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Controls Guide: Key Bindings & Setup

The controls in Stardew Valley are built around a few core actions: moving, using tools, interacting, and navigating menus. Most input methods share the same logic, but the exact buttons and touch gestures vary by platform and by selected control scheme.

Core actions

The main gameplay controls are:

  • Move: walk around the world and within menus
  • Use tool / place item: swing tools, place objects, and perform most action-based tasks
  • Check / do action: talk to NPCs, open chests, read signs, harvest certain objects, and interact with the world
  • Open menu: bring up the Player Menu
  • Open journal / map / crafting / emote menus: available through platform-specific buttons and hotkeys
  • Switch item / move cursor: change the selected toolbar slot or move the menu cursor

Many hotkeys can be reassigned through the Options tab, and controller button mappings may also be changed through the system settings on some platforms.

Player Menu

The Player Menu, also called the in-game menu, Escape menu, or Pause menu, can be opened during gameplay on all platforms.

  • PC: ESC or E
  • Nintendo Switch: + or B
  • Xbox: Start, Menu, or B
  • PlayStation: Options or Circle
  • Mobile: the menu icon with three horizontal lines

The game automatically pauses while the Player Menu is open, except in multiplayer.

Keyboard and mouse

Movement and actions

The default keyboard controls use the arrow keys or movement keys for walking, with separate keys for tools and interaction.

Common keyboard and mouse functions include:

  • movement keys for walking
  • a key for Use tool or place item
  • a key for Check/Do Action
  • a key for opening the menu
  • hotkeys for journal, map, emote menu, and item switching
  • a key for Run

Inventory and shop shortcuts

Useful keyboard and mouse shortcuts include:

  • Shift + left-click an inventory item or stack to move it to the top row
  • Shift + left-click in a shop to purchase continuously
  • Shift + left-click in crafting to craft 5 at a time
  • Ctrl + Shift to craft stacks of 25 items at a time
  • Shift + right-click to purchase 5 items
  • Ctrl + Shift + right-click to purchase stacks of 25 items at a time
  • Ctrl + Shift + 1 to purchase stacks of 999 items at a time
  • Right-click a stack to split off one item
  • Shift + right-click to split off half a stack
  • Hold right-click or left-click and move over equipment such as Kegs, Preserves Jars, Casks, and Bee Houses to collect items quickly
  • Use another item selected in inventory to refill equipment automatically
  • Delete to permanently delete a selected inventory item
  • Tab or the appropriate menu key to switch inventory rows and tabs where supported

Furniture placement

On computer, furniture can be handled with the mouse:

  • Right-click on furniture while selected to rotate it or place it, depending on the item
  • Some furniture can be picked up and moved by left-clicking
  • Some furniture can only be removed with a tool or by holding the Use tool button once it is placed

The Right Stick on controller is also useful for precise placement of furniture, rugs, windows, paintings, and other decor.

Controller controls

Overworld

On controller, the overworld controls are centered on movement sticks and face buttons.

  • Left Joystick: walk or run
  • POV: walk
  • Right Joystick: move cursor, open in-game chat, or open the emote menu when held down
  • A: check, do action, or use cursor
  • Y: use tool
  • X: open the crafting menu
  • +: open the menu
  • -: open the journal
  • ZL and ZR: switch tabs or trigger secondary menu navigation depending on the screen

In menus

When a menu is open on controller:

  • Left Joystick: move cursor
  • Right Joystick: scroll
  • A: select
  • B, X, or +: exit menu
  • ZL and ZR: switch menu tab
  • Y: move one item or use an item such as bait

Weapon controls

When a weapon is equipped:

  • one button performs the basic attack
  • another button performs a block or alternate attack

Mobile controls

Mobile versions of Stardew Valley support several control schemes, all centered on the touchscreen. These schemes are selected from the Options menu.

Tap-to-move

Tap-to-move is the default control setting.

  • Tap anywhere on the screen and the farmer walks to that spot
  • If the path is blocked, the destination is highlighted in red
  • If the path becomes blocked by NPCs, pets, or farm animals, the farmer may stop, reroute, or head in a different direction
  • Holding a finger or stylus on the screen makes the character follow the touch point
  • Tap on items to act on them
  • Tapping rocks, wood, stumps, boulders, and similar objects auto-selects the correct tool
  • The scythe must be selected manually
  • Tapping an NPC, farm animal, or pet moves the farmer next to them and interacts with them
  • Tap-to-move can be combined with other on-screen controls depending on the selected layout

Virtual joystick and buttons

Mobile layouts can use an on-screen joystick and buttons.

  • Tap the left half of the screen to center the joystick, then drag to move
  • Button X is the use tool button
  • Button A is the perform action button
  • In one-button layouts, a short tap on the right side triggers use tool, while a longer tap triggers perform action
  • In layouts with both joystick and buttons, tap-to-move only works outside the joystick and button areas
  • A dedicated attack joystick appears when a weapon is selected, letting you aim attacks by dragging in a direction

Show controls toggle

Some mobile control setups include a toggle button in the top-left corner.

  • When the toggle is on, the selected control method is active
  • When it is off, the controls switch to Tap-to-move & Auto-Attack

Mobile inventory and item movement

Mobile inventory management uses touch gestures:

  • drag stacks to move them
  • tap the organize button to sort inventory or chest contents
  • tap and hold a stack to see its contents and properties
  • holding longer increases the number you can split off from the stack

Fishing controls

Fishing uses a dedicated cast and catch flow.

  • Hold the Use Tool button to cast the fishing rod
  • A meter appears showing cast distance
  • Release to cast
  • On movement controls, you can slightly adjust the cast while it is being aimed
  • The bobber always lands in a straight line in front of the character
  • When a fish bites, the bobber wiggles and an exclamation point appears above the farmer’s head
  • Press the Use Tool button again to start the fishing mini-game

Inside the mini-game, the goal is to keep the fish icon inside the green rectangle until the progress bar fills completely. If the fish moves outside the rectangle, the progress bar drains and the fish escapes if it empties.

Bait and tackle are attached by dragging them onto the fishing rod in inventory. Replacing them is done the same way, and there is no way to remove them from the rod once attached.

Watering Can charging

Upgraded Watering Cans can water multiple tiles at once.

  • Multiple squares can be watered only in a straight line from the player’s current position
  • The watering area expands in stages, growing from a small line into larger line and box shapes
  • PC: hold left-click to charge the can, then release when the desired area is highlighted
  • Nintendo Switch: hold Y
  • Xbox: hold X
  • PlayStation: hold Square
  • Mobile: tap the nearest square, wait briefly, drag to the farthest square, and release when the target area is highlighted

While charging the Watering Can, moving the character can adjust the hit area as long as the farmer keeps facing the same direction.

Emotes and chat

Emotes are short actions the farmer can perform in multiplayer and other chat-enabled situations, and they appear in a thought bubble above the character.

Emotes can be triggered by:

  • typing the emote command in chat
  • using the Emote Menu keybind
  • holding the Right Thumb Stick on controller

Available emotes include:

  • Happy
  • Sad
  • Heart
  • Exclamation
  • Note
  • Sleep
  • Game
  • Question
  • X
  • Pause
  • Blush
  • Angry
  • Yes
  • No
  • Sick
  • Laugh
  • Surprised
  • Hi!
  • Taunt
  • Uh
  • Music
  • Jar

Blush, Jar, Music, and Taunt are hidden from the emote menu until they are entered as chat commands.

Emojis are also available in chat by selecting them from the Emoji Menu or by typing the corresponding emote code in brackets.

Nintendo Switch 2 mouse controls

The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition supports optional mouse controls through the right Joy Con.

During gameplay:

  • R: pick up furniture or use a tool
  • ZR: rotate furniture, interact with the environment, or use other items
  • R Stick: scroll through the toolbar

In the inventory:

  • R: pick up or drop an entire stack
  • ZR: pick up or drop a single item from a stack

Mouse controls can be disabled in the Options menu.

Controller remapping

Some systems allow controller reassignment outside the game.

  • Nintendo Switch: button mapping can be changed in System Settings > Controllers and Sensors > Change Button Mapping
  • PlayStation: button assignments can be changed in Settings > Accessibility > Button Assignments
  • Xbox One / Xbox 360: controller buttons cannot be reassigned

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