Quick answers
What are the default controls in Project Zomboid?
In Build 42, the current stable build, W, A, S and D move, Left Shift runs, Left Alt sprints and C sneaks. E interacts with doors, windows and containers. Hold Left Ctrl or the right mouse button to aim, then left-click to attack. Space shoves or stomps, R reloads and X racks a firearm. I, H, L and J open the inventory, health, skills and character info panels, M opens the map and B the crafting menu. Every key can be changed in Options › Key Bindings.
How do you sprint in Project Zomboid?
Hold Left Alt while moving. Left Shift is run, which is slower; sprint is the separate, faster step above it. On a Mac the default sprint key is the left Command key. Left Alt is also the default push-to-talk key and the manual floor attack, so if you play online with voice chat it is worth moving one of them.
How do you aim and attack in Project Zomboid?
Hold Left Ctrl, or hold the right mouse button, to aim, and left-click to attack while aiming. Space is the shove: it pushes back a zombie that is standing and stomps one that is on the ground. Left Alt is the manual floor attack, for hitting a zombie on the ground with the weapon in your hands.
How do you start a car in Project Zomboid?
Get into the driver's seat and press N to start the engine. You need that car's own key, in your inventory or already in the ignition, or the skill to hotwire it — a key from another car will not work. Once moving, Space brakes, Left Shift is cruise control, F switches the headlights, Q sounds the horn, O runs the heater, U shows the car's details, V opens the car radial menu and Z switches seats.
Why does R do three different things in Project Zomboid?
Because Build 42 put three actions on it by default: reload, sharpen weapon and rotate. Which one happens depends on what you are doing — rotate while you are placing furniture or a building piece, reload or sharpen otherwise. If they get in each other's way, move one of them in Options › Key Bindings.
How do you open the building menu in Project Zomboid Build 42?
Give it a key first. Build 42 split building out of crafting into its own menu and ships it without a default key, which is why nothing seems to open it. B still opens the crafting menu. Go to Options › Key Bindings, find the building menu and assign a free key.
How do you pause or speed up time in Project Zomboid?
F2 pauses and F3 returns to normal speed. F4, F5 and F6 are the three fast-forward speeds, from slowest to fastest.
How do you shout or use emotes in Project Zomboid?
Tap Q to shout and hold Q to open the emote wheel. A shout carries, and zombies come to it — useful for pulling a crowd away from where you want to be, and a mistake when you only meant to wave. In a vehicle the same Q is the horn.
Can you play Project Zomboid with a controller?
Steam lists Project Zomboid with partial controller support, and the game has its own Controller tab in the options, next to Key Bindings. It is designed around a keyboard and mouse, and the defaults on this page are the keyboard ones.
