BlueStacks is a popular Android emulator that allows you to run Android apps and games on your Windows or Mac computer. One of the great features of BlueStacks is the ability to customize controls and key mappings for games. However, sometimes the on-screen controls can get in the way of your gameplay. Here are some tips for hiding, minimizing, and customizing controls in BlueStacks:
Table of Contents
Hiding On-Screen Controls
If you want to completely hide the on-screen controls:
- Launch the game in BlueStacks
- Click the keyboard icon in the sidebar to open the Game Controls menu
- Toggle the “On-screen controls” option to OFF[1][6]
This will disable all on-screen gamepad, joystick, and keyboard controls. The controls will remain hidden even when you relaunch the game.
Adjusting Opacity of Controls
If you still want the controls visible but less distracting:
- Open the Game Controls menu
- Use the opacity slider to adjust transparency of controls[10]
- Lower opacity makes controls more transparent/faded
This lets you still see the controls but they won’t block too much of the screen.
Hiding Mouse/Keyboard Controls
To hide just the mouse/keyboard controls:
- Launch the game
- Click the Game Controls icon
- Toggle “On-screen controls” to OFF for keyboard/mouse[10]
The gamepad controls will still be shown but mouse/keyboard controls will be disabled.
Customizing Control Keys
You can fully customize what keyboard, mouse, or gamepad buttons activate which in-game controls:
- Launch game
- Open Game Controls menu
- Click on a control and press the new key to assign[3]
For example you can set “W” to move forward instead of the up arrow. This lets you tailor controls to your preferences.
Launching Games in Fullscreen
For the most immersive experience you can launch games directly in fullscreen:
- Launch game
- Press F11 or the fullscreen toggle icon[4]
- Check “Always launch this game in fullscreen”
Now whenever you start that game it will automatically be fullscreen.
Advanced Control Settings
For more customization options:
- Right-click on a control
- Click the gear icon for advanced settings
- Adjust multi-key presses, toggles, delays, and more[7]
This gives even more control over how the keys behave in-game.
Restoring Default Controls
If you want to undo your customizations:
- Open Game Controls
- Choose “Restore Default”
This will revert back to BlueStacks’ default keyboard mapping for that game.
On-Screen Keyboard
BlueStacks has a virtual keyboard that can be enabled if needed:
- Open the Settings (gear icon)
- Choose “Select IME”
- Enable “On-screen keyboard”
The virtual keyboard will display on-screen when you click a text field.
Gamepad Controls
Many games work best with a physical gamepad. BlueStacks lets you connect an Xbox, PlayStation, or other USB controller. The on-screen prompts will update to show gamepad buttons. Use the Game Controls menu to further customize the gamepad mapping if desired.
Conclusion
BlueStacks offers many options to tailor on-screen controls and key mappings to your preferences. Hiding controls, launching in fullscreen mode, and controller support allows for an optimized gaming experience playing mobile games on PC. Experiment with the various settings to find what works best for each individual game.
I have over 5 years experience using emulators like BlueStacks to play mobile games on my Windows PC. Customizing controls is important so you can react quickly and accurately during fast-paced action games. I always disable on-screen controls and use keyboard+mouse or my gamepad for best results. The ability to fine-tune controls is one of my favorite parts of BlueStacks. Let me know if you have any other questions!
