Learn DCS World replay controls: save and open tracks, pause, change speed, switch cameras, take control, and reduce track desync.
To use DCS World replay controls, save or open a .trk file, then use Pause/Break to pause, the Z key combinations to change simulation speed, and function keys to switch views. Tracks replay recorded simulation inputs rather than video, so long or complex missions can drift out of sync.
How do I save and open a DCS replay?
Save an important track from the mission debriefing screen before starting another sortie.
- Finish the mission: On the debriefing screen, select Save Track and give the file a recognisable name.
- Find the track: DCS normally stores saved tracks below
%USERPROFILE%\Saved Games\DCS\Tracks. The DCS folder name can vary with the installation branch, and automatically recorded multiplayer tracks may be in a subfolder. - Open the replay: Select Replay from the DCS World main menu, browse to the
.trkfile and start it.
A track is a simulation recording, not a video file. DCS loads the mission and reproduces the recorded control inputs, AI actions and events using the simulator version installed on your PC.
What are the default DCS World replay controls?
The essential default commands pause playback, alter simulation speed and select different camera positions.
| Default key | Command | Use during replay |
|---|---|---|
Pause/Break | Pause | Stops or resumes the simulation. |
Left Ctrl+Z | Time accelerate | Press repeatedly to increase playback speed. |
Left Alt+Z | Time decelerate | Reduces the playback rate, including slow motion where available. |
Left Shift+Z | Normal time | Returns playback to normal speed. |
F1 | Cockpit view | Returns to the recorded aircraft's cockpit. |
F2 | External aircraft view | Follows an aircraft from outside. |
F3 | Fly-by view | Places the camera ahead of the selected aircraft. |
F6 | Weapon view | Follows a launched weapon when one is available. |
F7 / F9 | Ground unit / ship view | Selects surface units present in the mission. |
F10 | Map view | Opens the theatre map, subject to mission restrictions. |
F11 | Free camera | Provides an independent camera for positioning shots. |
Mission settings can disable external views, and custom keyboard profiles may replace these defaults. Check the command names in Options > Controls, particularly the General or UI control layers. Compact keyboards may require an Fn modifier for function keys.
If Left Alt+Z opens a graphics-driver overlay instead of slowing the track, change that overlay shortcut or rebind DCS's time-deceleration command. Our DCS input-binding and conflict-resolution guidance also applies when assigning replay and camera commands to a joystick or HOTAS.
Can I rewind or scrub a DCS replay?
A standard DCS track does not offer dependable backward scrubbing or instant seeking to an earlier event.
To revisit a moment, restart the track, accelerate with Left Ctrl+Z, then press Left Shift+Z before reaching it. Avoid extreme acceleration on a track that already has synchronisation problems; fast playback can make errors appear sooner and is easy to overshoot.
Can I take control during a DCS replay?
You can branch from a replay when the pause menu presents a Take Control option.
- Pause close to the point where you want to intervene.
- Open the in-game pause menu and select Take Control.
- Resume the simulation and fly normally from that state.
- Save the resulting track from the next debriefing screen if you want to retain the new sequence.
Taking control does not rewind or repair the original replay. If the aircraft, weapons or AI have already desynchronised, you inherit that incorrect state.
Why does my DCS track replay desynchronise?
DCS track desync occurs because the file re-runs recorded inputs and events instead of storing every aircraft position as fixed telemetry.
Small simulation differences can accumulate until an aircraft misses a turn, a weapon hits something different or the recorded player crashes. Long sorties, multiplayer sessions, dense AI activity, mission scripts, gameplay-altering mods and tracks created under another DCS build are more susceptible.
- Replay it before updating: An older track may behave differently after simulator, module or mission changes.
- Use normal speed: If accuracy matters, keep playback at normal time through manoeuvres, weapon releases and landings.
- Record shorter segments: Short tracks are generally more practical for filming and troubleshooting than an entire mission.
- Remove state-changing mods: A track recorded with different flight-model, weapon or scripting modifications may not reproduce correctly.
- Use telemetry for analysis: When exact flight paths and event review matter more than cinematic playback, our guide to analysing DCS sorties with Tacview explains the better tool for that job.
There is usually no reliable way to repair a track once it consistently diverges. Re-recording the mission or capturing the useful section earlier is safer than treating a .trk file as an archival video.
How do I make a video from a DCS replay?
DCS does not turn a track into a normal video merely by saving the .trk file; play the track, arrange the camera and capture the screen with your recording software.
Use normal playback speed for the final capture, switch between cockpit and external views as needed, and hide unwanted interface elements through your assigned view commands. For head-tracked camera work, a TrackIR profile configured for smoother DCS camera movement can make pans easier to control. Check the whole track for desync before spending time composing shots from it.