---
name: "showHUD"
type: command
status: ok
groups: ["Interaction"]
arma3_since: "0.50"
locality: {"argument": null, "effect": "local", "server_exec": false}
source: https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/showHUD
revid: 377971
updated: 2026-01-19T13:33:47Z
---

# showHUD

*Command · Interaction · Arma 3 v0.50 · introduced in Arma 2 v1.00*

Locality: effect **local**

## Description

Enable / disable showing of HUD. Defines visibility of weapon crosshair and any informational tags that appear when pointing the weapon at an object as well as availability of the default action menu. Unfortunately, it also hides icons drawn with [drawIcon3D](../commands/drawIcon3D.md).

> [!NOTE]
> **Arma 3:** **Since Arma 3 v1.50** there is a Description.ext's [showHUD\[\]](../topics/Description.ext.md#showhud) array param that is identical in format to the extended [showHUD](../commands/showHUD.md) command.
> When present, it will disable [showHUD](../commands/showHUD.md) command entirely, allowing mission makers to permanently alter visibility of some HUD elements.
>
> **Since Arma 3 v2.04** it is possible to force drawing of [drawIcon3D](../commands/drawIcon3D.md) icons when HUD is hidden.
> The icons will also show when custom camera is [created](../commands/camCreate.md) and the view is switched to it via [switchCamera](../commands/switchCamera.md) or [cameraEffect](../commands/cameraEffect.md) provided [cameraEffectEnableHUD](../commands/cameraEffectEnableHUD.md) is enabled.
> For more information see [drawIcon3D](../commands/drawIcon3D.md).

## Syntax

### Syntax 1

```sqf
showHUD enable
```

**Parameters:**

- `enable`: [Boolean](../topics/Boolean.md)

**Returns:** [Nothing](../topics/Nothing.md)

### Syntax 2

```sqf
showHUD [scriptedHUD, info, radar, compass, direction, menu, group, cursors, panels, kills, showIcon3D]
```

**Parameters:**

- `scriptedHUD`: [Boolean](../topics/Boolean.md) - show scripted HUD such as weapon crosshair, action menu and overlays created with [cutRsc](../commands/cutRsc.md) and [titleRsc](../commands/titleRsc.md). Same as [showHUD](../commands/showHUD.md)'s first syntax
- `info`: [Boolean](../topics/Boolean.md) - (Optional, default [true](../commands/true.md)) show vehicle, soldier and weapon info
- `radar`: [Boolean](../topics/Boolean.md) - (Optional, default [true](../commands/true.md)) show vehicle radar
- `compass`: [Boolean](../topics/Boolean.md) - (Optional, default [true](../commands/true.md)) show vehicle compass
- `direction`: [Boolean](../topics/Boolean.md) - (Optional, default [true](../commands/true.md)) show tank direction indicator. Not present in vanilla Arma 3
- `menu`: [Boolean](../topics/Boolean.md) - (Optional, default [true](../commands/true.md)) show commanding menu (HC related menus)
- `group`: [Boolean](../topics/Boolean.md) - (Optional, default [true](../commands/true.md)) show group info bar (Squad leader info bar)
- `cursors`: [Boolean](../topics/Boolean.md) - (Optional, default [true](../commands/true.md)) show HUD weapon cursors (connected with scripted HUD)
- `panels`: [Boolean](../topics/Boolean.md) - (Optional, default [true](../commands/true.md)) show Arma 3: Custom Info *(since arma3 1.70)*
- `kills`: [Boolean](../topics/Boolean.md) - (Optional, default [true](../commands/true.md)) show "x killed by y" [systemChat](../commands/systemChat.md) messages
- `showIcon3D`: [Boolean](../topics/Boolean.md) - (Optional, default [false](../commands/false.md)) show icons drawn with [drawIcon3D](../commands/drawIcon3D.md) even when the HUD is hidden *(since arma3 2.04)*

**Returns:** [Nothing](../topics/Nothing.md)

## Examples

### Example 1

```sqf
showHUD false;
```

### Example 2

Hide vehicle radar and compass:

```sqf
showHUD [
    true,  // scriptedHUD
    true,  // info
    false, // radar
    false, // compass
    true,  // direction
    true,  // menu
    true,  // group
    true,  // cursors
    true,  // panels
    true,  // kills
    true   // showIcon3D
];
```

### Example 3

Check if HUD visibility is hardcoded in mission config and [showHUD](../commands/showHUD.md) command is overridden:

```sqf
private _disabledShowHUD = isArray (missionConfigFile >> "showHUD");
```

## See also

[shownHUD](../commands/shownHUD.md) · [showCinemaBorder](../commands/showCinemaBorder.md) · [showSubtitles](../commands/showSubtitles.md) · [showWatch](../commands/showWatch.md) · [showRadio](../commands/showRadio.md) · [showMap](../commands/showMap.md) · [showGPS](../commands/showGPS.md) · [showCompass](../commands/showCompass.md) · [showPad](../commands/showPad.md)

## Community notes

**Killzone_Kid** — 2015-08-17

The "cursors" parameter controls visibility of the action menu as well as weapon cursors.
However if 1st param "hud" hides and disables action menu, param "cursors" only hides it. So you get invisible action menu that is fully operational.
[inGameUISetEventHandler](../commands/inGameUISetEventHandler.md) will still fire on interaction, giving the information about selected item on the action menu even if you cannot see it.
Unfortunately it also hides icons drawn with [drawIcon3D](../commands/drawIcon3D.md).

---

**POLPOX** — 2020-03-01

```sqf
showHUD false;
```

 removes Contact's compass that is shown at the top of the screen.

<sub>Source: [BI Community Wiki — showHUD](https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/showHUD) (revision 377971).</sub>