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Windows · 36 default keybinds

Age of Empires: Definitive Edition Keyboard Controls

Strategy games → Part of the Age of Empires collection →

A reference to the default PC hotkeys for Age of Empires: Definitive Edition, the 2018 remaster of the original 1997 RTS. Covers idle-unit selection, building cycling, the classic B-menu construction keys and unit stances, so you can run your economy and army without hunting through the command panel.

Age of Empires: Definitive Edition official site ↗ View on Steam ↗
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Age of Empires: Definitive Edition controls poster

A generative poster unique to Age of Empires: Definitive Edition — styled by its genre and signature colour. Pure design, zero spoilers. Free to download for your battlestation.

SELECTION08Go to Next Idle Villager.Select All Idle VillagersCtrlShift.Go to Next Idle Military Unit,Select All Idle Military UnitsCtrlShift,Go to Previous Idle VillagerShift.Cycle Selection ForwardTabGo to Previous Idle Military UnitShift,Cycle Selection BackwardCtrlTabCONSTRUCTION08Open Build Menu (Villager)BBuild HouseB›EBuild FarmB›FBuild GranaryB›GBuild Storage PitB›SBuild BarracksB›BBuild DockB›DBuild Town CenterB›NGAME CONTROL02Pause GameF3Save GameF12BUILDINGS13Go to Town CenterHCycle BarracksCtrlBCycle Archery RangeCtrlACycle StableCtrlLCycle Siege WorkshopCtrlKCycle DockCtrlDCycle TempleCtrlPCycle GranaryCtrlGCycle Storage PitCtrlSCycle AcademyCtrlYCycle MarketCtrlMCycle Government CenterCtrlCCycle WonderCtrlOUNITS05Attack MoveAAggressive StanceQDefensive StanceWStand GroundENo Attack StanceRGAME CONTROLSSTRATEGYAGE OF EMPIRES: DEFINITIVE EDITIONKEYBOARD CONTROLS · WINDOWS · 36 BINDSshortcutposters.comUPDATED JAN 2026 · COMPATIBLE WITH AGE OF EMPIRES: DEFINITIVE EDITION · WINDOWS

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All Age of Empires: Definitive Edition keyboard controls

36 default keybinds across 5 categories. Most can be reassigned in Age of Empires: Definitive Edition's control settings.

Layout
Esc
F1
F2
F3
F4
F5
F6
F7
F8
F9
F10
F11
F12
`
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
-
=
⌫ Back
Tab
Q
W
E
R
T
Y
U
I
O
P
[
]
\
Caps
A
S
D
F
G
H
J
K
L
;
'
Enter ⏎
Shift
Z
X
C
V
B
N
M
,
.
/
Shift
Ctrl
Win
Alt
Space
Alt
Win
Menu
Ctrl
↑
←
↓
→

36 shortcuts

Buildings 13

Action Shortcut
Go to Town Center H
Cycle Barracks CtrlB
Cycle Archery Range CtrlA
Cycle Stable CtrlL
Cycle Siege Workshop CtrlK
Cycle Dock CtrlD
Cycle Temple CtrlP
Cycle Granary CtrlG
Cycle Storage Pit CtrlS
Cycle Academy CtrlY
Cycle Market CtrlM
Cycle Government Center CtrlC
Cycle Wonder CtrlO

Selection 8

Action Shortcut
Go to Next Idle Villager .
Select All Idle Villagers CtrlShift.
Go to Next Idle Military Unit ,
Select All Idle Military Units CtrlShift,
Go to Previous Idle Villager Shift.
Cycle Selection Forward Tab
Go to Previous Idle Military Unit Shift,
Cycle Selection Backward CtrlTab

Construction 8

Action Shortcut
Open Build Menu (Villager) B
Build House BthenE
Build Farm BthenF
Build Granary BthenG
Build Storage Pit BthenS
Build Barracks BthenB
Build Dock BthenD
Build Town Center BthenN

Units 5

Action Shortcut
Attack Move A
Aggressive Stance Q
Defensive Stance W
Stand Ground E
No Attack Stance R

Game Control 2

Action Shortcut
Pause Game F3
Save Game F12

Sourced from ageofempires.fandom.com, aoe.heavengames.com Last verified

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Age of Empires: Definitive Edition controls — FAQ

What are the default controls for Age of Empires: Definitive Edition?
Age of Empires: Definitive Edition, a strategy game, uses 36 default keybinds across 5 categories. The complete, up-to-date list is free to read on this page.
Can you remap Age of Empires: Definitive Edition controls?
Yes. These are the game's default bindings — nearly all of them can be reassigned from Age of Empires: Definitive Edition's in-game control or key-binding settings.
Which platforms do these Age of Empires: Definitive Edition controls cover?
These keyboard controls apply on Windows. Most bindings are identical across platforms unless noted.
Is this an official Age of Empires: Definitive Edition resource?
No. This is an unofficial reference and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Age of Empires: Definitive Edition or its publisher. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
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