Guide · Updated
How to Play Keyboard-and-Mouse Games on Steam Deck
Bind a PC game's keyboard controls to the Steam Deck's buttons with Steam Input: the steps, where to put which keys, and each game's most-used default keys to start from.
Many PC games are built around a keyboard and mouse. The Steam Deck can still play them: Steam Input turns any of its buttons, sticks, trackpads and back grips into a key press or mouse movement, set per game.
Open the game's controller settings
From the game's page in your library, open its controller settings. This is where Steam Input layouts live, one per game.
Start from a keyboard-and-mouse layout
Pick a template made for keyboard games, such as Steam's keyboard (WASD) and mouse template, or a community layout for the game. It gives you movement and a mouse to start from, so you only add what the game needs on top.
Put the keys the game uses most within reach
Bind the game's most-used keys to the face buttons and bumpers, and the rest to the back grips (L4, L5, R4, R5), which ship unassigned. Steam Input can also put several keys on one button through a radial menu.
Pick a game: these are its most-used default keys, from its official documentation — the ones to place first.
- Next Action / End TurnEnter
- Next Ready Unit.
- Found CityB
- Technology TreeT
- Civics TreeC
- Move ToM
- AttackA
- FortifyF
- Skip TurnSpace
- Government Lens5
- Go to Next Idle Villager.
- Scroll / Pan CameraArrows
- Select All Idle VillagersShift.
- Select All Military UnitsShift,
- Assign Control GroupCtrl1
- Select Control Group1
- Go to Town CenterH
- Attack MoveR
- Go to Next Idle Military Unit,
- Go to Last NotificationHome
- Move UpW
- Mine / Deconstruct (hold)LMB
- Build / Place / Open GUILMB
- Open Character / InventoryE
- Move DownS
- Move LeftA
- Move RightD
- RotateR
- Pipette Tool (pick item to cursor)Q
- UndoCtrlZ
- Scroll camera upW
- Scroll camera downS
- Scroll camera leftA
- Scroll camera rightD
- Pause (stop time)Space
- Bulldoze tool (toggle)B
- Rotate camera (drag)MMB
- Low residential zoning4
- High residential zoning5
- Low commercial zoning6
- Pause GameSpace
- Weapon Slot 11
- Weapon Slot 22
- FTL JumpJ
- Weapon Slot 33
- Weapon Slot 44
- Open UpgradesU
- Select Crew 1F1
- Select Crew 2F2
- Select Crew 3F3
- Pause / ResumeSpace
- Research WindowW
- Construction WindowT
- Production WindowY
- Create Front LineZ
- Create Offensive LineX
- Increase Game Speed+
- Decrease Game Speed−
- Government WindowQ
- Recruit & Deploy WindowU
- Camera MovementWthenAthenSthenD
- Move Character (point and click)LMB
- Toggle Combat ModeTab
- End TurnSpace
- Cycle to Previous Character[
- Cycle to Next Character]
- InteractLMB
- Cancel Action / Context MenuRMB
- Toggle InventoryB
- Center CameraHome
- Move ForwardW
- Move BackwardS
- Strafe LeftA
- Strafe RightD
- Interact / Pick Up / TalkE
- Open Phone / InventoryTab
- JumpSpace
- SprintShift
- Use / Attack / DragLMB
- Look AroundMouse
System shortcuts while you play
Steam + X opens the on-screen keyboard when a game asks for text, and holding Steam while you use the right trackpad moves the mouse. Every system combo is on the Steam Deck page.
FAQ
- Can you play keyboard-and-mouse games on Steam Deck?
- Yes, through Steam Input, which maps the Deck's controls to key presses and mouse movement, per game.
- How do I open the keyboard on Steam Deck?
- Press Steam + X.
- What are the Steam Deck back buttons for?
- L4, L5, R4 and R5 ship unassigned: you map them to any input per game, or globally, in the controller settings.