How to crouch in Starfield

The player character exploring a snowy planet in Starfield.

The player character exploring a snowy planet in Starfield.
November 9, 2023 - With Starfield out now, take a look at how to crouch and use stealth in the game.

To avoid taking damage, you'll need to crouch in Starfield. Doing so is a great way to ensure you make yourself a harder target to hit, while also likely increasing the stability of your aim. Therefore, it's crucial to your ongoing interstellar survival.

In this guide, we'll explain how to crouch in Starfield. It may seem simple - especially if you're familiar with Bethesda's previous RPGs - but a new game could mean a new method.

To learn more about Starfield, read up on how to customise your character. We've also got a look at the Starfield missions list, which can be found in our complete directory of the game - our Starfield hub!

How do I crouch in Starfield?

To crouch in Starfield, click in RS on your Xbox controller, or hit CTRL on PC.

That's how you'll be able to crouch in Starfield. Early leaked footage of the game showed the player character crouching during a combat sequence, though there doesn't seem to be an in-game prompt telling you how to do it. Now the game is out too, we know for sure this is the case.

For that reason, we've deduced that the method must be identical to how you crouch in other Bethesda RPGs, including Fallout 4 or Skyrim. In those games, which are primarily played in first-person, hitting the right stick puts you in stealth mode, where you crouch down and move more slowly. Starfield seems to replicate this exactly.

Once you're crouched, a small bar showing the Hidden status will appear on your screen. This means you're currently undetected by enemies, so you can choose to sneak past them or take them out silently. It's helpful to know that crouching is a go-to when going for a stealthy playthrough, and it'll no doubt be a very frequently used feature.

It isn't a groundbreaking discovery by any means, but knowing how to crouch in Starfield can not only let you duck behind cover during combat but also allow you to sneak around if you're trying to stealthily bypass a fight. It's a really handy tool to have in your intergalactic belt, so be sure to use it when necessary.

That's it for our guide on how to crouch in Starfield! For more on the game, brush up on the confirmed Starfield download size, plus the Starfield achievements list.