What Does L3 (Left Stick Click) Do on PlayStation Controllers?

L3 is not a separate button — it is pressing down on the Left Analog Stick until it clicks. R3 = Right Stick click.

Common Default Mappings (Genre Dependent)

Genre / Game Type	Typical L3 Function
FPS / TPS (Call of Duty, Battlefield, Destiny, Fortnite)	Sprint / Tactical Sprint (Click to run; hold or toggle)
Open World / Action (GTA, Assassin's Creed, Spider-Man, Horizon)	Sprint or Crouch/Stealth Toggle
RPG (Elden Ring, Witcher 3, Final Fantasy)	Sprint or Lock-On Target (Click) / Center Camera
Platformer (Ratchet, Crash, Astro Bot)	Often unused or Interact/Scan
Racing (Gran Turismo, Forza – on PS via remote play?)	Look Back or Handbrake (varies)
Fighting (Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8)	Usually unmapped (stick used for movement only)
System UI (PS4/PS5)	Press & Hold: Mute Mic (PS5) / Quick Menu (PS4)

How to Check / Remap

In-Game: Settings → Controls → Button Layout / Key Binds.
PS5 System-Wide: Settings → Accessibility → Controllers → Custom Button Assignments → Enable → Customize (remap L3 to any button).
PS4 System-Wide: Settings → Accessibility → Button Assignments.
Steam Input (PC): Full remap, gyro, activators, layers.

Mechanical Note

Stick click uses a tactile switch under the stick module. Over time (heavy sprinting in shooters), it can wear out → "drift" or failed click. DualSense Edge / DualShock 4 Back Button Attachment / Hall Effect sticks (GuliKit, 8BitDo) mitigate this.

PlayStation 3