Xbox controller layout

Halo: Combat Evolved (Xbox)
A - Jump

B - Melee attack

X - Reload weapon/Action

Y - Switch weapons

Left Analog - Movement

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog - Camera

Right Analog Click - Zoom

Right Trigger - Fire primary weapon

Left Trigger - Throw grenade

"Back" Button - Go back/Multiplayer score

"Start" Button - Pause gane

Directional Pad - Menu Movement

Directional Pad Up - Teamspeak

Black Button - Switch grenades

White Button - Flashlight/Teamspeak

Halo 2 (Xbox)
A - Jump

B - Melee attack

X - Reload weapon/Swap weapon/Action

Y - Switch weapons/Duel wield weapons

Left Analog - Movement

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog - Camera

Right Analog Click - Zoom

Right Trigger - Fire weapon

Left Trigger - Throw grenade/Fire secondary weapon/E-brake/Boost

"Back" Button - Go back/Multiplayer score

"Start" Button - Pause

Directional Pad - Menu Movement

Directional Pad Up - Teamspeak

Directional Pad Down - Lower weapon

Black Button - Switch grenades

White Button - Flashlight/Invisibility/Teamspeak

Halo: Combat Evolved (Xbox 360)
A - Jump

B - Melee attack

X - Reload weapon/Action

Y - Switch weapons

Left Analog - Movement

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog - Camera

Right Analog Click - Zoom

Right Trigger - Fire weapon

Left Trigger - Throw grenade

"Back" Button - Go back/Multiplayer score

"Start" Button - Pause

Directional Pad - Menu Movement

Directional Pad Up - Teamspeak

Right Bumper - Switch grenades

Left Bumper - Flashlight/Teamspeak

Halo 2 (Xbox 360)
A - Jump

B - Melee attack

X - Reload weapon/Swap weapon/Action

Y - Switch weapons/Duel wield

Left Analog Stick - Movement

Push Left Analog Stick - Crouch

Right Analog Stick - Camera

Push Right Analog Stick - Zoom

Right Trigger - Fire weapon

Left Trigger - Throw grenade/Fire secondary weapon/E-brake/Boost

"Back" Button - Go back/Multiplayer score

"Start" Button - Pause

Directional Pad - Menu Movement

Directional Pad Up - Teamspeak

Directional Pad Down - Lower weapon

Right Bumper - Switch grenades

Left Bumper - Flashlight/Teamspeak

Halo 3 Beta
A - Jump

B - Melee attack

X - Use Equipment

Y - Switch weapons

Left Analog - Movement

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog - Camera

Right Analog Click - Zoom

Right Trigger - Fire weapon

Left Trigger - Throw grenade/Fire secondary weapon (while dual-wielding)

Directional Pad - Push to talk

Right Bumper - Action/Reload

Left Bumper - Switch grenades/Reload secondary weapon (while duel wielding)

Default
The following is the recommended button layout.

A - Jump

B - Melee Attack

X - Use Equipment

Y - Swap Weapons

Left Analog - Movement

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog Click - Zoom View

Right Analog - Aiming

Right Trigger - Use Right Weapon

Left Trigger - Use Left Weapon/Throw Grenade

Up on Directional Pad - Team Chat

Right Bumper - Action/Reload Right Weapon

Left Bumper - Reload/Swap Left Weapon

LB + RB + A + ↓ D-Pad + Left Analog Click - Lower Weapon (Only works in Local or System Link)

LB + RB + A + ↑ D-Pad + Left Analog Click - Display Co-ordinates

This is the most common control scheme despite many flaws (see below) that often become apparent to more experienced players. This is the control scheme that Bungie starts you with, but it is suggested that one quickly learns to either use the claw grip, bumper jumper, walkie talkie, or possibly even green thumb, all of which are more often used by experienced players.

Please note that it is not possible to aim while meleeing, jumping, and deploying equipment without use of the "claw grip."

Southpaw
"For lefties."

A - Jump

B - Melee Attack

X - Use Equipment

Y - Swap Weapons

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog Click - Zoom View

Right Trigger - Use Left Weapon

Left Trigger - Use Right Weapon

Up on Directional Pad - Team Chat

Right Bumper - Action/Reload Right Weapon

Left Bumper - Reload/Swap Left Weapon

LB + RB + A + ↓ D-Pad + Left Analog Click - Lower Weapon (Only works in Local or System Link)

LB + RB + A + ↑ D-Pad + Left Analog Click - Display Co-ordinates (Only works in Local or System Link)

This is the same as default except that the triggers are switched.

Please note that if you compare new players using all button layouts this is the most accurate. Because unlike all of the other layouts offered in the game this is the only one that you are not required to use the same hand to shoot and aim with. Therefore having more reaction time and accuracy.

Boxer
"Pulling the left trigger will melee."

A - Jump

B - Throw Grenade

X - Use Equipment

Y - Swap Weapons

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog Click - Zoom View

Right Trigger - Use Right Weapon

Left Trigger - Melee/Use Left Weapon

Up on Directional Pad - Team Chat

Right Bumper - Action/Reload Right Weapon

Left Bumper - Reload/Swap Left Weapon

LB + RB + A + ↓ D-Pad + Left Analog Click - Lower Weapon (Only works in Local or System Link)

LB + RB + A + ↑ D-Pad + Left Analog Click - Display Co-ordinates (Only works in Local or System Link)

This has the advantage of giving the user aim while meleeing, but has the disadvantage of not allowing you to aim while throwing grenades.

Please note that it is not possible to aim while throwing grenades, jumping, and deploying equipment without use of the "claw grip."

Green Thumb
"Pressing the right stick will melee."

A - Jump

B - Zoom View

X - Use Equipment

Y - Swap Weapons

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog Click - Melee Attack

Right Trigger - Use Right Weapon

Left Trigger - Use Left Weapon

Up on Directional Pad - Team Chat

Right Bumper - Action/Reload Right Weapon

Left Bumper - Reload/Swap Left Weapon

LB + RB + A + ↓ D-Pad + Left Analog Click - Lower Weapon (Only works in Local or System Link)

LB + RB + A + ↑ D-Pad + Left Analog Click - Display Co-ordinates (Only works in Local or System Link)

This has the advantage of giving you some control over your aim while meleeing without compromising the aim of your grenades. However it is considered hard to learn and can be somewhat unreliable if not mastered.

Please note that it is not possible to aim while zooming, jumping, and deploying equipment without use of the "claw grip."

Also this is very similar to the default Call of Duty controls.

Bumper Jumper
"Jump and Melee are on the bumpers."

A - Reload/Swap Left Weapon/change grenade type

B - Action/Reload Right Weapon

X - Use Equipment

Y - Swap Weapons

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog Click - Zoom View

Right Trigger - Use Right Weapon

Left Trigger - Use Left Weapon

Up on Directional Pad - Team Chat

Right Bumper - Melee Attack

Left Bumper - Jump

A + B + LB + ↓ D-Pad + Left Analog Click - Lower Weapon (Only works in Local or System Link)

A + B + LB + ↑ D-Pad + Left Analog Click - Display Co-ordinates (Only works in Local or System Link)

This has been called by many to be the best possible controller configuration as you can aim while meleeing, jumping, zooming, and throwing grenades without having to use the uncomfortable claw grip usually only taking a few days to learn.

Please note that it is not possible to aim while deploying equipment without use of the "claw grip," although this is not much of a deterrent for most.

Bungie originally considered this as the default control scheme of Halo 3, but thought it would be too radically different to players used to Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2 and so altered it into the actual default configuration. However, with its relative popularity among Bungie workers, it was kept as an alternate configuration.

Using the Banshee becomes much easier with this control scheme, seeing as how you can use your cannon and aim, as well as perform tricks and determine your trajectory at the same time.

Walkie Talkie
"Multiplayer team broadcasting is on the Left Bumper."

A - Jump

B - Action/Reload Right Weapon

X - Reload/Swap Left Weapon

Y - Swap Weapons

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog Click - Zoom View

Right Trigger - Use Right Weapon

Left Trigger - Use Left Weapon

Up on Directional Pad - Use Equipment

Right Bumper - Melee Attack

Left Bumper - Team Chat

X + B + A + ↓ D-Pad + Left Analog Click - Lower Weapon (Only works in Local or System Link)

X + B + A + ↑ D-Pad + Left Analog Click - Display Co-ordinates (Only works in Local or System Link)

This has very similar advantages to Bumper Jumper except you can aim while deploying equipment but not while jumping, and it is much more convenient to communicate with your team as you can continue walking and aiming while you switch into your team chat.

Please note that it is not possible to aim while jumping without use of the "claw grip."

Default
"This is the recommended stick layout."

Left Stick - Move Forward/Backward | Strafe Left/Right

Right Stick - Look Up/Down | Rotate Left/Right

Southpaw
"For Lefties"

Left Stick - Look Up/Down | Rotate Left/Right

Right Stick - Move Forward/Backward | Strafe Left/Right

Legacy
"An older way of doing things."

Left Stick - Move Forward/Backward | Rotate Left/Right

Right Stick - Look Up/Down | Strafe Left/Right

Legacy Southpaw
"An older way of doing things for lefties"

Left Stick - Look Up/Down | Strafe Left/Right

Right Stick - Move Forward/Backward | Rotate Left/Right

Halo 3 Film Controls
A - Play/Pause

B - Hide/Show HUD

X - Hide/Show Control Pad

Y - Flying Cam/Player Cam

Left Analog - Movement

Left Analog Click - Pan

Right Analog - Camera

Right Trigger - Slow Motion/Fast Forward

Left Trigger - Thrust

Directional Pad - Switch Player

Right Bumper - Move Up

Left Bumper - Move Down

Halo 3 Forge Controls
A - Pick up/ Drop Item

B - Hold to Drop Item

X - Inventory/Item Options

Y - Delete Item

Left Analog - Move/Rotate Selected Item

Right Analog - Look/Rotate Selected Item

Right Trigger - Hold to Rotate Selected Item

Left Trigger - Thrust

Directional Pad - Play/ Edit Mode

Right Bumper - Move Up

Left Bumper - Move Down

Halo Wars
A - Press to select/Hold to select with "paintbrush" tool

B - Cancel selection

X - Move/Gather/Primary attack

Y - Special/Secondary attack

Left Analog - Move crosshair

Right Analog - Camera

Right Trigger - Cycle through selection

Left Trigger - Hold to speed up camera

"Back" Button" - Objectives

"Start" Button" - Pause

Up on D-pad - Leader abilities menu

Down on D-pad - Move/cycle to next army

Right on D-pad - Move to last alert location

Left on D-pad - Move/cycle to base locations

Right Bumper - Select local units

Left Bumper - Select global units

Halo 3: ODST
The controls in Halo 3: ODST are largely the same as in Halo 3, except the "Back" button accesses the VISR Database, the X button activates VISR Mode, and D-pad "up" views waypoints.

Default
A - Jump

B - Switch Grenades

X - Action/Reload

Y - Swap Weapons

Left Analog - Movement

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog Click - Zoom View

Right Analog - Aiming

Right Trigger - Use Weapon

Left Trigger - Use Grenades

Right Bumper - Melee Attack

Left Bumper - Use Equipment

↑ D-Pad - Team Chat

↓ D-Pad - Open Mic/Regoup

← D-Pad - Night Vision

Southpaw
A - Jump

B - Switch Grenades

X - Action/Reload

Y - Swap Weapons

Left Analog - Movement

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog Click - Zoom View

Right Analog - Aiming

Right Trigger - Use Grenades

Left Trigger - Use Weapon

Right Bumper - Use Equipment

Left Bumper - Melee Attack

↑ D-Pad - Team Chat

↓ D-Pad - Open Mic/Regoup

← D-Pad - Night Vision

Boxer
A - Jump

B - Switch Grenades

X - Action/Reload

Y - Swap Weapons

Left Analog - Movement

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog Click - Zoom View

Right Analog - Aiming

Right Trigger - Use Weapon

Left Trigger - Melee Attack

Right Bumper - Use Grenades

Left Bumper - Use Equipment

↑ D-Pad - Team Chat

↓ D-Pad - Open Mic/Regoup

← D-Pad - Night Vision

Green Thumb
A - Jump

B - Switch Grenades

X - Action/Reload

Y - Swap Weapons

Left Analog - Movement

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog Click - Melee Attack

Right Analog - Aiming

Right Trigger - Use Weapon

Left Trigger - Use Grenades

Right Bumper - Zoom View

Left Bumper - Use Equipment

↑ D-Pad - Team Chat

↓ D-Pad - Open Mic/Regoup

← D-Pad - Night Vision

Bumper Jumper
A - Switch Grenades

B - Action/Reload

X - Use Equipment

Y - Swap Weapons

Left Analog - Movement

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog Click - Zoom View

Right Analog - Aiming

Right Trigger - Use Weapon

Left Trigger - Use Grenades

Right Bumper - Melee Attack

Left Bumper - Jump

↑ D-Pad - Team Chat

↓ D-Pad - Open Mic/Regoup

← D-Pad - Night Vision

Recon
A - Jump

B - Melee Attack

X - Switch Grenades

Y - Swap Weapons

Left Analog - Movement

Left Analog Click - Crouch

Right Analog Click - Zoom View

Right Analog - Aiming

Right Trigger - Use Weapon

Left Trigger - Use Grenades

Right Bumper - Action/Reload

Left Bumper - Use Equipment

↑ D-Pad - Team Chat

↓ D-Pad - Open Mic/Regoup

← D-Pad - Night Vision

Default
Left Stick - Move Forward/Backward | Strafe Left/Right

Right Stick - Look Up/Down | Rotate Left/Right

Southpaw
Left Stick - Look Up/Down | Rotate Left/Right

Right Stick - Move Forward/Backward | Strafe Left/Right

Legacy
Left Stick - Move Forward/Backward | Rotate Left/Right

Right Stick - Look Up/Down | Strafe Left/Right

Legacy Southpaw
Left Stick - Look Up/Down | Strafe Left/Right

Right Stick - Move Forward/Backward | Rotate Left/Right

Halo: Reach Film Controls
A - Play/Pause

B - Toggle HUD

X - Invoke Controls

Y - Change Camera Type

Left Analog - Movement

Left Analog Click - Change Follow View

Right Analog Click - Camera View

Right Analog - Aiming

Right Trigger - Adjust Playback Speed

Left Trigger - Camera Boost

Right Bumper - Fly Up

Left Bumper - Fly Down

↑/↓ D-Pad - Change Player

→ D-Pad - Skip Forward

← D-Pad - Skip Back

Halo: Reach Forge Controls
A - Drop/Pick Up

B - Tools

X - Object Options

Y - Delete

Left Analog - Move

Right Analog Click - Zoom View

Right Analog - Pivot

Right Trigger + Right Analog - Rotate

Right Trigger + Left Analog - Push/Rotate

Left Trigger + Left Analog - Thrust

Right Bumper - Fly Up

Left Bumper - Fly Down

↑ D-Pad - Play/Edit

Default
A - Jump B - Crouch X - Action/Reload Y - Switch Weapons Left Analog - Movement Left Analog Click - Sprint Right Analog Click - Zoom Right Analog - Look Right Trigger - Fire Weapon Left Trigger - Throw Grenade Right Bumper - Melee Left Bumper - Use Armor Ability ←/→ D-Pad - Switch Grenade

Boxer
A - Jump B - Sprint X - Action/Reload Y - Switch Weapons Left Analog - Movement Left Analog Click - Crouch Right Analog Click - Zoom Right Analog - Look Right Trigger - Fire Weapon Left Trigger - Melee Attacks Right Bumper - Throw Grenade Left Bumper - Use Armor Ability ←/→ D-Pad - Switch Grenade

Bumper Jumper
A - Sprint B - Action/Reload X - Use Armor Ability Y - Switch Weapons Left Analog - Movement Left Analog Click - Crouch Right Analog Click - Zoom Right Analog - Look Right Trigger - Fire Weapon Left Trigger - Throw Grenade Right Bumper - Melee Attack Left Bumper - Jump ←/→ D-Pad - Switch Grenade

Fishstick
A - Jump B - Crouch X - Action/Reload Y - Switch Weapons Left Analog - Movement Left Analog Click - Sprint Right Analog Click - Melee Right Analog - Look Right Trigger - Fire Weapon Left Trigger - Zoom Right Bumper - Throw Grenade Left Bumper - Use Armor Ability ←/→ D-Pad - Switch Grenade

Green Thumb
A - Jump B - Crouch X - Action/Reload Y - Switch Weapons Left Analog - Movement Left Analog Click - Sprint Right Analog Click - Melee Right Analog - Look Right Trigger - Fire Weapon Left Trigger - Throw Grenade Right Bumper - Zoom Left Bumper - Use Armor Ability ←/→ D-Pad - Switch Grenade

Recon
A - Jump B - Melee X - Sprint Y - Switch Weapons Left Analog - Movement Left Analog Click - Crouch Right Analog Click - Zoom Right Analog - Look Right Trigger - Fire Weapon Left Trigger - Throw Grenade Right Bumper - Action/Reload Left Bumper - Use Armor Ability ←/→ D-Pad - Switch Grenade

Southpaw
A - Jump B - Crouch X - Action/Reload Y - Switch Weapons Left Analog - Movement Left Analog Click - Sprint Right Analog Click - Zoom Right Analog - Look Right Trigger - Throw Grenade Left Trigger - Fire Weapon Right Bumper - Use Armor Ability Left Bumper - Melee ←/→ D-Pad - Switch Grenade

Halo: Combat Evolved
Simply looking downward will achieve the alert carry.

Halo 2
The alert carry can be activated by pressing "down" on the D-pad. To actually display it, one must look down, as in Halo: Combat Evolved.

Halo 3 and Halo 3: ODST
It can be performed by simultaneously pressing and holding all these actions' respective button for three seconds:
 * LB
 * RB
 * A
 * 1) Left Thumbstick (Crouch)
 * 2) D-pad "down"

Halo: Reach
It can be performed by simultaneously pressing all these actions' respective button (different depending on layout):
 * 1) Reload
 * 2) Switch grenade
 * 3) Right Thumbstick (Zoom)
 * 4) D-pad "down"