To drop an item in Fortnite, open your inventory, select the item and use the drop prompt. On PC, Epic’s own documentation says to click the item and press Z or X to split or drop it, or drag it to the side until a backpack icon appears; controller and mobile players do the same thing from the inventory screen with the on-screen button.
Below we walk through dropping items on every platform, splitting stacks of ammo and materials, what you cannot drop, and why dropping a Sprite or the Victory Crown deserves a second thought.
Which Version This Covers
This guide is current for Chapter 7 Season 4, Fortnite Override, on the v42.20 update, as of September 28, 2026. The inventory has grown extra sections this chapter. Per the community wiki, you still carry up to five weapons or items in your hotbar, but Sprites now get their own dedicated slot, Gizmos can take the Pickaxe’s place, and Zero Build playlists add a permanent Pocket Item slot. Sprites and Gizmos are seasonal systems, so the rules for those may change when Override ends.
Dropping works the same way on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and mobile. Only the buttons differ.
How to Drop Items on PC
- Open your inventory. Epic’s documentation uses Tab to open the inventory screen. The community wiki lists I as the default Inventory key, so if one does not work, try the other, or check Settings, then Keyboard Controls.
- Click the item you want to get rid of: a weapon, a heal, a stack of ammo or a stack of materials.
- Press Z or X. Per Epic’s documentation, these keys split or drop the selected item. Follow the prompts along the bottom of the inventory screen to see which does which on your bindings.
- Or drag it out. Epic also says you can drag the item to the side until a backpack icon appears, then let go.
Splitting matters for stackable items. Ammo, materials and some consumables come in stacks, and splitting lets you hand a teammate part of a stack instead of the whole thing.
How to Drop Items on Controller and Mobile
On a controller, the flow is identical:
- Open the inventory. Per the community wiki, that is Up on the D-pad, or the touchpad on PlayStation and the View button on Xbox, depending on your layout.
- Highlight the item with the stick or D-pad.
- Press the drop button shown on screen. Player guides describe it as Square on PlayStation and X on Xbox in the default layouts; on Switch, use the face button the prompt shows. Player guides also describe a separate split button for dropping part of a stack.
On mobile, the wiki says the inventory opens from the Backpack icon on your HUD. Tap the item, then use the drop option.
If a button does nothing, check your layout under Settings, on the Controller tab, which shows what every button does in your current preset.
What You Can and Cannot Drop
- Weapons, heals and utility items. Drop freely. When you are eliminated, Epic’s documentation says everything you carry drops for others to pick up.
- Ammo and building materials. Drop all or split a stack. Materials only exist in modes with building.
- Sprites. Yes, but it costs you. Epic’s help center confirms that a Sprite you lose, whether you are eliminated or drop it yourself, comes back at level 1 next match, even if it was mastered. Per the community wiki, the dropped Sprite keeps its level for whoever picks it up. Epic’s notes do not spell out a separate input for the dedicated Sprite slot, so select it in your inventory and look for the drop prompt, the same as any other item.
- The Victory Crown. Per the community wiki, you can drop your Crown from the inventory or lose it on elimination, and the feed announces every drop and pickup. The wiki notes that some competitive players drop it early to avoid the attention.
- Gizmos. Epic’s v41.20 notes say Gizmos, such as the Portable Extractor, cannot be traded and are not dropped when you are eliminated.
- Sprite Dust. Per the wiki, it cannot be dropped at all. It lives on your account, not in your hands.
Dropping Items for Teammates
The most common reason to drop anything is to share it. A few habits help:
- Drop heals and ammo during a lull, not mid-fight. Items land at your feet, so stand next to your teammate.
- Split stacks so you keep enough for yourself.
- Hand off Sprites only to people you trust. A dropped Sprite belongs to whoever extracts it first. Our guide on whether you can trade Sprites explains why these handoffs are risky, and whether you lose Sprites when you die covers what an elimination costs.
- Extract before you gamble. If a Sprite matters, bank it first with the steps in our Sprite extraction guide.
- Couch co-op works too. Dropping between two players on one screen is the same process; see how split screen works.
For more quick fixes and how-tos, browse every Fortnite guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you drop items in Fortnite on PC? Open the inventory, click the item, then press Z or X to drop or split it, or drag it to the side until the backpack icon appears.
How do you drop items on PS5 and Xbox? Open the inventory, highlight the item and press the drop button shown on screen. Player guides describe it as Square on PlayStation and X on Xbox.
Can you drop your equipped Sprite? Yes, but Epic says a Sprite you drop or lose resets to level 1 for you, while it keeps its level for whoever picks it up.
Can you drop the Victory Crown? Yes. Per the community wiki, you can drop it from your inventory, and it also drops when you are eliminated.
Do Gizmos drop when you are eliminated? No. Epic’s notes say Gizmos cannot be traded and are not dropped on elimination, so they stay with you.