Open world action · PC · PlayStation · Xbox

Red Dead Redemption 2 controls & keybinds

Red Dead's controls change with context: on foot, on horseback, in the camp and in cinematic mode. The most confusing defaults are the ones that share a key, so this page separates on-foot and horse actions.

The keys people look up first

Red Dead Redemption 2 controls at a glance

Default bindings for the actions searched for most. The full lists, the settings that change how they feel and the printable layout are below.

Action	PC	PlayStation	Xbox
Sprint / run	`Left Shift`	`Cross (tap)`	`A (tap)`
Crouch	`Left Ctrl`	`L3 (press)`	`LS (press)`
Jump	`Space`	`Square`	`X`
Reload	`R`
Aim / ADS	`Mouse 2`	`L2`	`LT`
Switch weapon	`Tab`	`L1 (hold)`	`LB (hold)`
Interact	`E`	`L2`	`LT`
Map	`M`	`Options (hold)`	`Menu (hold)`

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Highlighted keys carry a default action; hover or tap a key for every action bound to it.

Action	Default key
On foot
Move	`W / A / S / D`
RunHold to jog; tap repeatedly to sprint.	`Left Shift`
Jump / climb	`Space`
Crouch	`Left Ctrl`
Take cover	`Q`
Fire	`Mouse 1`
Aim	`Mouse 2`
Reload	`R`
Weapon wheelHold; scroll to pick.	`Tab`
Item wheel	`Tab (hold) + Mouse 3`
Interact / focus	`E`
Dead EyeWhile aiming.	`Caps Lock`
Eagle EyeHold Tab and press Q on some builds; check the in-game hint.	`Tab + Q`
Horse
Mount / dismount	`E`
GallopTap to speed up; hold to keep pace.	`Left Shift`
Stop / brake	`S`
Call horse	`H`
Camera
Cinematic cameraWhile a waypoint is set the horse follows the road.	`V (hold)`
Change camera	`V`
Interface
Map	`M`
Journal	`J`
Player menu	`Escape`
Satchel	`Tab (hold) + Mouse 3`
Log (mission objective)	`L`
Photo mode	`F6`

Show

Action	PlayStation	Xbox	Switch
On foot
Move	`L3`	`LS`	`L3`
Run / sprint	`Cross (tap)`	`A (tap)`	`Cross (tap)`
Jump / climb	`Square`	`X`	`Y`
Crouch	`L3 (press)`	`LS (press)`	`L3 (press)`
Take cover	`R1`	`RB`	`R`
Fire	`R2`	`RT`	`ZR`
Aim	`L2`	`LT`	`ZL`
Weapon wheel	`L1 (hold)`	`LB (hold)`	`L1 (hold)`
Interact / focusContext prompts appear when aiming at people or objects.	`L2`	`LT`	`ZL`
Dead Eye	`R3 (press) while aiming`	`RS (press) while aiming`	`R3 (press) while aiming`
Eagle Eye	`L3 + R3`	`LS + RS`	`L3 + R3`
Horse
Mount / dismount	`Triangle`	`Y`	`X`
Gallop	`Cross (tap)`	`A (tap)`	`Cross (tap)`
Call horse	`D-pad Up (hold)`	`D-pad Up (hold)`	`D-pad Up (hold)`
Camera
Cinematic camera	`Touchpad (hold)`	`View (hold)`	`Touchpad (hold)`
Change camera	`Touchpad`	`View`	`Touchpad`
Interface
Map	`Options (hold)`	`Menu (hold)`	`Options (hold)`
Journal / log	`D-pad Right / Left`	`D-pad Right / Left`	`D-pad Right / Left`

Switch labels are derived from the PlayStation and Xbox layouts where the game uses the standard mapping; games without a Switch release show the equivalent position only.

Reach check · your keyboard, this game

Can your board actually play Red Dead Redemption 2?

Every default bind, re-scored against the keyboard you own. Distance is measured from the left hand resting on WASD, because that is where it stays while you play.

W / A / S / D Move
Left Shift Run
Space Jump / climb
Left Ctrl Crouch
Q Take cover
Mouse 1 Fire
Mouse 2 Aim
R Reload
Tab Weapon wheel
Tab (hold) + Mouse 3 Item wheel
E Interact / focus
Caps Lock Dead Eye
Tab + Q Eagle Eye
E Mount / dismount
Left Shift Gallop
S Stop / brake
H Call horse
V (hold) Cinematic camera
V Change camera
M Map
J Journal
Escape Player menu
Tab (hold) + Mouse 3 Satchel
L Log (mission objective)
F6 Photo mode

On the keys: your hand is already there
Comfortable: a finger moves, the hand does not
Stretch: the hand lifts, movement wobbles
Off movement: you let go of A and D to press it
Not on this board: the key does not physically exist

Reach uses the same key geometry as BindIQ, which can rebuild the whole layout for you once you know what is out of reach. Mouse buttons always count as reachable — your right hand is already there.

Red Dead Redemption 2 control lab

One key, four meanings

Red Dead's controls are not long, they are overloaded. The same key does something different depending on whether you are on foot or on a horse, and again depending on whether you tap it or hold it. Almost every complaint about these controls is really about this table, not about the key list.

Key	On foot	On horseback	Held, or combined
`E`	Interact, greet, loot, pick up — whatever you are looking at	Mount the horse, or dismount from it	Hold to keep focus on a person while you walk
`Left Shift`	Run. Tapped repeatedly, not held	Gallop. Also tapped, and it tires the horse	Turn on Toggle Run in Settings so long rides stop punishing your hand
`S`	Walk backwards	Slow the horse, then stop it	Held at a gallop, it rears the horse
`Tab`	Weapon wheel	Weapon wheel, mounted	Hold, then Mouse 3 — item wheel and satchel
`V`	Change camera angle	Change camera angle	Hold for the cinematic camera that rides the route for you
`Q`	Take cover against whatever is next to you	No cover on a horse	Tab + Q is Eagle Eye, not cover
`Caps Lock`	Dead Eye	Dead Eye, mounted	Far from WASD — the single most rebound key in the game

The two that catch people are E and Tab. E is the same key for interacting and for mounting, so standing beside your horse next to a lootable body gives you whichever the game thinks you are looking at — aim the camera before you press it. Tab alone is the weapon wheel, but the satchel is Tab held plus middle mouse, which is why players conclude the satchel has no bind. Neither is a bug and neither is fixed by rebinding; they are fixed by knowing which mode you are in.

Red Dead Redemption 2 control lab

Should you play it on a controller?

This is the most searched Red Dead control question by a wide margin, and the honest answer is that the game was built around a stick and then handed a keyboard. On PC it accepts both at once — pick a controller up mid-ride and it switches instantly, with no menu — so the useful question is not which to choose but which to hold for what.

Action	Controller	Keyboard	What it costs you
Walking through a town	`Left stick, variable`	`W, one speed plus a run toggle`	The stick holds a walk, a jog and a run. On keyboard the middle one barely exists, which is why towns feel clumsy
Riding a horse	`Analogue gallop and lean`	`Left Shift, tapped repeatedly`	The horse is an analogue animal. Tapping Shift for hours is the strongest single argument for a pad
Aiming a rifle	`Right stick with aim assist`	`Mouse, no assist`	The mouse wins outright. Nothing about a stick beats it for a headshot
Weapon wheel	`Right stick flick, time slowed`	`Hold Tab, move the mouse`	Roughly equal — both are slowed enough that speed does not decide it
Dead Eye	`R3 press, mark with the stick`	`Caps Lock, mark with the mouse`	Marking is faster with a mouse; entering it is easier with a thumb
Cover and context actions	`One button, context aware`	`Q, E and F doing different jobs by situation`	The pad hides the overloading the table above exposes

The split most players settle on is the one the game seems designed for: a controller for riding, travelling and story missions, keyboard and mouse for gunfights. PC makes that practical because both stay live at once — set the pad down and the game follows your mouse the moment you move it, with nothing to change in the menu. If you want only one, follow what you play for: shooting favours the mouse, everything else favours the stick.

One line per question

How to do the things people search for in Red Dead Redemption 2

Generated from the default bindings above, so an action and its key can never disagree.

How to sprint in Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC and controller?

To sprint in Red Dead Redemption 2, press Left Shift on PC, Cross (tap) on PlayStation and A (tap) on Xbox. Hold to jog; tap repeatedly to sprint.

How to crouch in Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC and controller?

To crouch in Red Dead Redemption 2, press Left Ctrl on PC, L3 (press) on PlayStation and LS (press) on Xbox.

How to jump in Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC and controller?

To jump in Red Dead Redemption 2, press Space on PC, Square on PlayStation and X on Xbox.

How to reload in Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC?

To reload in Red Dead Redemption 2, press R on PC.

How to aim in Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC and controller?

To aim in Red Dead Redemption 2, press Mouse 2 on PC, L2 on PlayStation and LT on Xbox.

How to switch weapons in Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC and controller?

To switch weapons in Red Dead Redemption 2, press Tab on PC, L1 (hold) on PlayStation and LB (hold) on Xbox. Hold; scroll to pick.

How to interact or pick things up in Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC and controller?

To interact or pick things up in Red Dead Redemption 2, press E on PC, L2 on PlayStation and LT on Xbox. Context prompts appear when aiming at people or objects.

How to open the map in Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC and controller?

To open the map in Red Dead Redemption 2, press M on PC, Options (hold) on PlayStation and Menu (hold) on Xbox.

How to get on a mount or into a vehicle in Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC and controller?

To get on a mount or into a vehicle in Red Dead Redemption 2, press E on PC, Triangle on PlayStation and Y on Xbox.

How to open photo mode in Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC?

To open photo mode in Red Dead Redemption 2, press F6 on PC.

Quick answers

How do I use Dead Eye on PC?

Aim with Mouse 2 and press Caps Lock. Paint targets by moving the cursor over them (or hold Mouse 1 on later levels) and fire to shoot them all in sequence.

How do I make my horse gallop?

Tap Left Shift (Cross/A) repeatedly to build speed; holding keeps the current pace. Gallop drains stamina and can throw you if the horse is spooked.

How do I open the item wheel?

Hold Tab for the weapon wheel and press Mouse 3 to switch to items and horse gear; on controller hold L1/LB and press R1/RB.

How do I set a waypoint and let the horse ride there?

Place a waypoint on the map (M) and hold V for cinematic camera while riding; the horse follows the road until you touch the controls.

Why does E do so many things?

It is the context key: mount, greet, loot, open doors and pick plants depending on what you look at. Aim at an NPC with Mouse 2 to get the greet, antagonize and rob options.

Where to go from here

Next steps for Red Dead Redemption 2

Mouse DPI analyzerMeasure the DPI your mouse really delivers before you change anything in game.Controller deadzone tunerFind the smallest deadzone that hides drift without swallowing slow aim in RDR2.Stick drift testFive-second resting sample, so a wandering camera is not blamed on the game.Keyboard ghosting testCheck the combinations RDR2 holds down at once actually reach the game.

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