| Action | Default Key | Strategy | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | 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. |
| Action | Default Key | Utility | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Esc | Saves, settings, and quit. | | Character / Cyberware | I (Inventory) | Stats, armor, and perks. | | Map | M | The most important key. Fast travel points are here. | | Journal / Quests | J | Tracks main jobs and gigs. | | Crafting / Backpack | K | Upgrade weapon components and ammo. | | Phone (Holocall) | T | Answer calls from fixers. Hold to decline. | | Skip Dialog | C | Use judiciously; you might skip choices. |
Motorcycles are actually superior for keyboard driving because their turning radius is tighter. When riding a bike, use A and D aggressively and tap S to whip the tail out. The Menus & Cyberware: Managing Your HUD You will spend almost as much time in menus as you do on the streets. Inventory management is key to staying alive. cyberpunk 2077 keyboard controls
| Action | Default Key | Pro Tip | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | W / S | Standard FPS layout. Use "W" for momentum. | | Strafe Left/Right | A / D | Critical for dodging enemy smart weapons. | | Run (Toggle/Hold) | Left Shift | Toggle by default. Double-tap Shift to dodge laterally. | | Crouch (Toggle) | C | Switches to stealth mode. Hold C to slide. | | Crouch (Hold) | Left Ctrl | Useful for momentary cover. | | Jump / Vault | Spacebar | Contextual—vaults over waist-high obstacles. | | Shoot / Attack | Left Mouse Button (LMB) | Obvious, but feel the weight of each gun. | | Aim / Scan | Right Mouse Button (RMB) | Hold to aim down sights; RMB also activates Scanning mode. | | Reload / Equip Holstered | R | Double-tap R to holster your weapon for non-combat running. | | Melee Attack | Q | Uses your equipped melee weapon or gun bash. | | Grenade | Middle Mouse (Click wheel) | Be careful—no friendly fire protection here. | | Use / Interact | F | The "Talk to NPC" or "Loot body" button. | | Open Weapon Wheel | Alt | Slows down time to select weapons/consumables. |
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. | Action | Default Key | Strategy |
| Action | Default Key | Performance Tip | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | W | In cars, use feather-tapping. Holding W causes wheelspin. | | Brake / Reverse | S | Tap S to drift. Hold S to reverse. | | Steer Left/Right | A / D | Light taps; do not hold for long turns. | | Handbrake | Spacebar | The drift button. Tap Space + A/D to slide corners. | | Look Back | R (Hold? Check binding) | Useful for police chases, rarely used. | | Switch Camera (First/Third Person) | Q | First-person driving has terrible FOV; use third-person for combat. | | Radio On/Off | R | Tunes into Body Heat Radio. | | Summon Personal Vehicle | V | Long press V to bring a different car from your garage. |
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. Before you augment your liver or install Mantis Blades, you need to walk. Here is the foundational skeleton of Cyberpunk 2077 on PC. | | Cycle Hacks | Z / C
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 have a steep learning curve.
| Action | Default Key | Strategy | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | 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. |
| Action | Default Key | Utility | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Esc | Saves, settings, and quit. | | Character / Cyberware | I (Inventory) | Stats, armor, and perks. | | Map | M | The most important key. Fast travel points are here. | | Journal / Quests | J | Tracks main jobs and gigs. | | Crafting / Backpack | K | Upgrade weapon components and ammo. | | Phone (Holocall) | T | Answer calls from fixers. Hold to decline. | | Skip Dialog | C | Use judiciously; you might skip choices. |
Motorcycles are actually superior for keyboard driving because their turning radius is tighter. When riding a bike, use A and D aggressively and tap S to whip the tail out. The Menus & Cyberware: Managing Your HUD You will spend almost as much time in menus as you do on the streets. Inventory management is key to staying alive.
| Action | Default Key | Pro Tip | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | W / S | Standard FPS layout. Use "W" for momentum. | | Strafe Left/Right | A / D | Critical for dodging enemy smart weapons. | | Run (Toggle/Hold) | Left Shift | Toggle by default. Double-tap Shift to dodge laterally. | | Crouch (Toggle) | C | Switches to stealth mode. Hold C to slide. | | Crouch (Hold) | Left Ctrl | Useful for momentary cover. | | Jump / Vault | Spacebar | Contextual—vaults over waist-high obstacles. | | Shoot / Attack | Left Mouse Button (LMB) | Obvious, but feel the weight of each gun. | | Aim / Scan | Right Mouse Button (RMB) | Hold to aim down sights; RMB also activates Scanning mode. | | Reload / Equip Holstered | R | Double-tap R to holster your weapon for non-combat running. | | Melee Attack | Q | Uses your equipped melee weapon or gun bash. | | Grenade | Middle Mouse (Click wheel) | Be careful—no friendly fire protection here. | | Use / Interact | F | The "Talk to NPC" or "Loot body" button. | | Open Weapon Wheel | Alt | Slows down time to select weapons/consumables. |
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.
| Action | Default Key | Performance Tip | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | W | In cars, use feather-tapping. Holding W causes wheelspin. | | Brake / Reverse | S | Tap S to drift. Hold S to reverse. | | Steer Left/Right | A / D | Light taps; do not hold for long turns. | | Handbrake | Spacebar | The drift button. Tap Space + A/D to slide corners. | | Look Back | R (Hold? Check binding) | Useful for police chases, rarely used. | | Switch Camera (First/Third Person) | Q | First-person driving has terrible FOV; use third-person for combat. | | Radio On/Off | R | Tunes into Body Heat Radio. | | Summon Personal Vehicle | V | Long press V to bring a different car from your garage. |
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. Before you augment your liver or install Mantis Blades, you need to walk. Here is the foundational skeleton of Cyberpunk 2077 on PC.
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 have a steep learning curve.