Keyboard controls
| Key or action | What it does |
|---|---|
| WASD / arrow keys | Move forward, back and sideways. |
| Mouse / trackpad movement | Look around after entering the game. |
| Space | Jump. |
| Single click | Place in Build mode; hold to remove in Break mode. |
| E / right-click | In Gather & Build, E opens inventory and right-click places a collected block. In other modes both place a block. |
| Hold Q | Break the targeted block without changing Build mode. |
| F | Switch the click mode between Build and Break. |
| 1–9 in Gather & Build; 1–8 in other modes / scroll | Choose a building material. |
| R | Return to safety. Adds a fall penalty in Build & Climb. |
| Esc / Enter | Free the cursor / return to looking. The world keeps running. |
| G / H / P | Friends / settings / pause. Online clocks continue during pauses. |
Place a block on a trackpad
Walk close to a solid block. Aim at its side or top until the placement outline appears. Select Build in the toolbar, then make a one-finger click. Right-click also places a block. E places blocks in Creative and the adventure modes; in Gather & Build it opens inventory.
If the hint says you are in the way, take a step back. If it says too far away, move closer. You cannot build inside another block or through a protected landing.
Hold to break, instead of tapping
Hold Q while aiming at a block. Keep the same target until the progress indicator completes. Releasing the key or changing targets cancels the removal.
Different materials have different break times. Leaves are quick; stone takes longer. In Build & Climb the original route is protected, and only the blocks you placed can be reclaimed.
Camera and small screens
Open the question-mark button in the game to adjust Look sensitivity. A lower setting makes trackpad aiming gentler. After Esc, click the world or press Enter to resume looking. Use P for a full pause.
On touch devices, drag the lower-left area to move: a joystick appears under your thumb. Drag the right side to look while moving. Use the arrow to jump, the pickaxe to attack or hold to mine, and the hand to use an item or place a block. The upper-right menu contains friends, help and pause. Laptop and Chromebook play is the main experience; performance varies with the device and browser. A network restriction can still prevent the game from connecting.
