This Minecraft tutorial explains all about the game controls that you use when you play Minecraft on different platforms.
Minecraft is available to play on almost every platform. The most common versions are:
- Java Edition (PC/Mac)
- Pocket Edition (PE)
- Xbox (Xbox 360 or Xbox One)
- PS (PS3 or PS4)
- Windows 10 Edition
- Education Edition
Each of these versions of Minecraft has completely different game controls.
Game Controls
- Java
- PE
- Xbox
- PS
- Win10
- Edu
Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac)
Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac) is a version of the game that runs on a PC or Mac computer. Therefore, you would use your keyboard and mouse to navigate through the game.
Here are the game controls to play Minecraft Java Edition (PC/Mac):
PC Keyboard and Mouse
Game Controls
| Game Action | Control |
|---|---|
| Place/Use Item | Button 2 (Mouse) |
| Mine/Destroy Item | Button 1 (Mouse) |
| Jump | SPACE |
| Fly (Creative) | SPACE (press twice quickly) |
| Stop Flying (Creative) | SPACE (press twice quickly) |
| Fly Higher (Creative) | SPACE (hold down) |
| Fly Lower (Creative) | LSHIFT (hold down) |
| Drop/Throw Item | Q |
| Open Crafting Menu | Button 2 (Mouse) |
| Open Inventory | E |
| Swap Items in Hands | F |
| Walk Forward | W |
| Walk Backward | S |
| Strafe Left | A |
| Strafe Right | D |
| Look | Move Mouse |
| Run/Sprint | LCONTROL |
| Sneak | LSHIFT |
| Change Selected Item in Hotbar | Keys 1 through 9 |
| List Players | TAB |
| Chat | T |
| Run Command | T or / |
| Take Screenshot | F2 |
| Toggle Fullscreen | F11 |
| Toggle Perspective (Change Camera Angle) | F5 |
| Toggle Debug window | F3 |
Minecraft Pocket Edition (PE)
Minecraft Pocket Edition (PE) is a version of the game that runs on your tablet or mobile device.
Here are the game controls to play Minecraft Pocket Edition (PE):
Pocket Edition Navigation
Game Controls
| Game Action | Control |
|---|---|
| Place/Use Item | Tap target location |
| Mine/Destroy Item | Tap target location and hold |
| Jump | Jump button (tap once) |
| Fly (Creative) | Jump button (tap twice) |
| Stop Flying (Creative) | Stop button (tap twice) |
| Fly Higher (Creative) | Higher button |
| Fly Lower (Creative) | Lower button |
| Drop/Throw Item | Tap and hold (item in hotbar) |
| Open Crafting Menu | Tap on crafting table |
| Open Inventory | Triple Dot Button |
| Walk Forward | Up Arrow |
| Walk Backward | Down Arrow |
| Strafe Left | Left Arrow |
| Strafe Right | Right Arrow |
| Run/Sprint | Up Arrow (tap twice and hold) |
| Crouch/Sneak | Center button (tap twice) |
| Stop Crouching/Sneaking | Center button (tap twice) |
| Look | Touch screen and move |
| Change Selected Item in Hotbar | Tap item |
| Chat | Chat button |
| Run Command | Chat button |
Minecraft Xbox 360 or Xbox One
There are two versions of Minecraft that run on the Xbox - Minecraft Xbox 360 Edition and Minecraft Xbox One Edition. For both versions, you would use an Xbox controller to navigate through the game.
Here are the game controls to play Minecraft on Xbox 360 or Xbox One:
Xbox Controller
Game Controls
| Game Action | Control |
|---|---|
| Place/Use Item | LT (Left Trigger) |
| Mine/Destroy Item | RT (Right Trigger) |
| Jump | A Button (press once) |
| Fly (Creative) | A Button (press twice quickly) |
| Fly Higher (Creative) | D-Pad (press up) or A button |
| Fly Lower (Creative) | D-Pad (press down) |
| Stop Flying (Creative) | A Button (press twice quickly) |
| Drop/Throw Item | B Button |
| Open Crafting Menu | X Button |
| Open Inventory | Y Button |
| Move | LS (Left Stick) |
| Look | RS (Right Stick) |
| Run/Sprint | LS forward twice (quickly) |
| Sneak/Walk | RS (press down) |
| Change Camera Angle | LS (press down) |
| Change Selected Item in Hotbar | LB or RB |
| Run Command (Xbox One only) |  D-Pad (right) |
Minecraft PS3 or PS4
There are two versions of Minecraft that run on the Sony Playstation - Minecraft PS3 Edition and Minecraft PS4 Edition. For both versions, you would use the Playstation controller to navigate through the game.
Here are the game controls to play Minecraft on the PS3 or PS4:
Playstation Controller
Game Controls
| Game Action | Control |
|---|---|
| Place/Use Item | L2 (Back Left Trigger) |
| Mine/Destroy Item | R2 (Back Right Trigger) |
| Jump |  X button (press once) |
| Fly (Creative) | X Button (press twice quickly) |
| Fly Higher (Creative) | D-Pad (press up) or X button |
| Fly Lower (Creative) | D-Pad (press down) |
| Stop Flying (Creative) | X Button (press twice quickly) |
| Drop/Throw Item |  Circle button |
| Open Crafting Menu |  Square Button |
| Open Inventory |  Triangle button |
| Move | LS (Left Stick) |
| Look | RS (Right Stick) |
| Run/Sprint | LS forward twice (quickly) |
| Sneak/Walk | RS (press down) |
| Change Camera Angle | LS (press down) |
| Change Selected Item in Hotbar | L1 or R1 |
| Run Command (PS4 only) | D-Pad (right) |
Minecraft Windows 10 Edition
Minecraft Windows 10 Edition is a version of the game that runs only on a Windows 10 computer. Therefore, you would use your keyboard and mouse to navigate through the game.
Here are the game controls to play Minecraft Windows 10 Edition:
PC Keyboard and Mouse
Game Controls
| Game Action | Control |
|---|---|
| Place/Use Item | Button 2 (Mouse) |
| Mine/Destroy Item | Button 1 (Mouse) |
| Jump | SPACE |
| Fly (Creative) | SPACE (press twice quickly) |
| Stop Flying (Creative) | SPACE (press twice quickly) |
| Fly Higher (Creative) | SPACE (hold down) |
| Fly Lower (Creative) | LSHIFT (hold down) |
| Drop/Throw Item | Q |
| Open Crafting Menu | Button 2 (Mouse) |
| Open Inventory | E |
| Swap Items in Hands | F |
| Walk Forward | W |
| Walk Backward | S |
| Strafe Left | A |
| Strafe Right | D |
| Look | Move Mouse |
| Run/Sprint | LCONTROL |
| Sneak | LSHIFT |
| Change Selected Item in Hotbar | Keys 1 through 9 |
| List Players | TAB |
| Chat | T |
| Run Command | T or / |
| Take Screenshot | F2 |
| Toggle Fullscreen | F11 |
| Toggle Perspective (Change Camera Angle) | F5 |
| Toggle Debug window | F3 |
Minecraft Education Edition
Minecraft Education Edition is a version of the game that runs on a PC or Mac computer. Therefore, you would use your keyboard and mouse to navigate through the game.
Here are the game controls to play Minecraft Education Edition:
PC Keyboard and Mouse
Game Controls
| Game Action | Control |
|---|---|
| Place/Use Item | Button 2 (Mouse) |
| Mine/Destroy Item | Button 1 (Mouse) |
| Jump | SPACE |
| Fly (Creative) | SPACE (press twice quickly) |
| Stop Flying (Creative) | SPACE (press twice quickly) |
| Fly Higher (Creative) | SPACE (hold down) |
| Fly Lower (Creative) | LSHIFT (hold down) |
| Drop/Throw Item | Q |
| Open Crafting Menu | Button 2 (Mouse) |
| Open Inventory | E |
| Swap Items in Hands | F |
| Walk Forward | W |
| Walk Backward | S |
| Strafe Left | A |
| Strafe Right | D |
| Look | Move Mouse |
| Run/Sprint | LCONTROL |
| Sneak | LSHIFT |
| Change Selected Item in Hotbar | Keys 1 through 9 |
| Cycle through Fixed Inventory Slots | 0 (zero key) |
| List Players | TAB |
| Chat | T |
| Run Command | T or / |
| Take Screenshot | F2 |
| Toggle Fullscreen | F11 |
| Toggle Perspective (Change Camera Angle) | F5 |
| Toggle Debug window | F3 |
And that covers our tutorial on game controls for Minecraft. Try one of our other beginner tutorials below:
