Learn how to raise and lower landing gear in MSFS 2024 using keyboard, Xbox controller or cockpit controls, with timing, indications and fixes.
In Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, press G on a keyboard to toggle retractable landing gear, or use the aircraft’s cockpit gear lever. On an Xbox controller, press Y + X. Raise it after a positive climb; lower it below the aircraft’s gear-extension speed and confirm a down-and-locked indication before landing.
How do I raise and lower the landing gear?
Use a toggle command for a button or key, but choose separate up and down assignments for a physical two-position gear switch. The controls only affect aircraft fitted with retractable landing gear; fixed-gear aircraft have nothing to raise.
| Control method | Action |
|---|---|
| Keyboard | Press G to toggle the gear between up and down. |
| Xbox controller | Press Y + X using the default controller profile. |
| PlayStation controller | Use the cockpit lever or the landing-gear command shown in the active controller profile, which may have been customised. |
| Cockpit | Move the wheel-shaped landing-gear lever to UP or DOWN. Some aircraft require the lever to be pulled past a lock or operated with a specific cockpit interaction. |
| Joystick, yoke or throttle | Assign Toggle Landing Gear to a momentary button, or separate gear-up and gear-down commands to a maintained switch. |
Our guide to the default keyboard bindings covers the surrounding flap and brake commands. For a gamepad, see how the Xbox landing-gear shortcut and controller assignments work.
When should I lower the landing gear?
Lower the gear early enough to complete the landing checklist and stabilise the aircraft, but only after slowing below its maximum gear-operating speed. There is no universal altitude because the correct point depends on the aircraft and approach.
- Check the speed. Confirm that the aircraft is below its gear-extension limit before selecting the gear down.
- Select DOWN. Use the key, controller shortcut, hardware switch or cockpit lever.
- Wait for the cycle. The doors and individual gear legs may take several seconds to finish moving.
- Verify the indication. Confirm that every required gear is down and locked before continuing the final approach.
In a typical light-aircraft circuit, the gear often comes down on the downwind leg or before turning base. In an airliner, it is normally selected during the published approach sequence and used as part of speed and drag management. Follow the aircraft checklist rather than copying a fixed altitude from another aeroplane.
After take-off, select gear up only when the aircraft is airborne, climbing positively and no further runway contact is expected. Our complete MSFS landing sequence shows how gear, flaps, speed and braking fit together.
What do VLO and VLE mean?
VLO is the maximum speed for operating the landing gear, while VLE is the maximum speed with the gear extended. Some aircraft also have different extension and retraction limits, so merely being below VLE does not always mean it is safe to move the lever.
Use the aircraft’s cockpit placards, checklist or pilot’s operating handbook for the actual values. Extending the gear too fast may be blocked by a detailed add-on or may cause simulated damage when failures and stress damage are enabled.
What about amphibious aircraft?
Amphibious aircraft normally land on a runway with the wheels down and on water with them retracted. Check the gear state explicitly before every landing because extending wheels for a water touchdown can overturn the aircraft.
How do I know the landing gear is down?
Treat the cockpit’s down-and-locked indication as confirmation; the lever position alone is not proof. Many tricycle aircraft display three green lights, while others use one annunciator or a landing-gear page on an electronic display.
- Green normally means the associated gear is down and locked.
- Red, amber or an unsafe indication can mean the gear is moving or has failed to lock.
- No indication may mean the gear is retracted, still cycling, unpowered or suffering an indication fault.
A warning horn when power is reduced or landing flaps are selected often means the gear is not safely down. The exact lights, colours and warnings vary by aircraft, so use its checklist rather than relying on a single universal display convention.
Why will the landing gear not move?
Most apparent landing-gear failures in MSFS 2024 come from the aircraft type, control profile, excessive airspeed or an unpowered aircraft system. Check these causes before assuming the simulator is broken:
- The aircraft has fixed landing gear.
- A custom keyboard or controller profile no longer has Toggle Landing Gear assigned.
- Two devices have conflicting or duplicate gear bindings.
- The aircraft is above its permitted gear-operating speed.
- Electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic systems needed by that aircraft are unavailable.
- A simulated failure, damaged gear or cockpit safety lock is preventing normal operation.
If the command is assigned but the gear still will not cycle, follow our landing-gear troubleshooting checks for bindings, system requirements, indications and failures.