Use Ctrl+Shift+F1 to shut down FSX engines, control individual engines, and fix the keyboard shortcut when it does not work.
In FSX and FSX: Steam Edition, press Ctrl+Shift+F1 to move the mixture or fuel controls to idle cut-off and stop every selected engine. Do not use F1 alone: it only closes the throttle. Park first, set the parking brake, then apply the cut-off command.
FSX engine shutdown keyboard steps
The default Ctrl+Shift+F1 command shuts down most standard FSX aircraft by cutting off their fuel supply.
- Park the aircraft. Clear the runway, stop in a suitable parking position and set the parking brake.
- Close the throttles. Press
F1or move the throttle controls fully back. This reduces thrust but does not stop the engines. - Check the engine selection. The cut-off command affects only the engines selected in FSX.
- Cut off the fuel. Press
Ctrl+Shift+F1once and watch the RPM, N1 or N2 indications decrease. - Finish the shutdown. After the engines stop, switch off the remaining ignition, fuel pumps, lights, avionics and electrical power as required by that aircraft's checklist.
The command is labelled Mixture (idle cutoff) in the control assignments. Our complete FSX keyboard-command reference also lists the throttle, mixture and multi-engine selection controls.
How do I shut down only one engine in FSX?
Select the required engine before pressing the cut-off shortcut. Use E+1 for engine 1, E+2 for engine 2 and the corresponding number for engines 3 or 4. Engine numbers can be combined, such as E+1+2 for both engines on a twin.
FSX retains the active engine selection, so a previous single-engine selection can cause only one engine to stop. Restore the required group before using Ctrl+Shift+F1 again.
Why doesn't Ctrl+Shift+F1 shut down the engine?
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing happens | The assignment has been changed or removed | Open the FSX controls settings, find Mixture (idle cutoff) and restore or reassign it. Our guide explains how to check or reassign an FSX control binding. |
| Only one engine stops | Only that engine is selected | Use the E plus engine-number commands to select the other engines. |
| The throttle closes but the engine keeps running | F1 was used instead of the fuel cut-off command | Press Ctrl+Shift+F1. |
| The shortcut works in default aircraft but not an add-on | The add-on uses custom fuel or engine logic | Move its cockpit fuel, condition or start levers to cut-off and follow the supplied checklist. |
| The F-key performs a computer function | A laptop or multimedia keyboard is intercepting F1 | Use the keyboard's Fn key or function-lock setting, or reassign the FSX command. |
Also make sure the simulator has keyboard focus. A menu, dialogue box or active gauge text field can prevent the command from reaching the aircraft.
Does the shortcut produce a complete cold-and-dark shutdown?
Ctrl+Shift+F1 stops the selected engines, but it does not complete every shutdown action. Batteries, avionics, magnetos, lights, fuel pumps and the APU may remain on, depending on the aircraft.
For a realistic sequence, use the aircraft's checklist or our FSX cold-and-dark engine shutdown walkthrough. Advanced add-on aircraft often require their cockpit controls rather than FSX's generic keyboard command.