpad has had its texture updated in addition to the addition of flight button.
v0.7.0							The chat button has been added.
v0.9.0			build 1				Added interact button.
v0.12.1			build 1				The buttons have been divided on the screen.
v0.12.1			build 1				Added sneak button.
Bedrock Edition
1.16.0			beta 1.15.0.51				The emote button has been added but is inaccessible.
1.16.0			beta 1.16.0.57				The emote button is now accessible during gameplay.
1.18.30			Preview 1.18.30.23				New buttons have been added available only in aim and touch mode currently only available in preview.
1.19.10			Preview 1.19.10.20				Joystick texture has been changed.
1.19.10			Preview 1.19.10.22				Interaction button has had its texture changed.
1.19.30							New buttons are now available outside of preview.
1.20.30			Preview 1.20.30.21				Updated the menu HUD icons for touch controls.
1.20.70			Preview 1.20.70.20				The button's textures of the "D-Pad & tap to interact" touch control mode have been updated.
1.20.70			Preview 1.20.70.20				Removed cancel flight button from creative.
1.21.30			Preview 1.21.30.21				Added two new down directionals.
1.21.50			Preview 1.21.50.26				Added pick block button is currently only available in creative and requires going into touch settings to enable.
1.21.60			Preview 1.21.60.23				The pick block is now also available in survival.
1.21.70			Preview 1.21.70.25				Added the perspective button, it is used to change the player's perspective, it can be enabled in the touch settings.
1.21.80			Preview 1.21.80.20				Dismount button and mount button were removed.
							Horse ride and horse exit have been added to mount and exit horses and camels, however only the exit button is used in game.
							Box ride and box exit have been added to enter and exit minecarts and boats, however only exit is used in game.
Minecraft Education
1.7.0							Added agent button.
1.14.31							Added immersive reading button.
1.21.03							The agent button texture has been updated.
Legacy Console Edition
Xbox 360	Xbox One	PS3	PS4	PS Vita	Wii U	Switch
TU1	CU1	1.00	1.00	1.00	Patch 1	1.0.1	Added controls.
TU36	CU25	1.28	1.28	1.28	Patch 7	1.0.1	Added a Safe Sprint option. Depending on the controls layout selected, this option moves either the Change Camera Mode or the Sneak/Dismount away from the stick button, since a lot of people are pressing the stick by accident when they start sprinting.
TU53	CU43	1.49	1.50	1.49	Patch 23	1.0.3	Players can now rebind any button individually (except host options) like on 'Java Edition'. This gives access to a sprint button and the pick block functionality.
TU54	CU44	1.52	1.52	1.52	Patch 24	1.0.4	The pick block function now has a tooltip.
?	?	?	?	?	?	?	The pick block function now also works on entities in survival and adventure mode. Previously it only worked in creative mode.