How to Sneak and Avoid Detection

Sneaking is the stealth mechanic in Starfield. Read on to learn exactly what sneaking is, how to sneak effectively, how to manage your stealth meter, how to avoid detection, as well as other things you can do while sneaking!

How to Sneak

Crouch Down to Sneak

Crouch Button Controls
Control Key	Left Stick
PC Controls	XBOX Controls

By pressing CTRL on your keyboard, or L3 on your Xbox Controller, you can get your character to crouch.

How to Avoid Detection

Crouch to Start Sneaking Upgrade Skills from the Physical Skill Tree Chameleon Armor Modifier Type tdetect on the Console Command

Crouch to Start Sneaking

Sneaking is the primary way of going around and not getting spotted. Initiate sneaking by pressing the Left Ctrl key.

Move Through the Shadows

Dark areas can help conceal your character whenever you're trying to be stealthy. Be mindful of where you're crouching when trying to traverse an area undetected.

Move Slowly to Reduce Noise

Moving slowly while crouched reduces the amount of noise your character makes. This makes it harder for enemies to detect you as you skulk around their supposed territory.

Upgrade Skills from the Physical Skill Tree

Stealth

The Stealth skill improves your ability to avoid being spotted by up to a hundred percent at Rank 4. Additionaly, it also increases you sneak damage with suppressed weapons.

This skill also enables the Stealth Bar in your HUD, which is otherwise inactive.

Also, interacting with doors no longer alerts enemies at Rank 4.

Stealth Skill Rank Up Guide

Concealment

At Rank 2, the Concealment skill disables enemies to hear you when running.

Concealment Rank 3, however, gives you the Chameleon ability that works similarly to the Chameleon Armor Modifier, which makes you invisible while sneaking and staying still.

Concealment also has the perk of having the enemies lose you when you engage sneaking.

Concealment Skill Rank Up Guide

Chameleon Armor Modifier

Chameleon is an armor modifier that allows players to blend with the environment when crouching and staying still. This works similarly to the Concealment Rank 3 Skill.

Chameleon makes it hard for enemies to detect the player and more accessible for the player to escape from enemies.

Type tdetect on the Console Command

The console command tdetect will remove any NPC's ability to detect you.

Warning: Using certain console commands will disable achievements for your playthrough and may affect your gameplay in a way the developers do not intend.

List of Console Commands

Stealth Meter Explained

Meter Displays Your Visibility

Stealth Meter
Medium Stealth Meter	Low Stealth Meter

Sneaking and stealth is denoted by a Stealth Meter that appears on your UI. This meter is a visual representation of how obscured from detection your character is.

This can be affected by multiple things such as lighting, noise, and your skill levels. Read below for things we've found that can affect your stealth meter.

Sneaking Activities

Pickpocket

Players who are actively sneaking can attempt to pickpocket unaware NPCs. This typically allows players to obtain items they wouldn't normally receive from the NPC.

Stealing Guide

Digipick (Lockpick)

While not always the case, some locks in the game will trigger NPC hostility if they catch you trying to nab their shiny loot. So if you're intent on lining your pockets with the items they have stashed away, try to sneak as you attempt to lockpick their safe.

Lockpicking Guide and How to Pick Locks

Access Forbidden Areas

Some areas of the game will trigger hostility from certain NPCs if you are found exploring them. Sneaking passed these enemies will allow you to look around as you please without getting into a firefight.

Stealth Kills

Attacking unaware enemies multiplies the damage you deal to them.

Click on the button below for a full guide on how to Stealth Kill enemies!

How to Stealth Kill Enemies

What is Sneaking?

A Stealth Mechanic

Similar to Skyrim and other Bethesda games, sneaking in Starfield is equivalent to crouching. Pickpocketing, sneaking past hostile enemies, navigating prohibited areas, and digipicking are some of the known activities players can do while they're sneaking.

Starfield Related Guides

Tips and Tricks

All Tips and Tricks