Baldur's Gate 3 is an RPG that relies heavily on interacting with the world around you. That means many of the items you'd typically think were just set pieces can actually be used, moved, and looted. But you'll want to know how to highlight objects in Baldur's Gate 3 if you're used to other games that don't let you interact with virtually everything.
By enabling the method to have Baldur's Gate 3 objects highlighted in real time, you'll take much of the guesswork out of the game. No matter where you go, you'll see exactly what you can interact with. In the long term, it'll save you time and energy. In the short term, it'll teach you a lot about how Larian Studios expects you to forge your own path in this one.
How to highlight objects in Baldur's Gate 3
Highlighting objects in Baldur's Gate 3 doesn't refer to simply hovering your mouse cursor over a chest, barrel, or body in an effort to loot, bag, or throw it. Instead, it's a method used to signal which items on the whole screen can be interacted with.
To highlight objects in Baldur's Gate 3, you just need to hold the Left Alt key. If you're using a controller, holding down the right thumbstick (R3) will highlight objects as well.
How to change the highlight objects button in Baldur's Gate 3
If you want to change the button used to highlight objects in-game, you just need to open up the menu, navigate to the Keybinds tab, and look for the Expand Tooltips command. Change this keybind to change how you highlight objects.
Can you highlight every object in Baldur's Gate 3?
Curiously, some objects, like barrels, aren't affected by the Expand Tooltips command that highlights objects in BD3.
Small containers like pouches, lootable bodies, and materials like grass will show up, yet barrels, which can contain lots of gold and restoratives, won't. That means it's still important that you scout the area with your cursor as well. Don't rely solely on the Expand Tooltips command to find everything.
For more early game tips, check out how to change spells, how to swap party members, and how to use the forge in Baldur's Gate 3 as well. As if you're struggling to download the game quick enough, here's a look at how to fix a Baldur's Gate 3 Steam download, too.