Settings
Keybinds, Console Commands & Autoexec
F1 console binds, autoexec.cfg setup, performance commands, auto-run, hand swapping, combatlog, and every useful bind.
F1 console binds, autoexec.cfg setup, performance commands, auto-run, hand swapping, combatlog, and every useful bind.
The F1 console is where you set up binds that the options menu cannot do. Auto-run, smaller gun models, hand swapping, combatlog on a key, kill bind, and performance overlays all live here. This guide covers every bind worth setting up and how to make them persist with autoexec.cfg.
Press F1 to open the console. Type a command and press Enter. Commands take effect immediately. To save all your current binds and settings permanently, type writecfg. Without writecfg, binds reset when the game closes.
Bind syntax is bind [key] [command]. To unbind a key, use bind [key] "". To bind multiple commands to one key, separate them with semicolons: bind [key] "command1;command2".
When you are stuck in terrain, glitched inside a rock, or need to respawn at base, the kill command instantly kills your character. Bind it to a key you will not hit accidentally.
| Bind | Command |
|---|---|
| Safe kill bind | bind k kill |
Some players use bind [leftshift+k] kill to require Shift+K, preventing accidental deaths mid-fight.
The combat log shows every hit you dealt and received, including weapon used, hit area, distance, and damage. After a fight, checking combatlog tells you exactly what killed you and where your shots landed. Bind it so you can check without typing in console.
| Bind | Command |
|---|---|
| Open console with combatlog | bind f2 "consoletoggle;combatlog" |
| Clean combatlog (clears old output first) | bind t "consoletoggle;clear;combatlog" |
The combatlog output has 12 columns: time, attacker, attacker ID, target, target ID, weapon, ammo type, hit area, distance, old HP, new HP, and flags. The hit area column is useful for checking if your headshots actually connected. See our PvP combat guide for how to use this in fight analysis.
Auto-run lets you sprint without holding W and Shift. Press the bound key and your character runs forward until you press W or any movement key to stop. Useful for long cross-map runs.
| Bind | Command |
|---|---|
| Auto-run | bind y forward;sprint |
Press W to cancel the auto-run. Some players bind this to a mouse side button for easy access during monument runs or farming routes. Pairs well with the map guide for planning routes.
The default weapon viewmodel takes up a lot of screen space. Scaling it down gives you more visibility without affecting gameplay. This is purely visual.
| Bind | Command |
|---|---|
| Smaller guns (toggle off) | graphics.vm_fov_scale false |
| Reset to default | graphics.vm_fov_scale true |
Most players set graphics.vm_fov_scale false once and leave it. Add it to your autoexec.cfg to persist across sessions.
Swapping your weapon to the left hand changes which side of your screen the gun sits on. This matters when peeking corners. If you are peeking a right-hand corner, swapping to left hand gives better visibility. The flip is instant.
| Bind | Command |
|---|---|
| Left hand | bind leftarrow "graphics.vm_horizontal_flip 0" |
| Right hand (default) | bind rightarrow "graphics.vm_horizontal_flip 1" |
Gestures can be bound to keys for quick access during trades or encounters at safe zones like Outpost and Bandit Camp.
| Bind | Command |
|---|---|
| Wave | bind keypad1 "gesture wave" |
| Thumbs up | bind keypad2 "gesture thumbsup" |
| Surrender | bind keypad3 "gesture surrender" |
Available gestures: wave, victory, shrug, thumbsup, thumbsdown, ok, clap, point, surrender, shush, hurry, chicken, twist, loser, and more.
The perf command controls the performance overlay in the top-left corner. Each level adds more detail. Type these directly in F1 console or bind them.
| Command | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| perf 0 | Disabled (no overlay) |
| perf 1 | FPS counter |
| perf 2 | FPS + latency/ping |
| perf 3 | FPS + latency + RAM usage |
| perf 4 | FPS + latency + RAM + garbage collection |
| perf 5 | All above + ping details |
| perf 6 | Full debug output including background tasks |
Most players run perf 1 or perf 2 permanently. Higher levels are useful for diagnosing stuttering or lag spikes. If you are getting frame drops, run perf 4 to check if garbage collection is causing the hitches. For detailed graphics tuning, see the graphics and performance guide.
| Command | Effect |
|---|---|
| fps.limit 0 | Uncap FPS (0 = unlimited). Set to your monitor refresh rate to reduce GPU heat |
| gc.buffer 2048 | Increase garbage collection buffer. Reduces stutter on systems with enough RAM |
| graphics.max_gibs 0 | Remove explosion debris. Small FPS gain during raids |
| grass.displacement false | Disable grass displacement for more FPS |
| graphics.shadow_quality 0 | Lowest shadow quality. Noticeable FPS gain |
| render.distance 1500 | Render distance. Lower values improve FPS but reduce visibility |
| net.graph 1 | Show network stats (ping, packet loss, bandwidth). 0 to disable |
In settings, disable Mousewheel Item Cycling. Scrolling during a fight switches you to a torch instead of your gun. Use numbered keys 1-6 only.
The autoexec.cfg file runs console commands automatically every time Rust launches. It is not auto-created. You make it yourself.
Open Steam, right-click Rust, click Manage, then Browse Local Files. Open the cfg folder inside.
Create a new text file. Name it autoexec.cfg (not autoexec.cfg.txt). Make sure file extensions are visible in your OS so you get the name right.
Open it in Notepad. Add one command per line. No semicolons needed between lines.
Right-click Rust in Steam, click Properties, and add +exec autoexec.cfg to launch options.
A practical autoexec that covers the binds from this guide:
| Line | What It Does |
|---|---|
| bind k kill | Kill bind on K |
| bind f2 "consoletoggle;combatlog" | F2 opens combatlog |
| bind y forward;sprint | Y for auto-run |
| bind leftarrow "graphics.vm_horizontal_flip 0" | Left arrow swaps to left hand |
| bind rightarrow "graphics.vm_horizontal_flip 1" | Right arrow swaps to right hand |
| graphics.vm_fov_scale false | Smaller gun model |
| perf 1 | FPS counter on |
| fps.limit 0 | Uncap framerate |
| gc.buffer 2048 | Reduce GC stutter |
| graphics.max_gibs 0 | No explosion debris |
The file path is Steam\steamapps\common\Rust\cfg\autoexec.cfg. Commands in this file run on every launch, so you never need to re-enter them.
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| W/A/S/D | Movement |
| Shift | Sprint |
| Ctrl | Crouch |
| Space | Jump |
| E | Interact (doors, containers, NPCs) |
| G | Map |
| Tab | Inventory |
| H | Holster weapon (required in safe zones) |
| V | Proximity voice chat |
| F1 | Console |
| 1-6 | Hotbar slots |
| R | Reload |
| Q | Quick swap (last used item) |
You can rebind any of these in Settings > Controls, or via F1 console with bind [key] [action]. Most players keep defaults and add F1 binds on top. For hotbar setup recommendations, see the PvP combat guide.