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Settings hotkeys basic blank

The game basic hotkeys setting menu with no hotkeys set.

Settings hotkeys advanced blank

The game advanced hotkeys setting menu with no hotkeys set.

The hotkeys settings can be accessed by clicking on the little Settings icon gear icon in the most top left corner in the main menu. Here, the player can customize many hotkeys, or select one of the many pre-set hotkey templates. Almost every key on the keyboard can be bound to something, with a very few exceptions. The exceptions usually have a set purpose in the game and thus are unbindable.

Some commands are <blank> because they have no default Hotkey bounded.

Unbindable Keys[]

See also: Controls

Several hotkeys have a set purpose, which cannot be changed. This results in them mostly being un-rebindable.

  • The following keys are completely unbindable:
    • Esc
    • ⇧ Shift (both left and right)
    • Ctrl (both left and right)
    • Keyboard White Mouse Left Left Click
    • Keyboard White Mouse Right Right Click
  • Alt can only bound together with other keys, as a combo key.
    • AltGr [1] is treated as the same key.
    • Although the Alt modifier can be bound to another key, it is still unbindable. When the modifier gets rebound, Alt has no use.
  • ⊞ Win (both left and right) or ⌘ Cmd are unbindable, but they can be turned bindable in the Advanced Hotkey Settings. These keys keep their default function, which is opening the start menu on the desktop. This is true even when the keys get bound ingame.
  • The Prt Sc [2] is fully bindable, but it also keeps its default function, which is to take screenshots.
  • The following keys are bindable on their own, but cannot be combined with Alt:
    • Prt Sc
    • Tab ↹
  • All other standard keys are bindable.

Basic Hotkeys[]

Settings hotkeys reset templates

Reset Options

Basic hotkeys are active while playing a match. The player can change the hotkeys at any time, even during a match. There are hotkeys for abilities, items, unit actions, shop actions, chat, interface and control groups.

In the Advanced Hotkey Settings, there are additional settings for unit actions, shop actions, interface and control groups, and the hotkeys for camera actions, saved camera positions and some hotkey setting options.

Hotkey Templates[]

By default, the game uses the Arrow (Default) hotkey layout.

The player can choose from a variety of preset hotkey templates, which can be found by clicking on Reset hotkeys... at the bottom left of the settings menu. The available templates are:

Template Description
Arrow (Default) Dota 2 default hotkeys.
WASD Dota 2 default hotkeys.
Adapted for using WASD for camera movement.
Legacy Keys Dota 1 style hotkeys.
With different ability hotkeys for every hero and unit.
MMO Key bindings similar to various Massively Multiplayer Online games.
League of Legends Key bindings similar to League of Legends.
Heroes of Newerth Key bindings similar to Heroes of Newerth.
Smite Key bindings similar to Smite.

Legacy Keys can also be enabled by ticking the corresponding option in the Advanced Hotkeys Settings, rather than starting over with this template.

Activating a template unbinds all hotkeys used in it from their existing actions. Hotkeys can still be changed freely after selecting a template, except Legacy Keys' item hotkeys.

Abilities[]

Settings hotkeys abilities

Ability hotkeys section. Hotkeys apply to all units by default, but can be set to use different hotkeys for heroes, couriers and neutrals. Each hero can have its own unique hotkeys set.

Settings hotkeys abilities unit specific

The unit selection menu for ability hotkeys.

There are 6 ability slots which can be used. If one slot is empty and contains no ability, it is not visible in-game, and all abilities coming after it are moved together. For example, if a unit has an ability in slot 1 and 3, but no ability in slot 2, then the 2nd slot is not visible and the 3rd ability is moved next to the 1st ability, so that there is no gap. However, the slots are still bound according to the settings. Despite the 3rd slot being moved to remove the gap, its hotkey is still equal to whatever is set for the 3rd slot in the ability hotkey settings.

Heroes usually have 3 basic abilities in their first 3 slots, and their ultimate ability always in the 6 slot. This causes the ultimate ability to always use the Hotkey set for the 6th slot, despite the ultimate visually appearing in the 4th slot. This is why the hotkey of the 4th ability on non-hero units is not equal to the hotkey of ultimate abilities. The non-hero unit has 4 abilities in its 4 slots and has the 5th and 6th slot empty, so they are not displayed. If its 4th ability would be moved to the 6th slot, it would make visually no difference, but change its hotkey to what is set in the 6th slot.

By default, the ability hotkeys apply to every unit the player controls. It is possible though, to bind different hotkeys to heroes, couriers and other units by turning ▣ Unit Specific Hotkeys on. It is also possible to bind unique hotkeys for each hero, however, this is not possible for other units. Clicking on Clear after having given non-hero units, couriers or an individual hero unique settings, sets the hotkeys back to what the player set as default.

Regular Cast and Quickcast[]

Settings hotkeys abilities advanced

To enable unique bindings for cast, quickcast and autocast, turn on ☐ Enable Advanced Quickcast/Autocast Hotkeys in the advanced hotkeys section

The player can choose between regular cast (Hotkey and then select target) and quickcast (Hotkey and automatically cast it where the cursor is).

Autocast is by default Alt+Hotkey. It is possible to choose between regular cast and quickcast for couriers, non-heroes and for each hero, just like how unique bindings are possible.

Advanced Quickcast/Autocast Hotkeys

The ☐ Enable Advanced Quickcast/Autocast Hotkeys settings can be turned on if the player wishes to use regular and quickcast, or wants to use different autocast hotkeys. This allows setting different hotkeys for regular, quickcast and autocast for each slot. This also works together with Unit Specific Hotkeys.

However, this setting is not compatible with Legacy Hotkeys. The player can only decide between regular and quickcast, and autocast is always Alt+Hotkey.

Settings[]

  • Preset autocast hotkeys are all Alt+Hotkey.
  • Only the League of Legends template has Quickcast activated, the others do not.
  • Legacy Keys are different for each hero and unit. These keys can be found on the hero pages.
    • Ability hotkeys cannot be altered when using Legacy Keys.
Settings Preset Templates
Name Purpose Default / LoL / HoN WASD Legacy MMO / Smite
Cast 1 Selects/uses 1st ability
▣☐☐☐☐☐
Q Q - 1
Cast 2 Selects/uses 2nd ability
☐▣☐☐☐☐
W E - 2
Cast 3 Selects/uses 3rd ability
☐☐▣☐☐☐
E R - 3
Cast 4
Upgradable by Aghanim's Scepter.
Selects/uses 4th ability
☐☐☐▣☐
D T - 5
Cast 5
Upgradable by Aghanim's Shard.
Selects/uses 5th ability
☐☐☐☐▣
F G - 6
Cast 6
(Ultimate)
Selects/uses 6th ability
☐☐☐☐☐▣
R F - 4

Items[]

Settings hotkeys items

Item hotkeys section. Hotkeys apply to all inventories of units of the player.

Settings hotkeys items advanced

▣ Enable Advanced Quickcast/Autocast Hotkeys
Turn this setting on to enable unique bindings for cast and quickcast in the Advanced Hotkeys section.

Just like ability hotkeys, the item hotkeys are displayed in the same order as the item slots in the HUD, the only difference being that all 6 slots are visible all the time.

The ☐ Enable Advanced Quickcast/Autocast Hotkeys also works for items, allowing the player to bind regular and quickcast to each item slots.

Items cannot be autocast, so there are no settings for autocasting items. Item hotkeys are shared by all units under the player's control and cannot be set for each hero individually.

Selects/Uses Ability Preset Templates
Slot Name Default / WASD / MMO Legacy LoL HoN Smite
Top left slot
▣☐☐
☐☐☐
Z Num7 1 Alt+Q F
Top middle slot
☐▣☐
☐☐☐
X Num8 2 Alt+W G
Top right slot
☐☐▣
☐☐☐
C Num9 3 Alt+E H
Bottom left slot
☐☐☐
▣☐☐
V Num4 4 Alt+A Z
Bottom middle slot
☐☐☐
☐▣☐
B Num5 5 Alt+S X
Bottom right slot
☐☐☐
☐☐▣
N Num6 6 Alt+D C
The preset templates have by default no hotkeys assigned to Quickcast.

Unit Actions[]

Settings hotkeys basic unit actions

Basic unit actions section

Settings hotkeys advanced unit actions

Advanced unit actions section

These hotkeys are for generic unit commands like attacking, moving, stopping, etc.

Settings Preset Templates
Name Default / Legacy / WASD / LoL / HoN MMO / Smite
Basic
Select Hero
  • Selects the main hero.
F1
Space for LoL / MMO / Smite
Select All Controlled Units
  • Select all units under the player's control.
<blank>
Attack Move (Force Attack)
  • Orders selected units to move to a location but attack any enemy within acquisition range
  • Force-attack an allied unit if it is denyable.
A
Space for WASD or Q for Smite
Hold Position
  • Interrupts selected units' current action and makes them hold their position.
H
<blank> for Smite
Advanced
Learn Ability
  • Toggles the ability learn overlay.
  • Tapping ability Hotkey while having the overlay on attempts to level up the ability.
O
F1 for Smite
Upgrade Talent Talents
  • Clicking this hotkey opens the Talent tree popup.
  • 1 or 2 (for left or right talent), or Keyboard White Mouse Left Left Click on the talent.
U
Move
  • Orders selected units to move to a location.
  • Orders selected units to follow a targeted unit, without attacking it.
M
Directional Move
  • Move in a direction without pathfinding.
<blank>
Patrol
  • Adds a patrol way point for units, moving between their current and the targeted patrol point.
  • It is possible to give units multiple patrol.
<blank>
Cancel Current Action
  • Interrupts selected units' current action.
S
E for MMO / Smite
<blank> for WASD
Select All Other Units
  • Select all units under the player's control, except the main hero.
<blank>
Activate Glyph J or I for HoN
Activate Scan P
K for LoL or N for Smite
Taunt Item
  • Uses the currently equipped Taunt item.
<blank> or N for HoN.
Action Item <blank>
Toggle Autoattack
  • Temporarily toggles the autoattack state.
<blank>

Shop Actions[]

Settings hotkeys basic shop actions

Basic shop actions section

Settings hotkeys advanced shop actions

Advanced shop actions section

These hotkeys are for generic shop commands like courier orders, opening/closing shop, buying items, etc.

Settings Preset templates
Name Default / WASD /
Legacy / MMO
HoN LoL Smite
Basic
Select Courier
F2 <blank> C K
Courier Deliver Items
F3 ` X L
Purchase Quickbuy
  • Purchases the next item in the Quickbuy, if the player has enough Gold.
F5 [ O
Advanced
Courier Speed Burst
<blank>
Purchase Sticky
F8 ] P
Take Stash Items
  • Transfers all items to the hero when close enough.
<blank>
Open Shop
F4 B P I

Control Groups[]

Settings hotkeys basic control groups

Basic control groups section

Settings hotkeys advanced control groups

Advanced control groups section

These keys are the assignment for unit groups.

To bind units to a group, select the units and then press Ctrl+Group Hotkey. To add a unit to an already existing group, select the unit and press ⇧ Shift+Group Hotkey.

The group assignment gets synchronized to the Steam Cloud [3], so the player does not have to re-bind the same units to the same control group for each game.

Settings Preset Templates
Name Default / WASD / Legacy / MMO / HoN MMO LoL Smite
Basic
Next Unit
  • Cycles between the set control groups, or between selected units.
  • Ctrl+⤓ Hold+Hotkey cycles in reverse order.
Tab ↹ ` T
Prev Unit
  • Cycles between the set control groups, or between selected units, in reversed order.
<blank>
Group 1
  • Selects the 1st preset control group of units.
1 F F1 Num1
Group 2
  • Selects the 2nd preset control group of units.
2 G F2 Num2
Group 3
  • Selects the 3rd preset control group of units.
3 <blank> F3 Num3
Group 4
  • Selects the 4th preset control group of units.
4 <blank> F4 Num4
Advanced
Group 5
  • Selects the 5th preset control group of units.
5 <blank> F5 Num5
Group 6
  • Selects the 6th preset control group of units.
6 <blank> F6 Num6
Group 7
  • Selects the 7th preset control group of units.
7
<blank> for MMO / HoN / Smite
Group 8
  • Selects the 8th preset control group of units.
8
<blank> for MMO / HoN / Smite
Group 9
  • Selects the 9th preset control group of units.
9
<blank> for MMO / HoN / Smite
Group 10
  • Selects the 10th preset control group of units.
10
<blank> for MMO / HoN / Smite

Interface[]

Settings hotkeys basic interface

Basic interface section

Settings hotkeys advanced interface

Advanced interface section

These hotkeys are for interface related things the player can do ingame, like opening the scoreboard, pausing the game, taking screenshots, etc.

Settings Preset Templates
Purpose Default Legacy LoL HoN WASD Smite MMO
Basic
Camera Grip
  • Moves camera in the opposite direction.
Keyboard White Mouse Middle Middle Click+⤓ Hold
Scoreboard
  • Opens the in-game scoreboard.
` Tab ↹ K ` T Tab ↹
Pause and Unpause F9
Advanced
Screenshot F6
Console
  • Opens and closes the in-game console.
\ or ` for MMO
Alt Modifier
  • Rebind the Alt modifier.
<blank>

Camera Actions[]

Settings hotkeys advanced camera actions

Advanced camera actions section

These keys are for controlling the game camera.

Settings Preset Templates
Name Default / Legacy /
LoL / HoN
WASD /
MMO
Smite
Advanced
Camera Up W
Camera Down S A
Camera Left A S
Camera Right D
Camera Zoom In Keyboard White Mouse Middle ↑ Scroll Up
Camera Zoom Out Keyboard White Mouse Middle ↓ Scroll Down
Show Recent Event
  • Jumps the camera to a recent event
(hero death, tower death, etc).
<blank>
Space for Default / HoN
Showcase View
  • Enters a view up-close to the selected unit.
I
V for HoN or <blank> for Smite

Saved Camera Positions[]

Settings hotkeys advanced saved camera positions

Advanced saved camera positions section

These keys are the assignment for saved camera positions. In order to bind a position to a key, move the camera to the desired spot and then press Ctrl+Camera Position Key. Pressing the Hotkey now will move the camera to the saved spot. Pressing it again moves it back to where it was before.

The saved camera positions gets synchronized to the Steam Cloud [4], so the player does not have to re-save the same spots always to the same Hotkey for each game.

Camera Positions are <blank> by default.

Settings Preset Templates
All
Advanced
Position 1
  • Moves the camera to the 1st saved location.
<blank>
Position 2
  • Moves the camera to the 2nd saved location.
Position 3
  • Moves the camera to the 3rd saved location.
Position 4
  • Moves the camera to the 4th saved location.
Position 5
  • Moves the camera to the 5th saved location.
Position 6
  • Moves the camera to the 6th saved location.
Position 7
  • Moves the camera to the 7th saved location.
Position 8
  • Moves the camera to the 8th saved location.
Position 9
  • Moves the camera to the 9th saved location.
Position 10
  • Moves the camera to the 10th saved location.

Chat[]

Settings hotkeys basic chat

Basic chat section

These are the hotkeys for the ingame chat. Besides hotkeys, there also is a chat wheel function and pre-listed common phrases which the player can assign keys to as well. The chat wheel and this phrases are displayed in the ingame chat upon using.

Settings Preset Templates
Name Default / HoN Legacy / LoL WASD / MMO / Smite
Basic
Chat to Team
  • Opens chat window to send a message to everyone in your team.
↵ Enter
Chat to Everyone
  • Opens chat window to send a message to everyone in the current game.
  • This key is set automatically to ⇧ Shift+Team Chat Hotkey.
⇧ Shift+↵ Enter
Voice Chat (Party)
  • Enables voice chat to speak to the current party.
  • When Open Mic is activated, this will also work in the dashboard.
<blank>
Voice Chat (Team)
  • Enables voice chat to speak to teammates in the current match.
G Space
Z for LoL
,
Chat Wheel
  • Opens the Chat Wheel, allowing to communicate commonly used phrases.
Y
, for Legacy or V for Smite

Chat Phrases & Chat Wheel[]

Main Article: Chat Wheel
Settings hotkeys chat phrases

Chat phrases section

Settings hotkeys chat wheel

Chat wheel section

The chat phrases menu allows player to bind certain set phrases to hotkeys. Upon pressing the hotkey, a phrase will be put in the chat for your team or for everyone, depending on what phrase it is.
By default, none of the phrases are bound to any key. The chat wheel is by default empty. The player has to select the phrases manually if the use of chat wheel is desired.

All chat phrases are automatically translated to all supported languages, making it possible to communicate through languages barriers.

The set phrases are (these are unchangable):

Phrase Full message
Care "Careful!"
Get Back "Get Back!"
Need Wards "We need wards."
Stun "Stun now!"
Help "Help!"
Push "Push now"
Well played "Well played!"
Missing "Missing!"
"Missing top!"
"Missing middle!"
"Missing bottom!"
Missing top "Missing top!"
Missing middle "Missing middle!"
Missing bottom "Missing bottom!"

Hotkeys Options[]

Settings hotkeys advanced hotkeys options

The advanced hotkeys options section.

Here are several hotkeys related option and preferences the player can turn on or off, ranging from ↓↓ Double-tapping options to quickcast options and shop hotkeys.

Settings
(Official Description)
Explanation
Quickcast On Key Down
  • The quickcast ability will trigger when the Hotkey is pressed down, instead of when released up.
  • Makes that quickcast uses the ability as soon as the button is pressed, instead of when releasing the button.
Double Tap Ability to Self Cast
  • Double-clicking an ability or item, or double-tapping will cast it on yourself when available.
Smart Double Tap
  • Holding down Alt when pressing an ability or item will trigger a double-tap if possible.
  • Enables double-click support for when using Quickcast. Instead of double-tapping, press Alt+Hotkey.
Shop Always Uses Hotkeys
  • Hotkeys in the shop will override any keys that have been assigned to other functions when the shop is open.
  • Causes the shop Hotkeys to activate.
  • Activating this does not mess up/interfere with other set Hotkeys.
Left-Click Activates Camera Grip
  • When checked, you must use the Keyboard White Mouse Left Left Click in addition to the Camera Grip key to start camera movement.
  • Adds the Keyboard White Mouse Left Left Click as a combo key for camera dragging, making it only possible to drag when holding both keys.
  • The default Camera Dragging hotkey is Keyboard White Mouse Middle Middle Click+⤓ Hold.
Use Legacy Keys
  • Use hotkeys from Dota 1.
  • Ability hotkeys will vary per Hero.
  • Activating legacy keys will unbind every key used by legacy keys, when they were bound to other controls already.
Allow Windows / Command key to be bound
  • Allows the player to bind ⊞ Win
  • Allows the player to bind ⌘ Cmd
Bind keys based on keyboard position
  • Changing this may require you to update your bindings.
  • Makes keys to get bind based on the keyboard position instead of key names.
  • This means when a key name on non-QWERTY language variants doesn't get recognized, this setting makes it possible to bind it.
Enable Advanced Quickcast / Autocast Hotkeys
  • Enable Settings UI to allow you to explicitly bind Quickcast and Autocast ability and item keybinds.
  • Replaces the quickcast ☐ tickbox below the abilities and items hotkey settings with tabs for separate cast and quick cast (and autocast for abilities).
  • The player may bind cast, quickcast and autocast to each slot individually.

Spectator Settings[]

Settings hotkeys spectator blank

The spectator hotkeys setting menu with no hotkeys set currently.

The spectator hotkeys settings can be found by clicking on SPECTATOR >> at the bottom right corner of the basic or Advanced Hotkey Settings window. The player can set hotkeys for spectating/watching replays, for the stats dropdown ≣ Menu in live games or replays, coaching hotkeys and saved spectator camera positions.

These Hotkeys do not interfere with the basic/advanced hotkeys. While basic/advanced hotkeys are only active while actually playing a match, the spectator hotkeys are only active while spectating a live game or watching a replay.

Spectator Settings are <blank> by default.

Spectator & Replay Controls[]

Settings hotkeys spectator spectator & replay controls

Spectator & replay controls section

This section covers camera movement, spectator menus and replay speed for spectating.

Ticking the ☐ Copy Hotkeys from Hero Panel will use the same hotkeys for camera movement, pause, spectator chat and scoreboard from the standard hotkeys settings.

Settings Preset Templates
Purpose Default Legacy LoL HoN WASD Smite MMO
Spectator Scoreboard
  • Opens the in-game spectator scoreboard.
` Tab ↹ K ` T Tab ↹
Spectator Camera Controls
Spectator Camera Forward W
Spectator Camera Back S
Spectator Camera Left A
Spectator Camera Right D
Spectator Camera Grip
  • Moves camera in the opposite direction.
Keyboard White Mouse Middle Middle Click+⤓ Hold
Spectator Functions
Spectator Pause
  • Only for replay pauses.
F9
Spectator Chat ⇧ Shift+↵ Enter
Open Broadcaster Menu F10
Increase Replay Speed
  • 2x, 4x, 6x, 12x
= or [ for HoN
Decrease Replay Speed
  • 2x, 4x, 6x, 12x
or ] for HoN
Game Stats
Spectator Harvest Stats
  • Opens a stats window XP/min, Gold/min,
    current Gold and NetWorth of all players.
F4
Spectator Item Stats
F5
Spectator Gold Graph
  • Gold graphs of both teams.
F6
Spectator XP Graph
  • XP graphs of both teams.
F7
Spectator Fantasy Stats
  • Fantasy points of all players from the current game.
F8
Toggling Vision
Spectator FoW Both Teams
  • Toggles to show vision of both teams.
F1
Spectator FoW Radiant
  • Toggle to show Radiant team's vision.
F2
Spectator FoW Dire
  • Toggle to show Dire team's vision.
F3

Saved Spectator Camera Positions[]

Settings hotkeys spectator saved spectator camera positions

Spectator saved spectator camera positions section

These Hotkey functions the exact same way as the default saved camera positions, but they are only active while spectating or watching a replay.

Camera Positions are <blank> by default.

Settings Preset Templates
All
Advanced
Position 1
  • Moves the camera to the 1st saved location.
<blank>
Position 2
  • Moves the camera to the 2nd saved location.
Position 3
  • Moves the camera to the 3rd saved location.
Position 4
  • Moves the camera to the 4th saved location.
Position 5
  • Moves the camera to the 5th saved location.
Position 6
  • Moves the camera to the 6th saved location.
Position 7
  • Moves the camera to the 7th saved location.
Position 8
  • Moves the camera to the 8th saved location.
Position 9
  • Moves the camera to the 9th saved location.
Position 10
  • Moves the camera to the 10th saved location.

Stats Dropdown[]

Settings hotkeys spectator stats dropdown

Spectator stats dropdown section

These hotkeys are for the stats (hero level, last hits, networth, etc) dropdown and their sorting. These stat windows are all sortable after the following things:

  • From highest to lowest numbers
  • From highest to lowest numbers, but sorting in the teams
  • Sorted after player order: BlueTealPurpleYellowOrangePinkOcreLight BlueGreenBrown
Settings Preset Templates
Name Default / Legacy / LoL / HoN WASD / MMO / Smite
Change Sorting
  • Toggles sorting of stats lists.
S <blank>
Clear Category
  • Closes whichever stat window is currently open.
A <blank>
Kills / Deaths / Assists
  • Opens stats window which shows current kills, deaths and assists of each player.
Q
Last Hits / Denies
  • Opens stats windows which shows current last hits and denies of each player.
W <blank>
Hero Level
  • Opens stats window which shows the hero levels of each player.
E
XP Per Minute
  • Opens stats window which shows the current experience per minute of each player.
R
Current Gold
  • Opens stats window which shows the current gold of each player.
T
<blank> for MMO
Net Worth
  • Opens stats window which shows the net worth of each player.
Y
Gold Per Minute
  • Opens stats window which shows the gold per minute of each player.
U
Buyback Status
  • Opens stats window which shows the current buyback status of each player.
I
Fantasy Score
  • Opens stats window which shows the current fantasy points of this match of each player.
O

Coaching[]

Settings hotkeys spectator coaching

Spectator coaching section

These are extra hotkeys enabled for coaches.

Settings Default
Coach Toggle Student Perspective
Toggles the coach's perspective between their own and the student.
<blank>
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