Turn off Auto Pause in Microsoft Flight Simulator, stop Alt-Tab pauses, and identify Active Pause, Esc menu and console suspension problems.
To turn off Auto Pause in Microsoft Flight Simulator on PC, open General Options, search for Pause on Task Switch, set it to Off, then apply and save the change. The simulator will keep running when you Alt-Tab or select another application, but Esc and Active Pause can still pause it.
How to disable Pause on Task Switch
The relevant PC option is Pause on Task Switch, rather than Active Pause.
- Open the simulator settings. Enter General Options or General Settings from the main menu or the Esc pause screen.
- Search for the pause setting. Enter
pausein the options search field; this is more reliable than looking through categories because the surrounding menu layout differs between MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024. - Disable task-switch pausing. Set
Pause on Task Switchto Off. - Save the change. Use Apply & Save, or the equivalent on-screen command, before leaving the settings page.
- Test it safely. While parked, Alt-Tab or select a window on another monitor. The aircraft and simulation clock should continue running.
This option controls what happens when the PC version loses window focus. It does not disable the pause menu, Active Pause or operating-system suspension on a console.
Why does Microsoft Flight Simulator still pause?
MSFS can appear paused for several different reasons, and Pause on Task Switch affects only one of them.
| What happens | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The simulator freezes after Alt-Tab or selecting another application | Pause on Task Switch | Confirm that the option is Off and that the settings change was saved. |
| The pause menu appears | Esc or a controller menu command | Close the menu to resume. This behaviour is separate from Auto Pause. |
| The aircraft stays fixed while some cockpit systems continue | Active Pause | Use the assigned Toggle Active Pause command again or switch it off from the toolbar. |
| Pausing happens at the same waypoint or top of descent | An aircraft or add-on pause-at-event function | Disable that function in the aircraft, EFB or add-on that provides it. |
| The flight stops after opening the console dashboard | Console background suspension | This is controlled by the console operating system and cannot be disabled inside MSFS. |
If an unexpected key or controller button triggers a pause, search every active controls profile for pause and check both the regular pause action and Toggle Active Pause. Our reference for MSFS pause commands and keyboard bindings explains the distinction, while MSFS 2024 users can compare their profile with the documented default keyboard controls.
Do toolbar panels pause the flight?
Opening a toolbar panel does not pause Microsoft Flight Simulator. The aircraft continues moving while panels are open; our guide to using toolbar panels during a flight covers how that interface behaves. If the aircraft freezes, check whether Active Pause was selected at the same time.
Can MSFS keep flying in the background?
On PC, MSFS continues calculating aircraft movement, time, weather and fuel use after Pause on Task Switch is disabled. Leave the aircraft stable and properly configured before changing applications; it will not wait for you if the autopilot disconnects, fuel runs out or the aircraft reaches terrain.
On Xbox, and on PlayStation in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, leaving the simulator for the console dashboard may suspend or stop the flight. That is not the Auto Pause setting, and the simulator cannot force itself to continue while the console has suspended it.