Set four separate throttle axes in MSFS 2024, remove conflicting bindings, calibrate each lever and fix grouped or reversed engine controls.
In Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, bind each physical lever to its matching numbered control: Throttle 1 Axis through Throttle 4 Axis. Remove the combined Throttle Axis binding, calibrate each lever, reverse any axis that moves backwards, and test all four cockpit levers individually in a dedicated four-engine control preset.
How to assign four independent throttle axes
Create a dedicated control preset and map one physical axis to each numbered engine throttle.
- Select the throttle quadrant. Open the MSFS 2024 control settings and choose the device containing your four levers. If the quadrant appears as more than one USB device, configure each device separately.
- Create a separate preset. Duplicate a working preset or create one for four-engine aircraft. This prevents the assignments from disrupting twin-engine and single-engine configurations.
- Assign the numbered axes. Set the leftmost physical lever to
THROTTLE 1 AXIS, followed byTHROTTLE 2 AXIS,THROTTLE 3 AXISandTHROTTLE 4 AXIS. Use the corresponding0 TO 100%versions when the hardware travels only from idle to full thrust. - Remove the combined axis. Clear
THROTTLE AXISandTHROTTLE AXIS (0 TO 100%)from the quadrant. Check the joystick, yoke and any unused sliders too; a combined assignment on another device can override or fight the four numbered axes. Our device-by-device method for mapping individual engine levers covers this conflict check in more detail. - Check direction and range. Move each lever from idle to maximum while watching its input indicator. Enable the reverse-axis option only if the on-screen input moves in the wrong direction. Use our throttle calibration procedure if a lever cannot reach idle or full thrust, jitters, or has a large dead area.
- Test one engine at a time. Load a four-engine aircraft, disable automatic thrust for the test and move only lever one. Confirm that only cockpit throttle one responds, then repeat for engines two, three and four. Swap assignments if the engine order is wrong; axis reversal changes direction, not engine numbering.
Which throttle axis option should I use?
Choose numbered axes for independent engine control and never bind both versions of the same axis at once.
| Control | Use it when |
|---|---|
THROTTLE 1–4 AXIS (0 TO 100%) | Each physical lever runs from idle to full thrust, with reverse controlled separately. |
THROTTLE 1–4 AXIS | The hardware or aircraft uses a full-range axis that includes a reverse region or custom detent calibration. |
THROTTLE AXIS | One physical lever should control every engine together. Do not use this for four independent levers. |
| Throttle increase/decrease commands | Buttons, keys or switches rather than an analogue lever. Binding a lever here often produces idle-or-full behaviour. |
The distinction matters because a combined axis is not converted into four independent inputs merely by using a four-engine aircraft. See our explanation of combined and numbered throttle inputs if both choices appear in the control search.
Why do all four throttles still move together?
All four throttles usually move together because a combined throttle binding remains active somewhere in the control profile.
- Search every connected device: a joystick slider or second quadrant may still be assigned to the general
THROTTLE AXIS. - Check the active preset: MSFS may have selected a different hardware preset for the aircraft you loaded.
- Remove duplicate variants: do not assign both the standard and
0 TO 100%versions to one lever. - Use an analogue axis: a lever assigned to an increase, decrease or set-throttle command will not behave proportionally.
- Check aircraft calibration: some add-on aircraft require a second calibration through their cockpit tablet or configuration panel after the MSFS axes have been assigned.
- Temporarily disconnect automatic thrust: autothrottle or autothrust can mask hardware response and make a correct binding appear faulty.
If a physical lever is not detected at all, confirm that you selected the correct device in the controls screen. On consoles, the quadrant must also be recognised as a supported control device before MSFS can expose its axes for binding.
How should reverse thrust be configured?
Use a separate reverse command when the physical levers stop at idle; use full-range numbered axes only when the hardware and aircraft both support reverse travel.
Aircraft with their own throttle calibration page should be calibrated there after the four simulator axes are working. Set idle, climb or flex detents, maximum thrust and reverse through that aircraft-specific system rather than forcing the positions with an aggressive MSFS sensitivity curve.
If a detent acts as a button rather than part of the axis, assign the appropriate reverse-thrust command. Independent reverse levers may require numbered per-engine commands where the aircraft supports them; otherwise reverse thrust may remain collective even though forward thrust is controlled separately.
Can two physical levers control four engines?
Yes. Assign the left lever to both engines 1 and 2, and the right lever to engines 3 and 4.
Keep the combined throttle axis unassigned, because it would make both lever groups control all four engines. Save this as a separate preset and follow our two-lever grouping setup for multi-engine aircraft to avoid duplicated or crossed assignments.