Project Zomboid pause and shout keys: F2, Q and rebinding

Choose the action before pressing a key

Source: PZwiki · Controls · Official community wiki · Build 41.78.16 label

Source: The Indie Stone · IWBUMS 41.42 released · Official historical release notes

Pause single-player and confirm it stopped

1. Check that you loaded a single-player world. Move to a safe location before testing unfamiliar controls.
2. Press the assigned Pause key (F2 by default), or click the visible pause time control. Confirm the pause indicator and that world motion stops.
3. Use Escape if you also want the main menu. Do not assume that an open inventory or character panel is the same thing as a pause.
4. When ready, choose normal speed (F3 by default or the play control). Confirm movement resumes at normal speed before leaving shelter.

Source: PZwiki · Controls · Official community wiki · Build 41.78.16 label

Shout deliberately or open the emote wheel

On foot, tap the assigned Shout key to call out. Use it only when you are prepared for nearby zombies to respond: plan an open retreat route before making noise. If your purpose is a quieter nearby call, crouch first; quieter does not mean silent.

For emotes, hold the bound key instead of tapping it. Official 41.42 notes introduced the long-press wheel and the crouched shout distinction. If you are seated in a vehicle, check the separate Vehicle Horn binding; Q is also documented as its default, so context matters.

Source: The Indie Stone · IWBUMS 41.42 released · Official historical release notes

Verify or change Key Bindings

1. Open Options and its Key Bindings section. Find the action name, such as Pause or Shout, rather than assuming the key in this article still applies.
2. To change a binding, click its key box and press the key you intend to use. Save or apply the change in the game’s options interface.
3. Return to a safe single-player location and test Pause. For Shout, use a separate test world or a situation where attracting zombies is intentional.
4. If a function key changes laptop volume or brightness instead, use the keyboard’s function-key mode or assign Pause to an accessible key in-game. Verify the action afterward.

Source: PZwiki · Controls · Official community wiki · Build 41.78.16 label

Online multiplayer does not use a personal world pause

Treat an online Host or dedicated-server world as live while your menu is open. F2 and Escape are not a promise to pause everyone else. Move to safety before adjusting options or taking a break.

PauseEmpty is a separate server setting documented as pausing when no players are logged in. It does not describe what happens when one connected player opens the menu. Leave server-wide configuration to the operator; this guide provides no unverified admin pause command.

Source: PZwiki · Server settings · Official community wiki · Build 41.78.16 label

If the key does nothing or triggers the wrong action

1. Check the live binding and whether a text field, chat or another UI currently has focus. Close the field and test again in safety.
2. Compare a short tap with a long press for Q. A wheel appearing means you invoked the long-press interaction.
3. Use the visible single-player time control to separate a missing key input from a time-control problem. If the mouse control works, inspect your keyboard mapping.
4. If you are using a controller or Steam Input, inspect the active preset and the game’s on-screen prompts. Do not assume keyboard Q or F2 names identify the controller button.
5. If a saved binding changes again after restarting, record the patch, input device and configuration behavior before reporting it; do not erase the save to repair a keyboard mapping.