Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted introduced dedicated PC keyboard controls and hotkeys to streamline garden defense, cutting down on excessive mouse clicking. In the PC edition updated by PopCap Games and Electronic Arts, pressing the Spacebar activates the Sun Vacuum to pull all sun from the screen, the number keys 1 through 0 select and deselect your seed packets, Tab cycles the game speed, and right-clicking cancels a chosen plant.
Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted PC Keyboard Controls Table
The table below outlines all confirmed keyboard controls and mouse shortcuts available in the Windows PC version following Update 1.4.0.
| Key / Input | Action / Function | In-Game Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Spacebar | Sun Vacuum / Magnet | Pulls and collects every dropped sun on the lawn simultaneously. |
| 1 – 0 (Number Row) | Select / Deselect Seed Packets | Activates or clears the plant card in slots 1 through 10 without clicking. |
| Tab | Cycle Game Speed | Toggles game tempo up to 2.5x speed (or scales down if Slow Speed is enabled). |
| Right-Click (Mouse) | Cancel Selection | Clears any selected plant or tool currently attached to your cursor. |
| Left-Click (Mouse) | Primary Action / Placement | Places plants on lawn tiles, activates menu buttons, and navigates UI. |
| Esc / Pause Button | Pause Menu | Opens the pause screen, which also allows direct access to the Suburban Almanac. |
How the Keyboard Shortcuts Function in Gameplay
Official Patch 1.4.0 added critical hotkeys designed to modernize the classic control scheme and reduce wrist strain during lengthy Survival Endless and Adventure runs.
Spacebar: The Sun Vacuum
In the original release, players had to click every individual sun dropped by the sky or generated by Sunflowers before the five-second despawn timer expired. In Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted, tapping the Spacebar immediately draws all on-screen sun directly into your bank. This eliminates frantic clicking during high-intensity waves and ensures you do not forfeit resources while managing complex lane defenses.
Number Keys 1–0: Seed Packet Selection
Instead of moving your cursor back and forth between the lawn and the top seed bank, the number keys 1 through 0 map directly across your active slots from left to right. Tapping the corresponding number grabs the plant packet for immediate placement on a tile with your mouse. Tapping the same number again deselects the packet if you change your mind.
Tab: Game Speed Cycling
The Tab key adjusts the pace of the match on the fly. Players can toggle the tempo up to 2.5x normal speed to bypass slow opening setups, or combine it with the accessibility toggle for Slow Speed (which lowers base speed to 0.5x) in the Options menu for a more methodical approach to chaotic encounters.
Multiplayer Input Restrictions
For players utilizing the local co-op or Versus modes via Steam Remote Play Together, input devices are strictly partitioned:
- Player 1 can operate via keyboard and mouse controls.
- Player 2 is required by the game system to use a controller.
- On controllers, the Sun Vacuum function maps to the Right Trigger (RT on Xbox, R2 on PlayStation, or ZR on Nintendo Switch layouts) instead of the keyboard Spacebar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you collect sun automatically with a single key in Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted?
Yes. Pressing the Spacebar activates the Sun Vacuum feature, which gathers all active sun on your screen at once without requiring you to hover over or click each drop.
How do you cancel an accidental plant pickup using keyboard or mouse?
Right-click anywhere on the lawn. This drops the currently held plant card back into the top seed bank without spending sun or triggering the seed's recharge cooldown.
Can both players use keyboard controls during local co-op?
No. The game's two-player modes require Player 2 to use a supported controller, even when playing through Steam Remote Play Together. Only Player 1 can use the keyboard and mouse setup.
