How do I exit or end a flight in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024?
To exit or end a flight in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, open the in-flight pause menu and choose the option that fits what you want to do: End Flight, Return to Main Menu, Restart or Quit. Do not force-close the sim unless you have to, because that can interrupt saving and mission progress.
The quickest way to end a flight in MSFS 2024
- Open the pause menu. On PC, that is usually done with the pause key used by the sim interface. On Xbox, use the controller button that opens the menu overlay.
- Choose the right exit option. Depending on the mode and screen, you may see End Flight, Return to Main Menu, Restart or a full Quit option.
- Confirm if prompted. The sim may ask whether you really want to leave the flight, especially if you are in an activity, challenge or career mission.
- Wait for the transition. Let the sim finish saving and loading back to the menu before closing the game or switching off the console.
Which option should you pick?
Not every exit button does the same thing. In Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, the best choice depends on whether you want to stop flying, restart the same scenario or close the simulator completely.
| Option | What it does | Best used when |
|---|---|---|
| End Flight | Leaves the current flight session | You are finished with that flight and want to move on |
| Return to Main Menu | Takes you back to the main menus without closing the sim | You want to start another flight, change aircraft or alter settings |
| Restart | Reloads the same flight, mission or activity | You made a mistake and want to begin again quickly |
| Quit | Closes the simulator entirely | You are done playing and do not need to stay in the menus |
Can you just quit the game instead?
Yes, but we would only treat that as a last resort. If you use the operating system or console dashboard to close the sim while you are still in the cockpit, you may lose mission progress, skip post-flight scoring or interrupt cloud syncing.
For a normal exit, it is better to leave the flight through the in-game menu first. Once you are back at the main menu, quitting the sim is much safer.
How ending a flight works in different MSFS 2024 modes
Free Flight
This is the simplest case. Open the pause menu and leave the session. There is usually no penalty for ending a free flight early, although you should not expect every flight to be logged perfectly if you exit abruptly before shutdown, taxi-in or parking.
Career mode and activities
If you are flying a mission, sightseeing leg, challenge or career assignment, ending the flight early can count as abandoning it. That may reduce your score, cancel completion credit or stop any reward tied to a successful finish.
If you care about progression, always look for the mission completion screen or the activity's own end-of-flight flow rather than backing out the moment you land.
Training or discovery-style content
Structured content sometimes uses its own menu layer. In those cases, you may see a specific option to leave the lesson or return to the activity browser instead of the standard free-flight wording.
Why can’t I see an End Flight button?
If you cannot find a button literally called End Flight, that does not always mean something is wrong. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 can label the exit differently depending on the mode you are in.
- In some screens, the relevant choice is Return to Main Menu.
- In activities, you may only see an option to abandon or leave the mission.
- If a controller interface is active, the menu may be there but not currently highlighted.
- If the sim is loading, paused in a modal screen or showing a post-landing sequence, some options may be temporarily hidden.
If the menu feels unresponsive, back out one layer and reopen it. On PC, checking that the mouse cursor is active can also help when menu focus gets stuck.
What if I want to stop flying but stay in the same session?
Ending the flight is not your only option. If you simply want to pause and think, tune radios, inspect charts or step away from the controls, use the sim's pause function rather than exiting.
If you want to try the same approach or departure again, Restart is usually faster than leaving to the main menu and building the flight from scratch.
Will ending the flight save my progress?
Usually, yes, but it depends on what kind of progress you mean.
- Settings and control changes are generally saved independently of the flight itself.
- Career or activity progress usually needs the mission to be completed or formally ended through the proper flow.
- Logbook-style flight records can be less predictable if you leave very early, crash, or force-close the simulator.
If a mission matters, let the end screen appear and wait a moment before returning to the menus. That gives the sim time to process completion, scoring and any online sync.
If the sim is frozen and you cannot end the flight
Sometimes the normal menu route is not available because the sim has hung, the UI has disappeared or input has stopped responding. In that case, you may have no choice but to close it from Windows or from the Xbox dashboard.
That should be the exception, not the routine method. After reopening the sim, check whether the flight, activity or profile progress was recorded correctly.
Best practice for ending a flight cleanly
If you want the least hassle, follow a simple routine:
- Stabilise the aircraft if you are still airborne, or park if you have landed.
- Open the pause menu instead of closing the program externally.
- Pick the correct option: restart, end flight, return to menu or quit.
- Wait for saving and the menu transition to finish.
- Only then close the sim if you are done for the session.
That avoids most of the usual problems with lost progress, half-saved missions and inconsistent flight records.