How to Fix Escape Key Not Working in Baldur’s Gate 3?

When the escape key on your keyboard decides to take a sabbatical in the middle of a gaming session, it’s not just an inconvenience—it’s a full-blown gamer’s nightmare. Picture this: you’re deep in the Forgotten Realms, your party’s health bars are dwindling, and you need to access your inventory, but sadly, the escape key has other plans.

In this article, we’ll address the all-too-common issue of the escape key refusing to cooperate in Baldur’s Gate 3. It’s a bug that can halt your progress faster than a Gelatinous Cube in a dungeon corridor.

But don’t worry, we’ve got your back. We’ll walk you through some tried-and-tested fixes that have helped other players, ensuring that your escape key will be as reliable as a cleric’s healing spell in no time. So, let’s get started and return you to the action where you belong.

Potential Causes for Escape Key Not Working in BG3

1. Game Bug: The issue might be a known bug within the game.
2. Key Binding Conflicts: Other actions may be bound to the escape key.
3. Overlay Interference: Overlays from Steam or other applications might interfere with key functionality.
4. Controller/Gamepad Interference: If a controller is connected, it might override keyboard inputs.
5. Corrupted Game Files: Sometimes game files can become corrupted and cause unexpected behavior.
6. Outdated Game Version: An outdated version of the game might have unresolved issues.

How to Fix the Escape Key Not Working in Baldur’s Gate 3?

If you’re experiencing issues with the escape key not working in Baldur’s Gate 3, there are several solutions you can try:

Method 1: Restart the Game

1. Save Your Progress: Use the quick save feature (default key: F5).
2. Exit the Game: If the escape key isn’t working, use ALT+F4 to close the game.
3. Relaunch the Game: Open the game again and check if the escape key is functioning.

Restarting the game can resolve temporary glitches that may be causing the escape key to malfunction. By saving your progress and exiting the game, you allow the system to reset any temporary states that might be interfering with the key’s functionality. Relaunching the game then gives you a fresh start, which often resolves such issues.

Method 2: Key Binding Reset

Resetting key bindings can fix issues where the Escape key is not responding due to conflicts with other keys or software. Follow these steps to reset key bindings in Baldur’s Gate 3:

1. Open Game Options: Go to the main menu and select ‘Options.’
   
   

   

2. Navigate to Keybinds: Select the ‘Keybinds’ tab.
3. Reset to Default: Look for the ‘Reset’ option at the bottom and click it to reset the key binds to default.
   

   

4. Save Changes: Apply the changes and test the escape key in-game.

Method 3: Disable Overlays

1. Steam Overlay: Go to Steam settings > In-Game settings and toggle off the Steam overlay.
   

   

2. Other Overlays: Close any other overlay applications like Discord or NVIDIA.

Overlays from other applications like Steam or Discord can sometimes interfere with game controls. Disabling these overlays ensures that no other software is capturing or interfering with the escape key input, allowing it to function correctly within Baldur’s Gate 3.

Method 4: Disconnect External Devices

1. Unplug Controllers: Disconnect any game controllers or other USB devices that might interfere.
   

   

2. Restart the Game: With the devices unplugged, start the game and test the escape key.

External devices such as controllers or USB devices can sometimes cause input conflicts. Disconnecting these devices eliminates any potential interference they may be causing with the escape key, allowing it to work as intended when you relaunch the game.

Method 5: Verify Game Files

1. Steam Library: Right-click on Baldur’s Gate 3 in your Steam library.
2. Properties: Select ‘Properties’ and go to the ‘Local Files’ tab.
   

   

3. Verify Integrity: Click on ‘Verify integrity of game files’ and allow Steam to repair any corrupted files.
   

   

Corrupted game files can lead to various issues, including unresponsive keys. Verifying the integrity of game files through Steam allows it to check for and repair any corrupted or missing files, which can resolve issues related to key responsiveness.

Method 6: Update the Game

1. Check for Updates: Ensure that Baldur’s Gate 3 is updated to the latest version.
2. Download Updates: If an update is available, download and install it.

Game updates often include bug fixes and improvements. Ensuring that Baldur’s Gate 3 is updated to the latest version can resolve known issues, including those affecting key functionality.

Method 7: Reinstall the Game

If none of the above methods work, reinstalling the game can be a last resort. This process removes all game data and settings, which can fix persistent issues by starting fresh.

1. Uninstall: Remove Baldur’s Gate 3 from your system.
2. Reinstall: Download and install the game again from Steam.

Method 8: Adjust Keybinds Manually

1. Change Cancel Action: Set ‘Cancel Action’ to be Escape ONLY.
2. Change Context Menu: Set ‘Context Menu’ to be Scroll Lock ONLY or another unused key.

Manually adjusting keybinds ensures that no other actions are assigned to keys that should be reserved for specific functions like ‘Cancel Action’ or ‘Context Menu’. This method involves setting these actions to only use the escape key, which can resolve conflicts and restore its proper function.

Method 9: Use Quick Save/Load

The quick save and load functions (F5 and F8) are designed to create temporary save points that can be used to quickly test if an issue has been resolved. If pressing F5 creates a save point but pressing F8 allows you to load it without issue, this indicates that the problem may have been a temporary glitch rather than a persistent one.

1. Quick Save: Press F5 to quick save your game.
2. Quick Load: Press F8 to quick load and see if this resolves the issue.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the escape key issue in Baldur’s Gate 3. If the problem persists, consider reaching out to the official support forums for further assistance. Remember to always keep your game updated and regularly check for any patches that might address this and other issues.

Method 10: Talk to Support

If nothing ends up working out for you, the absolute last resort it to reach out to Larian’s customer support team in hopes of getting the fix. In some cases, the issue is unique to only your case and support can help you in these situations.

And there you have it—a handful of solutions to get your escape key up and running for Baldur’s Gate 3. Whether it was a simple system reboot or a more complex fix, we hope this guide has helped you overcome this minor obstacle in your gaming adventures.