Learn how to use free look in Microsoft Flight Simulator with a mouse, controller or joystick, and fix stuck, snapping or unresponsive camera views.
To use free look in Microsoft Flight Simulator, hold the assigned Freelook control—right mouse button on the standard mouse profile—and move the mouse. Release it when finished; this restores pointer control without changing camera mode. On a controller, use the right stick. Joystick hat behaviour depends on its assigned look or quick-view commands.
How do I use free look with a mouse?
With the standard mouse profile, hold the right mouse button while moving the mouse to look around the cockpit or exterior view.
- Return to the normal camera. Free look operates within the cockpit or external camera; it does not move the camera independently like the drone.
- Hold the Freelook control. Hold the right mouse button and move the mouse in the direction you want to look.
- Release the button. The mouse returns to pointer and cockpit-interaction duties. If you prefer not to hold a button, assign the separate Freelook toggle command.
- Re-centre the view when required. Use the assigned Reset Cockpit View command.
Ctrl+Spaceis the common keyboard default, although customised profiles may differ.
Command names can vary slightly between Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024, and bindings depend on the selected device profile. Our camera and keyboard binding reference covers the usual cockpit, quick-view and camera controls.
Can free look stay on without holding a button?
Yes. Bind the command labelled Freelook Toggle, Toggle Cockpit Freelook or similar in the camera controls.
Keep the hold and toggle commands on different buttons. Assigning both actions to one input can make the camera switch off immediately or appear stuck. A toggle is convenient for scanning the cockpit, while hold-to-look is usually better when operating switches with the mouse.
How does free look work with a controller or joystick?
The right stick normally controls free look on a gamepad, including Xbox controllers and the PlayStation 5 controls in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
A joystick hat switch may instead be mapped to quick views. If the camera jumps to fixed angles or snaps back when the hat is released, search the selected joystick profile for camera look and quick-view assignments. Choose look commands for panning; retain quick views when you want immediate left, right or rearward checks.
Is free look the same as the free camera?
No. Free look rotates the view from the present camera position, while the free or drone camera can move independently around the aircraft and scenery.
| Camera control | What it does | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Free look | Rotates the view around the current eyepoint | Scanning instruments, windows and traffic |
| Quick view | Moves immediately to a predefined direction | Fast runway and circuit checks |
| Drone camera | Moves independently outside the aircraft | Screenshots, inspection and scenery viewing |
For independent movement, follow our instructions for entering and controlling the drone camera rather than changing free-look bindings.
Why is free look not working or staying active?
Most free-look failures come from the wrong control profile, a conflicting assignment or another camera input taking control.
- Nothing happens: select the mouse, controller or joystick you are actually using, show all commands rather than assigned commands only, and search for
FreelookorLook. - The view snaps to fixed angles: the input is probably assigned to quick views rather than continuous camera-look commands.
- The view works only while held: that is the hold command behaving normally. Assign Freelook Toggle if you want it to remain active.
- The camera immediately switches back: check for duplicate hold and toggle bindings. Active head tracking or VR input can also override mouse or stick movement.
- The right mouse button does nothing: close menus and restore focus to the flight window. On PC, an overlay or background window may capture the mouse input.
- The view drifts: inspect the controller’s look-axis dead zone and remove duplicate camera-axis assignments before resetting the entire profile.
Resetting a control profile should be the last step because it removes custom assignments. Record or save the existing profile first where the simulator provides that option.
How do I keep a useful cockpit angle?
Free look is intended for temporary movement; use a custom cockpit camera when you need to recall the same overhead-panel, instrument or window view repeatedly.
Position the camera, save it to a custom-view slot and recall it as needed. Our guide to saving and recalling custom cockpit positions explains the relevant shortcuts and the difference between a saved view and temporary free look.