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Controls and Keybindings
February 22, 2026 at 08:14 AM
New article: Controls and keybindings for keyboard and controller
Starsand Island supports keyboard and mouse as well as controller input. All keybindings are fully remappable through the in-game settings menu. Controller users get additional options for rumble intensity, per-axis camera sensitivity, gyroscope controls, and auto-aim.
W / A / S / D: move
Spacebar: jump
Walk/Run toggle: switches between walking and running speed (remappable in settings)
M: open map
Tab: open phone menu
J: open journal/quests
C: enter build mode (on your farm)
R: open garage (summon vehicles and mounts)
P: photo mode
F: interact with objects, NPCs, and stations
Left Mouse Button: use equipped tool or item
Hold Left Mouse Button: charged strike (stronger hit)
1 through 0: select quickbar slot
Mouse Wheel: scroll through quickbar items
Alt + Mouse Wheel: swap between the two hotbar rows
Move mouse: aim (crosshair at center of screen)
Left Mouse Button: fire
Hold Left Mouse Button: charged shot (more damage)
Right Mouse Button: switch ammo type (Simple Pellets, Bomb Pellets, etc.)
Hold Left Mouse Button: aim cast (longer hold = further cast)
Release Left Mouse Button: release the line into the water
Hold Left Mouse Button: reel in (while a fish is hooked)
Release Left Mouse Button: relax tension (when the line turns red)
The fishing minigame requires alternating between reeling (hold) and releasing (let go) based on line color. White means safe to reel. Red means stop or the line snaps. This rhythm of hold-release-hold is the core fishing mechanic.
Xbox controllers are fully supported with on-screen button prompts that update automatically. The main mappings:
Left Stick: move
Right Stick: camera / aim
RT (Right Trigger): use tool, fire slingshot, cast/reel fishing line
A Button: switch slingshot ammo type
Back Left Button + D-pad Left/Right: switch hotbar items
Back Left Button + D-pad Down: switch between hotbar rows
PlayStation controllers work through Steam Input but display Xbox button labels (a known cosmetic issue). Third-party controllers require Steam Input to be enabled in Steam settings. The GuliKit ES Pro and Elves 2 controllers have special editions created in collaboration with the game.
Rumble intensity adjustment
Separate X-axis and Y-axis camera sensitivity
Aim mode sensitivity (separate from normal camera)
Gyroscope sensitivity controls (pitch, yaw, roll)
Auto-aim toggle
Y-axis and X-axis inversion options
All keyboard, mouse, and controller bindings can be changed through the in-game settings menu. Movement, interaction, navigation, vehicle access, photo mode, build mode, and combat controls are all individually configurable.
A few controls that are easy to miss:
Alt + Mouse Wheel swaps between two hotbar rows. Most players do not discover this until hours in.
Right Mouse Button switches slingshot ammo types. Without this, you might not realize you can swap between Simple Pellets and Bomb Pellets mid-fight.
The walk/run toggle is critical for bug catching. Insects flee when you run toward them. Toggle to walking speed to sneak up.
Skateboards handle parkour puzzles better than the standard jump. Players report they "work really well" for platforming sections.
Tool-specific button prompts appear above the hotbar when a tool is equipped, showing contextual actions.
Jumping feels inconsistent in some areas, with reports of invisible walls mid-air during platforming.
No dedicated single-button map shortcut on controller (keyboard has M; controller requires navigating through the phone menu).
PlayStation controllers show Xbox button labels.
Default controller sensitivity for slingshot aiming is too high for most players. Try lowering it to 30 to 40.
Some Steam Deck users report only joysticks working initially. Enabling Steam Input in Steam settings resolves this.
System requirements: PC specs and performance settings
Getting started: first-day guide and tutorial walkthrough
Bug Net: walk toggle for catching insects
Fishing: fishing mechanics and rod controls
Exploration: slingshot combat in the Moonlit Forest
