Rebind the Escape Menu (Esc) to Open the Pause Screen

Locate the Menu Keybinding

Open Options → Controls and search for the binding labeled Pause Game or Open Menu. This is typically bound to Escape by default and is normally hardcoded.

Assign a New Key

Click the current keybinding entry. Press your preferred key—common alternatives include P, M, or a modifier combination like Shift + Esc. The mod will accept and register your input immediately.

Verify the Change

Close the settings menu and test your new key in-game. Pressing it should open the pause menu as expected.

Consider Your Workflow

Before finalizing, think about what you'll use Escape for instead. Many players rebind Escape to free it up for other mods or custom controls. You can always reassign Escape to a different function—just return to Controls and bind it to another action like toggling a HUD element or activating a mod feature.

If you want Escape to do nothing, leave it unbound after changing the pause key.