Zero Hour Hotkeys List 2026 - Default Keys and How to Change Them

The Zero Hour hotkeys that matter most are control groups (Ctrl+1 to 9 to assign, 1 to 9 to select), Q to select all combat units, E to select units of the same type, A for attack move, S to stop and H to jump back to your Command Center. Learn those, plus the build letters of your faction, and you will play noticeably faster than with the mouse alone. Below is a tidy list of the default keys, followed by how to change them.

The keys here are the defaults of an unmodified English copy of Command & Conquer: Generals – Zero Hour. Mods, hotkey profiles and other languages can change them, so if a key doesn't work as described, check whether something on your PC has replaced it.

Camera keys#

Camera bookmarks are underused. Save one on your base and one on each expansion at the start of a game, and you can check them in a single key press.

Selection and control groups#

A common habit is to keep your main army on 1, a second army or your air units on 2 and 3, and your production buildings on higher numbers so you can queue units without looking at your base.

Unit commands#

Attack move is the single most useful command for new players. A plain right-click move makes units drive past enemies; attack move makes them stop and fight.

Chat and interface keys#

Build and command button keys#

Every button on the control bar (buildings, units, upgrades, generals' powers) has its own letter. By default these come from the button's name, which is why they are easy to guess for some buttons and odd for others. A few USA examples from a dozer:

Many players learn their faction's letters faster when the letter is drawn on the button picture itself; GenPatcher and Generals Style can both do that.

How to change hotkeys in Zero Hour#

Zero Hour keeps its keys in two places:

• Command button keys are a marked letter inside each button's name in the game's text file, generals.csf (one per language).
• Other keys (camera, selection, groups, chat, Tab) are listed in CommandMap.ini.

The game's own options don't offer a full key-rebinding screen, so changing keys means changing these files. You have three realistic options.

1. Use a ready-made hotkey profile#

GenPatcher, the community fixer for Generals and Zero Hour, can install a hotkey profile such as Leikeze's or Legionnaire's layout. These are community-made layouts that many players use. It's the fastest way to get a tested layout, but you take the whole layout as it is. You can find GenPatcher on its ModDB page.

2. Edit generals.csf by hand#

Advanced players open generals.csf with a community CSF editor and move the marker in each button's name to a new letter. This gives full control, but it is slow, it's easy to create two buttons with the same key in one menu, and a game update or another mod can overwrite your file. Always keep a copy of the original first.

3. Use the Generals Style studio#

The Generals Style studio shows every command menu by faction and general. You type a new letter on any button, it warns you about clashes in the same menu, and you can start from a preset such as GenPatcher's profile and then change single keys. The installer changes only the keys you changed, keeps your other keys and mods, works in non-English copies (adding [R] where the letter isn't in the name), and can draw the letters on your buttons. It can also put next-worker on Tab. See the hotkeys guide and the Tab shortcuts guide for the details.

Whatever you choose, hotkeys only change button labels and key bindings, so they don't cause a mismatch when you play online.

Tips to play faster with hotkeys#

• Learn your build letters first. Building your economy and army from the keyboard saves more time than any other habit.
• Group your production buildings. Put your War Factory or Barracks on a number key and queue units from anywhere on the map.
• Use attack move by default. It wins small fights that a plain move loses.
• Bookmark your expansions. F1 to F8 are faster than scrolling the minimap.
• Press Space when you hear an alert. It takes you straight to the last radar event.
• Cycle your builders. The next-worker key finds forgotten dozers and workers; putting it on Tab makes it easy to reach.
• Fix clashes. If two buttons in a menu share a letter, one of them is unreachable from the keyboard.
• Practise in Skirmish. A few games against the AI on a map from our maps list are enough to build muscle memory.

If you want a layout that fits your hands without editing files, you can design one in the Generals Style studio and check the plans on the pricing page.

Frequently asked questions#

How do I select all units in Zero Hour?#

Press Q to select all your combat units on the map. To select only one type, press E (on screen) or E twice quickly (whole map), or double-click a unit.

How do control groups work in Zero Hour?#

Select units and press Ctrl plus a number from 1 to 9 to make a group. Press the number to select it, and press it twice quickly to move the camera to the group as well.

Can I change hotkeys in the Zero Hour options menu?#

Not in a full way. The game's keys live in generals.csf and CommandMap.ini, so you change them with a hotkey profile such as GenPatcher's, a CSF editor or a tool like the Generals Style studio.

Will changed hotkeys cause a mismatch online?#

No. Hotkeys only change button labels and key bindings, not game rules, so players with different keys can play together.

What is the Tab key for in Zero Hour?#

By default Tab opens the players (diplomacy) screen. Many players move it to Ctrl+Shift+Tab and use Tab to jump between dozers and workers instead.

Do hotkeys work in non-English versions of Zero Hour?#

Yes, but the default letters can differ because they come from the translated button names. When you change keys with Generals Style, a missing letter is added after the name like [R].