Fix Ctrl+E not starting the Boeing 747-8 in MSFS 2020 by checking the autostart binding, keyboard focus, fuel controls and add-on compatibility.
In Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, Ctrl+E should run the automatic engine-start command for the default Boeing 747-8. If nothing happens, the shortcut is usually unassigned, captured by another control or text field, or overridden by an add-on. If the engines spool then stop, suspect fuel controls, hardware bindings or an incomplete aircraft state.
What should Ctrl+E do on the MSFS 747?
The default Ctrl+E shortcut activates Auto Start Engine, allowing MSFS 2020 to configure the aircraft and start its engines automatically. Press and hold Ctrl, tap E once, then give the sequence time to run.
Watch the EICAS rather than relying only on sound. Rising N2 followed by EGT and fuel flow means an engine is starting; our guide to the 747 engine indications explains what those readings mean. No change at all points towards an input or aircraft-state problem.
How do I fix Ctrl+E not working?
- Return focus to the aircraft. Close any toolbar search box, text-entry field or pop-out that may be capturing keyboard input. Click an unused area of the cockpit, then try
Ctrl+Eagain. - Check the keyboard assignment. Open Controls Options, select the active keyboard profile and search by input using
Ctrl+E. Confirm that it is assigned to Auto Start Engine. Search by the command name if the shortcut produces no result. - Remove conflicting assignments. If the same combination operates another function, clear the unwanted binding and save the profile. Our MSFS keyboard-command reference confirms the standard engine-start control.
- Test without external controllers. A throttle quadrant, switch panel or joystick can repeatedly send mixture-cutoff, fuel-valve, engine-master or starter commands. Temporarily disconnect the device or load a clean controller profile.
- Test the unmodified 747-8 from a runway. A runway start should load the aircraft with its engines running. If that works but a cold-and-dark start does not, the keyboard command is reaching the simulator and the problem lies in the saved aircraft state, add-on logic or start configuration.
- Restart the flight after correcting the cause. Repeated failed starts can leave fuel controls, starters or electrical systems in an awkward state. Reloading gives the aircraft a known configuration.
Why do the 747 engines spool up and then stop?
If N2 rises but there is no EGT or fuel flow, the starter is turning the engine without successful light-off. Check that the aircraft has usable fuel, the relevant fuel pumps are available and all four pedestal fuel-control switches are in RUN.
An engine that lights and then rolls back is usually losing fuel or receiving a conflicting control input. Search every connected controller profile for mixture, fuel cutoff, fuel valve and engine-specific assignments. A physical switch left in an off position can immediately overwrite the position selected by the automatic sequence.
If N2 never rises despite visible cockpit activity, the starter may lack pneumatic power. The 747 normally obtains start air from its APU or a suitable external source, with the bleed-air system configured accordingly. Our broader engine-start and shutdown checklist covers fuel, ignition, starter power and control conflicts.
| What you see | Most likely cause |
|---|---|
| No switch or gauge response | Missing binding, keyboard focus or control-profile conflict |
| N2 rises, but no EGT or fuel flow | Fuel controls at cutoff, no fuel supply or add-on start logic |
| Engine starts and immediately stops | Hardware repeatedly sending a cutoff or engine-off command |
| Only some engines start | Engine-specific bindings or individual fuel/start switch states |
| Works in the default 747 but not an add-on | The add-on does not support MSFS generic autostart |
Does Ctrl+E work with every Boeing 747 add-on?
No. Ctrl+E is most dependable with the default MSFS 2020 Boeing 747-8. A modified 747, classic 747 conversion or systems-focused add-on may intercept or ignore the generic autostart command and require its own aircraft-state option or manual procedure.
For the stock aircraft, the reliable alternative is our complete manual 747-8 cold-and-dark sequence. Manual starting also exposes the exact failure point: electrical power, APU and bleed air, starter rotation, fuel introduction or engine stabilisation.