Red Dead Redemption 2 Controls

Getting acquainted with the controls is the first hurdle players must overcome before tackling the challenges that lie ahead in Red Dead Redemption 2. From riding horses to shooting foes, players will need to understand the default control scheme on Xbox One or PlayStation 4 before they can hone their skills as an outlaw. Players looking to understand the control layout for Red Dead Redemption 2 need look no further.

Red Dead Redemption 2 Controls

Below, you’ll find a full list of controls and button mapping for Red Dead Redemption 2 on Xbox One and PS4. It’s important to note that the control scheme will change in certain contexts, like when riding or interacting with your horse. We’ve listed the horse controls as separate lists for those looking for horse-specific button commands, as these can be a bit unintuitive at first. 

Horse Controls on Xbox One

• Left Analog Stick – Steer
• A – Tap to change speed; hold to match speed to companion; double tap to move up in formation
• X – Tap to jump (while riding); jump onto vehicle (while matched to vehicle speed); command horse to stay (while locked onto horse from distance); pat horse (while locked on and near horse)
• Right Analog Stick – Look/Aim
• LS – Calm horse
• X – Tap to jump, climb, or vault over obstacles; hold to pick up items or search objects; while hunting, hold to get the attention of animals
• Y – Tap to mount/dismount; while stationary, hold to hitch horse; while on foot, tap to command to follow or lead horse
• B – Kick a target to either side; stop leading horse
• LB – hold to view weapons stored on mount
• RB – Tap to slow down; double tap to move down formation
• LT – Hold to lock on to nearby targets
• RT – Tap to draw weapon, fire weapon, or cock weapon between shots (when applicable)
• D-Pad Right – hold to check horse cargo; feed horse (while locked onto horse)
• D-Pad Left – Brush horse (while locked onto horse)
• D-Pad Left + LT – Toggle shoulder view (while aiming)
• D-Pad Up – Whistle/Call Horse; remove saddle (while locked onto horse); raise your gun to the sky to fire a warning shot (while aiming)

Horse Controls on (PS4)

• Left Analog Stick – Steer
• X – Tap to change speed; hold to match speed to companion; double tap to move up in formation
• L3 – Calm horse
• Square – Tap to jump, climb, or vault over obstacles; hold to pick up or search objects; while hunting, hold to draw animal attention
• Triangle – Tap to mount/dismount; while stationary, hold to hitch horse; while on foot, tap to command to follow or lead horse
• Circle – Kick a target to either side; stop leading horse
• L1 – hold to view weapons stored on mount
• L2 – Hold to lock on to nearby targets
• R1 – Tap to slow down; double tap to move down formation
• R2 – Tap to draw weapon, fire weapon, or cock weapon between shots when applicable
• D-Pad Right – Hold to check horse cargo; feed horse (while locked onto horse)
• D-Pad Left – Brush horse (while locked onto horse)
• D-Pad Left + L2 – Toggle shoulder view (while aiming)
• D-Pad Up – Whistle/Call horse; remove saddle (while locked onto horse); raise your gun to the sky to fire a warning shot (while aiming)

Red Dead Redemption 2 Controls on Xbox One

• View – Press to toggle camera view; press and hold to trigger cinematic view
• Select – Display pause menu; hold to open the map
• Left Analog Stick – Move
• Left Analog Stick (in cover) – Peek
• Left analog + A – Hold to run, tap to sprint
• Left analog + X – Jump/Vault/Climb
• Right Analog Stick – Look/Aim
• LS – Crouch
• RS (Weapon Wheel) – Maintain weapon; hold to look behind
• LS + RS – Eagle Eye
• X – Tap to jump, climb, or vault over obstacles; hold to pick up items or search objects; while hunting, hold to get the attention of animals
• X (while aiming) – Tap to dive; tap to block melee attacks
• X (in cover) – Move to next cover spot (with Left Analog Stick)
• Y – Interact with environment, loot bodies, skin animals; hold to rest; (in melee combat) grapple opponent
• B – Reload weapon/melee combat
• LB – Tap to draw/holster weapon; hold to display wheel menu, tap to pick up weapons or objects, or select weapon with Right analog stick and release to equip weapon
• RB – Take/exit cover; hold to study animal or tap to show/hide animal information
• LT – Hold to aim equipped weapon; hold to lock on to nearby characters or animals
• LT (hold) + RT – Aim and shoot
• LT (hold) + RS – Activate Dead Eye while aiming
• LT (hold) + X – Combat dive
• RT – Tap to draw weapon, fire weapon, or cock weapon between shots (if applicable); rapid tap to shoot from the hip
• D-Pad Right – Hold to open satchel or horse cargo
• D-Pad Left – Tap to display log; hold to check journal
• D-Pad Left + LT – Toggle shoulder view (while aiming)
• D-Pad Up – Whistle/Call Horse
• D-Pad Up (while aiming) – Raise your gun to the sky to fire a warning shot
• D-Pad Down – Tap to view current objective (while on mission), expand radar, display honor rating and environmental information; in camp, tap to show status of camp supplies and savings; hold to change radar type

Red Dead Redemption 2 Controls on PS4

• Left Analog Stick – Move
• Left Analog Stick (in cover) – Peek
• Left Analog + X – Hold to run, tap to sprint
• Right Analog Stick – Look/Aim
• L3 – Crouch
• R3 (Weapon Wheel) – Maintain weapon; hold to look behind
• L3 + R3 – Eagle Eye
• Square – Tap to jump, climb, or vault over obstacles; hold to pick up or search objects; while hunting, hold to draw animal attention
• Square (while aiming) – Tap to dive; tap to block melee attacks
• Square (in cover) – Move to next cover spot (with Left Analog Stick)
• Triangle – Interact with environment, loot bodies, skin animals; hold to rest; (in melee combat) grapple opponent
• Circle – Reload weapon/melee combat
• L1 – Tap to draw/holster weapon; hold to display wheel menu, tap to pick up weapons or objects, or select weapon with Right Analog Stick and release to equip weapon
• R1 – Take/exit cover; hold to study an animal or tap to show/hide animal information

• L2 – Hold to aim equipped weapon; hold to lock on to nearby characters or animals
• L2 (Hold) + R2 – Aim and shoot
• L2 (Hold) + R3 – Activate Dead Eye while aiming
• L2 (Hold) + Square – Combat dive
• R2 – Tap to draw weapon, fire weapon, or cock weapon between shots (if applicable); rapid tap to shoot from the hip
• D-Pad Right – Hold to open satchel or horse cargo
• D-Pad Left – Tap to display log; hold to check journal
• D-Pad Left + L2 – Toggle shoulder view (while aiming)
• D-Pad Up – Whistle/Call Horse
• D-Pad Up (while aiming) – Raise your gun to the sky to fire a warning shot 
• D-Pad Down – Tap to view current objective (while on mission), expand radar, display honor rating and environmental information; in camp, tap to show status of camp supplies and savings; hold to change radar type
• Trackpad – Press to toggle camera view; press and hold to trigger cinematic view
• Options – Display pause menu; hold to open the map

Control Tips for Red Dead Redemption 2

Control Tips for Xbox One

• Hold B (while running): Holding B while running will allow you to tackle them
• D-Pad Left – Tap to display log; hold to check journal
• D-Pad Left + L2 – Toggle shoulder view (while aiming)

Control Tips for PS4

• Trackpad – Press to toggle camera view; press and hold to trigger cinematic view
• Square (while aiming) – Tap to dive; tap to block melee attacks
• Square (in cover) – Move to next cover spot (with Left Analog Stick)

Commit these controls to memory, and you should have little trouble getting used to the control layout for Red Dead Redemption 2 on both PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Remember, the controls will change slightly when riding or interacting with your horse or during combat, so be mindful of these changes when trying to get acclimated with the controls in Red Dead Redemption 2. For more tips, such as how to fast travel, visit our Red Dead Redemption 2 Guide.

This article includes affiliate links, which may provide small compensation to Prima Games.