100 Arma 3 Keyboard Shortcuts & Controls
Arma 3 keyboard shortcuts help players control movement, combat, vehicles, and tactical actions more efficiently. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, learning these key bindings can improve reaction time, accuracy, and overall gameplay performance on PC.
Arma 3 Controls Overview (Quick Summary)
| Category | Key |
|---|---|
| Movement | W A S D |
| Sprint | Left Shift |
| Fire | Left Mouse Click |
| Aim | Right Mouse Click |
| Reload | R |
| Interact | Spacebar |
| Grenade | G |
| Map / GPS | Right Ctrl + M |
Arma 3 Basic Movement Controls
Learn the essential movement shortcuts in Arma 3, including walking, running, crouching, and stance adjustments for better navigation during gameplay.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Move Forward | W |
| Move Back | S |
| Strafe Left | A |
| Strafe Right | D |
| Sprint / Hold Breath | Left Shift |
| Prone | Z |
| Crouch | X |
| Combat Pace Toggle | C |
| Walk / Run Toggle | Left Ctrl + C |
| Adjust Stance | Left Ctrl + W / A / S / D |
| Lean Left | Q |
| Lean Right | E |
| Step Over | V |
Arma 3 Combat & Weapon Controls
These shortcuts help you aim, shoot, reload, switch weapons, and control combat actions efficiently in Arma 3.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Fire | Left Mouse Click |
| Aim / Iron Sights | Right Mouse Click |
| Reload | R |
| Switch Weapons | 1 / 2 / 3 |
| Weapon Mode | F |
| Throw Grenade | G |
| Cycle Throw Items | Left Ctrl + G |
| Reveal / Lock / Lase | T |
| Tactical Ping | Left Shift + T |
| Adjust Zeroing Distance | Left Ctrl + Mouse Scroll |
| Toggle Sights | Left Ctrl + Right Mouse Click |
Arma 3 View & Camera Controls
Use these controls to manage camera angles, zoom, and free look to gain better situational awareness in the game.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Free Look | Alt |
| Zoom (Hold) | Right Mouse Click |
| Scope View | Num 0 |
| 1st / 3rd Person View | Num Enter |
| Zoom In | Num + |
| Zoom Out | Num – |
| Look Direction | Num 1 – Num 9 |
Arma 3 Interaction & Action Controls
These key bindings allow you to interact with objects, perform actions, and execute tactical commands quickly.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Default Action / Interact | Spacebar |
| Exit Menu | Esc |
| VoIP Toggle | Caps Lock |
| Panels (Left / Right) | [ / ] |
Arma 3 Vehicle Controls (Land Vehicles)
Master driving, steering, and controlling land vehicles in Arma 3 using these essential shortcuts.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Forward | W |
| Back | S |
| Steer Left | A |
| Steer Right | D |
| Slow Forward | Left Ctrl + W |
| Fast Forward | Left Shift + W |
| Hand Brake | X |
| Get Out Vehicle | V |
| Fast Eject | V then V |
| Look Around | Mouse |
Arma 3 Turret & Gunner Controls
These shortcuts help you control turret movement, targeting, and firing when operating heavy weapons or vehicles.
| Action | Controls |
|---|---|
| Aim Turret | Mouse |
| Fire | Left Mouse Click |
| Iron Sights | Right Mouse Click |
| Next Target | R |
| Lock / Lase | T |
| Cycle Weapons | Left Ctrl + F |
| Stabilize Turret | Left Ctrl + T |
| Fire Order | Left Ctrl + Left Mouse Click |
| Radar Toggle | Left Ctrl + R |
Arma 3 Aircraft Controls (Helicopters & Planes)
Learn how to fly and control aircraft smoothly using these keyboard shortcuts for thrust, tilt, and navigation.
| Action | Controls |
|---|---|
| Increase Thrust | Left Shift |
| Decrease Thrust | Z |
| Rudder Left | Q |
| Rudder Right | E |
| Nose Down | W |
| Nose Up | S |
| Bank Left | A |
| Bank Right | D |
| Auto Hover | X |
| Flaps / Vectoring | Left Ctrl + Mouse Scroll |
Arma 3 Command & Squad Controls
Use these shortcuts to manage your squad, issue commands, and control team actions effectively in Arma 3.
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Move Command | 1 |
| Target Command | 2 |
| Engage Command | 3 |
| Mount Command | 4 |
| Status Command | 5 |
| Action Command | 6 |
| Combat Mode | 7 |
| Formation | 8 |
| Team | 9 |
| Radio | 0 |
Why Learn Arma 3 Keyboard Shortcuts?
Learning Arma 3 keyboard shortcuts can significantly improve your gameplay experience. Instead of relying on menus, shortcuts allow faster reactions, better control, and smoother combat execution.
Key Benefits:
- Faster reaction time during combat
- Improved aiming and shooting accuracy
- Better vehicle and aircraft control
- Efficient squad command management
- Enhanced overall gameplay performance
Arma 3 Controls Tips for Beginners
If you’re new to Arma 3, mastering these essential controls can help you survive longer and play more effectively.
Tips:
- Use Free Look (Alt) to scan surroundings without changing direction
- Master stance adjustment (Ctrl + WASD) for better cover
- Learn vehicle controls separately to avoid crashes
- Use tactical ping (Shift + T) to communicate quickly
- Practice zeroing distance adjustment for long-range shooting
- Switch between 1st and 3rd person view for better awareness
How to Change Key Bindings in Arma 3
Arma 3 allows players to customize keyboard shortcuts according to their preferences. This helps improve comfort and gameplay efficiency.
Steps:
- Open the game and go to Options
- Click on Controls
- Select the category you want to edit
- Click on a key binding
- Press your desired key
- Save the changes
FAQs About Arma 3 Keyboard Shortcuts
The basic controls in Arma 3 include movement using W, A, S, D keys, sprinting with Shift, firing with the left mouse button, aiming with the right mouse button, and interacting using the spacebar. These controls help players navigate and engage in combat efficiently.
You can sprint in Arma 3 by holding the Left Shift key. This allows your character to move faster, which is useful for escaping danger or quickly reaching objectives.
Yes, Arma 3 allows you to customize key bindings. You can go to Options > Controls, select a command, and assign a new key based on your preference.
Free look in Arma 3 allows players to look around without changing movement direction. You can activate it by holding or toggling the Alt key.
You can switch weapons in Arma 3 using the number keys (1, 2, 3, etc.), depending on your equipped weapons and gear.
Mastering Arma 3 keyboard shortcuts can make a huge difference in how you play the game. From smoother movement and faster combat reactions to better control of vehicles and aircraft, these shortcuts help you stay ahead in every situation.
Instead of relying on menus, using the right key bindings allows you to react instantly and play more efficiently. If you’re serious about improving your gameplay, take some time to practice these controls and customize them to fit your style.
READ NEXT:
