How do I exit the plane or end a flight in MSFS 2024?

To physically exit a plane in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, press Shift+C on keyboard, LB+B on Xbox, or L1+Circle on PS5 with the default controls. To stop the flight instead, open the pause menu and choose End Flight or Return to Main Menu; career activities may use a different leave option.

How to get out of your plane in MSFS 2024

The character exit command moves you from the cockpit to the on-foot walkaround mode without ending the flight.

1. Park the aircraft. Stop on the ground and apply the parking brake. Although the command may be available at other times, using it while safely parked avoids unwanted movement and activity penalties.
2. Use the exit command. Press Shift+C on a keyboard, hold LB and press B on Xbox, or hold L1 and press Circle on PS5.
3. Wait for character control. The viewpoint should move outside and your movement inputs will control the pilot rather than the aircraft.
4. Continue the walkaround. You can inspect the aircraft or follow any pre-flight or post-flight prompts provided by the activity.

You normally do not need to animate the cockpit or cabin door first. Door operation varies between aircraft, while the character exit command is what actually transfers control outside.

How do I get back into the aircraft?

Walk back to the aircraft's entry point and use the displayed interaction prompt or the same exit command again. The exact entry position varies: a small aircraft may use the pilot's door, while a larger aircraft can place the interaction point near its stairs or main entrance.

If no prompt appears, move closer to the door or cockpit area and make sure you are targeting the aircraft rather than ground equipment.

How do I exit the plane in MSFS 2024 on PS5?

On PS5, the default command for leaving the aircraft is L1+Circle: hold L1 and press Circle.

The PS5 edition supports the same on-foot walkaround concept as the PC and Xbox versions. To end the entire flight instead, press the controller's Options button to open the pause menu, then select the available end-flight or return-to-menu command.

If you use a customised DualSense profile, the default chord may no longer apply. Search the control assignments for Character Controls, Toggle Character Controls or Enter/Exit Aircraft; the displayed name can vary with the active control preset and simulator interface.

How do I end a flight instead of physically leaving the plane?

Open the pause menu and choose the option that leaves the session without force-closing Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.

1. Open the pause menu with Esc on PC, the Menu button on Xbox or the Options button on PS5.
2. Select the appropriate exit option. Free Flight normally offers an end-flight or return-to-menu choice; lessons, challenges and career missions may instead say Leave, Abandon or similar.
3. Read any confirmation message. Leaving a structured activity before its completion screen can discard the attempt or count it as abandoned.
4. Allow the transition to finish before closing the simulator or suspending the console.

Do you want to leave the aircraft or move around its cabin?

Walking outside, moving inside the cabin and using an external camera are three different functions in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.

• On-foot mode places your pilot outside and uses character movement controls.
• Cabin or cockpit movement changes the camera position inside the aircraft without disembarking. Our guide to moving through the cockpit or passenger cabin explains the camera controls and aircraft limitations.
• External view shows the aircraft from outside but leaves you in control of the plane; it is not walkaround mode.

A mistake we see often is opening an external camera and expecting walking controls to work. Use the character exit command if you want to stand on the apron; use camera movement if you only want to look around the interior or view the aircraft in flight.

Why can’t I exit the aircraft?

The usual causes are a changed binding, a restricted activity phase, lost input focus or an aircraft without a usable exit interaction at that moment.

• The command was reassigned: search the active control profile for character or aircraft exit commands. If Shift+C and other familiar keys have changed, check the standard MSFS 2024 keyboard assignments.
• The activity controls when you can leave: training, challenges and career missions can lock on-foot control during introductions, active objectives, scoring or debrief sequences. Wait for the next prompt or transition.
• The aircraft is still moving: stop completely and set the parking brake before trying again.
• The simulator lacks input focus: on PC, click inside the simulator window before pressing the shortcut. On console, close any system overlay and try the chord again.
• A custom control profile has a conflict: remove the duplicate assignment or test the command with a default profile rather than resetting every control unnecessarily.
• The aircraft or location has limited support: some aircraft do not provide a working door or entry point in every activity. This can prevent a normal walk-out or re-entry sequence.

If the flight starts with your pilot already standing at a gate or beside the aircraft, nothing has gone wrong: MSFS 2024 can deliberately begin in an on-foot phase. We explain why a flight can begin outside the cockpit and how to enter from there.

Will exiting or quitting lose career progress?

Walking out of the aircraft does not normally end the flight, but leaving a career assignment before its completion or debrief can lose credit for that attempt.

• Career missions: follow the taxi, parking, shutdown and completion prompts, then wait for the debrief or results screen before returning to the menu.
• Lessons and scored challenges: selecting restart or leave usually discards the attempt that is in progress.
• Free Flight: returning to the main menu is normally sufficient because there is no mission reward to collect.

Force-closing the simulator should be reserved for a genuine freeze. If the interface still responds, use its own end-flight or return-to-menu command and allow any saving or debrief transition to complete.