WARDOGS Keybinds & Controls: Every Default Key
Change WARDOGS keybinds under Settings, then Controls. Movement is standard WASD, and these are the keys worth learning on day one: Z switches sight, Left Shift holds breath while aiming, Q / E lean, K is proximity voice and J is squad voice, and V fires countermeasures in a vehicle. Every default below is for a QWERTY keyboard on PC.
How to change keybinds in WARDOGS
Open Settings, then Controls. The binds are split into infantry, vehicle, helicopter, building and communication tabs, so the same key can do different things on foot and in a seat without clashing. Click an action and press the key you want. Keyboard layout matters: the defaults assume QWERTY, so on an AZERTY or QWERTZ keyboard check the movement and lean keys before your first match.
Movement controls
| Action | Default key |
|---|---|
| Move forward / back / strafe | W / S / A / D |
| Sprint | Left Shift |
| Walk slowly | Alt |
| Jump | Space |
| Crouch | C |
| Prone | Ctrl |
| Lean left / right | Q / E |
| Open parachute | Space |
| Cut parachute | C |
Shooting and aiming controls
| Action | Default key |
|---|---|
| Fire | Left mouse |
| Aim down sights | Right mouse |
| Hold breath | Left Shift while aiming |
| Change scope zoom | Mousewheel while aiming |
| Switch sight | Z |
| Adjust range (elevation) | Page Up / Page Down |
| Reload | R |
| Fire mode | B |
| Deploy bipod | G |
| Rifle butt strike | V |
Left Shift does two jobs: it sprints when you are moving and holds breath when you aim. Holding breath only steadies the first few shots before you run out, so tap it for the shot that matters. Scope zoom and switch sight are separate on purpose. The scope zoom guide covers which optics can zoom at all, and how to fix the bug where scrolling swaps weapons. For recoil, a bipod on G plus prone on Ctrl is the steadiest LMG setup, covered in the recoil guide.
Inventory and interaction controls
| Action | Default key |
|---|---|
| Interact | F |
| Quick slots | 1 to 9, then 0 |
| Next / previous slot | Mousewheel down / up |
| Put away held item | X |
| Inventory | Tab |
| Offer your medic a tip (while downed) | F1 |
| Give up and respawn (while downed) | F |
Outside of aiming, the mousewheel steps through your quick slots. That is why a broken scope-zoom bind looks like weapon swapping. If you are downed, F1 offers a tip to whoever revives you.
Vehicles controls
| Action | Default key |
|---|---|
| Enter vehicle | F |
| Accelerate / brake / steer | W / S / A / D |
| Handbrake | Space |
| Next / previous seat | 0 / 9 |
| Lock / unlock vehicle | L |
| Countermeasures | V |
| Free look | Alt |
| Horn | H |
Seat switching on 0 and 9 is the fastest way to jump from driver to gunner when the gunner dies. Lock your vehicle with L before you leave it near the front. Alt free look lets you watch a flank without turning the vehicle.
Helicopter controls
| Action | Default key |
|---|---|
| Collective up (climb) | Left Shift |
| Collective down (descend) | Ctrl |
| Pitch nose down / up | W / S |
| Roll left / right | A / D |
| Yaw left / right | Q / E |
| Release flares | V |
| Free look | Alt |
These are the keyboard flight defaults. Most experienced pilots switch on rotary vehicle mouse control so the mouse steers the nose like a rifle, keep the collective on W and S, and move yaw to a key they can hold while rolling. The helicopter guide walks through that setup and landings, and Silk's settings show a full rifle-aim bind layout.
Voice, map and pings controls
| Action | Default key |
|---|---|
| Squad voice | J |
| Proximity voice | K |
| Tactical map | M |
| Recenter map | X |
| Minimap zoom in / out | [ / ] |
| Ping | Middle mouse |
| Ping wheel | Hold middle mouse |
| Text chat | Enter |
| Menu | Esc |
Proximity voice on K reaches anyone nearby, enemies included. Squad voice on J only reaches your squad. Use squad voice for callouts so the enemy at the next wall does not hear them.
Building controls
Building has its own tab in Controls. Dismantle sits on V by default, the same key as the rifle butt strike and vehicle countermeasures. They apply in different situations, but if you build a lot, move dismantle to a key you will not hit by accident in the middle of a fight. The FOB guide covers what to build and in what order.
Best keybinds to change
| Change | Why |
|---|---|
| Sprint to Caps Lock | Easier to hold on long walks than Shift, and it separates sprint from hold breath. |
| Proximity and squad voice to a mouse side button | You can talk without taking a finger off WASD. |
| Keep minimap zoom off the mousewheel | Binding a mousewheel action is what triggers the scope zoom bug. |
| Dismantle off V | Stops you tearing down your own walls by accident. |
| Helicopter yaw onto a key you can hold while rolling | Lets you circle a target with rifle-aim flight. |
Ping already sits on the middle mouse button by default, so leave it there. For sensitivity, FOV and graphics, the best settings guide picks up where this page stops. Playing on a pad? The controller settings guide covers connecting a pad and tuning dead zones.
Facts change with each patch. This page was last updated 12 Oct 2026 (Early Access).