Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3)

How to Pause the Game

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While there is no hard pause in Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3), players can pause the game by entering Turn-Based Mode. Read on to learn how to pause the game, pause alternatives, and if pressing the escape key pauses the game!

How to Pause the Game

Entering Turn-Based Mode is the Closest Thing to a Hard Pause

Baldur's Gate 3 does not have a dedicated key for pausing the game.

The closest thing to a hard pause in-game would be to enter Turn-Based Mode to switch from free movement to turn-based movement. This can be done by pressing the hourglass icon on the lower right portion of the screen or by pressing Shift and Space simultaneously.

Does the Escape Key Pause the Game?

Pressing the Escape Key Does Not Pause the Game

Cutscene ongoing in the background after pressing the Esc key.

Unlike other games where the Escape key also serves as a hard pause button, pressing it in Baldur's Gate 3 will only reveal the main menu screen, and the game will keep going in the background.

Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3) Related Guides

Baldurs Gate 3 - Beginner Guide Partial

Baldur's Gate 3 Beginner's Guide

All Beginner Guides
Class Tier List DX11 vs Vulkan
Scuffed Rock Location: Hidden Cache Rewards Difficulty Setting Differences
Fall Damage Guide Guardian Explained
Where to Get the Wolf Rune All Companions and Types
All Illithid Parasite Locations Soul Coin Guide
All Infernal Iron Locations Best Adamantine Item
Noblestalk Location What to Do With the Iron Flask
Crafting Guide How to Use the Flower Key
Glossary Guides
Proficiency Bonus Guide Advantage and Disadvantage Guide
Difficulty Class Guide Armor Class Guide
High Ground Guide HP and Hit Dice Guide
Bonus Action Guide Alchemy Guide
FAQ and How-To Guides
What is Concentration? What is the Max Level?
Is BG3 Multiplayer? Is There a Split-Screen Feature?
Should You Enable Karmic Dice? What is Opportunity Attack?
How Many Party Members Can You Have? Should You Sell or Keep the Owlbear Egg?
Do Illithid Powers Have Consequences? What Does Add to Wares Do?
What is Saving Throw? How to Mod BG3
How to Pause the Game Is There a Bag of Holding?
How to Shove How to Go to the Camp
How to Highlight Objects How to Get to the Underdark
How to Solve the Silent Library Puzzle How to Multiclass and Best Class Combos
How to Jump and Increase Jump Distance How to Destroy Destructible Objects
How to Turn Off the Arcane Turrets Death Saving Throws: How to Help Incapacitated Allies
How to Use and Cast Spells How to Sneak: Stealing and Pickpocket Guide
How to Respec Your Character How to Get to Last Light Inn
How to Fix Top Down Camera View How to Use a Torch
How to Get to the Grymforge How to Recruit Hirelings
How to Buy and Sell Items from NPCs How to Get to the Shadow-Cursed Lands
How to Revive Fallen Allies How to Adjust the Camera
How to Get a Sussur Tree Bark How to Use Non-Lethal Attacks
How to Farm Gold Fast How to Get to Moonrise Towers
How to Learn New Spells How to Stack Objects
How to Infiltrate Shattered Sanctum How to Save / Quick Save
How to Find and Dig Up Dirt Mounds Should You Invite Yenna to Your Camp?
Where to Find Dammon How to Get to the Last Light Inn Basement
How to Use the Strange Chunk of Amber How to Get to Thorm Mausoleum

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