Rust Controls & Best Keybinds for Your Keyboard (2026)

The keys people look up first

Rust 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`	`L3 / L3 (press)`	`LS / LS (press)`
Crouch	`Left Ctrl`	`Circle`	`B`
Jump	`Space`	`Cross`	`A`
Reload	`R`	`Square`	`X`
Aim / ADS	`Mouse 2`	`L2`	`LT`
Switch weapon	`Q (tap) … see note`
Interact	`E`	`Square (hold)`	`X (hold)`
Inventory	`Tab`	`Triangle`	`Y`

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

Action	Default key
Movement
Move	`W / A / S / D`
Sprint	`Left Shift`
Jump	`Space`
Crouch	`Left Ctrl`
Combat
Fire / attack	`Mouse 1`
Aim	`Mouse 2`
Reload	`R`
Hotbar slots	`1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6`
Cycle hotbar	`Scroll Up / Scroll Down`
Holster / unequipQ opens crafting; unequip by selecting the empty slot or pressing the active slot key again.	`Q (tap) … see note`
Toggle flashlight / laser	`F`
Interface
Interact / pick upHold E for the interaction menu on doors, boxes and vehicles.	`E`
Inventory	`Tab`
Crafting	`Q`
Map	`G`
Chat	`Enter`
Push to talk	`V`
Gesture wheel	`N`
Console	`F1`
Toggle HUD	`F5 (with console option)`
Building
Build menu (hammer equipped)Hold Mouse 2 for the upgrade and demolish wheel.	`B`
Rotate building piece	`R`

Show

Action	PlayStation	Xbox	Switch
Movement
Move / sprint	`L3 / L3 (press)`	`LS / LS (press)`	`L3 / L3 (press)`
Look	`R3`	`RS`	`R3`
Jump	`Cross`	`A`	`B`
Crouch	`Circle`	`B`	`A`
Combat
Fire / attack	`R2`	`RT`	`ZR`
Aim	`L2`	`LT`	`ZL`
Reload	`Square`	`X`	`Y`
Hotbar	`L1 / R1`	`LB / RB`	`L1 / R1`
Interface
Interact	`Square (hold)`	`X (hold)`	`Square (hold)`
Inventory	`Triangle`	`Y`	`X`
Crafting	`D-pad Up`	`D-pad Up`	`D-pad Up`
Map	`Touchpad`	`View`	`Touchpad`
Menu	`Options`	`Menu`	`+`
Building
Build menu	`D-pad Right`	`D-pad Right`	`D-pad Right`

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 Rust?

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 Sprint
Space Jump
Left Ctrl Crouch
Mouse 1 Fire / attack
Mouse 2 Aim
R Reload
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 Hotbar slots
Scroll Up / Scroll Down Cycle hotbar
Q (tap) … see note Holster / unequip
E Interact / pick up
Tab Inventory
Q Crafting
G Map
Enter Chat
V Push to talk
F Toggle flashlight / laser
B Build menu (hammer equipped)
R Rotate building piece
N Gesture wheel
F1 Console
F5 (with console option) Toggle HUD

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.

One line per question

How to do the things people search for in Rust

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

How to sprint in Rust on PC and controller?

To sprint in Rust, press Left Shift on PC, L3 / L3 (press) on PlayStation and LS / LS (press) on Xbox.

How to crouch in Rust on PC and controller?

To crouch in Rust, press Left Ctrl on PC, Circle on PlayStation and B on Xbox.

How to jump in Rust on PC and controller?

To jump in Rust, press Space on PC, Cross on PlayStation and A on Xbox.

How to reload in Rust on PC and controller?

To reload in Rust, press R on PC, Square on PlayStation and X on Xbox.

How to aim in Rust on PC and controller?

To aim in Rust, press Mouse 2 on PC, L2 on PlayStation and LT on Xbox.

How to switch weapons in Rust on PC?

To switch weapons in Rust, press Q (tap) … see note on PC. Q opens crafting; unequip by selecting the empty slot or pressing the active slot key again.

How to interact or pick things up in Rust on PC and controller?

To interact or pick things up in Rust, press E on PC, Square (hold) on PlayStation and X (hold) on Xbox. Hold E for the interaction menu on doors, boxes and vehicles.

How to open the inventory in Rust on PC and controller?

To open the inventory in Rust, press Tab on PC, Triangle on PlayStation and Y on Xbox.

How to emote in Rust on PC?

To emote in Rust, press N on PC.

Quick answers

How do I upgrade walls in Rust?

Equip the hammer, look at the piece and hold Mouse 2 for the wheel; pick wood, stone, metal or armoured. You need the materials in your inventory and building privilege from a tool cupboard.

How do I open the map?

Press G on PC. The map shows explored terrain, your sleeping bags and team members if you are in a team.

How do I craft?

Press Q for the crafting menu, or Tab and use the crafting tab. Blueprints you have learned show in colour; a workbench nearby speeds up higher-tier items.

How do I lock a door?

Hold E on the door with a lock in your inventory and choose the lock, then hold E again to set a code or key. Tool cupboard authorisation does not open locked doors.

Is Rust Console Edition the same controls?

No. Console Edition simplifies building and crafting to D-pad menus; the table above lists its standard layout, but check its own in-game guide for context prompts.

Where to go from here

Next steps for Rust

Sensitivity converterBring the cm/360 you already trust into RUST instead of guessing a number.eDPI calculatorWork out where your RUST sensitivity sits and what it becomes if you change DPI.Controller deadzone tunerFind the smallest deadzone that hides drift without swallowing slow aim in RUST.Stick drift testFive-second resting sample, so a wandering camera is not blamed on the game.Keyboard ghosting testCheck the combinations RUST holds down at once actually reach the game.