War Thunder Keybinds — Full PC Controls List
Search-friendly PC controls reference: common Mouse Aim binds, ground / air / heli / naval / interface actions, and the unbound keys everyone Googles (rangefinder, flares, ping, ballistic computer).
How to view and change binds
Esc → Controls. Tabs cover Aircraft, Ground vehicles, Helicopters, Ships, Common, and Interface.
Search inside Controls (filter box) for words like rangefinder, countermeasure, torpedo, ballistic — many “missing” binds are just unbound.
Export your binds after you like them. Import after a reinstall. Do not trust memory alone.
This guide assumes Keyboard + Mouse with Mouse Aim unless noted. Full real / joystick layouts differ.
Controls menu is law
Gaijin can shuffle defaults between presets and patches. Use this page as a checklist of actions — confirm every key in Esc → Controls.
Universal / camera / UI (people Google these constantly)
These show up whether you play tanks or planes.
| Action | Common default / habit | Where to find |
|---|---|---|
| Pause / menu | Esc | Common |
| Scoreboard | Tab / CapsLock (varies) | Interface |
| Tactical map | M or dedicated | Interface |
| Chat / team chat | Enter / team chat bind | Interface |
| Free look / mouse look | C / Alt / hold RMB | Common / Aircraft / Ground |
| Zoom camera | Scroll wheel / Z | Common |
| Toggle view (external / cockpit) | V / C variants | Aircraft / Ground views |
| Screenshot | Platform / Steam overlay | OS / Steam |
| Leave vehicle / bail | Often unbound or buried | Bind before RB rage-sits |
| Show player list / squad | Interface binds | Interface |
Ground vehicles — movement & combat
Core tank / IFV loop under Mouse Aim.
| Action | Common key | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Forward / reverse | W / S | Hull drive |
| Turn left / right | A / D | Or track control depending on preset |
| Fire main gun | LMB | Primary |
| Fire MG / secondary | Space / separate | Coax, roof, AA MG |
| Fire additional guns | Weaponry multi-bind | SPAA / multi-barrel |
| Reload / change shell | Reload + ammo select | AP / HE / HEAT / APFSDS / smoke rounds |
| Next / previous ammunition | Scroll or dedicated keys | Bind clearly — panic HE is real |
| Gun / sniper sight | V or similar | Scoped aiming |
| Binoculars | B (rebind recommended) | Mouse side button is popular |
| Smoke launchers | Smoke bind | Essential at mid/high BR |
| Horn | H | Optional comedy |
| Cruise control / gear up-down | Shift / Ctrl | Drive while aiming |
| Brake / park | Dedicated brake | Stop before peeks |
| Repair | Repair key | Know it before you burn |
| Extinguish | Fire extinguisher | Same |
| Active scout / spotting | Scout bind | Light tanks / some premiums |
| ESS / smoke system (vehicle) | Special systems | Some Soviet / others |
| Night vision / thermal | NV / TI toggle | Bind near optics |
| Laser rangefinder | Rangefinder | Often UNBOUND — bind it |
| Sight distance + / − | Sight distance axis/keys | Often UNBOUND — bind with RF |
| Reset sight distance | Reset axis | Optional QoL |
| Stabilizer assist toggles | Misc / weaponry | Vehicle dependent |
| Floatation / fording gear | Special | Rare vehicles |
| Artillery strike call | Arcade (and some special modes) | Not in standard Ground RB |
| Air support UI | Mode dependent | AB more than RB |
Ground — squad, radar, and “why can’t I…” binds
The binds Reddit threads are usually about.
| Action | Status | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Mark target / squad ping | Often unbound | Bind something reachable; win more than chat |
| Radar / IRST scale | Often needs bind | SPAA / radar tanks |
| Radar lock / select target | Weaponry / radar | SPAA essential |
| Track radar target | Radar section | Do not leave empty on radar SPAA |
| Change gunner view / camera | Views | Hull-down awareness |
| Commander sight / panoramic | Vehicle dependent | If your tank has it, bind it |
| Shoot from binoculars | Some setups | Check if supported for your control type |
Aircraft — flight & guns (Mouse Aim)
Mouse aims; keys handle energy, view, and ordinance.
| Action | Common key | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pitch down / up (assist) | W / S | Still used with Mouse Aim |
| Roll left / right | A / D | Standard |
| Rudder / yaw | Q / E | Guns solutions |
| Throttle up / down | Shift / Ctrl | Or scroll if rebound |
| WEP / boost | Throttle / WEP bind | Know overheat cost |
| Engine start / stop | Combo (e.g. Ctrl+E) | Find once, forget until ditch |
| Fire all guns | LMB / Space | Primary |
| Fire small-calibre only | 1 or separate | Optional split |
| Fire large-calibre only | 2 or separate | Optional split |
| Lock target | MMB common | Pairs with tracking cam |
| Tracking camera (enemy) | Often rebound RMB | Huge in RB |
| Mouse look hold | RMB / dedicated | Look without yanking nose |
| Zoom | Scroll / Z | Keep reachable |
| Flaps toggle | F | OK starter |
| Flaps up / flaps down | Separate binds | Better for energy fighting |
| Landing gear | G | RB landings |
| Airbrake | B or dedicated | Dive control |
| Drag chute | Dedicated | Jets that have it |
| Canopy / jettison | Rare | Find if you need it |
| Trim axes | Trim up/down/left/right | Sim / fine control |
| Wing fold / special mech | Mechanization | Carrier oddities |
| Ignite boosters / JATO | Mechanization | Bind if your frame has them |
| Aerobatic smoke | Alt+S style | Fun / events |
Aircraft — bombs, rockets, missiles, radar, flares
This is the other 60% people are missing.
| Action | Common habit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drop bomb | 3 / bomb key | Single |
| Drop bomb series | Hold / series bind | Bind this for CAS |
| Open bomb bay | Bay doors bind | Some bombers |
| Fire rocket | 4 / R | Single |
| Fire rocket salvo | Salvo bind | Hold-to-dump |
| Fire air-to-air missile | Weapon select + fire | Fox-1/2/3 style depends on jet |
| Fire air-to-ground missile / ATGM from plane | Secondary weaponry | Attackers |
| Weapon selection cycling | Weapon select | Do not launch wrong store |
| Fire countermeasures (flares/chaff) | Often UNBOUND | Bind day one on jets |
| Periodic countermeasures | Optional | A-10 / Su-25 lifestyle |
| Radar lock / switch target | Radar section | BVR / look-down depends on frame |
| IRM / IRST controls | Sensor suite | Modern jets |
| Toggle HUD / HMD pieces | Interface / aircraft | Frame dependent |
| Cannon ballistic computer | Often UNBOUND | CAS QoL |
| Rocket ballistic computer | Often UNBOUND | CAS QoL |
| Sight stabilization | Often overlooked | Attacker / bomber QoL |
| Select gunner / bomber view | Views | Defensive gunners |
| Turret gunner fire | Gunner controls | Bombers |
Helicopters
If you only set tank binds, your first heli spawn will feel broken.
| Action | Bind it? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Collective / altitude hold helpers | Yes | Preset dependent |
| Cyclic / mouse aim heli | Mouse Aim heli preset | Start here on KBM |
| Fire cannons / rockets | Yes like aircraft | Clear separation |
| Fire ATGM | Dedicated | Primary heli job |
| ATGM guidance / camera | Optics | Do not hover stupidly |
| Countermeasures | Must bind | SPAA exists |
| Radar / optics zoom | Yes | Find targets without YOLO peek |
| Hover / autopilot helpers | Optional | Know what they do before trusting them |
| Landing gear / floats | If equipped | Naval oddities |
Naval
Guns, torps, AA — rangefinding workflow matters more than pretty water.
| Action | Common need | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Main battery fire | Primary fire | Salvo discipline |
| Secondary battery fire | Secondary | Separate if possible |
| AA / auxiliary | AA binds | Air threat |
| Torpedo launch | Torpedo key | Left / right / both if available |
| Torpedo sight / aim mode | Torpedo controls | Lead properly |
| Change ammo (AP/HE/special) | Ammo select | Overpen is real |
| Binoculars / optics | Optics | Spot fires & torps |
| Rangefinder / range set | Range controls | Correct from splash |
| Ship speed / reverse | Throttle | Island peeking |
| Rudder | A/D or dedicated | Turning circle awareness |
| Damage control / repair | Damage control | Flooding / fires |
| Scout plane / special | Consumables | If equipped |
| Depth charges / ASW | Niche | Bind if you bring them |
Recommended first-hour rebinds
Ground: rangefinder, sight distance ±, binoculars → mouse button, squad ping, smoke.
Air: countermeasures, bomb series, rocket salvo, lock target + tracking camera, ballistic computers if unlocked.
Heli: ATGM fire, flares, zoom.
Naval: torpedoes, secondaries, damage control.
Export binds. Then stop rebinding mid-match for a week so your hands catch up.
Controller / joystick notes
Console and HOTAS players should still open every Weapons / Misc page once — “unbound” problems are identical.
If you mix KBM and pad, double-check which preset is active before a tournament night.