Use our MSFS 2024 keyboard controls cheat sheet for flight, throttle, flaps, brakes, gear, cameras and autopilot, plus fixes for missing keys.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024’s default keyboard controls use the numeric keypad for pitch, roll and rudder, F1–F8 for throttle and flaps, G for landing gear, and Ctrl+E for engine autostart. Bindings can change with the selected preset, aircraft or connected devices, so the active Keyboard profile is always the final authority.
MSFS 2024 default keyboard controls
These are the core factory assignments most pilots need for flying, operating the aircraft and changing views. Num means a key on the numeric keypad; modifier keys shown together must be held simultaneously.
| Category | Action | Default key |
|---|---|---|
| Flight controls | Pitch nose down | Num 8 |
| Flight controls | Pitch nose up | Num 2 |
| Flight controls | Roll left | Num 4 |
| Flight controls | Roll right | Num 6 |
| Flight controls | Rudder left | Num 0 |
| Flight controls | Rudder right | Num Enter |
| Flight controls | Centre ailerons and rudder | Num 5 |
| Trim | Nose-down elevator trim | Num 7 |
| Trim | Nose-up elevator trim | Num 1 |
| Throttle | Minimum or cut throttle | F1 |
| Throttle | Decrease throttle | F2 |
| Throttle | Increase throttle | F3 |
| Throttle | Maximum throttle | F4 |
| Flaps | Fully retract | F5 |
| Flaps | Retract one stage | F6 |
| Flaps | Extend one stage | F7 |
| Flaps | Fully extend | F8 |
| Undercarriage | Toggle landing gear | G |
| Spoilers | Toggle spoilers | Num / |
| Brakes | Apply wheel brakes | Num . |
| Brakes | Toggle parking brake | Ctrl + Num . |
| Engine | Engine autostart | Ctrl + E |
| Autopilot | Toggle autopilot master | Z |
| Autopilot | Toggle flight director | Ctrl + F |
| Instruments | Set altimeter to local pressure | B |
| Camera | Switch cockpit and external view | End |
| Camera | Open Showcase or drone camera | Insert |
| Camera | Reset cockpit view | Ctrl + Space |
| Camera | Zoom in or out | = / - |
| Interface | Open the pause menu | Esc |
This is the practical core rather than every available assignment. Our printable, desk-side command reference covers the wider command set.
Commands such as engine autostart, spoilers and autopilot may behave differently in complex aircraft. An airliner can reject an autopilot mode because its flight director or avionics are not configured, while some detailed aircraft do not support the simulator’s generic autostart sequence completely.
Where can I see every keyboard binding?
The definitive list is inside Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 under Settings and Controls with the Keyboard device selected. The selected preset matters: a custom, imported or aircraft-specific profile can differ from the factory assignments above.
- Select Keyboard: choose the keyboard from the available input devices.
- Check the active preset: make sure an empty or experimental profile has not been selected accidentally.
- Change the filter: show all commands when searching for an action that has no key assigned.
- Search by action or input: look up a command name, or press a key to see what is already bound to it.
MSFS does not provide a permanent in-flight cheat sheet over the cockpit. We explain where the in-game keyboard map appears and what it can display.
Why are the keyboard controls not working?
A non-responsive shortcut usually comes from the wrong profile, a missing numeric keypad or another interface capturing the keystroke.
- No numeric keypad: laptop and compact keyboards often lack the keys used for pitch, roll and rudder. Use any available Fn-key keypad layer or reassign those commands.
- Num Lock state: change the Num Lock setting and test again if MSFS identifies the keypad key incorrectly.
- Text field has focus: close any search box, chat field or EFB text entry before testing flight commands.
- Wrong preset: select the expected Keyboard profile rather than an unconfigured custom preset.
- Conflicting bindings: check joysticks, throttles and controllers for duplicate commands, especially brakes, trim and camera inputs.
- Aircraft state: disengage the autopilot and remove any control locks or pre-flight restraints if manual controls appear ineffective.
Should I customise the default keyboard controls?
Customise them if your keyboard has no numeric keypad or if several essential commands require awkward combinations. Duplicate the default preset first rather than overwriting a working setup; our binding and preset workflow shows how to assign keys and remove genuine conflicts.
Keyboard-only flying is possible, but the keys provide digital on-or-off inputs rather than smooth analogue movement. They work well for avionics, views, flaps, gear and secondary systems; a gamepad, joystick or yoke is much easier for precise take-offs, approaches and landings. Our controller-versus-keyboard comparison explains which setup suits each type of flying.