> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.kouch.dev/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.kouch.dev/getting-started/finding-your-way.md). # Finding your way around The top bar, the main menu, quick access, the prompt bar, and how to move around with a controller, a keyboard or a mouse. Kouch works the same way on every screen, so once you know these few pieces you know all of it. ## When Kouch starts Kouch shows its name for a moment while it loads, then goes to Home. Press **A** or **Start** to skip ahead. ## The buttons | Button | What it does everywhere | | --------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **D-pad** or **left stick** | Move the highlight. | | **A** | Choose the highlighted item. | | **B** | Go back. B always takes you back to where you came from, with the highlight on the same item. | | **Start** | On a highlighted game: that game's **menu**. Anywhere else: open or close the **main menu**. While a sheet is open, Start does nothing; close the sheet with **B** first. | | **Select** | Open or close **quick access**. | | **LB / RB** | Change tabs, pages or categories. | | **X / Y** | Extra actions for the highlighted item. The prompt bar says what they do. | {% hint style="info" %} Kouch shows buttons with the Steam Controller's glyphs, or, if you pick **Match each controller**, with your own controller's, where the A button may look like a shape or a different letter. **A is always the bottom face button** unless you change it in **Settings › Controllers › Navigation**. See [Button prompts](/controllers/button-prompts.md). {% endhint %} ### Keyboard and mouse Everything in Kouch works with a keyboard alone, and with a mouse alone. | Key | Same as | | -------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------- | | **Arrow keys** | D-pad | | **Enter** or **Space** | A | | **Esc** or **Backspace** | B | | **X** | X | | **Y** | Y | | **M** or **Home** | Start (the main menu, or a game's menu) | | **Q** or **End** | Select (quick access) | | **Page Up / Page Down**, or **\[ / ]** | LB / RB | | **,** / **.** | LT / RT | | **F11** | Fullscreen on or off | Holding a key is the same as holding the button, for example hold **Enter** on **Play**. While you use the keyboard, the prompt bar shows keys instead of controller buttons. When you're typing in a text field, the keys type as usual. | Mouse | Does | | --------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- | | Move the pointer | Moves the highlight. | | **Click** | Chooses. | | **Right-click** | The item's **X**: on a game card, its menu. | | **Back button** (the side button) | B. | | **Wheel** | Pages through a grid, like LB / RB. | Every sheet has an **✕** to close it, and every prompt in the prompt bar can be clicked. On Home, resting the pointer on the widgets unfolds them, and resting it on the right folds them away. On a touch screen, tap to choose, and press and hold a game card to add it to your favorites. ## The prompt bar The bar at the bottom right always lists what the buttons do **right now**, for the highlighted item. When you're not sure what a button does, look there. You can click or tap any prompt in it. ## The top bar At the top of Home and Library you'll find, from left to right: * **Menu:** opens the main menu. * **The screen's title.** * **Downloads:** only while something is downloading. Choose it to see the queue. * **Player dots:** one dot per seated player, in their colour. Choose them to open the Players screen. * **Battery**, on a handheld or a laptop: its charge, and the time left or **Charging**. It's hidden on a desktop PC. * **Your Steam profile:** choose it for your profile and friends. * **The clock.** * **Quick access.** Press **Up** from the screen to reach the top bar. ## The main menu (Start) Press **Start** anywhere a game isn't highlighted, or choose **≡** at the left of the top bar (that works everywhere). On a game, **Start** opens [that game's menu](/playing/game-page.md#the-game-menu) instead. While a sheet is open (a game's menu and its sheets, tags, a friend or a chat), **Start** does nothing: press **B** to close the sheet first. ![The main menu slides in from the left](https://3008865259-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FiaV8VKDYJngjWWkPZx0Q%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-38985104457e1a270fa3420821cfea2d0210e442%2Fmain-menu.png?alt=media) * **Home** and **Library:** your two main screens. * **Players:** who's playing, in which seat. See [Join with a controller](/controllers/joining.md). * **Downloads:** emulators being installed or updated. * **Settings:** everything else. * **Power › Fullscreen** and **Power › Exit Kouch**. Kouch can't exit while a game is running, so quit the game first. Press **B** or **Start** to close the menu. ## Quick access (Select) ![Quick access slides in from the right](https://3008865259-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FiaV8VKDYJngjWWkPZx0Q%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-5cba825acdbb1d16080edf4b18ec1bd6b8c1d081%2Fquick-access.png?alt=media) Quick access is for the things you change often: * **Look** (Black or White), **Ambient background**, **Sounds**, **Music** and **Fullscreen**. Press **A** to change each one. * **Players:** every seated player with their controller and battery. Choose one to open the Players screen. * **Friends:** **Messages**, then Steam friends who are online, friends you can join first. Choose one to see their card: their lobby, **Join**, **Message** and more. See [Friends and chat](/online/online/friends-and-chat.md). * **Notifications:** the last few messages Kouch showed you. Press **B** or **Select** to close it. ## Sheets and holds * **Sheets** slide in over the screen for choices and details. **A** chooses the highlighted row; **B** or the **✕** closes them. A sheet that ends in a choice, like **Cancel** and **Export**, keeps those buttons pinned at the bottom, with the main one on the right. * **Red buttons** do something that can't be undone, like removing a game or quitting. You **hold A** on them for a second while a ring fills. Let go early to cancel. You can change this in **Settings › Players › Confirm destructive actions**. ## Who controls the menus The player who moves through the menus, usually Player 1, has a ring on their dot in the top bar. By default only that lead player moves the highlight, so nobody else on the couch does it by accident. To let every player navigate, turn off **Settings › Players › Only the lead player moves through menus**. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. 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