Are you stuck in your epic adventure in Baldur’s Gate 3 because the escape key or pause menu isn’t responding?
It’s a common bug that can interrupt your gameplay, preventing you from accessing important game functions or taking a much-needed break.
In this article, we’ll explore the steps you can take to fix Baldur’s Gate 3 escape key and pause menu not working issue.
How To Fix Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3) Escape Key, Pause Menu Not Working?
If you are facing an issue with the escape key and pause menu on BG3, then you should try quick save and load the game. Alternatively, try reloading the saved game and lastly verify the BG3 game file.

We have discussed the fixes in greater detail below.
1. Quick Save And Load
A simple but effective method that has worked for some players is to use the quick save and load functions.
You can quickly save the game by pressing F5 and then quickly load with F8.
This sequence can sometimes reset the game’s functions and make the escape key responsive again.
2. Reloading Save File
Another method to try is to reload your current save file.
First, try to exit the game using Alt+F4 and then relaunch it. After restarting the game, load your save file to see if the issue has been resolved.
To reload a saved game in Baldur’s Gate 3, you can follow these general steps:
- While in the game, press the menu button, usually “Esc” or “Start” on the controller, to access the main menu.
- Select the “Load” option from the menu.
- Choose the saved game file you want to load and confirm the selection.
3. Check For Triggers
It’s possible that the game’s inability to open the menu could be related to combat or event triggers that haven’t been properly resolved.
Some players have reported that the issue with the escape key and pause menu not working occurred during or after specific encounters.
Here are some recommended steps to check the Triggers:
- Finish any ongoing encounters to ensure that the game is not stuck in a combat state.
- If you suspect that the issue is related to a specific event or area, try moving your character to a different location where no immediate combat or event triggers are present.
- You may also want to backtrack to an area where you know the menu was previously working to see if the issue is location-specific.
4. Update Baldur’s Gate 3
Ensure that your game is up to date. Developers frequently release patches to fix bugs and improve the game’s performance.
Check for any available updates for Baldur’s Gate 3 and install them. An updated game can often fix a multitude of issues, including keyboard-related problems.
Here are the steps to update Baldur’s Gate 3 on Steam:
- Start the Steam application on your computer.
- Click on the ‘Library‘ section.
- Locate Baldur’s Gate 3 and right-click on it.
- Select ‘Properties‘ from the menu.
- In the Properties window, click on the ‘Updates‘ tab.
- Ensure ‘Always keep this game updated‘ is selected.
- Steam will automatically check and download any available updates.
- Close all windows and launch Baldur’s Gate 3 to apply the updates.
5. Verify Baldur’s Gate 3 Game Files
If you’re playing on a platform like Steam, you can verify the integrity of the game files.
Corrupted or missing files can lead to unexpected behavior, including input issues.
The platform typically has an option to check and repair game files.
here are the steps to verify game files for BG3 on steam:
- Launch Steam on your PC.
- Click on ‘Library‘ to see your game list.
- Find and right-click on Baldur’s Gate 3.
- Choose ‘Properties‘ from the context menu.
- In the Properties window, select the ‘Local Files‘ tab.
- Click on ‘Verify Integrity of Game Files…‘ button.
- Allow Steam to check and repair any necessary files.
- After the process, close the properties window and start Baldur’s Gate 3.
6. Contact Larian Support

If none of the above solutions work, it may be time to contact Larian Studios’ customer support.
They can provide more detailed troubleshooting steps and may offer solutions tailored to your specific situation.