Angry Birds PC, Mac, & PSP Control Guide & More

Angry Birds on a touch screen is extremely intuitive. You can pick it up and learn how to play in a matter of seconds. The Windows, Mac, and PSP versions are not hard to learn either, but some of the controls are not as obvious. Hopefully this simple write-up can help alleviate some of this confusion:

First off, remember, you’re using a keyboard and mouse / trackpad, so don’t poke a whole in your monitor.

PC & Mac Controls

The Basics

  • Left-click to select (aka, tap)
  • Left-click & Hold to drag
  • Click the screen to trigger special abilities (blue bird split, yellow bird speed blast, etc.)
  • Move the cursor to the left and right of the screen to scroll the level from side to side.

The Not-So-Obvious

  • Scroll wheel or, if you’re using a trackpad, pinch gesture Zooms In & Out
  • Alt + Enter (Windows) or ⌘ – F (Command + F) on your keyboard enters windowed mode (i.e. exits fullscreen) — do it again to go back to fullscreen.
  • If using a trackpad a three finger swipe brings up the pause / restart menu (thanks, Richard)
  • F5 to restart a level (thanks, Alvin)
  • ESC while in a level brings up the menu, but while on the home screen it’ll prompt you exit the game.
  • ‘P’ pauses the level
  • ‘R’ restarts the level
  • For Golden Eggs that require a tap, just substitute a click instead.
  • Spoiler! to open the treasure chest and get the Golden Egg on level 1-8 type “Open” after clicking on the chest (some say you have to keep your mouse over the chest while typing)

PSP Controls (thanks, Pat!)

  • START -> Start game (at the opening screen) show level select/reset menu (in a level)
  • L1 -> Scroll to the left side of the playing field (in a level)
  • R1 -> Scroll to the right side of the playing field (in a level)
  • L1+R1 -> Zoom out to see entire level (in a level)
  • CIRCLE -> Cancel
  • X -> Choose highlighted menu/level-select/etc
  • Other buttons may be necessary, but are rarely used (One of the Golden Egg stars requires TRIANGLE and DOWN on the keypad, for instance.)

If you have any other tips leave a comment and I’ll try to add them to this guide. Thanks to everyone who has contributed thus far!

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Comments (181)

By oscarcete

someone tell me how to open the chest at 1-8?

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By Bird Leader (@birdleader)

Click and hold the chest then type “open”. That’s mentioned in several of our walkthroughs.

By D'andre

play

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By Bird Leader (@birdleader)

Play?

By Bridget

I changed to the full screen mode, whatever it’s called, then held down the left mouse button and typed open. That worked.

By Lee Guo Li

The very problem is that, i m playing PSp version and i cant CLICK ON THE TREASURE BOX@@

By sam

If you type open, the sidebar pops up.. since you hit P, it doessnt work ;p

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By Bird Leader (@birdleader)

You have to type it while holding the click on the chest.

By mmountain

On PC version hold Caps Lock key while typing open or the menu will open when hitting “p”.

By Michelle Munoz

you have to hold both the left and right mouse buttons then type open

By Steve

I use a Mac. When I’m in full screen mode, then typing “p” puts the game in pause mode (as does touching the screen anywhere with three fingers), so typing “open” didn’t work. I don’t even have a hand/cursor in my game screens in full screen mode; anywhere I drag my finger on the touchpad pulls the slingshot in whatever way I’m moving my finger, and the bird launches when I lift my finger. However, when I hit Command and “f”, then I go into partial screen mode where I have the hand/cursor, which I then have to use to launch birds. I tried tapping and clicking on the treasure chest, which did nothing. But when I then left the cursor over the treasure chest after tapping and typed “open” it worked, because typing “p” in partial screen mode doesn’t = pause! Finally!

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By Bird Leader (@birdleader)

Wow, this is crazy how different every situation is. On my Macbook I clicked the chest and then typed open and popped up the egg. Glad you got it.

By Rhi

No they are NOT right. I’ve tried EVERYTHING EACH ONE Of you has said to try and NONE OF IT WORKED!

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By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

This is just the way that most users get the egg. Are you sure you haven’t gotten the egg already? You can only get each egg once.

By Nathan

You dont have to click at all. You have to do it real fast but what you do is as soon as the level starts click enter and type open before the birds set.

By FLACK JACK

THIS is the ONLY thing that worked for me. Thanks Nathan

By Allie

it doesn’t work if the game is in full screen. So first, change to the smaller screen (the option to change it is right below the volume option). Then, when you are on the level click on the treasure and WHILE holding it type “open”. I know it sounds weird but I just tried and it worked!

By Bridget

The only it worked for me was in full screen, I tried and tried with the small screen but no luck. Crazy.

By ron

bird leader is right all you have to do is hit pause than click once on chest than just type open you wont see the text but it will give you the egg

By Varian Joe

It works when you are in windowed mode

By mmountain

How many Golden eggs are in the PC version? I have 15, but was wondering how many more.

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By Bird Leader (@birdleader)

I think there should be 17. Have you 3 starred all the levels?

By mosrite

You have to hold the cap lock key, rotate your mouse in a clockwise direction three times and then format your hard drive, unplug all your cables. When you finish reinstalling all your programs check back a week later and the chest will open.

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By Bird Leader (@birdleader)

LOL

By Pig Leader

I agree LOL.
But what do you do if have a laptop mosrite?

By kamarasa

could the pc version get new update?
if it could, how?

By Jake

there will be a button with a globe that will inform you that there’s an update
to be installed.

Then it will ask you if you want the update(which of course you do)
and then boom!!

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By atomic1fire (@atomic1fire)

Is it possible to open the chest with PSP/PS3?

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By Bird Leader (@birdleader)

As far as I know, no one has been able to figure it out.

By Guille

Just play the level and should just give it to you when you win the level

By Loupar

I`ve played it and after winning the level there’s no egg.

By blubber

i believe you need to get 3 stars in order to get it for me it didnt work the first time because i got 2 stars but i got 3 stars the second try and i got the egg. also my first try was 10 points away from 3 stars lol.

By colleen

I got a three star rating in poched egg level 1-8 and still didnt get the egg what am i missing? I have a PSP

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By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

You need to get the egg manually. Starring a level has no effect on golden eggs.

By Guille

Can somebody pls tell me how to get the egg for tapping the sun on the level menu. I have it on a PSP and it is not touch screen. PLS HELP!!!

By seven up

Me too!! but how you do about golden egg in level 1-8 ??

By Suziqueque

Can someone tell me please how to get the entire level to show on the MAC screen. On the iphone its a matter of moving two fingers in and out. Can’t figure it with the trackpad. Thanks

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By Bird Leader (@birdleader)

On my Macbook I can zoom in and out by touching the trackpad with TWO fingers and moving up and down. Down to zoom out, up to zoom in.

By Suziqueque

Thanks!

By Bonnie

I am unable to pinch and zoom, and can not zoom out on my laptop. Please help!!! I need to zoom out!!!

By Bonnie

Nevermind just figured out my center button does it…never knew it did anything before. LOVE IT NOW!!!

By jojo

using a Mac and none of these are working for 1-8 for me…is there some certain time I’m supposed to do the clicking\typing etc? So frustrating! …almost as frustrating as realizing how addicted I am to this game..

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By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

Have you checked the golden egg guide? I assume you are talking about the treasure chest. The answer is on that page.

By PatrickZJD

Nathan’s tip up above worked for me on my iMac — just type open as fast as you can before the birds set.

By Terry

Has anyone else had a problem with zooming in/out on PC with APPUP? Sometimes it works, sometimes it don’t… Weird!

By Andrew

um, i dont have a trackpad, i have a Synaptics TouchPad V7.0. PLEASE HELP ME! I REALLY NEED TO KNOW HOW TO ZOOM!

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By Bird Leader (@birdleader)

The up and down arrows should allow you to zoom. Or you mighty try a pinch gesture on the touchpad.

By Keegan

plz tell me how i can get the ham em high world on psp 1001

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By Bird Leader (@birdleader)

The update isn’t out yet for the PSP. Unfortunately, I have no ETA on when it will be either.

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By Bird Leader (@birdleader)

It’s not out yet for the PSP. Unfortunately, I have no ETA on when it will be either.

By ted

Please tell me how to update on PC.

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By Bird Leader (@birdleader)

There haven’t been any updates for the PC for awhile. However, how you update depends on whether you purchased the standalone version or the one through Intel AppUp? If you purchased through AppUp follow the link in the last sentence for info on how to upgrade. If you purchased the standalone version you will be prompted in-game when an update is available.

By christian

please teach me how to get the golden egg in the sun in psp!!!!!!!!

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By Bird Leader (@birdleader)

To date, I still don’t know how this is done or if it’s even possible on the PSP. Numerous other people have asked and tried, but know one has reported a solution.

By Black Bomb Bird

it is impossible on PSP… the game has alot of eggs missing tht r on the other versions but not on PSP… the sun egg is one of them.

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By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

It’s not that the “sun egg” does not exist, but that it is not obtainable. Slight distinction.

By Shushi

I got it by randomly pushing buttons in the chapter selection menu… I think it was either completely right with the analog stick or with the digital pad… try everything… I have the egg.

By rus

Can i open the treasure chest on 1-8 in PSP???

Rank: Sling God with 32120 points
By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

Honestly, we aren’t sure if it’s possible.

By Shushi

I got it by getting three stars in the level… before it even calculated my result (the remaining birds)… I think you have to win in one try or something like that… not sure though…

By Mac

[on Win7 PC] I found (by accident) that if you hold-down the CapLocks key and press +/- repeatedly you will turn Up/Down the game volume permanetly, a restart will not restore the volume if the volume is 0 (off). To regain game volume do CapLoack(Hold) and repeatedly press + key. Hope this helps.

By dewan

On PSP I have collected 16 out of 17 golden egg. The only one I missed is the one with the rocket thing in it..so please tell me where can i find this golden egg?

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By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

See Golden Egg 2 in our complete list.

Just out of curiosity, how did you get GE-6 (the treasure chest) and GE-8 (double-tapping the sun) on PSP? We have always thought these were bugged and unattainable on PSP, but would love to know how it can be done.

Rank: DaBomb with 365 points
By Aeryk17aj (@aeryk17aj)

The GE on 1-6 may be obtainable by random chances so maybe play the level with maybe scoring high or finishing faster

By christian

how to zoom out if i don’t have scroll wheel in pc?

Rank: Sling God with 37915 points
By Bird Leader (@birdleader)

I’m honestly not sure it’s possible. The up and down arrow keys work on the AB Chrome, but they don’t seem to work on the PC. Somebody please correct me if I’m wrong.

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By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

I was going to say up/down keys, but now I don’t explicitly remember if they work. If you have a trackpad, there’s a scroll feature here (use the right edge of the trackpad).

By Rookie

Will Angry Birds arrive on PSVita? And will it use touch screen?
I have no plans to buy one though,just curious.

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By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

I don’t know what that is, sorry.

By ivan81571

for the psp/ps3 version: to get the egg on 1-8 simply complete the level, no 3 stars required. to get the ‘tap the sun’ egg, just select the gold egg menu, its just given to you. to get the ‘drag screen right on level8’ egg, when you have level 8 worlds on screen press and hold R1. all other eggs should be obtainable the same way as a guide would suggest

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By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

Thanks — If we can get some other users to confirm this, we would like to remove the related bug.

By Bill

The Facebook version in full screen mode>>>
It appears none of the PC keyboard shortcuts work in full screen mode. Most OK, in a Facebook screen.

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By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

PC ≠ Facebook. We never claimed these were the same.

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By TruckDriver (@truckdriver)

The PC controls are far more likely to control browser behavior, not the Facebook app. That’s because the browser has window focus in Windows, while Facebook does not. Nor is it ever likely to unless Facebook were to release a browser of it’s own, and too many users distrust Facebook far too much to let it have that much control.

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By HappyShake (@happyshake)

In Angry Birds Space F5 won’t restart the game on PC. Hit r instead for restart.

Oh, and has anyone found out how to run it in window mode? Changing values in the config.lua doesn’t do the trick.

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By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

Alt enter.

By Lara

Please tell me how to restart the angry brids on PC.

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By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

How to restart? As in clear all of your data?

By zg

is there anyway to reset angrybirds highscores,golden eggs..back to zero or all cleared like new start on PC “windows” xp?? ive uninstalled ,,reinstalled many times and nothing! ive searched the net and found nothing but theory’s! i dug in the harddrive and couldnt find any saved files to clear!

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By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

Refer to our Ultimate Backup post. Deleting those files should do what you want.

By Niko Bellic

How to scroll up and down in a level?

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By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

There is no scrolling up or down. You can scroll left/right or zoom in/out.

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By Lamia (@lamia)

Is ‘R’ button for refresh still same for all 5 angry birds?

By Alok

i’m using laptop how to zoom in and out in laptop….?

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By AMslimfordy (@amslimfordy)

Scroll wheel on your mouse (which, on a laptop pad-style mouse is usually on the right side). You can also try using the up/down arrows.

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By TruckDriver (@truckdriver)

There is another alternative, found here at the Dell website. Certainly those PC users desirous of tablet-like touchscreen control should take a look. It ssems both useful, and affordable.

By Lone Funman

Instructions indicate one can exit Full Screen mode on PC with ALT+Enter. That does not work for me. The game has begun to freeze when trying to enter Clan Tournament and The Arena. It’s indicated this may happen when more levels are achieved and not playing in Full Screen mode may fix the issue. Are there any other ways to escape Full Screen?

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