How do I disable VR controllers in Microsoft Flight Simulator?
Disable VR controllers in Microsoft Flight Simulator, stop unwanted cockpit inputs, and keep flying with a mouse, yoke or HOTAS.
To disable VR controllers in Microsoft Flight Simulator, enter VR, open General Options or Settings, go to the VR Mode section, set VR Controllers to Off, then apply and save. If that switch is absent, select each hand controller in Controls Options and assign an empty profile or clear all of its bindings.
How do I turn off VR controllers in MSFS?
The master VR controller switch is the cleanest option because it disables hand-controller input without turning off the headset or head tracking.
- Connect another input method: make sure your mouse, keyboard, yoke, joystick or HOTAS works before disabling the hand controllers.
- Enter VR mode: this ensures that the simulator can see the VR-specific settings and controller devices.
- Open the VR settings: in MSFS 2020, look under
Options,General OptionsandVR Mode. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 uses a revised settings layout, so open its VR section and look for the controller toggle. - Disable the controllers: set
VR Controllersor the similarly named use-controller option toOff. - Apply and save: return to the cockpit and test both controllers. If a hand or pointer remains visible, leave and re-enter VR so the session reloads the setting.
Do not disable the headset, its tracking service or the OpenXR runtime. Those components provide the VR image and head tracking; the in-simulator controller option affects only the hand-controller input.
What if the VR controllers still work?
If a controller still triggers commands, an assignment probably remains active, the other hand has not been disabled, or a different control profile has loaded.
- Open
Controls Optionsand wake both VR controllers so they appear in the device list. - Select each controller separately. Left and right controllers can have independent assignments.
- If the default preset cannot be edited, duplicate it or create a custom profile.
- Use the assigned-input filter, then remove every assignment or select an empty profile.
- Apply the changes and confirm that the intended profile remains selected after changing aircraft.
Our instructions for clearing bindings from an individual MSFS device cover the profile method in more detail. A mistake we see frequently is clearing one controller while leaving the second controller's profile untouched.
A controller remaining listed in the device carousel does not mean it is still controlling the simulator. Likewise, a hand model or laser pointer can persist until VR mode is restarted. If cockpit controls still move, check for assignments such as primary interaction, secondary interaction, menu selection and camera control.
Should I disable everything or only cockpit interaction?
Disable the complete device when you never use hand controllers; remove only cockpit assignments when you still want a controller for menus or toolbar selection.
| What you want | Best method | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| No VR controller input | Turn off the master VR controller setting | The visual hand or pointer may remain until VR restarts |
| Menu pointing without grabbing controls | Remove only cockpit interaction assignments | Both controller profiles must be checked |
| Controllers ignored despite detection | Assign empty custom profiles | A different or aircraft-specific profile can restore bindings |
| Temporary disconnection | Power off the physical controllers | Headset software may reconnect or wake them |
Changing the cockpit interaction style does not disable the controllers; it only changes how their input is interpreted. If you want to retain selected functions, our explanation of VR cockpit interaction methods and assignments helps identify which controls to keep.
Can I use VR without hand controllers?
Yes. Head tracking and hand-controller input are separate, so Microsoft Flight Simulator can remain in VR while you operate the aircraft with a mouse, keyboard, yoke, joystick, throttle quadrant or other conventional controller.
Before flying, bind VR re-centring, pause and any frequently used view commands to accessible hardware buttons. Moving the mouse should reveal its pointer for cockpit controls. If you need to rebuild the rest of the configuration, follow our MSFS VR setup and control guidance rather than re-enabling hand controllers unnecessarily.