7 Days to Die Keyboard Controls & Shortcuts Guide
Here is a complete list of keybinds and shortcuts for the PC version of the voxel-based zombie survival classic, 7 Days to Die (7dtd). We break down everything you need to know, from basic movement and stealth to melee and ranged combat, block placement, radial menus, and navigating the crafting, map, and journal screens.
Posted at: 2026.9.15
Table Of Contents
Movement
Character movement in 7 Days to Die uses the standard WASD keys, just like most FPS titles. Basic actions like holding Left Shift to sprint and pressing Space to jump are standard in modern PC gaming, so you'll want to get the hang of them right away.
When it comes to game-specific controls, 7 Days to Die gives you two different stealth (crouch) options to help you avoid being spotted by zombies. Use "Hold C" for a quick hide, and the "Left Ctrl" toggle for longer periods of sneaking, scavenging, or building. Switching between these will help you manage stamina and reduce finger fatigue. This is a crucial part of survival, so be sure to master it alongside your WASD movement.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Move the character forward | W |
| Move the character to the left | A |
| Move the character backward | S |
| Move the character to the right | D |
| Jump over obstacles or terrain | Space |
| Hold while moving to sprint at the cost of stamina | Shift |
| Hold to crouch and enter stealth mode | C |
| Toggle crouch and stealth mode status | Ctrl |
Actions & Combat
Your core actions—like fighting zombies, building your base, and mining—are handled mostly with the mouse. You'll use Left Click for standard attacks and rotating blocks, and Right Click for heavy attacks, placing blocks, and aiming down sights. Try to build muscle memory for these two so you can use them without thinking.
You can quickly scroll through your toolbelt using the Mouse Wheel. The E key (Interact), which you'll use constantly while exploring, also opens a handy radial menu for things like operating lights and locking doors if you hold it down. It's incredibly useful, so get used to using it.
Also, the R key isn't just for reloading your firearms; it doubles as a "Take All" button when you're looting containers.
You'll also frequently use the F key to toggle your flashlight in the dark, and the G key to drop unwanted items. Mastering these will really speed up your gameplay while scavenging.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Perform basic attack, fire weapon, rotate block, or consume item | Left Click |
| Perform power attack, place block, repair/upgrade block, or aim down sights | Right Click |
| Cycle active toolbelt slot or adjust map/scope zoom | WHEEL |
| Interact with targeted object, or hold for radial menu | E |
| Reload weapon (hold for ammo menu) or take all items when looting | R |
| Switch flashlight or headlamp on or off | F |
| Drop currently selected item from toolbelt | G |
Menus & UI
The survival menus and UI screens have a layout that can be a little tricky to memorize at first, but since you'll be using them constantly, it's worth learning them one by one.
You'll frequently use the Tab key for the crafting screen (hold it to open the main UI radial menu), which is essential for base building and making gear. The B key opens the character screen to check your stats and armor, the M key pulls up the map to navigate the massive world, and the N key opens your skills menu for upgrades. Take your time to build muscle memory for all of these. A great place to start is remembering "M for Map"—get that down first, and learn the rest as you play.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open main game menu and pause single player game | ESC |
| Open Crafting Window, or hold for Main UI radial menu | Tab |
| Open or close the Character Window | B |
| Open or close the Map Window | M |
| Open or close the Skills Window | N |
| Open or close the Quests Window | O |
| Open or close the Journal Window | Y |
| Open or close the Players and Scoreboard Window | I |