How do I set up and calibrate a throttle in MSFS 2020?

To set up and calibrate a throttle in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, first confirm its full travel in Windows, then bind the correct analogue Throttle Axis in Controls Options. Remove duplicate assignments, reverse the axis if required, start with a linear sensitivity curve, and verify idle, full power and reverse thrust in the cockpit.

MSFS 2020 has no universal throttle-calibration wizard. On PC, hardware calibration and in-simulator axis configuration are separate stages; Xbox users skip the Windows check and configure a compatible throttle entirely inside the simulator.

How do I set up the throttle axis?

The reliable setup order is hardware check, axis assignment, duplicate removal and then an in-cockpit test.

1. Connect the throttle before starting MSFS. On PC, press Win+R, enter joy.cpl, select the throttle and open its properties. Move the lever through its complete range and confirm the displayed axis reaches both ends without jumping.
2. Calibrate the hardware only if necessary. If Windows does not show full travel and the device provides a calibration option, run it and move every requested axis through its complete range. Some throttles self-calibrate or use their own firmware procedure, so do not force Windows calibration when no calibration option is supplied.
3. Open the MSFS control profile. Go to Options > Controls Options and select the throttle itself, not the joystick, keyboard or mouse. Duplicate the default profile before making extensive changes.
4. Assign an analogue throttle command. Search for Throttle Axis and move the lever when prompted. A single-engine or combined throttle normally uses one general axis; a quadrant with independent levers should use the numbered engine axes.
5. Remove competing assignments. Filter the profile to show assigned controls and clear unwanted throttle commands. Repeat this check for the joystick slider, gamepad and any second quadrant because MSFS stores assignments separately for every connected device.
6. Check direction and range. Watch the on-screen input graph. Enable Reverse Axis if advancing the physical lever reduces the displayed input; do not try to fix a reversed axis with a sensitivity curve.
7. Save and test in the cockpit. Start with an aircraft whose engines are running, disengage autothrottle or AI piloting, and move from idle to full power slowly. Confirm that the cockpit lever follows continuously and reaches both endpoints.

With separate flight controls, profile conflicts are especially common. Our walkthrough for matching a joystick and throttle quadrant without duplicate inputs covers that multi-device setup.

Which throttle axis should I choose?

Choose the axis command according to the lever's physical range and whether reverse thrust has its own travel or button.

A mistake we see constantly is assigning an analogue lever to the digital increase and decrease commands. That produces delayed, stepped movement rather than matching the lever position.

What sensitivity settings should I use?

Start with a linear response, no neutral offset and the smallest dead zone the hardware can hold without jitter.

• Leave positive and negative sensitivity centred initially.
• Use a small dead zone only if the input flickers while the lever is stationary.
• Adjust the extremity dead zone sparingly if Windows reaches its endpoint but MSFS consistently stops just short of idle or full power.
• Do not use sensitivity to correct reversed travel or an incorrectly selected axis.

The input graph matters more than copying another simmer's percentages because potentiometer wear and firmware filtering differ between devices. We provide practical starting values for sensitivity and dead zones, but the final setting should preserve the complete throttle range.

How do I configure reverse thrust and detents?

Reverse thrust can use either a dedicated section of the analogue axis or a button that changes the function of the forward lever.

For a throttle whose physical travel ends at idle, bind a button or lever switch to the simulator's hold or toggle reverse-thrust command. Enter reverse mode at idle, then advance the lever carefully and verify that reverse thrust increases. Command wording can vary slightly between control presets.

If the throttle has a continuous below-idle section, use the full-range axis only when the aircraft recognises it correctly. Airliners with idle, climb, flex or take-off detents may provide their own calibration page in the cockpit tablet or flight-management system. Perform that aircraft-specific calibration after the general MSFS axis is working; generic sensitivity settings cannot reliably define every add-on's detents.

Why does the throttle not reach idle or full power?

Endpoint problems usually come from hardware calibration, the wrong axis type, an extremity setting or a second device sending another throttle command.

• The lever works backwards: change Reverse Axis.
• The input starts near the middle: try Throttle Axis (0 to 100%) instead of the signed full-range axis.
• Only one engine responds: replace an unintended numbered engine assignment with the general throttle axis, or assign every engine lever deliberately.
• The input flickers: verify the same jitter in joy.cpl, reconnect directly rather than through an unreliable hub, and add only enough dead zone to stabilise it.
• Power ignores the lever: disengage autothrottle, AI piloting and assisted controls before changing the hardware profile.
• The lever moves by itself: clear duplicate bindings from joystick sliders, gamepads and secondary quadrants.

If the axis still fails after these checks, follow our systematic troubleshooting for an unresponsive or erratic throttle, including aircraft-specific and duplicate-input faults.