Repository navigation
Controls
Homebase has two modes: in Homebase (its own menus) and in an app (a streaming app, website or program opened from Homebase). Games get your controller to themselves; only the Home button is shared.
| Button | In Homebase | In an app |
|---|---|---|
| D-pad | Move | Arrow keys |
| Left stick | Move | Mouse pointer |
| Right stick | Move | Scroll |
| Left stick click | Pointer on/off | |
| A | Select | Select, or click where the pointer is if you just moved it |
| B | Back | Back |
| X | Search | App action, such as play/pause |
| Y | The app's own menu (context key) | |
| LB / RB | Previous / next section | Previous / next track in music apps; scroll elsewhere |
| LT / RT | Page up / page down | Click / right-click, or seek in video apps |
| Start (Menu) | Options for the highlighted item | Homebase menu, with Close app |
| View | On-screen keyboard | |
| Home (Guide) | Go to the Home screen | Back to Homebase; the app keeps running |
| Hold Home | Quick menu | Quick menu |
| Home + A | Home screen | Home screen |
| Home + B | Desktop mode | Homebase menu |
| Home + X | Search | Search |
| Home + Start | Quick menu | Quick menu |
Each app's own hints appear the first time you open it, and again from the Homebase menu (Controls).
The controller also works as a mouse and keyboard for windows Homebase didn't open:
- Desktop mode (Home + B, or the quick menu): Windows itself.
- Launchers and dialogs that appear over a game or app: an EA or Ubisoft launcher, a store sign-in, a file picker, an error message.
- Games set to Mouse & keyboard in their options.
| Button | Does |
|---|---|
| Left stick | Mouse pointer |
| Right stick, LB / RB | Scroll |
| A | Click right after pointing; otherwise Enter (the highlighted button) |
| RT / LT | Click / right-click |
| B | Esc |
| D-pad | Arrow keys |
| X | Start menu |
| Y | Switch windows (Task View) |
| View | On-screen keyboard |
| Start | Homebase menu, with Back to … to return |
| Home | Back to Homebase |
Full-screen programs Homebase didn't start are left alone, because they're usually games that read the controller themselves.
While an app is open it stays in front. Clicking outside it or a stray notification won't drop you back to Homebase. You leave an app on purpose: Start → Close app, or Home to set it aside and come back later from the Home screen.
Settings → Controller buttons lets you change what Select, Back, Search, Options and the section buttons do in Homebase's menus. Choosing a button for an action swaps the two, so nothing is ever left unbound. Reset to defaults puts everything back. The D-pad and Home button are fixed.
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Arrow keys | Move |
| Enter / Space | Select |
| Esc | Back |
| Ctrl+F | Search |
| Menu key | Options for the highlighted item |
| Page Up / Page Down | Page up / down |
| Home | Home screen |
| Ctrl+Alt+Home | Back to Homebase from anywhere |
| Ctrl+Alt+Space | Quick menu |
| Ctrl+Alt+End | Desktop mode |
| F11 | Full screen on/off |
| Media keys | Play/pause, next, previous, volume, mute |
In any text field: type normally, Ctrl+V or Shift+Insert to paste, Ctrl+C to copy, Ctrl+X to cut, Ctrl+Backspace to delete a word, Enter to finish and Esc to cancel.
- Point at anything to highlight it and click to select it.
- Right-click opens the item's options, the same as Start on a controller.
- The mouse Back button goes back.
- The wheel scrolls lists and grids.
Media Center (RC6) and similar remotes that Windows sees as keyboard or HID input work out of the box: arrows move, OK selects, Back goes back, Home goes to Homebase, Menu opens options, and play/pause controls media. Set up and test a remote in Settings → Input devices.
Homebase © 2026 Rique · GPL-3.0-or-later