How to holster weapon in Starfield

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A player character looking at a snowy mountain in Starfield.
November 1, 2023: Learn how to holster your weapon in Starfield with our guide!

Stealth can be an important part of navigating the battle environment within an action-oriented RPG like Starfield. But many players have wondered how to holster their weapon when out of combat in Bethesda's newest sci-fi title. So in this guide, we'll talk you through everything you need to know on how to holster your weapon in Starfield.

This space-themed title is primarily centred on outer space exploration. But when you're not manning a spacecraft, it'll require you to take aim and shoot at a lot of different enemies who look to halt your progress. You’ll therefore need to know exactly how to holster your weapon after combat, as doing so will make you less of a target.

Therefore, we’ll detail the precise method for putting your weapon away in Starfield in this guide, as this isn't made especially clear in the game.

How to holster your weapon in Starfield

There are a few different ways to holster your weapon in Starfield, depending on the platform you’re using to experience the game. In each case, it involves holding down the reload button.

If you’re on PC, you should hold down the “R” key on your keyboard. This simple action will cause your character to immediately put their weapon away.

On the other hand, if you’re using an Xbox controller, pressing and holding the “X” button for a few seconds will achieve the same effect.

Both of these key and button presses for holstering your weapon work regardless of where your character is situated at that moment in time.

What this means is that it doesn’t matter if you’re currently in a hostile action zone or a friendly one. Performing these commands using your keyboard or controller will make your character put their weapon away regardless of the situation.

Why you should stow your weapon in Starfield

Perhaps the only practical reason that makes sense when it comes to the subject of having your weapon holstered concerns visibility.

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When you have your weapon tucked away, you’ll be able to declutter your screen. You’ll see more of what’s in front of you, due to the fact that you don’t have a bulky weapon obscuring your first-person viewdoint.

On a separate note, keeping your weapon partly out of sight helps with the immersion aspect of the game. Particularly if realism is something that you care about when playing RPGs, it’s much more realistic to run around with a weapon tucked away in your pocket or resting on your back than it is to be sprinting at full throttle speed with a heavy machine gun pointing out in the open.

But there you have it, that’s all there is to holster your weapon in Starfield. If you're still in the exploratory stages of the game, be sure to have a look at our guide on how to dock in Starfield. Additionally, we have a guide on how to pickpocket.

For more articles like this, take a look at our Guides and Starfield page.