Simple Build in Fortnite cuts building down to just two buttons and uses where you’re looking to decide which piece appears. It’s aimed at players who don’t want to manage separate keys for every structure, but it can feel unpredictable if you’re used to the classic layout or if you pressed “Enable” on the Chapter 7 pop-up by accident.
Turning it off is quick once you know where Epic tucked the option away.
What Simple Build does in Fortnite
Simple Build changes how you place structures:
- You use two inputs instead of four: one for walls, and one shared input for floors, ramps, and roofs/cones.
- The shared input builds different pieces depending on where your camera is pointing:
- Look higher on the screen to place ramps/stairs.
- Look at the lower half of the screen to place a floor.
- Keep looking low after placing a floor to stack a roof/cone above it.
- The wall input always places a wall around you in the direction you’re aiming.
This approach makes it easier to throw down quick cover or gain height without juggling multiple build binds. The trade‑off is control: at taller builds or in tight angles, the system can misread what you’re trying to place, which is why many players prefer to disable it and return to the traditional setup.
How to turn off Simple Build in Fortnite (all platforms)
Step 1: From the lobby or in a match, open the main menu and choose the Settings icon (the gear).
Step 2: In Settings, go to the Game tab. This is the tab with general gameplay options, not the controller or mouse/keyboard icons.
Step 3: Scroll down until you reach the Building section. This block contains options that control how building behaves.
Step 4: Find the setting labeled Simple Build.
Step 5: Change Simple Build to Off.
Step 6: Confirm the change by selecting Apply at the bottom of the screen.
After this, your building reverts to the regular behavior: each structure (wall, floor, ramp, roof/cone) is placed with its own dedicated button or key, exactly as you have it bound in your controls.
How to turn Simple Build back on
If you want to experiment with Simple Build again, you follow the same path in reverse.
Step 1: Open the Settings menu from the lobby or in‑game.
Step 2: Go to the Game tab and scroll to the Building section.
Step 3: Set Simple Build to On and hit Apply.
Once enabled, only your two Simple Build inputs matter for placing structures. If you’re on controller, for example, one trigger will handle floors/ramps/roofs based on aim direction and the other trigger will place walls. On keyboard and mouse, two mouse buttons or keys can be assigned the same way.
Simple Build vs. Simple Edit
Simple Build often appears alongside another feature: Simple Edit. Simple Edit is a separate option that automates edits on existing builds.
With Simple Edit enabled:
- A single press of your edit key applies a predefined edit pattern to the piece you’re looking at (for example, a window, door, or peanut butter corner), based on your aim position on the structure.
- You don’t manually select individual tiles; the system chooses for you.
- There is an optional Tap To Simple Edit toggle that lets you decide whether edits trigger on a tap or require a hold.
To toggle Simple Edit itself, the path is similar to Simple Build:
Step 1: Open Settings in Fortnite.
Step 2: Go to the Game tab and scroll to the Building section.
Step 3: Set Simple Edit to On or Off, and adjust Tap To Simple Edit if needed.
Note: Simple Edit is disabled in competitive modes. Even if it’s on in your settings, you won’t be able to use it in those playlists.
How Simple Build changes your inputs
| Action | Classic Building | Simple Build |
|---|---|---|
| Place wall | Dedicated wall bind | Wall button/trigger (e.g., R2 on controller) |
| Place floor | Dedicated floor bind | Shared build button aimed at ground / lower screen |
| Place ramp/stairs | Dedicated ramp bind | Shared build button aimed higher on screen |
| Place roof/cone | Dedicated roof/cone bind | Shared build button while looking slightly above the floor or structure |
On keyboard and mouse, you can still control which physical keys trigger the Simple Build actions via the normal keybinds menu. The difference is that Fortnite no longer expects four separate binds for the four main pieces; it compresses those down to two functional actions.
Why you might want Simple Build off
Simple Build is designed to lower the barrier to entry, especially for:
- Players who mainly play Zero Build but occasionally jump into build modes.
- New or returning players who don’t want to learn multiple separate structure binds.
However, there are clear reasons to disable it:
- Precision in build fights: High‑level building relies on fast, specific pieces in tight angles. The camera‑driven logic in Simple Build can misplace a floor vs. ramp at speed.
- Established muscle memory: If you already know classic binds, Simple Build introduces a delay while your brain fights the new system.
- High structures: As towers get taller, the difference in camera angle between “place ramp” and “place floor” can get subtle, which can cost you a fight.
If any of this feels familiar, switching Simple Build off and reverting to the traditional layout is usually the better choice.
Once you know where the toggle lives, Simple Build becomes just another tool: you can turn it on when you want a more relaxed match or you’re helping a new player learn, and turn it off when you’re ready for full control again.
