Learn MSFS and MSFS 2024 drone camera controls, common PC keys, speed settings, controller setup and fixes when the camera will not move.
To use the drone camera in Microsoft Flight Simulator, switch to Drone/Showcase mode, then use the camera’s Translate commands to move, Rotate commands to aim and Drone Speed commands to change pace. The aircraft keeps flying independently, so pause first when you need a static screenshot or careful close-up.
What is the drone camera in Microsoft Flight Simulator?
The drone camera is a free-moving viewpoint that can travel independently of the aircraft. It is intended for screenshots, fly-bys, walkarounds, scenery inspection and video rather than normal piloting.
Depending on the MSFS version and interface, it may be labelled Drone, Showcase or Free Camera. This terminology matters when searching the controls settings: searching only for drone may hide a command listed under showcase, free camera, translate or camera movement.
| Camera mode | How it behaves | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Cockpit | Moves within the cockpit or cabin | Flying, instruments and interior views |
| External | Remains attached to the aircraft | Quick outside views and sightseeing |
| Drone/Showcase | Moves independently unless follow or lock is enabled | Screenshots, filming and scenery inspection |
How do I switch to the drone or showcase camera?
Activate the assigned Drone, Showcase or Free Camera toggle from a normal cockpit or external view.
- Load into the flight and begin from the cockpit or standard external camera.
- Use the camera selector or assigned toggle to enter Drone/Showcase mode.
Insertis the common toggle in the legacy MSFS PC keyboard profile, but it may differ in MSFS 2024 or a customised profile. - Test a translate command. If the viewpoint can move away from the aircraft, the free camera is active.
- Pause when necessary. Entering drone mode does not stop the aeroplane, simulation or aircraft systems.
For a parked screenshot, use the simulator’s normal pause function if you want everything stopped. Active Pause can hold the aircraft in place for an airborne composition, but systems and some simulation effects may continue, and the aircraft can react when released.
MSFS drone camera controls: how do I move it?
Use Translate controls to change the camera’s position and Rotate controls to change where it points.
- Translate forward/backward moves physically closer to or farther from the subject.
- Translate left/right slides sideways.
- Translate up/down changes height.
- Pitch, yaw and roll aim or tilt the camera.
- Zoom changes the field of view; it does not move the camera through the scene.
The following are common defaults from the legacy MSFS PC keyboard profile. Treat them as a starting point rather than a guarantee, especially with MSFS 2024, compact keyboards or imported control profiles.
| Action | Common PC keyboard control |
|---|---|
| Toggle drone camera | Insert |
| Move forward/backward | W / S |
| Move left/right | A / D |
| Move up/down | R / F |
| Pitch | Num 8 / Num 2 |
| Yaw | Num 4 / Num 6 |
| Roll | Num 7 / Num 9 |
| Reset drone | Num 5 |
| Toggle follow mode | Tab |
| Toggle lock mode | Ctrl + Tab |
| Decrease/increase translation speed | F1 / F2 |
| Decrease/increase rotation speed | F3 / F4 |
Our complete MSFS keyboard and camera-command reference covers additional assignments, but the active profile shown inside your simulator is authoritative.
What do drone follow and lock controls do?
Follow carries the drone along with the aircraft, while Lock keeps the camera aimed towards its target as you reposition it.
Use follow for a stable chase or formation-style shot. Use lock when circling the aircraft or moving past it while keeping it framed. If the camera appears stuck to the aircraft or keeps turning by itself, disable follow and lock before troubleshooting anything else.
Do MSFS 2024 drone camera controls work differently?
MSFS 2024 uses the same basic movement model, but command names, presets and default assignments can differ from legacy MSFS keyboard charts.
Open the controls settings, select the keyboard, controller or flight device you are actually using, and search separately for:
DroneShowcaseFree CameraTranslateRotateFollowLockCamera SpeedReset Camera
Set the filter to show all commands, not only assigned commands. An unassigned function will otherwise appear to be missing. Do not assume that a binding shown for MSFS 2020, another device or another control preset is active in MSFS 2024.
Why is the MSFS drone camera not working or moving?
A drone camera that does nothing is usually in the wrong mode, using the wrong device profile or missing a translation binding.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
W, A, S and D do not move the view | Drone mode is inactive or translation is unassigned | Toggle Drone/Showcase again, then inspect the Translate bindings |
| The aircraft responds instead of the camera | You are still in cockpit/external mode or have conflicting assignments | Confirm the free camera is active and remove the conflict |
| Rotation works but movement appears frozen | Translation speed is extremely low | Increase drone translation speed several steps |
| Numeric keypad controls do nothing | Num Lock, a compact keyboard or missing keypad assignments | Check Num Lock and rebind the commands to available keys |
| The camera drifts or spins | Controller drift, duplicate axes or an inadequate dead zone | Remove duplicate bindings and add a small dead zone |
| The aircraft flies away from the camera | Follow mode is off | Enable follow or reposition after pausing |
| The camera always points at the aircraft | Lock mode is enabled | Disable drone lock |
| Commands cannot be found in settings | The menu is showing assigned controls only | Change the filter to display all available commands |
Also check that the simulator window has input focus. Clicking an overlay, another monitor or a background application can make valid controls seem completely dead.
How do I change drone camera speed and get smoother shots?
Reduce translation and rotation speed for close work, then raise translation speed only when crossing a large distance.
- Low translation speed suits walkarounds, cockpit-window close-ups and livery details.
- Medium speed works well for taxi shots and most fly-bys.
- High speed is useful for catching an aircraft that has moved away or crossing a large airport.
- Low rotation speed prevents abrupt yaw and pitch corrections while filming.
Translation speed and rotation speed are separate settings. Raising the wrong one is a common reason the camera still feels slow or suddenly becomes difficult to aim.
For smoother footage, establish the movement before adding rotation, avoid repeated direction changes and move the camera physically instead of relying on large zoom changes. If smoothing or momentum options are available in your selected camera profile, use modest values; excessive smoothing creates delayed, imprecise stops.
Can I use the drone camera with an Xbox controller, yoke or HOTAS?
Yes, although a dedicated camera profile is safer than placing drone commands over controls needed to fly the aircraft.
- Duplicate or create a control profile for the device rather than changing a proven flying layout.
- Assign translation and rotation to separate analogue sticks or axes where possible.
- Assign vertical movement, speed, follow and reset to buttons that remain accessible while moving the camera.
- Adjust sensitivity and dead zones if the view is twitchy or moves without input.
On a gamepad, one stick for horizontal translation and another for rotation works well, with shoulder buttons or triggers handling height and speed. Our controller configuration advice for Microsoft Flight Simulator on PC explains the wider gamepad setup.
For a yoke or HOTAS, choose a separate camera profile unless the device has spare hats or axes. Reusing primary flight axes can cause the aircraft and drone to respond together when bindings overlap.
Should I use the drone camera to move inside the aircraft?
Use cockpit translation for normal movement through an aircraft interior; use the drone only when you need unrestricted movement outside the cockpit-camera system.
The drone may pass through aircraft geometry, and some interiors are not modelled for unrestricted exploration. Our explanation of cockpit movement versus walking through an MSFS cabin covers the appropriate translate controls and limitations.
Can I save a drone camera position?
For a repeatable pilot-seat or cabin angle, use a custom cockpit view rather than relying on the free drone camera.
Custom cockpit cameras belong to a separate view system and are designed for returning to stored interior positions. Follow our guide to saving and recalling custom cockpit views when the position needs to be reused during normal flying.
How do I reset the drone camera when I get lost?
Use the assigned Reset Drone or Reset Camera command, or leave drone mode and enter it again.
Num 5 is the common reset command in the legacy PC keyboard profile. If reset behaves unexpectedly, disable follow and lock first; those modes can immediately reorient or move the view after it has been centred.