Start an aircraft engine in MSFS 2024 with Ctrl+E or follow the correct cold-and-dark sequence for piston, turboprop and jet aircraft.
In Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, the quickest engine start is Ctrl+E, which runs the simulator’s automatic start sequence. For a manual start, switch on electrical power, establish fuel flow, set ignition and operate the starter in the order specified by the aircraft checklist while monitoring oil pressure and temperature.
What is the quickest automatic engine-start method?
Press Ctrl+E in the cockpit to start the engines automatically in most default MSFS 2024 aircraft.
- Secure the aircraft: apply the parking brake and make sure the throttle or thrust levers are at idle.
- Check physical controls: move bound mixture, condition and fuel levers to suitable starting positions. A hardware axis left at cutoff can override the simulator.
- Run auto-start: press
Ctrl+Eonce and allow the complete sequence to finish. - Confirm a stable engine: check RPM or N1, oil pressure and temperature before increasing power.
If the shortcut does nothing, open the control settings and search for the automatic engine-start command. The binding may be absent from a custom keyboard or controller profile; our MSFS 2024 keyboard-control reference explains how to find and remap it. Click back into the cockpit first if the EFB or a search box has keyboard focus.
Automatic start generally handles all engines. Complex add-on aircraft may use custom systems that ignore the command or require their own tablet, EFB or checklist procedure.
How do I start from cold and dark?
A manual cold-and-dark start must follow the checklist supplied for that aircraft because piston engines, turboprops and jets use different fuel and starter logic.
The common flow is electrical power, fuel supply, ignition, starter engagement and post-start checks. Our cold-and-dark power and fuel sequence explains those shared stages without treating every cockpit as identical.
| Engine type | Typical starting flow | Critical check |
|---|---|---|
| Piston | Battery and master on; select a fuel tank; set mixture and prime as required; crack the throttle; select magnetos or ignition; engage the starter. | Release the starter when the engine fires and confirm oil pressure rises. Hot, cold and high-altitude starts may require different priming or mixture settings. |
| Turboprop | Establish electrical power; configure fuel and pumps; leave the condition lever at cutoff; engage the starter; introduce fuel at the checklist’s stated gas-generator speed. | Watch ITT, gas-generator speed and oil pressure. Cut the fuel if temperature rises abnormally or the engine fails to accelerate. |
| Jet | Use battery, external power or the APU; establish pneumatic start air where required; switch on fuel pumps and beacon; select start or ignition; introduce fuel at the specified N2. | Monitor EGT, N1/N2 and oil pressure until idle is stable. Do not introduce fuel before the compressor reaches the checklist value. |
MSFS 2024 may initially place you outside the aeroplane for a walkaround. Enter the cockpit or use the available skip prompt before operating cockpit controls; the exact propeller-aircraft flow is covered in our walkaround and prop-start procedure.
Why does the engine crank but not start?
An engine that turns without firing is usually missing fuel or ignition, while a starter that does not turn usually lacks electrical or pneumatic power.
- No fuel flow: check fuel quantity, tank selector, shut-off valve, fuel pumps, mixture and condition lever.
- No ignition: confirm magnetos, igniters, engine master or start selector are in the required positions.
- No starter power: switch on the battery or external power; turbine aircraft may also require an APU or another source of bleed air.
- Hardware overrides: inspect mixture, propeller, condition-lever and magneto bindings. Duplicate assignments frequently return a cockpit control to cutoff.
- Engine starts and dies: add a small amount of throttle where the checklist calls for it, verify the selected tank contains fuel and make sure the mixture or condition lever has not returned to cutoff.
- Custom aircraft logic: use the aircraft’s own checklist or EFB rather than repeatedly pressing
Ctrl+E.
Stop cranking after an unsuccessful or excessively hot turbine start and reset the aircraft according to its checklist. For a fuller fault tree, see our guide to engines that will not start or remain running.
How do I start only one engine?
Start a single engine with its individual cockpit controls rather than Ctrl+E, which normally runs the automatic sequence across the aircraft.
On a twin piston, select that engine’s magnetos and starter; on a turboprop or jet, operate the corresponding starter, fuel or engine-master control. Engine-selection key bindings can also work, but cockpit controls are less prone to starting the wrong engine when custom hardware profiles are involved.
Can I spawn with the engines already running?
Selecting a runway departure normally loads the aircraft with its engines running, while a gate, ramp or parking position normally produces a cold-and-dark start.
Career missions and some aircraft can override that behaviour. If the objective is simply to fly, choose a runway start; choose parking when you want to practise the complete startup procedure.