What do Shift+Enter and Shift+Backspace do in FSX, and why might they not work?

In FSX and FSX: Steam Edition, Shift+Enter raises the virtual-cockpit eyepoint and Shift+Backspace lowers it. They do not move the aircraft or physically adjust a modelled seat. If nothing happens, you are usually outside Virtual Cockpit view, FSX lacks focus, the assignments were changed, or a camera add-on is intercepting them.

What exactly do Shift+Enter and Shift+Backspace move?

These shortcuts move the camera's eye position vertically inside the Virtual Cockpit.

Tap a shortcut for a small adjustment or hold it for continued movement. The behaviour is the same in boxed FSX and FSX: Steam Edition when the default bindings are intact. Our complete FSX keyboard-command reference also lists the forward, backward and sideways eyepoint controls.

The commands do not alter pitch, trim, zoom or the aircraft's flight model. They also have no expected effect in the 2D cockpit, Spot, Tower or other external views.

Why might the FSX eyepoint keys not work?

The most common cause is using the shortcuts in a view other than Virtual Cockpit.

• Wrong view: Select Virtual Cockpit from the Views menu before testing. An aircraft with only a 2D panel cannot use these controls as intended.
• FSX does not have keyboard focus: Close an open dialogue or menu, then click inside the main simulator window. This is especially relevant when running FSX in windowed mode.
• The assignments were changed: A customised controls configuration may have removed one or both default bindings.
• Another command uses the same combination: Duplicate assignments can make the result inconsistent or trigger a different function.
• A camera or cockpit add-on is taking control: Camera utilities and some highly customised virtual cockpits can intercept the keys or repeatedly restore their own eyepoint.
• The keyboard reports a different key: Test the main Enter key rather than the numeric-keypad Enter key, and check that Shift, Enter and Backspace work independently.

How do I restore the Shift+Enter and Shift+Backspace shortcuts?

Restore the two eyepoint assignments in FSX's keyboard controls, then test them in a default virtual cockpit.

1. Select Virtual Cockpit view. Use the Views menu rather than relying on another shortcut that may also have been changed.
2. Give FSX focus. Return to the main simulator window and dismiss any active menu or dialogue.
3. Open the controls dialogue. Go to the simulator's settings, open Controls and select the keyboard Buttons/Keys assignments.
4. Find the eyepoint commands. Locate the view commands for moving the eyepoint up and down. Assign Shift+Enter to up and Shift+Backspace to down.
5. Remove conflicts. If FSX reports that a combination is already assigned, decide which function should keep it and clear the unwanted duplicate.
6. Test a default aircraft. If the shortcuts work there but not in one add-on aircraft, the issue belongs to that aircraft or its camera system rather than FSX globally.

For the full control-dialogue process, including conflict checking and reassignment, see our explanation of checking and changing FSX keyboard bindings. Resetting every control to its default is a last resort because it also removes unrelated custom keyboard and controller assignments.

How do I reset or permanently change the FSX eyepoint?

Press Spacebar in Virtual Cockpit view to reset the eyepoint when the default reset binding is present.

Treat adjustments made with the shortcuts as view offsets rather than a reliable permanent cockpit setup. For a lasting aircraft-specific starting position, the relevant setting is the eyepoint= entry under [Views] in that aircraft's aircraft.cfg. Back up the file before editing it, and remember that a camera add-on may override the aircraft's configured position.