Can You Pause Elden Ring? [Mid-Fight Breather Guide]

One of the most anticipated games of 2022, Elden Ring is FromSoftware’s latest open-world RPG.

And if you’ve ever played any of the developer’s previous hits, like the Dark Souls series, you’ll know that they aren’t fans of the Pause button.  

So, can you pause Elden Ring? Not in the classical way like other games, but there is a workaround.

Read on to find out!

Can You Pause Elden Ring?

You can pause Elden Ring by bringing up the Menu Explanation option in your Equipment or Inventory.

Even though it takes a few more extra steps than the traditional pause option in most games, it is still a reliable way to stop the action, except when you're in a Duel or Co-op in a multiplayer session.

Can You Pause Elden Ring on PS4/PS5?

To pause the game on PS4 and PS:

1. Press the Options button to open the Main Menu.
2. Open the Inventory or Equipment menu by pressing the X on your controller.

image source: youtube.com/@MasterOfAshina

3. Press the touchpad to open Help. You will see a window pop up with a few options on your screen.

image source: youtube.com/@MasterOfAshina

4. Select the Menu Explanation option by pressing X. This will open a tutorial and will pause your game in the background.

image source: youtube.com/@MasterOfAshina

5. When you are ready to return to the action, press the Options button again.

guess what, Elden Ring DOES have a pause button

just open "Menu Explanation" while on the inventory screen

this isn't a meme, it actually works lmao pic.twitter.com/0tNLFaWwC7

— Iron Pineapple (@IronPineapple_) March 8, 2022

Youtuber and community legend, Iron Pineapple posted the workaround for the pause option in Elden Ring.

Can You Pause Elden Ring on PC?

The trick also works on PC. 

Here’s how to pause Elden Ring on PC:

1. Press the Esc key to open the Main Menu.
2. Left-click on the Inventory or Equipment menu.
3. Click the Help button at the bottom of the screen.
4. In the window that opens, select Menu Explanation. Once the tutorial screen opens, the game will be hard paused.
5. Press the Esc key again to return to the game and pick up where you left off.

Can You Pause Elen Ring on Xbox Consoles?

To pause the game on an Xbox:

1. Press the Menu button on your controller to open the Main Menu.
2. Next, go to Inventory or Equipment by pressing A.
3. Press the View button to open Help. A dialogue box with a list of options will appear on your screen.
4. Press A to open Menu Explanation and the game will be paused.
5. Close the explanation box when you are ready to return to the game.

This video by user @TreeHouse showcases how the animation stops mid-fight during this pause workaround.

Other Pause Options

Pausing Elden Ring is also possible in Pause Mod on PC and Rest Mode on PS5, but these methods only work offline.

Pause Mod

PC users get an Elden Ring pause button in the Pause the Game mod, which was created by TechieW and can be found on Nexus Mods. You can pause the game in the mode by pressing the “P” key on your keyboard.

This mod doesn’t technically limit you to offline play, but Elden Ring doesn’t take kindly to player modifications, so it’s best to stay offline to avoid a potential ban. Also, make sure you save a backup of your files before you get deep into modding– it would be a shame to lose 50 hours of playing due to a misclick.

PS5 Rest Mode

If you are playing Elden Ring in offline mode on PS5, there is a simple way to freeze the action; Put your PS5 in standby/rest mode while playing, and it will effectively pause the game. 

To do that:

1. Press the Playstation button on the controller.
2. Select Power..
3. Select Rest Mode.

Rest Mode won’t turn off the console but it will suspend the game and let you return to it later. 

Worth noting: Bandai Namco, the publisher of Elden Ring, issued a PSA earlier this year, warning players that if the PS5 turns off while in rest mode, it might not save their progress correctly.

Safe Spots in Elden Ring

Going to a safe spot, such as a Site of Grace or the Roundtable Hold, will technically pause the game, allowing you to take a breather from the dangerous open world of the Lands Between for a while.

Site of Grace

image credit: pcgamer.com

Sites of Grace are safe areas that are randomly scattered throughout the world of Elden Ring. 

They serve as checkpoints and save your game progress, which means whenever you die in the game, you will respawn at the last Site of Grace you visited. You can also use a Site of Grace to level up, replenish your health and healing flasks, fast travel, memorize spells in your memory slots, and hide from your enemies.

Roundtable Hold

image credit: guidefall.com

The Roundtable Hold is a hub area in the game that has to be unlocked, but once you have access to it, you can fast-travel there via the map screen. 

The Roundtable Hold is a no-combat zone, which you can use to step away from the game or upgrade weapons at Smithing Master Hewg's work station or your Spirit Ashes at Roderika's station.

Bottom Line

So, can you pause Elden Ring? Yes, but the method is a bit convoluted. The trick is to go to your Inventory or Equipment menu and open the Menu Explanation through the Help button. It’s a lot of buttons to press if you’re in a fight, but it’s the only way to hard pause the game without quitting.