How do I adjust yoke sensitivity in MSFS 2020?
In Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, open Options > Controls Options, select the yoke, then choose Sensitivity. Start with a linear 0% curve, almost no dead zone and default reactivity. Apply modest negative pitch and roll sensitivity only if small movements produce excessive aircraft response, then save the changes in a separate control profile.
How to change yoke sensitivity
The adjustment is made in the yoke’s own Controls Options profile, rather than in the aircraft or assistance settings.
- Select the yoke: Open Options > Controls Options and choose the physical yoke from the device list. Duplicate its default preset or create a separate profile before making changes.
- Check the axis assignments: Roll should be assigned to Ailerons Axis and pitch to Elevator Axis. Remove duplicate digital commands such as Aileron Left, Aileron Right, Elevator Up or Elevator Down. Our control-axis assignment walkthrough covers the binding checks in more detail.
- Open Sensitivity: Choose the Sensitivity option for that device. If it is unavailable, confirm that the yoke itself is selected rather than the keyboard or mouse.
- Move each axis fully: Pull and push the yoke, then turn it fully left and right while watching the input indicators. The movement should be smooth, centred and capable of reaching both endpoints. If it is not, perform the hardware and in-simulator calibration checks before altering the response curve.
- Set a clean baseline: Use 0% sensitivity, 0% neutral and no extremity dead zone initially. Add only enough centre dead zone to stop genuine drift.
- Test and refine: Fly a trimmed aircraft in calm conditions with the autopilot and control assists disengaged. Change one setting at a time, save the profile and repeat the same manoeuvre.
What yoke sensitivity settings should I use?
A linear curve is the correct starting point because it preserves a direct relationship between physical yoke travel and the simulated control position.
| Setting | Suggested starting point | When to change it |
|---|---|---|
| Sensitivity − / + | 0% | Try roughly −10% to −30% if small movements around the centre are too strong. Begin with equal values on both sides of each axis. |
| Dead zone | 0% | Use about 1% to 3% only if the input flickers or drifts while the yoke is physically centred. |
| Neutral | 0% | Change this only when the calibrated physical centre and simulated centre do not match. |
| Extremity dead zone | 0% | Increase it slightly only if the hardware cannot produce full simulated deflection at its physical stop. |
| Reactivity | Default or full response | Lower values smooth the response by adding delay. They can also encourage over-correction, so they should not be used as the main sensitivity control. |
Negative sensitivity softens the response near the centre but does not remove maximum control authority; it moves more of that response towards the outer part of the yoke’s travel. Large negative values can therefore make the aircraft feel calm initially and then suddenly aggressive near full deflection.
Pitch and roll do not have to use identical curves. Pitch often needs finer control during rotation and landing, while roll may feel satisfactory at 0%. Owners of longer-travel hardware can compare additional baseline curves for full-size and long-travel yokes, but no single percentage suits every mechanism or aircraft.
Why is my yoke still too sensitive?
If moderate negative sensitivity does not solve the problem, calibration, duplicate bindings or aircraft state is usually responsible rather than the curve itself.
- The input moves while the yoke is still: A tiny dead zone can mask minor centre drift, but intermittent spikes indicate calibration, connection or hardware trouble. A large dead zone only hides the fault while sacrificing fine control.
- One movement activates two controls: Search the assignments by input and remove duplicate axes from gamepads, joysticks and throttle quadrants. Do not bind both an analogue axis and its left/right or up/down digital commands.
- The response feels delayed: Restore reactivity towards full response. Delayed virtual movement makes pilots add too much input, followed by an opposite correction when the aircraft finally reacts.
- Only one aircraft behaves badly: Some add-on aircraft include their own control calibration. Where that system expects a linear simulator axis, leave MSFS sensitivity at 0% and make the adjustment inside the aircraft instead of stacking two curves.
- The aircraft needs constant pressure: Correct the trim and verify that the autopilot or a piloting assist is not commanding the controls. Sensitivity changes response around the axis; it does not correct an out-of-trim aeroplane.
Do I need a separate profile for each aircraft?
One well-tuned yoke profile is enough for most aircraft, but separate general-aviation and airliner profiles can help when their control behaviour differs substantially.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 control presets are associated with the device, so select the required preset when changing aircraft. Avoid creating many profiles to compensate for basic calibration faults; that soon makes troubleshooting difficult.
Device-specific switches and axes should also be configured before judging sensitivity. For example, our Honeycomb Alpha setup notes cover its axis bindings, profiles and suitable sensitivity starting points.