FIFA Mobile 21: Gameplay Controls Guide (How to Shoot, Pass, etc) – There are 2 ways to control the gameplay in FIFA Mobile. The first method is using buttons, and the second method is using gestures.
Both buttons and gestures have their own advantages and disadvantages. Please explore these two methods so you can find which one is more suitable for your playing style.
Each player has their own preferences and they may not be the same as one another. You can also combine the two and use them alternately, depending on the situation in the game.

Below we will explain how to control the gameplay in FIFA Mobile from shooting, passing, switch players, tackling, and so on.
You can use all of the controls below, regardless of whether you use buttons or gestures as your preferred controller.
FIFA Mobile Gameplay Controls
How to Move Player in FIFA Mobile
Manual: Hold and move the Virtual Stick control in the direction you want your player to move.
Auto: You can let go of the virtual stick at any time and your player will keep moving.
How to Pass in FIFA Mobile
Buttons: Tap ‘Pass’ button.
Gestures: Tap on one of your temmate.
How to Through Pass in FIFA Mobile
Buttons: Tap ‘Through Pass’ button.
Gestures: Tap in a space around your teammate.
How to Lob Through Pass in FIFA Mobile
Buttons: Tap and hold ‘Through Pass’ button then swipe up.
Gestures: Double-tap in a space around your teammate.
How to Pass and Go in FIFA Mobile
Buttons: Double tap ‘Pass’ button to make a forward run after the pass.
Gestures: Double tap on one of your teammate to make a forward run after the pass.
How to Long Pass in FIFA Mobile
Buttons: Tap and hold the ‘Pass’ button then swipe up. The longer you hold it, the farther the pass.
Gestures: Tap on a teammate or an empty space in the field.
How to Cross the Ball in FIFA Mobile
In order to cross the ball to the penalty box, your player must run first into the left or right side of opponent’s field, then ;
Buttons: Tap and hold the ‘Pass’ button then swipe up. The longer you hold it, the farther the cross.
Gestures: Tap on a teammate or an empty space in the penalty box.
How to Shoot in FIFA Mobile
Buttons: Tap and hold ‘Shoot’ button. The longer you hold it, the stronger and higher the shot.
Gestures: Swipe the ball in the direction you want the shot to go. The faster you swipe it, the stronger and higher the shot.
How to Long Shots in FIFA Mobile
Buttons: When outside the penalty box, tap and hold ‘Shoot’ button. The longer you hold it, the stronger and higher the shot.
Gestures: When outside the penalty box, Swipe the ball into the goal. The faster you swipe it, the stronger and higher the shot.
How to Chip Shot in FIFA Mobile
Buttons: Tap and hold the ‘Shoot’ button then swipe up.
Gestures: Tap and hold on the Goal area.
How to Finesse Shot in FIFA Mobile
A finesse shot is a curved shot that is usually aimed at the left/right corner of the goal.
David Beckham is one of the few real-life players to be famous for this shoot (remember the film called Bend it Like Beckham?).
Buttons: Tap and hold the ‘Shoot’ button then swipe down. The longer you hold it, the higher the finesse shot.
Gestures: Curve your shot by curving while you swipe.
If you want to do finesse shot more effectively, choose players with a higher ‘Curve’ stat.
How to Fake Shoot in FIFA Mobile
Buttons: Tap ‘Shoot’ button then swipe left.
How to Shoot High in FIFA Mobile
Buttons: Tap and hold the ‘Shoot’ button until the bar is full (red color).
Gestures: Swipe towards goal as fast as possible.
How to Shoot Low in FIFA Mobile
Buttons: Tap the ‘Shoot’ button and release as soon as possible.
Gestures: Swipe towards goal slowly.
How to Sprint in FIFA Mobile
Buttons/Gestures: Tap and hold the ‘Sprint & Skill’ button while dribbling the ball.
How to Switch Player in FIFA Mobile
Switch player can only occur while defending. When attacking, the player you control is the one with the ball.
Buttons: Tap ‘Switch’ button.
Gestures: Tap the player you want to control.
How to Skill Moves in FIFA Mobile
Buttons/Gestures: Tap ‘Sprint & Skill’ button while dribbling the ball.
How to Tackle in FIFA Mobile
Buttons: Tap and hold ‘Sprint & Tackle’ button.
Gestures: Tap the opponent with the ball.
How to Slide Tackle in FIFA Mobile
Buttons: Tap ‘Slide’ button.
Gestures: Swipe to the opponent with the ball (aim at the ball).
How to Dribble in FIFA Mobile
In AI matches, one of the requirements is usually to dribble x times. Now you may be wondering, what is considered a dribble? Or, what counts as a dribble in FIFA Mobile?
This is how dribble works in AI matches.
While dribbling the ball, tap the ‘Sprint & Skill’ button to perform a skill move. After that pass the ball to a teammate. Then, do the same thing (perform a skill move while dribbling the ball, then pass the ball again to a teammate). Do it repeatly until the number of requirements is met.
You don’t have to go past opposing players when doing this. You can do it on your own line of defense, between a defender and a defender, or between defenders and a goalkeeper.
So, what is considered dribbling in the requirements in AI Matches is dribbling the ball + skill move.
How to do Corner Kicks in FIFA Mobile
Gestures: Tap on a teammate or an empty space in the penalty box. Or, swipe from the ball towards the penalty box area.
How to do Free Kicks in FIFA Mobile
Gestures: Swipe from the ball towards the penalty box area. The swipe speed will determine the height of the free kick. Curve your free kick by curving while you swipe.
You can’t change your free kicks taker. The free kicks taker is the one who has the highest free kick stat in your team.
How to Take Penalty Kicks in FIFA Mobile
Gestures: Swipe the ball toward the side of the goal that you want it to go in. The faster you swipe, the stronger the shot.
How to Save Penalty Kicks in FIFA Mobile
Gestures: Tap or swipe toward a direction that you want your goalkeeper to jump to.
FIFA Mobile Controls Setting
To change controller settings in FIFA Mobile, go to Settings >> Preferences >> Edit.

Or if you are playing a match, you can press the ‘Pause’ button, then select Gameplay >> Edit.

You will see options that you can turn on or off as below:

GESTURES ONLY
On: ‘Shoot’, ‘Pass’, and ‘Through’ button disabled (this is what EA recommends, but the majority of users turn off this feature and use the buttons instead).
Off: Shoot and Pass button enabled, in addition to Gestures.
AUTO-PASS AND SHOOT
On: Players dribble, pass and shoot without user input. Suitable for use in matches against weak AI.
Off: Players continue to dribble without user input.
AUTO-SWITCHING
On: Switching will occur automatically while defending.
Off: Switching while defending only occurs when the user requests it.
FLOATING VIRTUAL STICK
On: Virtual Stick follows user finger once activated.
Off: Virtual Stick is anchored to a location.
LARGE VIRTUAL STICK
On: Virtual Stick is larger in size.
Off: Virtual Stick is smaller in size.
LARGE BUTTONS
On: Game buttons are larger in size.
Off: Game buttons are smaller in size.
GAME CONTROLS
On: Virtual Stick on the left and Skill Move Button on the right.
Off: Virtual Stick on the right and Skill Move Button on the left.
DISPLAY VISUAL FEEDBACK
On: Visual feedback is ON.
Off: Visual feedback is OFF.
RADAR
On: Top-down view of players and the ball.
Off: There’s no top-down view of players and the ball.
ALWAYS ATTACK LEFT-TO-RIGHT
On: Camera swaps so you always attack towards the right side.
Off: Attack towards the left side when the sides are swapped.
Arian says
How to switch a player for a throwing if you don’t want that player to throw during a throwing
Anil raphael says
How to clear a ball in guestre control
Christian says
If the opponent want to score, I can’t make use of my keeper
admin says
Drag down the 2nd Defender button.
José Missa says
Hi. I still have some questions about gameplay not answered on article:
– How to move the goalkeeper to the striker with the ball? It is by selecting him and move him or there is a possibility to order him to make pression and play with a defender at the same time?
– How to put a defender on goal with goal keeper in a free kick?
Thats two things that I see other players do on game to take advantage that I dont know how to do.
Thank you.
Batara says
Hi admin, in penalty kick, how to do a Panenka?
elie Devisch says
Hello,
I can’t buy anything with real money on my fifa mobile 21 in the past icould but since 21 the shop only shows free packs
what to do?
admin says
Try to use a VPN