Valheim Keyboard Controls: What You Need to Know
Valheim keyboard controls cover movement, combat, building, sailing, crafting, and map navigation across a fully rebindable PC input system. Developed by Iron Gate Studio, Valheim launched on Steam Early Access in February 2021 and has since grown into one of the most successful survival crafting games on PC. The game reached 10 million copies sold by 2024, and the Ashlands update in May 2024 brought a new wave of players to the Norse purgatory.
Valheim supports keyboard and mouse with full keybind remapping on PC, and Xbox controllers with official full support. PlayStation controllers work through Steam Input but the in-game button prompts continue to display Xbox glyphs regardless of which pad you use. Controller keybinds cannot be changed through the in-game settings menu; all controller remapping happens through Steam’s controller layout editor before launching the game.
Stat: Valheim was developed by a team of just five people at Iron Gate Studio. It sold over 500,000 copies in its first 10 days on Steam Early Access in February 2021, making it one of the fastest-selling survival games in Steam history at the time of release.
Valheim PC Keybinds: Default Keyboard and Mouse
The Valheim PC keybinds below cover all default actions across movement, combat, building, inventory, and map controls. All of these bindings are changeable through Main Menu > Settings > Controls.
Valheim Movement Keybinds
| Action | Default Key |
|---|---|
| Move Forward | W |
| Move Backward | S |
| Strafe Left | A |
| Strafe Right | D |
| Jump | Space |
| Run | Left Shift |
| Toggle Walk | C |
| Crouch | Left Ctrl |
| Auto-Run | Q |
| Sit | X |
Valheim Combat Hotkeys
| Action | Default Key |
|---|---|
| Primary Attack | Left Mouse Button |
| Secondary Attack | Middle Mouse Button |
| Block | Right Mouse Button |
| Use / Interact | E |
| Hide / Show Weapon | R |
| Forsaken Power | F |
| Toggle Auto-Pickup | V |
Pro Tip: In Valheim, holding Left Shift while attacking charges a power attack on most melee weapons. The secondary attack mapped to Middle Mouse Button behaves differently depending on the weapon type: axes perform a horizontal swing, spears throw, and two-handed weapons slam. Knowing which secondary attack your current weapon fires prevents costly misplays in tight combat.
Valheim Building and Crafting Hotkeys
The Valheim building controls keyboard layout splits across two contexts: when you hold the Build Hammer, and when you are in active build mode placing a piece.
| Action | Default Key |
|---|---|
| Open Build Menu | Right Mouse Button (with Hammer equipped) |
| Place Piece / Attack | Left Mouse Button |
| Deconstruct Piece | Middle Mouse Button |
| Rotate Piece Left | Q |
| Rotate Piece Right | E |
| Cycle Previous Snap Point | Q (in placement mode) |
| Cycle Next Snap Point | E (in placement mode) |
| Alternative Placement (manual rotation) | Left Shift |
Valheim Map and UI Hotkeys
| Action | Default Key |
|---|---|
| Open Inventory | Tab |
| Open Map | M |
| Zoom Map In | Period (.) |
| Zoom Map Out | Comma (,) |
| Hotbar Slot 1 through 8 | 1 through 8 |
Pro Tip: The Valheim hotbar keys 1 through 8 are hardcoded and cannot be remapped through the in-game settings menu. Players who want to move hotbar inputs to different keys need either a mod (such as Equipment and Quick Slots on Nexus Mods) or a system-level keyboard remapping tool. This is one of the most frequently requested missing features in the Valheim community.
Valheim Building Controls: Full Keyboard Reference
Building in Valheim uses a separate control context that activates the moment you equip the Hammer. Understanding these Valheim keyboard controls for building specifically saves significant time when constructing longhouses, fortresses, or portals.
| Action | Default Key | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Open Build Menu | Right Mouse Button | Hammer equipped |
| Browse Previous Category Tab | Q | Build menu open |
| Browse Next Category Tab | E | Build menu open |
| Place Piece | Left Mouse Button | In placement mode |
| Rotate Piece | Q / E | In placement mode |
| Snap to Specific Point | Q / E (cycle) | In placement mode |
| Free Placement (no snap) | Left Shift (hold) | In placement mode |
| Deconstruct Piece | Middle Mouse Button | Hammer equipped, aiming at piece |
Valheim Controller Keybinds: Xbox Classic Layout
Valheim has official full Xbox controller support. The Classic layout below is the default controller scheme and the one the in-game button prompts reference.
| Action | Xbox Classic Button |
|---|---|
| Move | Left Analog Stick |
| Look | Right Analog Stick |
| Attack / Place Piece | Right Trigger |
| Block / Rotate Piece | Left Trigger |
| Secondary Attack / Deconstruct | Right Bumper |
| Run / Alternative Placement | Left Bumper |
| Use / Open Build Menu | A |
| Dodge / Jump | B |
| Sit | X |
| Open Inventory | Y |
| Forsaken Power | D-Pad Down |
| Use Hotbar Item / Zoom View In | D-Pad Up |
| Cycle Hotbar / Zoom Map In | D-Pad Left / Right |
| Toggle Auto-Pickup / Crouch | Left Stick Click |
| Hide / Show Weapon / Next Snap Point | Right Stick Click |
| Open Map / Chat | View Button |
| Toggle HUD / Menu | Menu Button |
Valheim Controller Keybinds: Xbox Console Layout 1
Valheim ships with a separate Console Layout 1 for Xbox that redistributes attack, block, and secondary attack across bumpers and triggers rather than triggers and bumpers.
| Action | Xbox Console Layout 1 |
|---|---|
| Move | Left Analog Stick |
| Look | Right Analog Stick |
| Attack / Place Piece | Right Bumper |
| Block / Deconstruct | Left Bumper |
| Rotate (Build) / Secondary Attack | Right Trigger |
| Rotate (Build) / Hide/Show Weapon | Left Trigger |
| Use / Open Build Menu | X |
| Dodge / Build Menu | B |
| Jump | A |
| Open Inventory | Y |
| Forsaken Power | Left Stick + Right Stick |
| Use Hotbar Item | D-Pad Up |
| Forsaken Power | D-Pad Down |
| Cycle Hotbar / Zoom Map | D-Pad Left / Right |
| Run / Toggle Auto-Pickup | Left Stick Click |
| Crouch / Next Snap Point | Right Stick Click |
| Open Map / Chat | View Button |
| Toggle HUD / Menu | Menu Button |
Valheim Controller Keybinds: PlayStation Classic Layout
PlayStation controllers work in Valheim through Steam Input on PC. The in-game prompts still show Xbox glyphs by default, so use this reference alongside whatever on-screen icons your setup displays.
| Action | PS Classic Button |
|---|---|
| Move | Left Analog Stick |
| Look | Right Analog Stick |
| Attack / Place Piece | R2 |
| Block / Rotate Piece | L2 |
| Secondary Attack / Deconstruct | R1 |
| Run / Alternative Placement | L1 |
| Use / Open Build Menu | Cross |
| Dodge / Jump | Circle |
| Sit | Square |
| Open Inventory | Triangle |
| Forsaken Power | D-Pad Down |
| Use Hotbar Item / Zoom View In | D-Pad Up |
| Cycle Hotbar / Zoom Map In | D-Pad Left / Right |
| Toggle Auto-Pickup / Crouch | Left Stick Click |
| Hide / Show Weapon / Next Snap Point | Right Stick Click |
| Open Map / Chat | Share Button |
| Toggle HUD / Menu | Options Button |
Valheim Platform Controls: Quick Comparison
| Platform | Input Support | Rebind Options |
|---|---|---|
| PC (Steam) | Keyboard and Mouse | Full per-key remapping in Settings > Controls |
| PC (Steam) | Xbox controller | Four preset layouts; no in-game per-button remapping |
| PC (Steam) | PlayStation controller | Works via Steam Input; Xbox button prompts show |
| Xbox (Console) | Xbox controller | Two console preset layouts |
How to Rebind Valheim Keyboard Controls
Valheim keybind remapping on PC lives under Main Menu > Settings > Controls. Click any action, press the new key, and the game saves the change immediately. You can also access the Controls tab from the pause menu mid-session.
The one exception to full rebinding is the hotbar. Slots 1 through 8 are locked to the number row and cannot be reassigned inside the game. Players who need custom hotbar positions should look into the Equipment and Quick Slots mod from Nexus Mods, which is among the most downloaded Valheim mods and adds dedicated equipment slots alongside a customizable quick slot row.
Controller keybind changes require Steam’s controller layout editor. Open Steam, right-click Valheim in your library, go to Manage > Controller Configuration, and apply a custom layout before launching. Changes made through this panel override the in-game preset.
Stat: Valheim’s Nexus Mods page had over 5,000 available mods as of 2024, with Equipment and Quick Slots consistently ranking among the top five most downloaded. The popularity of that specific mod reflects how common hotbar remapping frustration is among keyboard players.
Valheim Combat Controls: Key Things to Know
Valheim combat on keyboard centers on three inputs that new players frequently misuse: Left Mouse Button for primary attack, Right Mouse Button for block, and Middle Mouse Button for secondary attack. The block timing in Valheim is not a passive hold: holding Right Mouse Button raises your shield or weapon in a parry stance, and timing a parry just before an enemy hit lands staggers the attacker and opens a guaranteed counter.
The dodge roll in Valheim ties to the movement direction rather than a separate dodge key. Press Space while moving and holding the Crouch key (Left Ctrl) simultaneously to perform a directional roll. This input combination trips up new players who expect a dedicated dodge button.
Pro Tip: Valheim does not have a dedicated dodge key. To dodge roll, hold Left Ctrl (Crouch) and press Space while moving in any direction. The roll distance and stamina cost change with your current equipment load, so heavier armor sets reduce effective dodge range significantly.
FAQ
What are the default Valheim keyboard controls for movement?
The default Valheim movement keybinds are W (forward), S (backward), A (left), D (right), Space (jump), Left Shift (run), C (toggle walk), Left Ctrl (crouch), Q (auto-run), and X (sit).
How do I dodge in Valheim on keyboard?
Valheim does not use a dedicated dodge key. To perform a dodge roll on keyboard, hold Left Ctrl (crouch) and press Space while moving in any direction. Your movement direction at the moment of pressing Space determines the roll direction.
What is the Valheim building control key?
With the Hammer equipped, press Right Mouse Button to open the build menu. In placement mode, Left Mouse Button places a piece, Middle Mouse Button deconstructs an existing piece, Q and E rotate the piece or cycle snap points, and Left Shift enables free placement without automatic snapping.
Can I rebind Valheim keybinds?
Yes. All Valheim keyboard and mouse bindings are fully remappable through Main Menu > Settings > Controls. The one exception is the hotbar (slots 1 to 8), which cannot be reassigned in the base game without a mod. Controller bindings cannot be changed from the in-game menu and require Steam’s controller layout editor.
Does Valheim support PlayStation controllers?
Valheim supports PlayStation controllers through Steam Input on PC. The game does not have dedicated PlayStation button prompts and displays Xbox glyphs regardless of which controller you connect. The PlayStation Classic and Console layouts are available through Steam’s controller configuration and mirror the functional Xbox layouts with DualSense button names.
What key activates the Forsaken Power in Valheim?
The default Valheim Forsaken Power hotkey is F on keyboard. On Xbox controller, the Classic Layout maps it to D-Pad Down. On PlayStation controller, D-Pad Down covers the same function. Forsaken Powers are the unique abilities granted by each of the game’s main bosses.
What is the Valheim auto-run key?
The default Valheim auto-run key is Q. Pressing Q while moving forward engages auto-run, letting your character continue moving without holding W. Note that in build mode, Q cycles through snap points and build categories rather than triggering auto-run.