World of Warcraft: Forever - How to Play on Controller

Ditch the keyboard! Here is how to enable and master full gamepad controller support in WoW Forever.

A character standing on a path surrounded by foliage, with various interactive buttons displayed on the screen.

Published: Nov 04, 2026, 4:39 pm Updated: Nov 04, 2026, 4:39 pm

Primary Subject: World of Warcraft: Forever
Key Update: Blizzard has integrated native controller and gamepad support into World of Warcraft: Forever, complete with dynamic trigger-swapped action bars and console button legends.
Status: Confirmed
Last Verified: November 4, 2026
Quick Answer: Enable controller mode in the Gameplay Options menu under Gamepad, then use trigger combinations (LT, RT, LT+RT) to switch between action bars and target enemies using RB.

Historically, World of Warcraft has always been on PC and Mac. It's the norm to play it with a keyboard and mouse, but in Forever, it isn't the only way.

Blizzard has confirmed that players can use controllers during their adventure in Azeroth. The game has full gamepad controls, which means everything from abilities to shortcuts has a button. There's even a special easter egg for certain controllers.

Want to play World of Warcraft: Forever on controller? Here's how.

How to Switch to Gamepad Controls in World of Warcraft: Forever

World of Warcraft: Forever supports all XInput-compatible controls and includes Xbox and PlayStation button icons.

A character standing in a desert-like environment, wearing dark robes and holding glowing orange flames in their hands.

To switch to Gamepad controls, press Esc and select Game Menu. Afterward, select Options and then head to Gameplay. Under Gameplay, select Gamepad to switch input. From the Gamepad settings, you can adjust Camera, HUD Modifier, Frame Focus Style, Action Bars, Targeting, and Raid Targeting Options.

How to Use Gamepad Controls in World of Warcraft: Forever

Here's a quick guide on how to move, use abilities, and navigate menus with a controller.

A character in a game standing in a scenic landscape with mountains and trees, accompanied by an open inventory screen.

Move and look around: Move your character with the left stick and control the camera rotation with your right stick.
Select a target: Use the left bumper (LB) for a friendly target or the right bumper (RB) for an enemy target.
Interact and navigate: Use X for Interact, A for Jump, B for Back, and Y for Inspect. These buttons also have spell functions.
Switch action bars: Hold LT, RT, or both triggers together to access different action bars. Release the triggers to return to your default action bar.
Open menus and change focus: The Menu button opens the Main Menu. The View button, marked with overlapping squares, is listed as Change Focus Frame.
Zoom in and Zoom Out with the Camera: Hold the left bumper and the right bumper while moving the right stick forward and backward to zoom the camera in and out.

The gamepad HUD features four action bars. Each can use the same button layout but can feature a set of different abilities. You can hold LT, RT, or LT + RT to switch bars, while letting you revert to the default bar. The HUD updates to show the abilities available on your active bar.

If you want separate layouts for your action bars, you can hold LB + RB and press Left or Right on the directional pad (D-pad) to switch between combat, utility abilities, or frequently used actions.

There are also shortcuts you can use to reach your HUD. These are:

LB + RB + B: Open Backpack
LB + RB + Up: Access Quest Tracker
LB + RB + Down: Access Chat
LB + RB + Y: Manage Buffs

If you ever get confused, a gamepad legend sits in the upper-left corner of the main screen. Additionally, most screens include a gamepad footer that shows what you can do in that panel.

For more like this, check out the PC system requirements for World of Warcraft: Forever.