Options

Screenshot of options menu.

The Options menu in Project Zomboid lets you change the graphics settings, UI settings, and some misc gameplay settings. A screenshot of it is shown to the right and each setting is described below.

Display

Fullscreen: Toggles between full screen and windowed mode. If when you change this setting it does not switch, try changing the resolution as well.
Multicore: Toggles whether or not the game will use more than one core or more than one processor in your computer. If you have a single core system or are having trouble with the game crashing, turn this off.
Shaders: Allows you to turn on and off shaders. Turn this off if your computer struggles to run the game.
Resolution: Sets the display resolution for the game.
Lock Framerate: Allows you to limit the speed at which the game runs. It is recommended that this is set to 30 until some bugs have been worked out.
Lighting Quality: Allows you to change the quality of the lighting in game. Turn this down if your computer is struggling to run the game.
Language: Allows you to change the language of the game.

Keybindings

Player Control

Forward: Move forward/up. Default: W
Backward: Move backward/down. Default: S
Left: Move left. Default: A
Right: Move right. Default D
Aim: Hold for Aim/Sneak mode. Default: Left Control
Run: Hold to run. Default: Left Shift
Interact: Press to interact with nearby object. Hold for follow up action. Rapidly tap for emergency action. Default: E
Rotate Building: When building use to rotate building tile. Default: R

UI

Change Graphic: Changes graphics level. (Toggles lighting quality?) Default: G
Toggle UI: Adds or removes the User Interface from the screen. Default: V
Main Menu: Pauses the game and displays the Main Menu. Default: Escape
Toggle Inventory: Opens up or closes your inventory. Default: I
Toggle Skill Panel: Displays or hides the skills window. Default: C
Toggle Health Panel: Displays or hides the health window. Default: H
Toggle Info Panel: Displays or hides the Information window. Default: J
Toggle Music: Pauses or starts the in-game music. Default: M
Take Screenshot: Takes a screenshot. Default: F10
Toggle Survival Guide: Displays or hides the tutorial window. Default: F1
Display FPS: Displays the frames per second. Good for benchmarking or diagnosing problems. Default: K
Pause: Pauses or unpauses the game. Default: F2
Normal Speed: Sets the in-game time to normal speed. Default: F3
Fast Forward 1x: Sets the in-game time to 3x speed. Default: F4
Fast Forward 2x: Sets the in-game time to 10x speed. Default: F5
Fast Forward 3x: Sets the in-game time to 20x speed. Default: F6

Hotkeys

Equip/Unequip Handweapon: Equips your best blunt weapon (rolling pin, crowbar, baseball bat, etc.). Default: 1
Equip/Unequip Firearm: Equips your best firearm (shotgun, pistol, etc.). Default: 2
Equip/Unequip Stab weapon: Equips your best stabbing weapon (butter knife, kitchen knife, etc.). Default: 3
Equip/Turn On/Off Lightsource: Equips and turns on a light source, or if one is on, turns it off. Default: F

Debug

Toggle LUA Debugger: Displays or hides the LUA debugger. Default: F11

Reloading

Reload Difficulty

Sets the reload difficulty.

Easy: Reloading handguns refills the weapon provided you there is ammunition available.
Medium: Reloading handguns rejects or inserts a magazine. The magazine must be reloaded separately.
Hardcore: Reloading handguns rejects or inserts a magazine. The magazine must be reloaded separately. Weapons must be racked before firing to ensure a round is chambered.