How do I reset or clear all controller bindings in Microsoft Flight Simulator?

In Microsoft Flight Simulator, you cannot usually wipe every control binding for every device with one global button. You reset bindings per device in Controls Options. For a full clean-out, select each yoke, joystick, throttle, pedals, keyboard or gamepad, then reset its profile to default or clear a custom profile.

Can you clear all controller bindings at once?

Not in the way most people mean it. Microsoft Flight Simulator treats each input device as its own controller profile, so your yoke, throttle quadrant, rudder pedals, keyboard, mouse and gamepad all keep separate bindings.

That means there is no dependable single master reset that clears the entire simulator in one click across all hardware. If you want a true fresh start, you need to go through each device shown in Controls Options and either reset it to its default profile or remove the assigned commands from a custom profile.

This is true in both Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. The menu wording may vary slightly, but the basic system is the same: bindings are stored per device profile.

How to reset a controller profile to default in Microsoft Flight Simulator

If your goal is simply to get the original factory bindings back, resetting to the default profile is the quickest option.

1. Open Controls Options from the main menu.
2. Select the device you want to fix, such as your joystick, throttle, pedals, keyboard or controller.
3. Open the profile or preset manager for that device. Look for the current profile name near the top of the screen.
4. Choose the default profile if one is available, or use the reset option for that device profile.
5. Apply and save the change before leaving the screen.
6. Repeat for every device you want to reset. This includes the keyboard and mouse if you want a completely clean baseline.

If you made changes to a custom profile, deleting that custom profile often returns the device to its default layout. If the simulator will not let you edit the built-in default profile directly, that is normal.

How do I clear all bindings from a controller?

If you do not want the default bindings back and instead want a nearly blank controller, you will usually need to work from a custom profile and clear the assignments manually.

1. Open Controls Options and select the device you want to strip down.
2. Create a custom profile by duplicating the current or default profile. Give it a clear name such as Blank Joystick or Test Profile.
3. Change the filter to Assigned. This is the key step, because it shows only the commands that already have inputs bound to them.
4. Select each assigned command and use the clear or remove input option for that command.
5. Validate and apply the change after clearing each binding or group of bindings, depending on how your version presents the controls screen.
6. Save the profile when you are done.

There is the awkward bit: Microsoft Flight Simulator does not always offer a universal clear-everything button for a whole device profile. In practice, the fastest method is to filter by Assigned and remove only the bindings that exist.

If you are clearing a throttle or stick with a lot of mapped buttons and axes, this can still take a while. The good news is that you only have to do it once if you save that empty custom profile and reuse it as your baseline.

Reset vs clear: which one should you use?

Why are my controls still wrong after I reset them?

This usually happens because more than one device is sending the same command. For example, your joystick may be reset correctly, but your gamepad, keyboard or another throttle axis is still bound and fighting it.

In Microsoft Flight Simulator, conflicting inputs are common. A throttle axis on one device can override another, and a stray button binding on a yoke can trigger a camera command you forgot was mapped somewhere else.

Things to check if the bindings still seem broken

• Check every connected device, not just the one you are using most.
• Use the input search to press the button or move the axis causing trouble and see where else it is assigned.
• Look for duplicate axis bindings, especially throttle, rudder, brake and camera controls.
• Make sure the correct profile is active for that device before you test.
• Temporarily unplug spare controllers and restart the simulator if inputs still conflict.
• Disable external mapping software temporarily if you use it, because it can reintroduce commands outside the simulator.

What about keyboard and mouse bindings?

The keyboard and mouse have their own profiles too. If you want a full reset of all controls in Microsoft Flight Simulator, do not stop at your flight hardware. Reset or review the keyboard profile as well, especially if you changed camera, drone or autopilot shortcuts.

This matters more than many people realise. A keyboard shortcut left bound to a common function can make it look as if your yoke or joystick is misbehaving when the real problem is elsewhere.

Can you restore only one command instead of the whole profile?

Yes. If only one binding is wrong, you do not need to reset everything. Open the relevant device, find the command, and either reassign it manually or restore that device profile's defaults if the simulator offers that option in your version.

For messy profiles, though, we usually recommend either a full per-device reset or creating a fresh custom profile. It is often faster than chasing one bad command at a time.

Best way to start over cleanly

If your setup has become a complete tangle, this is the most reliable order:

1. Disconnect any controller you are not actively using.
2. Reset or delete the custom profile for your main device.
3. Create a fresh custom profile if you do not want the default mappings.
4. Bind only the essentials first: pitch, roll, yaw, throttle, brakes, view controls and trim.
5. Test in a simple aircraft before adding complex camera or systems shortcuts.
6. Reconnect extra hardware one device at a time and check for duplicate inputs after each one.

That method avoids the usual trap of fixing one controller while another still has hidden assignments.

Bottom line

To reset controller bindings in Microsoft Flight Simulator, go to Controls Options and reset each device profile individually. To clear everything, create or select a custom profile for each device, filter by Assigned, and remove the bindings. There is no true one-click global wipe for all controllers at once.