How do I turn off aircraft lights in Microsoft Flight Simulator?
Turn off aircraft lights in Microsoft Flight Simulator with the right keyboard shortcuts, cockpit switches, custom bindings and fixes for stuck lights.
In Microsoft Flight Simulator, press L when the lights are on to toggle all standard aircraft lights off with the default PC keyboard profile. To switch off only the landing lights, press Ctrl+L, or use the labelled cockpit switches. Custom profiles and complex add-on aircraft may use different controls.
What is the keyboard shortcut for aircraft lights?
L is the default PC shortcut for the simulator's Toggle All Lights command. Because this is a toggle rather than an explicit off command, check the aircraft afterwards: lights controlled by custom systems may not follow it, and mixed switch states can produce unexpected results.
| What you want to switch off | Default PC input | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| All standard aircraft lights | L | Toggles the simulator-controlled lights between states |
| Landing lights only | Ctrl+L | Toggles the landing lights without deliberately changing the others |
| One specific light | Cockpit switch or assigned command | Controls landing, taxi, beacon, navigation, strobe or interior lighting separately |
Our complete table of stock MSFS 2020 keyboard bindings lists the main defaults if another aircraft command is also needed.
How do I turn off one light without switching off the rest?
Use the appropriate cockpit switch or bind the individual lighting command. Exterior controls are normally labelled LANDING, TAXI, BEACON, NAV or STROBE; panel, flood and cabin lights usually have separate switches or rotary dimmers.
- Open the control settings. Select the keyboard, controller, throttle or switch panel you are actually using.
- Check the active profile. A binding saved to another profile will not operate during the flight.
- Search for the light by name. Search for terms such as
landing lights,taxi lightsorbeacon lights. Our detailed lighting-command reference covers the common switch commands. - Choose the right action type. A toggle command suits a momentary key or button. For a maintained hardware switch, use separate on/off or set actions when the control list provides them; this prevents the physical switch and cockpit switch becoming reversed.
- Save the profile and inspect conflicts. Remove competing assignments if the same input is operating another aircraft system.
Use L when speed matters, but use the cockpit switches for a proper shutdown. Cutting the battery or external power may make the lamps go dark without moving their switches to OFF, so they can illuminate again when electrical power returns.
Why won't the aircraft lights turn off?
Lights usually remain on because the wrong control profile is active, the aircraft uses custom lighting logic, or the light is controlled separately from the standard all-lights command.
- Wrong device or profile: search the controls by input and press
Lto see which command, if any, is assigned in the active keyboard profile. - Custom aircraft systems: some add-on aircraft bypass the generic simulator event for particular lights. Operate the virtual cockpit switch or the aircraft's tablet controls where provided.
- Interior lighting: instrument, flood, pedestal and cabin lights may use separate dimmers and may not respond to
L. - Three-position switches: a switch marked OFF, TAXI and LANDING must be placed explicitly at OFF; a generic landing-light command may only move part of that system.
- Automatic lighting: an AUTO position can illuminate a light when the aircraft's own logic calls for it. Select OFF if you need it extinguished.
- Duplicate hardware assignments: another controller can immediately resend an on or toggle command. Check every connected device, not just the keyboard.
Does the same method work in MSFS 2024 and on console?
The lighting commands exist in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024, but their assigned inputs depend on the selected device and control profile. MSFS 2024 users can check the active keyboard commands and profile if L does not respond as expected.
On Xbox and, with MSFS 2024, PlayStation 5, do not assume there is a universal controller combination. Operate the cockpit switches or assign Toggle All Lights and the individual light commands to buttons that do not conflict with flight controls.