Below is a list of the most commonly used controls in Space Station 13. Understand that the list is not exhaustive; this list only serves as a starting point for a new player to branch out from.
More advanced controls can be found in a dedicated Job page, Objects catalog, or one of the Guides.
Action
Key/Combo
Additional Info
Move
←↑↓→
You may also use WASD if Hotkey mode is enabled.
Pick up / interact with / use held item
on whatever is under the cursor
Ordinary left-click. It doesn't matter if Combat ModeEnable with 4, disable with 1 or toggle with F by default. Left-clicking people with an empty hand will Harm them if on, or Help them if off. Prevents you from switching places or being pushed when colliding with people. is on or not.
Click everything. You'd be surprised what items can interact with what.
Anything can be a valuable learning experience.
Examine object or person
⇧Shift + Ordinary left-click. It doesn't matter if Combat ModeEnable with 4, disable with 1 or toggle with F by default. Left-clicking people with an empty hand will Harm them if on, or Help them if off. Prevents you from switching places or being pushed when colliding with people. is on or not.
Examine stack of items
Ctrl + Ordinary right-click. It doesn't matter if Combat ModeEnable with 4, disable with 1 or toggle with F by default. Left-clicking people with an empty hand will Harm them if on, or Help them if off. Prevents you from switching places or being pushed when colliding with people. is on or not.
This allows you to find and/or interact with a single item in a stack
Open containers or
Interact with someone's clothing
Click-drag. from container or character to your character
(You may need an empty hand)
Pull Object
Ctrl + Ordinary left-click. It doesn't matter if Combat ModeEnable with 4, disable with 1 or toggle with F by default. Left-clicking people with an empty hand will Harm them if on, or Help them if off. Prevents you from switching places or being pushed when colliding with people. is on or not.
You can press H or to release. You can only pull one object at a time.
Point / Aim weapon
Ordinary middle-click. It doesn't matter if Combat ModeEnable with 4, disable with 1 or toggle with F by default. Left-clicking people with an empty hand will Harm them if on, or Help them if off. Prevents you from switching places or being pushed when colliding with people. is on or not.
Using Consoles / Object
Ordinary left-click. It doesn't matter if Combat ModeEnable with 4, disable with 1 or toggle with F by default. Left-clicking people with an empty hand will Harm them if on, or Help them if off. Prevents you from switching places or being pushed when colliding with people. is on or not. the Console or Object with an empty hand
You can also press _____ to use a console or object even if you have an object in hand.
Empty the contents out of a container
While the container is in your hand, Click-drag. to table or other surfaces
Hotkey Mode
You can press Tab↹ to enable Hotkey mode, allowing you to use the following hotkeys.
Note that these are the default hotkeys, and each hotkey can be customized by accessing Game Preferences -> Custom Keybindings. Each hotkey can have up to three keybindings.
CARBON
G = Give the item held in your active hand to any adjacent mobs
Ctrl + ⇧ Shift + Ordinary left-click. It doesn't matter if Combat ModeEnable with 4, disable with 1 or toggle with F by default. Left-clicking people with an empty hand will Harm them if on, or Help them if off. Prevents you from switching places or being pushed when colliding with people. is on or not. = Offer the item held in your active hand only to the clicked mob
Hold Space = Activate Throw while held down (you can catch thrown objects while Throw is active and your active hand is empty)
Z = Use/Activate whatever item you are holding in your active hand
Alt = Prevents you from moving (so you can face different directions)
1 = Disable Combat ModeEnable with 4, disable with 1 or toggle with F by default. Left-clicking people with an empty hand will Harm them if on, or Help them if off. Prevents you from switching places or being pushed when colliding with people.
Q = Drop Item
4 = Enable Combat ModeEnable with 4, disable with 1 or toggle with F by default. Left-clicking people with an empty hand will Harm them if on, or Help them if off. Prevents you from switching places or being pushed when colliding with people.
Hold C = Toggle to the other move intent (walk or run) while held down.
; = If you are adjacent to an open space, look down a z-level.
L = If you are adjacent to an open space, look up a z-level.
E = Quickly put the item in the best slot available
⇧Shift + B = Put your held item in your , or take out the most recent item put in
⇧Shift + E = Put your held item in your , or take out the most recent item put in
⇧Shift + Q = Put your held item in your suit storage slot (only visible if your worn outerwear can hold an item), or take out the most recent item put in
B = Resist, trying to get free from handcuffs or buckles, or stop-drop-rolling while on fire
U = Lay down, or get up from a lying position
H = Stop Pulling
X = Swap active hand
Numpad keys = Used for selecting a body part to target. The keys correspond to the location on the target doll:
7 -
8 -
9 -
4 -
5 -
6 -
1 -
2 -
3 -
F = Toggle Combat ModeEnable with 4, disable with 1 or toggle with F by default. Left-clicking people with an empty hand will Harm them if on, or Help them if off. Prevents you from switching places or being pushed when colliding with people. on or off.
MOVEMENT
WASD = Moves your character up, left, down, and right respectively
ROBOT
X = Cycle active modules
1 = Activate first module
2 = Activate second module
3 = Activate third module
Q = Unequip module
Other Helpful Controls
These are actions you can perform which require other methods than hotkeys.
<tabs plain>
<tab inline name="Helping Hands">
Turn offCombat ModeEnable with 4, disable with 1 or toggle with F by default. Left-clicking people with an empty hand will Harm them if on, or Help them if off. Prevents you from switching places or being pushed when colliding with people. and then left-click. an unconscious person = Perform CPR if both your and their faces are avaliable.
Ordinary right-click. It doesn't matter if Combat ModeEnable with 4, disable with 1 or toggle with F by default. Left-clicking people with an empty hand will Harm them if on, or Help them if off. Prevents you from switching places or being pushed when colliding with people. is on or not. your jumpsuit = Change suit sensor mode. Keeps these on max if you want to be recovered and revived after meeting an unfortunate end.
Hold CTRL and left-click a person with your hand empty. It doesn't matter if Combat ModeEnable with 4, disable with 1 or toggle with F by default. Left-clicking people with an empty hand will Harm them if on, or Help them if off. Prevents you from switching places or being pushed when colliding with people. is on or off. Repeat after a short delay to upgrade grab to aggressive (lvl 2), neck (lvl 3) and strangling (lvl 4). yourself while aiming for bleeding limb = Grasp your body part to slightly reduce blood loss. If your arm is bleeding, you must use the hand opposite of the wound.
Hold CTRL and left-click a person with your hand empty. It doesn't matter if Combat ModeEnable with 4, disable with 1 or toggle with F by default. Left-clicking people with an empty hand will Harm them if on, or Help them if off. Prevents you from switching places or being pushed when colliding with people. is on or off. Repeat after a short delay to upgrade grab to aggressive (lvl 2), neck (lvl 3) and strangling (lvl 4). a small animal and then Click-drag. the animal to yourself = Scoop up the animal. Doesn't work on all animals.
Hold CTRL and left-click a person with your hand empty. It doesn't matter if Combat ModeEnable with 4, disable with 1 or toggle with F by default. Left-clicking people with an empty hand will Harm them if on, or Help them if off. Prevents you from switching places or being pushed when colliding with people. is on or off. Repeat after a short delay to upgrade grab to aggressive (lvl 2), neck (lvl 3) and strangling (lvl 4). a person aggressively and then Click-drag. the person to yourself = Fireman carry them.
If someone has an aggressive Hold CTRL and left-click a person with your hand empty. It doesn't matter if Combat ModeEnable with 4, disable with 1 or toggle with F by default. Left-clicking people with an empty hand will Harm them if on, or Help them if off. Prevents you from switching places or being pushed when colliding with people. is on or off. Repeat after a short delay to upgrade grab to aggressive (lvl 2), neck (lvl 3) and strangling (lvl 4). on you, you can Click-drag. yourself onto them = Piggyback ride them.
</tab>
<tab inline name="Dastardly Shenanigans">
Turn onCombat ModeEnable with 4, disable with 1 or toggle with F by default. Left-clicking people with an empty hand will Harm them if on, or Help them if off. Prevents you from switching places or being pushed when colliding with people. and then right-click. a Cyborg or medibot = Tip or untip it.
Ordinary right-click. It doesn't matter if Combat ModeEnable with 4, disable with 1 or toggle with F by default. Left-clicking people with an empty hand will Harm them if on, or Help them if off. Prevents you from switching places or being pushed when colliding with people. is on or not. a target while holding a container with liquid = Splash the target with the liquid.
Click-drag. a person to yourself, while you are prone = Untie their shoelaces, jerk.
If you are fireman-carrying someone, you can Turn onCombat ModeEnable with 4, disable with 1 or toggle with F by default. Left-clicking people with an empty hand will Harm them if on, or Help them if off. Prevents you from switching places or being pushed when colliding with people. and then left-click. a table to place them on said table with excessive violence appropriate force.
Ordinary left-click. It doesn't matter if Combat Mode 
Enable with 4, disable with 1 or toggle with F by default. Left-clicking people with an empty hand will Harm 
them if on, or Help 
them if off. Prevents you from switching places or being pushed when colliding with people. is on or not.
Ordinary right-click. It doesn't matter if Combat Mode 
Click-drag. from container or character to your character
to release. You can only pull one object at a time.
Ordinary middle-click. It doesn't matter if Combat Mode 
Ordinary left-click. It doesn't matter if Combat Mode 
them if on, or Help 
them if off. Prevents you from switching places or being pushed when colliding with people. is on or not.
, or take out the most recent item put in
, or take out the most recent item put in
target doll:
Turn off Combat Mode 
Ordinary right-click. It doesn't matter if Combat Mode 
Hold CTRL and left-click a person with your hand empty. It doesn't matter if Combat Mode 
Click-drag. the animal to yourself
Turn on Combat Mode 
Turn on Combat Mode 
