October DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsClean PCRecommendedOne scan can reveal what keeps slowing WindowsLook for cleanup and repair opportunities.Run ScanOctober DealsAmazon USDeal season is back - check today's better picksAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
Skip to content
World desk1 min

How to Change Quest Tracking and HUD Settings in Skyrim

Select and activate a quest to show its target on the compass and maps, or adjust HUD opacity, crosshair, and subtitle options in Display settings.

Free tools Windows power users keep installed

One-click scans. No signup required.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

To change the quest shown on your Skyrim HUD, open the Journal, select the quest you want, and activate it. Its target will appear on the compass and maps. To adjust the HUD’s built-in display options, open System > Settings > Display and change HUD opacity, crosshair, or subtitle settings.

Track a different quest

  1. Open the Journal. On the PC keyboard layout documented in the original manual, press J. On Xbox 360, use the Start menu to reach the Journal. These are platform-specific examples; controls can vary if remapped or in other releases.
  2. Select and activate the quest. On PC, the manual says to select the quest and press Enter; on Xbox 360, press A. Activating it puts its target markers on the compass and world and local maps. See the PC manual and Xbox 360 manual.

Bethesda Support describes choosing a quest in the log, expanding its objectives, and selecting an objective to track it. Only one mission or quest can be tracked at a time, so selecting another replaces the tracked quest. Menu wording and navigation may differ by release; the manuals above document the original PC and Xbox 360 versions. Bethesda’s quest-tracking guidance covers the objective-selection method.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Adjust the built-in HUD display

  1. Open the System menu.
  2. Choose Settings, then Display.
  3. Adjust HUD Opacity or toggle the crosshair, dialogue subtitles, and general subtitles. The manuals document these options in Display settings; they do not establish a general switch to hide the entire HUD.

The PC and Xbox 360 manuals both document HUD opacity and the crosshair and subtitle options. Their instructions are for those editions, so later releases may present different labels or navigation. See the PC manual or Xbox 360 manual for the documented menus.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

If the controls do not match

Skyrim controls can be reassigned. On PC, Bethesda’s documented reset path is Esc > System > Controls, then press T to restore defaults. This reset instruction is specifically for PC; it is not a universal console procedure. See Bethesda Support’s PC control-reset steps.

Best Value
Skyrim Anniversary Edition - Xbox One
  • EPIC FANTASY REBORN - Skyrim reimagines and revolutionizes the open-world fantasy epic, bringing to life a complete virtual world open for you to explore any way you choose.
  • LIVE ANOTHER LIFE, IN ANOTHER WORLD - Play any type of character you can imagine, and do whatever you want; the legendary freedom of choice, storytelling, and adventure of The Elder Scrolls is realized like never before.
  • YOU ARE WHAT YOU PLAY - Choose from hundreds of weapons, spells, and abilities. The new character system allows you to play any way you want and define yourself through your actions.
  • BATTLE DRAGONS - Battle ancient dragons like you’ve never seen. As Dragonborn, learn their secrets and harness their power for yourself.
  • INCLUDED CONTENT - The Anniversary Edition includes the core game, pre-existing and new Creation Club content, plus all three official add-ons: Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn.
Rank #4
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition - Xbox One
  • Winner of more than 200 game of the year awards, Skyrim special edition brings the epic fantasy to life in stunning detail
  • The special edition includes the critically acclaimed game and add-ons with all-new features
  • All-new features include remastered art and effects, volumetric god rays, dynamic depth of field, screen-space reflections, and more
  • Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Content Description: Blood and gore, intense violence, sexual themes, use of alcohol
Rank #3
Sale
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Legendary Edition, XBOX 360 (Renewed)
  • Live Another Life, In Another World: Play any type of character you can imagine, and do whatever you want; the freedom of choice, storytelling, and adventure of The Elder Scrolls comes to life in one legendary experience from all three official add-ons.
  • Dawnguard: The Vampire Lord Harkon has returned to power. By using the Elder Scrolls, he seeks to do the unthinkable - to end the sun itself. Will you join the ancient order of the Dawnguard and stop him? Or will you become a Vampire Lord?
  • Hearthfire: Purchase land and build your own home from the ground up - from a simple one-room cottage to a sprawling compound complete with an armory, alchemy laboratory, and more.
  • Dragonborn: Journey off the coast of Morrowind, to the vast island of Solstheim. Traverse the ash wastes and glacial valleys of this new land as you become more powerful with shouts that bend the will of your enemies and even tame dragons.
Rank #2
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim | Anniversary Edition | Nintendo Switch 2
  • ANNIVERSARY EDITION CONTENT — Includes the base game, Dawnguard, Hearthfire, Dragonborn, and hundreds of Creation Club items such as quests, weapons, armor, spells, and dungeons.
  • SWITCH 2 ENHANCEMENTS — Explore Skyrim with updated visuals, improved load times, and optimized performance for Nintendo Switch 2.
  • SHAPE YOUR ADVENTURE — Choose your character and decide how to play in an open world that responds to your actions.
  • BUILD YOUR CHARACTER — Choose from hundreds of weapons, spells, and abilities to define your play style.
  • BATTLE DRAGONS — Face ancient dragons as the Dragonborn, learn their secrets, and harness their power.
#1 Best Overall
Sale
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition - Xbox One (Renewed)
  • Winner of more than 200 Game of the Year Awards, Skyrim Special Edition brings the epic fantasy to life in stunning detail.
  • The Special Edition includes the critically acclaimed game and add-ons with all-new features.
  • All-new features include remastered art and effects, volumetric god rays, dynamic depth of field, screen-space reflections, and more.
  • Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Content Description: Blood and gore, intense violence, sexual themes, use of alcohol

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More from the Wire

  1. World desk4 min
    How to Spot an AI Voice Scam Before Sending MoneyDon’t rely on how a caller sounds. Pause, call back through a known number, and verify the emergency with another trusted person before sending money.
  2. Mountain View desk4 min
    Google’s SynthID Detector: How to Check AI-Generated Images, Video and AudioGoogle’s SynthID Detector looks for an embedded watermark in supported images, video and audio. Here is what its results do—and do not—show.
  3. Redmond desk20 min
    How to create a link to File or Folder in Windows 11Windows 11 gives you several ways to point to a file or folder without moving or duplicating it. You can create a desktop shortcut,…
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.