How do I add fuel mid-flight in Microsoft Flight Simulator?
Add fuel mid-flight in Microsoft Flight Simulator using the Fuel panel, EFB or control binding, plus fixes when the tank level will not change.
To add fuel during a flight in Microsoft Flight Simulator, stabilise the aircraft, open the in-flight Fuel or Weight and Balance panel, raise the tank quantities, and apply the change. In MSFS 2024, or when that panel is absent, assign and use Add Fuel Quantity or use the aircraft’s own EFB.
Which mid-flight refuelling method should I use?
Use the built-in fuel panel for precise quantities and a control binding for a quick emergency top-up. Complex add-on aircraft often require their own electronic flight bag or load manager instead.
| Method | Best used when | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel or Weight and Balance panel | Flying a default aircraft in free flight | The panel name and location differ between MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 |
| Add Fuel Quantity control | The panel is unavailable or a quick increase is needed | Less precise than setting individual tanks |
| Repair and Refuel control | Using an MSFS 2020 control profile that provides it | Normally refills rather than adding an exact amount |
| Aircraft EFB or load manager | A complex add-on controls its own fuel system | It may prohibit loading fuel while airborne |
How do I change the fuel tanks during flight?
The safest procedure is to stabilise the aircraft, change only the required tanks, and confirm that the aircraft’s fuel indications have updated.
- Stabilise the aircraft. Engage the autopilot if appropriate. Some complex aircraft behave badly with Active Pause, so ordinary flight or a normal pause is preferable.
- Open the fuel controls. In MSFS 2020, reveal the top toolbar and open the Fuel panel. Depending on the version and aircraft, it may instead be labelled Weight and Balance or Fuel and Payload. In MSFS 2024, check the in-flight EFB or aircraft loading page.
- Increase the required tank quantities. Keep left and right tanks balanced unless the aircraft’s procedure says otherwise. Do not put all the fuel into a centre or auxiliary tank unless its pumps and feed system are configured to supply the engines.
- Apply or load the change. Some panels update immediately; others provide an Apply, Load or Set control. Avoid altering payload stations accidentally because a sudden payload or centre-of-gravity change can destabilise the aircraft.
- Check the result. Allow analogue gauges a few seconds to respond, then confirm total fuel, tank balance, fuel flow and estimated endurance.
We recommend the panel or aircraft EFB when a specific landing reserve is required. A shortcut is faster, but it may add more fuel than intended.
How do I bind the Add Fuel Quantity control?
The Add Fuel Quantity command can be assigned to an unused keyboard key or controller button from the simulator’s control settings.
- Open the control settings and select the keyboard or controller profile actually being used.
- Change the search filter to All; an unassigned command will not appear when the filter shows assigned controls only.
- Search for Add Fuel Quantity and assign an unused input.
- Save or apply the profile, return to the flight and press the binding once.
- Inspect the fuel indication before pressing it again.
If that command is absent in MSFS 2020, search for Repair and Refuel. Control names and existing assignments can be checked against our MSFS keyboard and fuel-system command reference.
Why does the fuel level not change?
A fuel change usually fails because the aircraft, activity or active control profile is overriding the standard simulator command.
- The aircraft has a custom fuel model: use its EFB or load manager. If the toolbar value changes and then immediately returns, the add-on is probably overwriting it.
- The activity restricts fuel changes: some Career or mission flights lock loading controls. If both the panel and binding are disabled, the activity must be continued under its rules or restarted with a more suitable fuel load.
- The wrong device profile is active: confirm that the binding was saved to the keyboard or controller profile loaded for that aircraft.
- Fuel was added to a tank that is not feeding: check the tank selector, shut-off valves, transfer pumps and crossfeed configuration.
- The display uses different units: fuel may be shown as mass in pounds or kilograms rather than volume in US gallons or litres.
Adding fuel does not automatically restart a starved engine. Once usable fuel is feeding the engine, follow the aircraft’s restart checklist and configure its pumps, mixture, ignition or APU as required.
Can a fuel truck refuel an aircraft in the air?
No. Standard Microsoft Flight Simulator fuel trucks operate only after the aircraft has parked at a suitable stand; they cannot provide aerial refuelling.
If you can land safely, use the normal airport service rather than changing the tanks in flight. Our MSFS 2024 ground-service and fuel-truck procedure explains the parking and service requirements. Genuine aerial refuelling works only where a specifically modelled aircraft or activity supports it.
Is unlimited fuel the same as adding fuel?
No. Unlimited fuel prevents further depletion, while a fuel-panel or EFB change places fuel into the aircraft’s tanks.
Unlimited fuel is useful when the aim is simply to complete the flight, but it may not recover an engine that has already flamed out. See how to enable and use unlimited fuel in Microsoft Flight Simulator for the relevant assistance setting.
For later flights, loading the correct amount before departure avoids abrupt weight and balance changes in the air. We cover the simulator menu and aircraft-specific options in our guide to setting planned fuel and payload before a flight.