Approximately Up PC Keyboard Controls
Default keybinds for movement, flight, garage editing, and menus.
Approximately Up uses different control layers depending on whether you are walking around the base, editing in the garage, or flying a ship you wired yourself. This reference lists the default PC keyboard controls for the Steam demo. Rebinds may be added in updates; press M in-game to open the manual for the latest list.
If you are brand new, read Getting Started first for context on when to use G versus R. Ship-specific inputs (joysticks, levers, RCS) depend on your build — see Build Your First Ship and RCS Thrusters Setup.
Movement and character actions
| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Move forward | W |
| Move left | A |
| Move back | S |
| Move right | D |
| Roll left | Q |
| Roll right | E |
| Sprint | Left Shift |
| Jump | Space |
| Crouch | C |
| Flashlight | T |
| Ping / mark | F |
| Action / interact | E |
| Control modifier | Left Ctrl |
| Alt modifier | Left Alt |
On foot, E handles interaction with terminals, cargo, and seats. Space jumps; hold it in some contexts to continue upward movement. Double-tap Left Shift to toggle hover-style dampening where the game supports it.
Flight and ship control
| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Enter / exit fly mode (hold) | R |
| Reset lever or joystick value | Mouse 3 (middle click) |
Fly mode is the heart of the game. Hold R to launch — physics engage, loose parts may fall, and your thrusters either work or do not. Hold R again to end the flight; the world resets to the pre-flight arrangement so you can patch wiring in garage mode.
Inside a cockpit, click a joystick or lever to focus it, then use WASD and mouse movement to actuate it. Many builders pair a 2D joystick for main thrust with a 3D joystick for RCS. If a control sticks or your ship tumbles, Mouse 3 resets the focused lever or joystick to neutral before you rebuild anything.
Garage edit mode
| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Toggle garage edit mode | G |
| Garage debug info | H |
| Clone selected part | C |
| Delete selected part | X |
| Box-select (with Ctrl) | Ctrl+G, then drag |
| Lift selection (garage) | Ctrl+G, then mouse drag |
Press G to enter garage editing. This is where you place frames, thrusters, routers, and logic blocks. C clones the highlighted component; X removes it. Use Ctrl+G to select groups — essential when moving an entire thruster cluster after a power routing fix.
Context note: C also crouches on foot. The game uses mode context — if you are in garage edit with a part selected, clone takes priority.
Menus and UI
| Action | Key |
|---|---|
| Inventory | I |
| Objectives | O |
| Blueprints | B |
| Manual | M |
| Time rewind | P |
| Lobby info | Tab |
| Empty hand / clear tool | ` (backtick) |
| Edit seat key bindings | Left Alt |
| New chat message | Enter |
| Close chat bubble | Tab |
O opens mission objectives — track ice cream deliveries, lost packages, and unlock paths from the Missions Walkthrough. B stores ship blueprints once the feature is unlocked through progression.
Controls versus ship design
Keyboard defaults only get you to the garage door. Actual flight uses the components you wire:
- Throttles and joysticks — data ports to thrusters
- RCS controller — pitch, yaw, roll inputs from a 3D joystick
- Switches and buttons — toggle hover logic (Hover Logic guide) or landing gear
Wrong wiring feels like bad controls. Before remapping keys, confirm power routers and data cables in Power and Data Routing.
Co-op and communication
Online co-op supports four players. Tab shows lobby information; Enter sends chat. Split tasks: one player in G garage mode while another holds R for test flights. See the Co-op Guide for crew workflows.
Quick troubleshooting
| Problem | Try this |
|---|---|
| Ship will not launch | Hold R long enough; check that fly mode is not blocked by unfinished wiring |
| Lever stuck at full thrust | Mouse 3 on the focused control |
| Cannot edit blocks | Press G — you may still be in fly mode |
| Wrong part deleted | Ctrl+G selection before X; clone (C) backups first |
| Spinning in space | Reset joystick, then verify RCS thruster axis knobs |
Related guides
- Getting Started — tutorial flow on Earth
- Build Your First Ship — cockpit layout patterns
- Moon Landing Guide — transfer burns and landing approach
- Thrust Calculator — tune thrust after control surfaces work
Master G, R, and Mouse 3 first. Everything else in Approximately Up builds on those three.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions.
How do I launch my ship?
Hold R to enter fly mode. Hold R again to end the flight and reset the scene to its pre-flight state.
How do I open garage edit mode?
Press G. Use C to clone parts, X to delete, and Ctrl+G to box-select groups of components.
My lever is stuck at full power — what now?
Click the lever to focus it, then press Mouse 3 (middle mouse button) to reset it to neutral.
Can I control thrusters with the keyboard directly?
Not by default. Wire joysticks, throttles, or buttons to thruster data ports. Once focused, WASD often drives the selected joystick.
Where do I see active missions?
Press O to open the objectives screen. The Missions Walkthrough guide explains ice cream delivery, lost packages, and unlock rewards.