Keybind in Gaming: What It Means and How to Set It Up
A keybind (also called a key binding or hotkey) is the link between one input and one in-game action: the key or mouse button you press, and the thing that happens. "Q is bound to your first spell" is a keybind. The default set ships with the game, and most PC games let you change it in an options menu.
Rebinding sounds simple, but real games add rules about which keys are allowed, where the settings are stored and what happens when they fail to save. This page uses official support pages from Riot Games and Blizzard, read on 2 November 2026.
Where you rebind
The location differs per game, and some games have two places. League of Legends is a clear example. Riot's hotkeys FAQ says there are two: the in-game options menu (press Esc, then Keybindings) and the League client (Settings, Hotkeys). The client offers extra keys that the in-game menu does not. Clicking "Restore Defaults" there removes all customisation.
Which keys can be bound
Riot documents the limits for League of Legends, which makes a handy model of what to expect in other games:
| Category | Keys |
|---|---|
| Cannot be bound alone | Shift, Control, Alt, Command, Function |
| Can be bound, but have a fixed job | Escape (client only, closes windows), Caps Lock (client only), F9 (stops screen edge scrolling), F12 (screenshot), Enter and Num Enter (open chat), Command plus a key on Mac (clashes with macOS shortcuts) |
| Freely bindable | All other keyboard keys, plus mouse buttons 1 to 5 |
The lesson is general: modifier keys usually work only as part of a combination, and a few keys are reserved for the system or the chat window. If a binding "does nothing", check the reserved list before blaming the game.
Keybinds that disappear
A custom layout that reverts after you log out is a known problem with a documented first fix. Blizzard Support lists "when I log out my custom game keybinds go back to default" as a common problem. For World of Warcraft its steps are:
- Log into the affected character.
- Type
/console synchronizeSettings 1in chat and press Enter. - Log out through the Escape menu.
- If it keeps happening, reset the user interface to clear corrupted files and add-ons.
The all-games list in the same article adds a check that the installation folder is not set to read-only, which can happen after copying a game folder from a second drive.
League has the opposite situation: hotkeys are account-bound and stored on Riot's servers. Editing the local config file alone is not enough. Riot's FAQ says to edit PersistedSettings.json (Input.ini section) while logged in, save it, then join a Custom Game and exit so the change is saved.
What support will not do
Blizzard's article on keybinding is blunt: its Customer Support cannot assist with setting up or changing keybindings, and it points players to the UI and Macro forums. Add-on authors and class guides are the practical source of help. If the interface misbehaves, the suggested first step is to turn off all add-ons or reset the interface.
Setting up a layout that holds up
- Keep movement and common actions under your resting fingers. The default WASD cluster and the keys around it are the cheapest to reach.
- Group by purpose. Put attack, defence and utility actions on neighbouring keys so muscle memory forms by area.
- Use modifiers to multiply keys. A Shift or Ctrl combination adds a second layer without moving your hand, as long as the game allows the combination.
- Avoid reserved keys (see the table above).
- Write down your layout or screenshot the options screen before reinstalling or switching accounts. Layouts stored on a server, as in League, come back with the account; for local ones the screenshot is the backup.
- Change one thing at a time. After a rebind, test it in a practice mode before a ranked match.
Related terms
- Controls and input settings glossary: toggles, default settings, mouse smoothing and the short Keybinds entry.
- World of Warcraft wiki: interface and add-on terms for WoW.
- In-game overlay: its shortcuts, such as Shift+Tab for Steam, sit apart from your game binds.
- Settings walkthroughs: Arc Raiders best settings and Aion 2 best settings.
FAQ
Is a keybind the same as a hotkey?
In practice yes. Riot's League of Legends support uses "Hotkeys (Keybindings)" for the same list of key-to-action links.
Why do my keybinds reset?
Often the game failed to save the settings. In World of Warcraft Blizzard suggests /console synchronizeSettings 1, a clean log out through the Escape menu and, if needed, an interface reset.
Can I bind a mouse button?
In League of Legends yes: mouse buttons 1 to 5 are bindable. Other games vary, so check the rebinding screen.
Will support set my keybinds for me?
For World of Warcraft, no. Blizzard states that its Customer Support cannot assist with setting up or changing keybindings.
