Cyberpunk 2077 Keyboard Controls May 2026

In the neon-drenched, morally ambiguous world of Cyberpunk 2077, split-second decisions mean the difference between becoming a Night City legend or another crumpled body in a dumpster. While controller support is robust, the definitive way to experience CD Projekt Red’s magnum opus is with a keyboard and mouse. The precision aiming, the sheer volume of hotkeys, and the customizable nature of PC gaming allow for a fluidity that gamepads simply cannot match.

However, stepping into V’s shoes for the first time can feel like trying to pilot a Militech Basilisk. With mechanics ranging from quickhacking to power sliding, grenade tossing to photo mode, the default Cyberpunk 2077 keyboard controls have a steep learning curve.

This guide will break down every default keybind, offer expert tweaks to optimize your gameplay, and explain how to remap the chaos into muscle memory.


Cyberpunk 2077 (CD Projekt Red, 2020) is a sprawling single-player RPG with first- and third-person combat, driving, hacking (“Quickhacks”), inventory management, and extensive dialogue systems. While controller layouts are often prioritized in AAA game design, keyboard-and-mouse remains a favored input method for many PC players. Keyboard controls in Cyberpunk 2077 must map a large action set onto limited physical keys while supporting rapid context switching and customizable layouts.

Cyberpunk 2077 is unique because your keyboard is also your hacking deck. The Scanning mode turns your mouse cursor into a targeting reticle for digital warfare.

| Action | Default Key | Strategy | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Enter Scan Mode | Tab (Hold) | Highlights enemies, traps, and lootable data ports. | | Quickhack Upload | Press 3, 4, or 5 | Assigns hacks to number keys. "3" = Ping, "4" = Short Circuit. | | Cycle Hacks | Z / C (Scan mode only) | Scrolls through available daemons. | | Select Hack Target | LMB (Scan mode only) | Confirms the target before uploading. | cyberpunk 2077 keyboard controls

Pain Point: Holding Tab while aiming with the mouse can cramp your hand. Remap recommendation: Change "Toggle Scan" to a single press rather than hold in the Gameplay settings.


Mastering the Cyberpunk 2077 keyboard controls is a rite of passage. The default layout will get you through the prologue, but customization will turn you into a ghost in the machine. Remember the three golden rules of PC Cyberpunk:

Take thirty minutes in Watson during Act 1 to tweak your sensitivity and practice slide-jumping over walls. Once the keybinds become muscle memory, you will stop thinking about your hands and start thinking like V—hacking, shooting, and driving through the glittering hellscape of Night City with lethal efficiency.

Now get out there, choom. Your keyboard is your weapon. Don’t let the corpos slow you down.


Did we miss a keybind? Check the full list in-game via Options > Key Bindings. Patch 2.1 introduced new keys for metro riding and romance hangouts, so always check for updates. In the neon-drenched, morally ambiguous world of Cyberpunk

Cyberpunk 2077 , the default keyboard controls follow the standard WASD layout for exploration and combat. You can view or change these at any time by navigating to Settings > Key Bindings Movement & Exploration W / A / S / D : Move Forward / Left / Back / Right Left Shift : Sprint (Hold) / Right Shift : Sprint (Toggle) : Crouch (Hold) / : Crouch (Toggle) : Interaction (Open doors, talk, pick up items) : Call Vehicle : Use Consumable (Health) Combat & Weapons Left-Click : Shoot / Quick Attack (Melee) Right-Click : Aim / Block (Melee) : Reload / Restart Braindance : Quick Attack / Rewind Braindance

: Use Cyberware Systems / Combat Gadgets / Fast-Forward Braindance Middle Mouse Button : Use Combat Gadget / Tag Enemy : Cycle Weapon / Draw/Holster (Double Tap) : Select First / Second / Third Weapon : Scan (Hold) / Tag Enemy UI & Menus : Inventory : Crafting : Journal (Quests) : Menu button (for some interfaces) : Accelerate / Brake : Steer Left / Right : Handbrake : Cycle Radio : Exit Vehicle

The primary keyboard controls for Cyberpunk 2077 follow standard first-person RPG layouts for movement and combat, with unique keys for futuristic features like scanning and quickhacking. Movement & Basic Interaction W / A / S / D : Move Forward, Left, Backward, and Right. L-Shift (Toggle) / R-Shift (Hold) C (Toggle) / L-Ctrl (Hold) : Interact and Exit Vehicle. : Call Vehicle. Combat & Weaponry LMB (Left Mouse Button) RMB (Right Mouse Button) : Quick Attack / Melee. : Cycle Weapons. : Select First, Second, or Third Weapon. : Fists/Melee. : Draw or Withdraw Weapon. Cyberware & Interface Tab (Hold) Caps Lock (Toggle) : Use Cyberware Systems (e.g., Sandevistan). Middle Mouse Button : Use Combat Gadget (Grenades). : Use Consumable (Health Injector). : Open Phone. : Quickhack Details or Open Notifications. : Open Photo Mode. Vehicle Controls : Accelerate and Brake/Reverse. : Steer Left and Right. : Handbrake. : Cycle Camera View. : Cycle Lights. : Open Radio. You can fully customize these keys in the game's Settings > Key Bindings

menu. If you encounter crashes when trying to change bindings, renaming the CChromaEditorLibrary64.dll file in the main game folder is a known community fix. for more fluid combat? Controls | Cyberpunk 2077 Wiki

Table_title: Cyberpunk 2077 Controls Table_content: header: | Action | Mouse & Keyboard | row: | Action: Pause Braindance (Toggle) FextraLife How to Change Controls CyberPunk 2077 Quick Guide Cyberpunk 2077 (CD Projekt Red, 2020) is a

Here’s a long, detailed review of the keyboard and mouse controls for Cyberpunk 2077, written as if by an experienced PC player.


Cyberpunk 2077 is a game of intricate systems—from hacking enemy neural networks to driving through the winding streets of Watson at breakneck speeds. While the game supports controllers, the Keyboard & Mouse (KBM) setup offers superior precision for aiming and quicker navigation through menus and hacking minigames.

Below is a detailed breakdown of the default keyboard controls, categorized by gameplay mechanics, along with tips on how to optimize your setup for the streets.


1. No Contextual Hold vs. Toggle for Crouch/Sprint
You can choose toggle or hold, but some actions (like aiming down sights while sliding) feel inconsistent. Sometimes you’ll un-crouch when you don’t mean to. It’s minor but noticeable over long sessions.

2. Mini-Game Controls
Breach protocol and the new Phantom Liberty car unlocking mini-game are fine with a mouse, but they clearly expect a controller’s stick movement. Dragging the mouse for timed hex codes feels imprecise. It works, but it’s not elegant.

3. Key Prompts in UI
Even in version 2.0, the UI will occasionally show controller buttons (Press A) instead of keyboard keys (Press Space). Swapping weapons in the inventory while using KBM can also feel like it was designed for a D-pad. Not game-breaking, but immersion-breaking.

  • Right-click in inventory = Mark as junk (instead of drag to junk tab).