How do I open the MSFS 2024 toolbar in VR?

In Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on PC, press Tab while VR is active to show or hide the in-flight toolbar. You can also move the mouse pointer to the top centre of the VR view and select the toolbar handle. If Tab does nothing, bind the toolbar toggle command in the active control profile.

What is the MSFS 2024 VR toolbar shortcut?

The standard PC shortcut for the toolbar is Tab, pressed without Ctrl, Shift or Alt.

1. Give MSFS keyboard focus: click the simulator window on the desktop if another application or VR utility was active.
2. Enter and recentre VR: settle into your normal flying position before opening the toolbar.
3. Press Tab once: the toolbar should appear across the upper part of the VR view.
4. Select a panel: use the mouse pointer or aim a motion controller at an icon and press its assigned select control.
5. Press Tab again: this closes the toolbar without leaving VR.

Do not confuse Tab with Ctrl+Tab. Under the standard PC bindings, Ctrl+Tab switches VR mode itself. Our VR activation and essential control setup explains that distinction in more detail.

How do I operate the toolbar inside the headset?

The mouse is usually the simplest way to operate toolbar icons, but MSFS 2024 also accepts a configured VR motion controller.

• Mouse: move it to wake the pointer, then point and click as you would on the monitor.
• VR controller: aim the controller ray at an icon and use the assigned interaction or select button. The exact button depends on the headset and active control profile.
• Joystick or yoke button: bind the toolbar toggle command to spare hardware if reaching for Tab is inconvenient.

Only change one input method at a time if the pointer keeps disappearing. Moving the mouse after using a motion controller should transfer control to the mouse; Sim Update 2’s VR toolbar interaction changes improved this handover and are included in later simulator updates.

Why will the toolbar not open in VR?

A missing VR toolbar is usually caused by an inactive control profile, lost application focus or a toolbar positioned outside the centred view.

1. Check the active keyboard profile: open Controls, select the keyboard and search for toolbar. Assign the command that toggles the toolbar if it is blank or conflicting. Command wording can vary between presets and simulator updates.
2. Confirm the correct device profile: changing from a default preset to a custom profile can leave the binding behind. MSFS stores separate assignments for the keyboard, controllers and flight hardware.
3. Recentre the VR view: use your assigned VR view-recentre control, then press Tab again. This fixes a toolbar appearing above, behind or far to one side of the expected position.
4. Close focused text fields: an EFB search box, ATC input or another text field may capture keyboard input. Return focus to the cockpit before pressing Tab.
5. Update the simulator: older builds had more problems when changing between the mouse and VR controllers.

If the bar appears but cannot be clicked, the toolbar itself is working; the pointer is the fault. Follow our VR mouse and cursor fixes rather than repeatedly resetting the toolbar binding.

Why are toolbar icons or panels missing?

Missing icons usually mean the toolbar has been customised or that a panel is unavailable in the selected aircraft or activity.

Open the toolbar’s customisation control and restore the required panels. Some modes deliberately expose fewer tools, so compare the result in a normal free-flight session before resetting profiles or disabling add-ons. We cover panel selection, pinning and hidden-toolbar behaviour in our guide to using and customising the MSFS toolbar.

Does this work on every MSFS 2024 platform?

The Tab procedure applies to PC VR. Xbox Series X|S does not support VR. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024’s PSVR2 support is delivered through a free 2026 update; on PS5, use the toolbar action shown in the PSVR2 control profile because its console button prompts need not match PC keyboard bindings.