The PUBG Mobile HUD is a mess. There’s no getting around it. If your introduction to the game came from an in-game screenshot or a gameplay video, your first thought might not have been “how does this run on a phone”, but “how do people even play this”. That was certainly my first thought. And I’m still baffled by it today, honestly.
But just like how millions of kids made do with Fortnite’s fast-paced building mechanics, PUBG Mobile players have adapted to dizzying amounts on on-screen buttons for simple in-game movements. If you’ve downloaded the game and don’t know how to set up your HUD, this PUBG Mobile controls guide should get you started.
When first firing up PUBG Mobile, one of the things you’ll be asked to do is to select and configure a control scheme. The hard part is knowing the differences between them, as the static images don’t do a great job of explaining things. As a rule of thumb (get it?), it’s mostly down to where your digits should sit and tap to execute the three primary controls – Move, Aim, and Fire.
Controls
- Left: movement – Right: fire
- This is your default option. Movement is done by sliding your thumb around the left half of the screen, with aiming handled by your thumb on the right half. The Fire button is stationary on the right side, meaning it never moves from the same position. This is a good option for those who like to rely on muscle memory.
- Left: movement – Right: fire (floating button)
- Like the last option, this middle choice handles movement by sliding your thumb around the left half of the screen. The difference here is the Fire button follows your thumb as you slide around to aim on the right half. This means you won’t have to pull your right thumb away to fire. Just tap as you lock onto your target.
- Left: movement (fixed button) Right: fire (fixed button)
- Think of this as the hybrid option. Control scheme #3 retains the static Fire button but allows Aim swipes to from from anywhere else on the screen. Movement is shifted to a fixed on-screen joystick. This is handy for both those with longer digits and who prefer more precision on lower sensitivity settings as the increased Aim real-estate allows for much wider swipes.
By switching between the TPP and FPP tabs at the top of this screen, you’ll be able to choose and customize a layout for each camera mode. Just in case you only want that floating Fire button in FFP Deathmatch or TPP Quick Match.
Customization
No matter which option you choose, you’ll be able to tweak virtually every other on-screen button to suit your grip, hand size, and personal preference. If you’ve spent time on any other similar mobile games, this will help you jump straight in with familiar control layouts. Just tap the Customize button on your selected control scheme to get started.
On this screen, you can select and reposition anything from vehicle controls to the lean button. You can even use the sliders at the top to shrink and fade each individual button, allowing you to clear up screen space that might be vital to spotting an enemy in the field.
Layout Profiles
If all this ultra-precise customization wasn’t enough, custom layouts can be saved to profiles for later use. And they’re all uploaded to the cloud, too, meaning you can pull your settings down to any device you log into to. This isn’t just helpful for when buying a new phone/tablet, but for professional players who are often required to use devices provided by the event organizers to avoid things like hacks and cheats in big matches.
Layouts can be saved and uploaded simply by hitting the Save button at the top of the customization screen. They can then be quickly switched between by tapping the layout name at the top. You have three save slots to make use of on each of the three control schemes available. They’re independent of TPP and FPP modes, too, so that’s a grand total of 18 save slots for your control layouts.
Disclaimer: Fanbyte is owned by Tencent, which also runs Tencent Games, developer and publisher of PUBG Mobile. Tencent also subsidizes much of Fanbyte’s PUBG Mobile coverage by covering freelancer budget costs. Those covering PUBG Mobile for the site have no contact with Tencent, however, and are given complete creative control to write whatever they wish.
