How do I create and switch joystick profiles in MSFS 2020?

To create a joystick profile in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, open Options > Controls Options, select the joystick, open Preset Manager, duplicate its default preset, and give the copy a clear name. To switch profiles, select that same joystick and choose the required preset from its preset selector, then apply and save.

How to create a joystick profile in MSFS 2020

MSFS 2020 stores profiles separately for each detected controller and sometimes calls them presets. If your joystick, throttle and pedals appear as three devices, each has its own preset selector and must be configured separately.

1. Open Controls Options. From the main menu, select Options and then Controls Options. You can also reach the controls screen while a flight is paused.
2. Select the joystick. Choose its device tile at the top of the controls screen. Check the device name carefully, especially if several controllers are connected.
3. Open Preset Manager. Select the existing default preset and choose Duplicate. This preserves the factory mappings as a known-good fallback. An unrecognised joystick may have a largely blank default preset, but it can still be duplicated and configured.
4. Name the duplicate clearly. Names such as Stick - General Aviation, Stick - Airliner or Stick - Helicopter are easier to identify than numbered copies.
5. Assign the required controls. Use Search by Name or Search by Input, and change the filter to All when an unassigned command is hidden. For the complete binding process, including axis selection and testing, follow our step-by-step joystick profile setup.
6. Select Apply & Save. Do this before leaving the controls screen so the assignments and active preset are retained.

Pitch, roll, yaw and analogue throttles should normally use commands labelled as axes. Assigning an analogue lever to increase/decrease button commands produces abrupt movement rather than proportional control. Once the bindings work, use our dead-zone and response-curve guidance to tune the profile without disturbing the original preset.

How do I switch joystick profiles before a flight?

Switch profiles by selecting the physical joystick first, then choosing another saved preset from that device's profile selector.

1. Open Controls Options and select the joystick device tile.
2. Find the preset selector showing the active profile name. Depending on the interface revision, profiles are selected through arrows or a drop-down control beside that name.
3. Choose the required profile and confirm that its expected axis and button assignments appear.
4. Select Apply & Save, then test the primary controls before taxiing.

The mistake we see most often is changing the profile for the wrong device. Selecting Stick - Airliner does not change the separate throttle or rudder-pedal profiles. Switch those devices individually if the aircraft also needs different throttle detents, toe brakes or button mappings.

Can MSFS 2020 switch profiles automatically by aircraft?

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 does not natively attach a controller preset to an aircraft and select it automatically. You must choose the intended preset manually, so descriptive names are more reliable than maintaining many nearly identical profiles.

• One general profile suits aircraft that use the same axes and core buttons.
• Aircraft-class profiles are useful when general aviation, airliner and helicopter controls need different assignments.
• Per-aircraft profiles make sense only when a particular cockpit needs bespoke switches or unusual axis mappings.

Why is my new profile missing or not active?

A missing or apparently inactive profile usually means the wrong device or preset is selected, rather than that the profile has been deleted.

• Wrong controller selected: profiles only appear under the device for which they were created.
• Changes were not saved: return to the profile, make the change again and select Apply & Save.
• Another device has duplicate bindings: a gamepad, keyboard, throttle or second joystick can still send the same command and override or fight the intended input.
• The controls filter hides assignments: select All instead of Assigned or Essential when checking a profile that looks blank.
• The device identity changed: if Windows or MSFS detects the controller as a different device, its old presets may not appear under the new entry. Reconnect the original device and restart the simulator before rebuilding the profile.

If inputs remain absent or conflict after selecting the correct preset, work through our controller detection and duplicate-input checks. If a custom preset has become unusable, the safer recovery is to follow the procedure for clearing or restoring controller bindings rather than deleting assignments from every connected device.