Sons of the Forest Keyboard Controls & Shortcuts Guide
Master the PC keyboard and mouse controls for *Sons of the Forest* to survive its remote cannibal-infested island. This guide breaks down essential keybinds—from movement and combat to inventory management, GPS tracking, and structural building.
Posted at: 2026.9.11
Movement and Actions
Movement follows the PC standard WASD layout. If you've played any first-person PC title, you'll feel right at home holding Left Shift to sprint, Spacebar to jump, and Left Ctrl to crouch and sneak.
Combat and exploration rely on the classic pairing: keep your left hand on WASD while using your mouse to attack or use tools (Left Click), block or aim (Right Click), and look around.
You will also use the "E key" constantly to pick up loot or save at shelters, alongside the "G key" to drop held items and logs. Because both sit right next to WASD, getting comfortable with them early will make resource gathering much smoother.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Move character forward | W |
| Move character backward | S |
| Move character to the left | A |
| Move character to the right | D |
| Sprint while holding down | Left Shift |
| Lower stance for stealth and navigation | Left Ctrl |
| Jump over obstacles | Space |
| Attack with weapon, use tool, or primary interaction | Left Click |
| Block incoming attacks or aim weapon | Right Click |
| Perform auxiliary action | Middle Click |
| Pick up items, make selections, or save game at shelter | E |
| Drop the currently held item or log | G |
Survival and Equipment
One of Sons of the Forest's signature features is the roll-out inventory mat, accessed via the "I key". Everyday survival gear like the Lighter ("L key") and GPS Tracker ("M key") can be pulled out instantly with single keystrokes. Because these keys sit on the right half of the board, it's usually fastest to tap them with your right hand off the mouse.
Other vital survival hotkeys include the Walkie-Talkie ("T key") for voice chat in multiplayer, Ammo Reload ("R key"), and Rest/Sleep ("Z key") to recover stamina and pass time at camp.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Lay out inventory mat to view and craft items | I |
| Equip and ignite lighter | L |
| Equip GPS tracker device to view map and markers | M |
| Use walkie-talkie for voice communication in multiplayer | T |
| Reload ammunition for ranged weapons | R |
| Sleep in a shelter to rest and pass time | Z |
| Cycle categories in the quick grab bag | Q |
Building and Crafting Controls
The building system offers two distinct approaches: freeform construction (cutting and placing logs by hand) and blueprint construction (snapping components into ghost outlines).
Press the "C key" to place materials, and hit the "X key" to cancel a ghost guide if you change your mind. Keep in mind that C and X sit side-by-side, so take care not to hit the wrong key during intricate builds.
You can also rotate building parts and ghost structures using the "Q key (Rotate Left)" and "R key (Rotate Right)"—a familiar rotation setup in many crafting titles.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Place building elements or hold to dismantle existing structures | C |
| Cancel placement ghost or blueprint | X |
| Rotate building element clockwise | R |
| Rotate building element counter-clockwise | Q |
Survival Guide and UI Menus
Press the "B key" to open your Survival Guidebook, which holds all of your recipes and structure blueprints.
With the book open, tap the "X key" to switch between freeform and structure mode, and use Left/Right Click to flip through the pages.
A handy quality-of-life shortcut is the "S key," which skips the intro animation and cutscenes. Since your left hand naturally rests on WASD, you can skip straight into gameplay without shifting your grip.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open survival guide book for blueprints and instructions | B |
| Switch guide book between freeform and structure mode | X |
| Turn to the next page in the guide book | Right Click |
| Turn to the previous page in the guide book | Left Click |
| Navigate back in UI menus | ← |
| Go back or exit current UI screen | Backspace |
| Skip cutscene or intro sequence | S |