To change keybinds Airport Security Sucks, you must use Steam Input overrides or third-party scripting tools like AutoHotkey, because developers JakeHub and Metater did not include native control remapping in the game's June 5, 2026 release. The $7.99 social deduction game forces players into a rigid Unity default layout where a single key handles entirely different, high-stakes mechanics. If you are playing as a power-tripping TSA agent, the inability to separate your K9 voice command push-to-talk from your physical interaction button leads to disastrous accidental arrests.
The lack of an in-game input menu is a known issue among the 29,000 players who bought the game during its launch window. While the publisher, Jatater Worldwide, has actively updated the game—adding the "Hall of Skins" cosmetic area and teasing the upcoming airplane map—the fundamental input manager remains locked behind the engine's compilation method. You cannot simply open a .ini or .cfg file in the local app data folder to swap values. You have to intercept the keystrokes before the game engine registers them.
The "E" Key Catastrophe
The most glaring flaw in the default control scheme is the overloading of the "E" key. In a multiplayer game built entirely around split-second social deduction and stealth, tying multiple conflicting actions to one physical button creates artificial difficulty. When playing as the TSA agent, pressing E is supposed to deploy your "compliance device" to apprehend a suspected smuggler. However, if you are currently holding a confiscated item—like a suspicious water bottle or a fake passport—pressing E throws that item instead.
Infographic: How to change keybinds Airport Security Sucks default layout.
This overlap results in agents throwing contraband directly into crowds of innocent NPC travelers instead of arresting the actual smuggler hiding in plain sight. Smugglers face a similar mechanical nightmare. Blending into the crowd requires precise timing to drop illicit goods when the problematic K9 approaches your position. If the interaction key triggers a different environmental interaction—like opening a security gate or triggering a metal detector—the smuggler breaks their stealth animation and is immediately caught by the opposing team.
Why Unity IL2CPP Prevents Simple Config Edits
Players coming from older PC titles often expect to find an input.ini file hidden in their AppData/Local folder. This is impossible here. SteamDB repository data confirms that the developers built the game using the UnityIL2CPP SDK. Unlike older Unity Mono games that stored input mappings in easily editable plain text, IL2CPP converts all C# engine code into C++ binary blobs before compiling the final executable.
Because the input map is baked directly into the binary, you cannot manually text-edit your way into a custom layout. Any attempt to hex-edit the executable to swap the hex values for the "E" key will trigger a mismatch in the Steam validation check, preventing you from joining online PvP lobbies. This technical limitation is why external interception methods are the only viable path forward for accessibility.
Forcing Custom Inputs via Steam Input
Because the game lacks a native settings menu for controls, Steam Input is the most reliable way to force a custom layout without triggering any background validation errors. Steam intercepts your physical keyboard or controller inputs and translates them into the hardcoded keybinds the Unity engine expects. This method works flawlessly for the PC version and is entirely sanctioned by Valve.
Step-by-Step Steam Overlay Configuration
- Enable the Overlay: Start by ensuring your controller or custom keyboard software is recognized by Steam. Right-click the game in your Steam Library, navigate to Properties, and select the Controller tab.
- Force Translation: Ensure the "Enable Steam Input" option is toggled on. This overrides the game's native input listening and forces the application to accept Steam's translation layer instead of raw Windows inputs.
- Remap the Keys: Click the controller icon on the game's library page to open the Steam Controller Configurator. Here, you can map the game's default WASD and E keys to any physical button on your hardware.
If you are using a mouse with side buttons, bind the "E" key to Mouse 4 or Mouse 5. This moves the critical arrest/throw action off your left hand, freeing your index finger to maintain rightward movement while tracking a fleeing suspect.
For advanced players, Steam Input allows the creation of Action Layers. You can set a toggle—for example, holding the Left Trigger or Shift key—that shifts the entire layout into a "K9 Handling" mode. This allows you to bind the authoritative voice command push-to-talk button to a more accessible location only when you actually need to wrangle the dog, preventing hot-mic situations in the main game channel.
AutoHotkey Scripting for PC Purists
If you prefer playing strictly on mouse and keyboard and refuse to run the Steam Overlay in the background, AutoHotkey (AHK) is the secondary workaround. AHK intercepts your keystrokes at the Windows operating system level. Because the game relies on server-side validation rather than kernel-level anti-cheat software, running a basic AHK script will not result in an account ban.
Writing the Override Script
You need a script that isolates the game window so your custom bindings do not interfere with your regular typing in Discord or web browsers. Create a new .ahk file on your desktop and use the #IfWinActive ahk_exe AirportSecuritySucks.exe directive. This ensures the script only runs when the game is the active foreground window.
To fix the interaction overlap, you can map a comfortable mouse button to the hardcoded Unity input. A standard script line looks like XButton1::E. This tells Windows to send an "E" keystroke whenever you click your mouse's back button. While this does not separate the arrest and throw actions internally—since the developers hardcoded both to the same event—it drastically improves the ergonomics of the game, allowing you to keep your fingers on WASD during a high-speed chase through the terminal.
Optimal Layouts: TSA Agent vs. Smuggler
The two asymmetrical roles in the game require completely different mechanical priorities. A layout that works for hunting down players will actively hinder you when you are trying to blend into a crowd of NPCs. Setting up two distinct profiles in your peripheral management software allows you to swap configurations based on the role you are assigned in the pre-game lobby.
The TSA Agent Profile
As a TSA agent, your primary tools are the compliance device and the K9 unit. Your layout must prioritize mobility and immediate reaction times.
- Interaction Key: Bind the primary interaction key to a mouse side button.
- Voice Commands: The push-to-talk key for voice commands should be mapped to the Left Alt or a secondary mouse button.
- Movement: You need to be able to sprint, issue a voice command to the dog, and deploy a compliance device simultaneously without taking your fingers off the movement keys.
The Smuggler Profile
Smugglers rely on stealth, time management, and environmental awareness. Your priority is the "drop contraband" and "blend in" actions.
- Sprinting: Map your sprint key to something easily held for long periods, like Shift or a dedicated mouse toggle, as you will spend a lot of time running from the K9.
- Interaction Key: The interaction key should remain on the keyboard (like F or E) because you rarely need to drop items while engaged in complex movement; dropping items is a deliberate, stationary action to avoid detection by the guards.
Will Native Rebinding Arrive in the "Hijacked" Update?
The community has been vocal about the lack of accessibility options since the game hit 120,000 wishlists prior to its June release. Developers JakeHub and Metater have acknowledged the feedback in the official Discord server, noting that the input system is currently being rewritten. The upcoming "Hijacked" social deduction mode, which moves the chaotic PvP action from the terminal to an active airplane cabin, introduces entirely new mechanics that will break the current hardcoded layout.
Comic Grid: The overloaded E key chaos.
With the introduction of tight corridors and new environmental interactions on the airplane map, relying on a single overloaded interaction key will become mathematically impossible. The development roadmap indicates that a complete overhaul of the Unity Input System is planned alongside the Hijacked update. Until that patch deploys, third-party workarounds remain mandatory for competitive play.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a controller instead of a keyboard?
Yes. The game has partial controller support out of the box, but the default layout is just as rigid as the keyboard setup. You still need to use the Steam Controller Configurator to move actions off the face buttons and onto the bumpers or triggers for a competitive advantage.
Is there a Mac or Linux version with different controls?
No. Currently, the game is only supported on Windows PC. Linux users playing via Proton on the Steam Deck must rely entirely on Steam Input to map the controls to the handheld's layout, which actually provides a superior experience to the native Windows keyboard layout due to the Deck's rear paddles.
Will using external mapping software flag my account?
No. The game utilizes standard server-side validation for its multiplayer components and does not run intrusive client-side anti-cheat software. Remapping keys via AutoHotkey, Steam Input, or peripheral management software is completely safe and will not trigger a ban on your Steam account.