Like many other computer games, the PC version of Quake 2 has highly customizable controls. The default controls are more or less a template that players can modify to suit their needs. Furthermore, customization of controls expands further than what is available in the menus. Players can bind keys using Quake 2's powerful console (accessed via tilde or ~ ).
For example, a player can type the command "bind g god; give weapons" to set the G key to toggling invulnerability and giving all weapons. Quake 2's quick save feature is also a similar command string. According to the config.cfg file where the player's configuration is stored, quick save is the following command: bind F6 "echo Quick Saving...; wait; save quick" The quick load command is similar.
| Action | Default control | Console Command |
|---|---|---|
| Fire weapon | CTRL or 
|
+attack |
| Forward | ↑ | +forward |
| Backpedal | ↓ | +back |
| Turn left | ← | +left |
| Turn right | → | +right |
| Jump | SPACE | +moveup |
| Run | SHIFT | +speed |
| Strafe | ALT | +strafe |
| Strafe left | , | +moveleft |
| Strafe right | . | +moveright |
| Crouch | c | +movedown |
| Look up | a or pgdown | +lookup |
| Look down | z or delete | +lookdown |
| Show full inventory | TAB | inven |
| Use inventory item | ENTER | invuse |
| Drop inventory item | ' | invdrop |
| Previous inventory item | [ | invprev |
| Next inventory item | ] | invnext |
| Use invulnerability item | i | use invulnerability |
| Use rebreather item | b | Use rebreather |
| Use environment suit item | e | use environment suit |
| Use power shield item | p | use power shield |
| Use quad damage item | q | use quad damage |
| Switch to Blaster | 1 | use blaster |
| Switch to Shotgun | 2 | use shotgun |
| Switch to Super Shotgun | 3 | use super shotgun |
| Switch to Machinegun | 4 | use machinegun |
| Switch to Chaingun | 5 | use chaingun |
| Switch to Grenade Launcher | 6 | use grenade launcher |
| Switch to Rocket Launcher | 7 | use rocket launcher |
| Switch to HyperBlaster | 8 | use hyperblaster |
| Switch to Railgun | 9 | use railgun |
| Switch to BFG10K | 0 | use bfg10k |
| Open console | ~ | toggleconsole |
| Open main menu | ESCAPE | togglemenu |
| Open save menu | F2 | menu_savegame |
| Open load menu | F3 | menu_loadgame |
| Open controls menu | F4 | menu_keys |
| Open server menu | F5 | menu_startserver |
| Quick Save | F6 | save quick |
| Quick Load | F9 | load quick |
| Quit screen | F10 | menu_quit |
| Take screenshot | F12 | screenshot |
| Open mission/help menu | F1 | cmd help |
| Show multiplayer score | x | score |
| Chat | t | messagemode |
| Pause game | PAUSE | pause |
| Salute motion | j | wave 1 |
| Taunt motion | k | wave 2 |
| Wave motion | l | wave 3 |
| Point motion | u | wave 4 |
| Middle finger motion | h | wave 5 |