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Windows · Mac · Linux · 42 default keybinds
Half-Life Keyboard Controls
Half-Life is Valve's 1998 GoldSrc first-person shooter, the game that sent Gordon Freeman through the Black Mesa Research Facility. Its default keyboard and mouse layout — the one printed in the original manual — covers movement, the five weapon categories, the flashlight and the long jump module, and it still ships as the default in the modern Steam release.
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All Half-Life keyboard controls
42 default keybinds across 6 categories. Most can be reassigned in Half-Life's control settings.
+ 5 more controls in the table below
+ 5 more controls in the table below
42 shortcuts
Movement 12
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Move Forward | W |
| Move Backward | S |
| Strafe Left | A |
| Strafe Right | D |
| Jump | Space |
| Duck / Crouch | Ctrl |
| Crawl (duck while moving) | CtrlW |
| Walk / Slow Down (hold) | Shift |
| Long Jump (Long Jump Module) | WCtrlSpace |
| Swim Up | V |
| Swim Down | C |
| Return Vision to Center | End |
Keyboard-Only Layout 10
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Turn Left (keyboard only) | LEFT |
| Turn Right (keyboard only) | RIGHT |
| Previous Weapon (keyboard only) | [ |
| Next Weapon (keyboard only) | ] |
| Strafe Left (keyboard only) | AltLEFT |
| Strafe Right (keyboard only) | AltRIGHT |
| Look Up (keyboard only) | PgUp |
| Look Down (keyboard only) | PgDn |
| Swim Up (keyboard only) | ' |
| Swim Down (keyboard only) | / |
Weapons 9
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Weapon Category 1 — Crowbar | 1 |
| Weapon Category 2 — Hand Guns | 2 |
| Weapon Category 3 — Machine & Shotguns | 3 |
| Weapon Category 4 — High-Energy Weapons | 4 |
| Weapon Category 5 — Thrown & Placed | 5 |
| Previous Weapon | Wheel ↑ |
| Next Weapon | Wheel ↓ |
| Last Weapon Used | Q |
| Select Highlighted Weapon | Enter |
System 6
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Quick Save | F6 |
| Quick Load | F7 |
| Main Menu / Back | Esc |
| Toggle Console | ` |
| Screenshot | F5 |
| Show Score (multiplayer) | Tab |
Combat 3
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Primary Fire | LMB |
| Secondary Fire | RMB |
| Reload | R |
Interaction 2
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Use / Interact | E |
| Toggle Flashlight | F |
Sourced from archive.org, valvearchive.com, half-life.com Last verified
Unofficial reference. ShortcutPosters is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Half-Life. All product names, logos, and trademarks are property of their respective owners. See our licensing & trademark notice.
Half-Life controls — FAQ
- What are the default controls for Half-Life?
- Half-Life, a shooter game, uses 42 default keybinds across 6 categories. The complete, up-to-date list is free to read on this page.
- Can you remap Half-Life controls?
- Yes. These are the game's default bindings — nearly all of them can be reassigned from Half-Life's in-game control or key-binding settings.
- Which platforms do these Half-Life controls cover?
- These keyboard controls apply on Windows and Mac and Linux. Most bindings are identical across platforms unless noted.
- Is this an official Half-Life resource?
- No. This is an unofficial reference and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Half-Life or its publisher. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
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Half-Life collection
2 Half-Life games in the catalogue, every control scheme free to read.
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