How do you exit and walk around in MSFS 2024 on PS5?

On PS5, hold L1 and press Circle to exit the aircraft in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. This switches from cockpit control to Character walkaround mode; use the left stick to move and the right stick to look. Park first, because leaving the cockpit does not stop or secure the aeroplane.

How to exit the aircraft on PS5

The default PlayStation controller shortcut for leaving the cockpit is L1 + Circle.

1. Stop and secure the aircraft. Park on the ground and apply the parking brake. Shut down if the flight or mission calls for it; Character mode does not apply brakes or stop the engines for you.
2. Return control to the cockpit. Close any open menu, toolbar panel or camera interface so the button combination reaches the aircraft controls.
3. Enter Character mode. Hold L1, then press Circle while continuing to hold L1. Tapping the buttons separately may trigger another command instead.
4. Walk around. Move with the left stick and look with the right stick. You can inspect the aircraft and move around the parking area on foot.
5. Re-enter the cockpit. Return to the aircraft's access point and follow the on-screen entry prompt. A customised controller profile may show a different button combination.

The same default shortcut applies on PS5 Pro. It applies only to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 because Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 was never released for PlayStation.

Why does L1 + Circle not let me exit?

Most failures come from the active control context or a changed controller binding rather than the aircraft itself.

• Incorrect timing: hold L1 first and press Circle without releasing the modifier.
• A menu has focus: close pause, toolbar and camera interfaces, return to the cockpit, then try again.
• The binding has changed: custom and alternate controller profiles can replace the default shortcut. Search the bindings for terms such as character, exit aircraft or enter aircraft. Our guide to checking and remapping PS5 controller bindings covers the process.
• The activity restricts walking: some lessons or structured activities control when Character mode becomes available. Test the shortcut in a parked Free Flight aircraft before resetting your controls.
• The aircraft is not safely parked: stop on the ground and apply the parking brake before treating the shortcut as faulty.

Is walkaround mode the same as the external camera?

No. Character mode places you on foot, while external and drone cameras only move the viewpoint around the aircraft.

If the viewpoint floats freely but you cannot interact as a person, you have probably selected a camera mode instead of leaving the cockpit. See our breakdown of cockpit, external and drone camera controls for the practical differences.

Does leaving the aircraft end the flight?

Leaving the cockpit does not end a Free Flight session. The engines, lights and aircraft physics remain active, so an unsecured aeroplane can still move.

Structured activities may finish according to their own objectives, but Character mode alone is not an end-flight command. We explain how exiting differs from ending a flight if you want to close the session rather than inspect the aircraft.

Why did the flight start outside the cockpit?

A gate or parking start can deliberately place you in Character mode beside the aircraft. Walk to its access point and use the displayed entry prompt; this is not a broken cockpit camera.

If you repeatedly load onto the apron and cannot get in, follow our checks for gate starts that begin outside the cockpit.