How do I reset or reposition my plane in Microsoft Flight Simulator on Xbox?

To reset your aircraft in Microsoft Flight Simulator on Xbox, press the controller’s Menu button, choose Restart or Restart Flight, and confirm. To reposition it without reloading, bind and enter Slew Mode, move the aircraft carefully, then exit slew. Use the Free Flight map when changing airports.

These methods apply to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on Xbox Series X|S, though labels and default controller profiles differ. Active Pause only freezes the simulation; it does not reset or reposition the aircraft.

Which reset method should I use?

Choose Restart for a clean reset, Slew Mode for a nearby move, and the Free Flight planning map when changing airports.

How do I restart a flight on Xbox?

Restart Flight is the quickest way to reset a crashed, damaged or badly positioned aircraft to the scenario’s starting state.

1. Open the pause menu. Press the controller’s Menu button, marked with three horizontal lines, rather than the Xbox Guide button.
2. Select Restart. The command may appear as Restart, Restart Flight or an activity-specific equivalent.
3. Confirm the reset. Any warning should make clear that progress from the present flight will be discarded.
4. Let the flight reload. Avoid selecting Restart repeatedly while the aircraft, scenery and traffic are loading.

If the flight has already ended, use the Restart command on the end-of-flight screen. Lessons, challenges and career activities may provide their own restart or checkpoint system; when no such option appears, leave the activity and load it again.

If the Menu button opens the wrong screen or does nothing, check the selected profile against the standard Xbox controls and active-binding guidance.

What does restarting the aircraft reset?

Restarting reloads the selected flight’s departure position and initial aircraft configuration; it does not merely level the aeroplane or repair one system. Flight progress is lost, and live weather or traffic may refresh during the reload. Some add-on aircraft can also reapply a state stored by their own systems.

There is no universal Xbox command that safely repairs every aircraft and returns it to the runway while preserving the session. Slew Mode only moves the aircraft; it does not reliably restore damage, trim, fuel or failed systems. For an engine, cockpit-view or autopilot problem, use that system’s dedicated control rather than restarting the whole flight.

Why is Restart missing or not working?

A missing or unresponsive Restart command usually points to an activity restriction, a suspended Xbox session or a controller-profile problem.

• No Restart option: use the activity’s checkpoint, end-flight or main-menu command, then load it again.
• Restart remains stuck: open the Xbox Guide, highlight Microsoft Flight Simulator, press the Menu button and choose Quit. Quick Resume can preserve the faulty session, so launch the simulator afresh.
• The aircraft reloads but remains uncontrollable: centre every connected stick, trigger, throttle and rudder axis, then check for duplicate assignments. Restarting the flight does not repair custom control mappings.
• Only one aircraft is affected: load a default aircraft at the same airport. If that works, the original aircraft’s saved state or add-on systems are the likely cause.

How do I use Slew Mode to reposition the aircraft?

Slew Mode moves and rotates the aircraft without taxiing or flying, making it suitable for a short reposition while preserving the present cockpit setup.

1. Open Controls settings. Select the Xbox Wireless Controller and the profile you actually use.
2. Set the filter to All. A filter showing only assigned controls can hide the required commands.
3. Search for Slew. Check or assign Toggle Slew Mode plus forward, backward, left, right, up, down and yaw controls. Our MSFS keyboard and Slew command reference lists the action names and equivalents.
4. Resume the flight and enter Slew Mode. The standard MSFS 2020 Xbox profile normally uses Y + right trigger, but MSFS 2024 and customised profiles may use a different binding.
5. Move slowly. Keep clear of terrain and scenery, using pitch, roll or yaw commands when the aircraft is not pointing in the required direction.
6. Exit Slew Mode carefully. Stop all movement, leave a small clearance above the surface, then press the toggle command again.

For more detail on controlled movement and rotation, see our practical guide to repositioning an aircraft with Slew Mode.

Why won’t Slew Mode work on Xbox?

Slew Mode usually fails because its command is unassigned, hidden by the controls filter or disabled by the activity.

• Wrong device selected: make sure Controls is displaying the Xbox controller rather than a keyboard or another peripheral.
• Wrong filter: select All before searching for Slew.
• Binding conflict: another action may use the same button combination. Change the binding or restore a working controller profile.
• Restricted activity: some lessons, missions and challenges disable slewing; use the activity’s restart command instead.
• Camera command selected: Reset Cockpit View and similar commands move only the viewpoint, not the aircraft.

Why does the aircraft crash after leaving Slew Mode?

The aircraft usually crashes after slewing because it intersects the ground or scenery, resumes without enough airspeed, or has been left at an unsafe attitude.

For a ground placement, extend the landing gear, leave the wheels slightly above the runway and be ready to apply the parking brake. Keep clear of buildings, jetways and other collision objects.

For an airborne placement, level a fixed-wing aircraft and allow plenty of height. Slew Mode does not create safe flying speed, so an aircraft moved directly from the ground into the air may stall when normal physics resumes. Temporarily disabling crash detection can prevent an abrupt end while practising, but it does not correct an invalid placement.

How do I start at another airport?

For a long-distance move, return to the Free Flight planning map instead of slewing across the map. Select the destination airport as the new departure, then choose a runway or parking stand.

A runway start normally prepares the aircraft for departure, while a parking position is intended for a ground start; the exact engine state depends on the aircraft and assistance settings. Starting a new flight reloads the scenario, so use Slew Mode when preserving the present cockpit configuration matters.