Microsoft Flight Simulator is an intricate game with gorgeous graphics and a focus on realism. With so much detail in the game, it makes sense that there’d be a large number of keyboard controls to learn and master.
In the event you need to do something and are uncertain what the keyboard command for it is, we’ve got you covered with a complete list of keyboard controls in Microsoft Flight Simulator!
All keyboard controls in Microsoft Flight Simulator
© Microsoft
Microsoft Flight Simulator has a long list of keyboard controls across multiple different categories from camera controls to flight controls.
If you’re looking for something specific and don’t want to scroll up and down the list, we recommend pressing CTRL + F to open a page search and entering what you’re looking for to quickly navigate to the command’s location on the page.
If you’re looking for a full list of controls for something specific like Drone Camera, we’ve included those controls in the same spot under the same category, so you can search by category as well. With that out of the way, here are all of the keyboard controls in Microsoft Flight Simulator!
Menu
- Toggle Active Pause: Pause
- Toggle Basic Control Panel: CTRL + C
- Clear Search: DEL Toggle Pause: ESC
- Select 1: ALT + F1
- Select 2: ALT + F2
- Select 3: ALT + F3
- Select 4: ALT + F4
- Display Checklist: Shift + C
- Next Toolbar Panel: Period (.)
- Previous Toolbar Panel: Slash (/)
- Back To Main Menu: End
- Close Menu: Backspace
- Fly: Enter
- Change Aircraft: F11
- Liveries: F12
- See Specifications: F10
- Help Menu: Tab
- Restart Free Flight: Home
- Restart Activity: Home
Instruments & Systems
- Toggle Anti-Ice: H
- Toggle Pitot Heat: Shift + H
- Toggle Master Alternator: ALT + A
- Toggle Master Battery: ALT + B
- Toggle Master Battery & Alternator: Shift + M
- Toggle Master Ignition Switch: ALT + I
- Decrease Cowl Flap: Shift + CTRL + C
- Increase Cowl Flap: Shift + CTRL + V
- Select Engine: E Auto-Start Engine: CTRL + E
- Engine Auto-Stop: Shift + CTRL + E
- Magnetos: M Magnetos (Both): Shift + ALT + F
- Magnetos (Left): Shift + ALT + S
- Magnetos (Right): Shift + ALT + D
- Magnetos Off: Shift + ALT + Q
- Magnetos Start: Shift + ALT + G
Flight Instruments
- Select Airspeed Bug: Shift + CTRL + R
- Select Altitude Bug: Shift + CTRL + Z
- Toggle Auto-Rudder: Shift + CTRL + U
- Set Altimeter: B
- Decrease Heading Bug: CTRL + DEL
- Increase Heading Bug: CTRL + Insert
- Select Heading Bug: Shift + CTRL + H
- Set Heading Indicator: D
- Toggle Alternate Static: ALT + S
Instrument Views
- Previous Instrument View: Shift + A
- Next Instrument View: A
- Toggle Instrument View 10: CTRL + 0
- Toggle Instrument View 1: CTRL + 1
- Toggle Instrument View 2: CTRL + 2
- Toggle Instrument View 3: CTRL + 3
- Toggle Instrument View 4: CTRL + 4
- Toggle Instrument View 5: CTRL + 5
- Toggle Instrument View 6: CTRL + 6
- Toggle Instrument View 7: CTRL + 7
- Toggle Instrument View 8: CTRL + 8
- Toggle Instrument View 9: CTRL + 9
- Select Next POI: Page Up
- Reset Smartcam: CTRL + F
- Set Custom Smartcam Target: T
- Next Smartcam Target: Page Up + CTRL
- Camera AI Player: Home + CTRL
- Previous Smartcam Target: Page Down + CTRL
- Toggle Follow Smartcam Target: Page Down
- Unset Custom Smartcam Target: Shift + T
Camera Mode Switches
- Cockpit & External View Mode: END
- Toggle Drone: Insert
Camera - Slew Mode
- Toggle Slew Mode: Y
- Slew Translate Up (Slow): F3
- Slew Translate Up (Fast): F4
- Slew Translate Backward: Num 2
- Slew Translate Forward: Num 8
- Slew Translate Down (Fast): F1
- Slew Translate Down (Slow): A
- Slew Y-Axis Translation Freeze: F2
- Slew X-Axis Translation Freeze: Num 5
- Slew Roll Left: Num 7
- Slew Roll Right: Num 9
- Slew Yaw Left: Num 1
- Slew Yaw Right: Num 3
- Slew Pitch Down (Fast): F8
- Slew Pitch Freeze: F6
- Slew Pitch Down: Num 0
- Slew Pitch Up: 9
- Slew Pitch Up (Fast): F5
- Slew Pitch Up (Slow): F7
- Slew Translate Right: Num 6
- Slew Translate Left: Num 4
Cockpit Camera
- Load Custom Camera 0: ALT + 0
- Load Custom Camera 1: ALT + 1
- Load Custom Camera 2: ALT + 2
- Load Custom Camera 3: ALT + 3
- Load Custom Camera 4: ALT + 4
- Load Custom Camera 5: ALT + 5
- Load Custom Camera 6: ALT + 6
- Load Custom Camera 7: ALT + 7
- Load Custom Camera 8: ALT + 8
- Load Custom Camera 9: ALT + 9
- Load Next Custom Camera: K
- Load Previous Custom Camera: Shift + K
- Save Custom Camera 0: Ctrl + ALT + 0
- Save Custom Camera 1: Ctrl + ALT + 1
- Save Custom Camera 2: Ctrl + ALT + 2
- Save Custom Camera 3: Ctrl + ALT + 3
- Save Custom Camera 4: Ctrl + ALT + 4
- Save Custom Camera 5: Ctrl + ALT + 5
- Save Custom Camera 6: Ctrl + ALT + 6
- Save Custom Camera 7: Ctrl + ALT + 7
- Save Custom Camera 8: Ctrl + ALT + 8
- Save Custom Camera 9: Ctrl + ALT + 9
- Decrease Cockpit View Height: Down
- Increase Cockpit View Height: Up
- Translate Cockpit View Backward: Right ALT + Down
- Translate Cockpit View Forward: Right ALT + Up
- Translate Cockpit View Left: Left
- Translate Cockpit View Right: Right
- Cockpit Look Down: Shift + Down
- Cockpit Look Left: Shift + Left
- Cockpit Look Right: Shift + Right
- Cockpit Look Up: Shift + Up
- Cockpit Quickview Up: CTRL + Up
- Cockpit Quickview Rear: CTRL + Down
- Cockpit Quickview Right: CTRL + Right
- Cockpit Quickview Left: CTRL + Left
- Cockpit Quickview Cycle: Q
- Reset Cockpit View: CTRL + Space
- Cockpit View Upper: Space
- Unzoom Cockpit View: –
- Toggle Smart Camera: S
- Zoom Cockpit View: =
Drone Camera
- Toggle Drone Depth Of Field: F1
- Toggle Foreground Blur: F5
- Drone Topdown View: CTRL + Space
- Attach Drone To Next Target: CTRL + Page Up
- Attach Drone To Previous Target: CTRL + Page Down
- Toggle Drone Auto Exposure: CTRL + F4
- Toggle Drone Auto Focus: F4
- Decrease Drone Rotation Speed: F3
- Decrease Drone Translation Speed: F1
- Decrease Drone Depth Of Field: F2
- Increase Drone Depth Of Field: F3
- Decrease Drone Exposure: CTRL + F2
- Increase Drone Exposure: CTRL + F3
- Increase Drone Rotation Speed: F4
- Increase Drone Translation Speed: F2
- Lock Drone To Next Target: T
- Lock Drone To Previous Target: Shift + T
- Translate Drone Backward: S
- Translate Drone Down: F
- Translate Drone Forward: W
- Translate Drone Left: A
- Translate Drone Right: D
- Translate Drone Up: R
- Reset Drone Roll: Space
- Reset Drone Target Offset: Num 5
- Pitch Drone Down: Num 2
- Roll Drone Right: Num 9
- Pitch Drone Up: Num 8
- Yaw Drone Left: Num 4
- Yaw Drone Right: Num 6
- Roll Drone Left: Num 7
- Toggle Drone Follow Mode: Tab
- Toggle Drone Lock Mode: CTRL + Tab
- Increase Drone Zoom: Num Plus
- Decrease Drone Zoom: Num Sub
- Toggle Plane Controls: C
External Camera
- Reset External View: CTRL + Space
- External Quickview Left: CTRL + Left
- External Quickview Rear: CTRL + Down
- External Quickview Right: CTRL + Right
- External Quickview Top: CTRL + Up
- Unzoom External View: –
- Zoom External View: =
Fixed Camera
- Toggle Fixed Camera 10: CTRL + Shift + 0
- Toggle Fixed Camera 1: CTRL + Shift + 1
- Toggle Fixed Camera 2: CTRL + Shift + 2
- Toggle Fixed Camera 3: CTRL + Shift + 3
- Toggle Fixed Camera 4: CTRL + Shift + 4
- Toggle Fixed Camera 5: CTRL + Shift + 5
- Toggle Fixed Camera 6: CTRL + Shift + 6
- Toggle Fixed Camera 7: CTRL + Shift + 7
- Toggle Fixed Camera 8: CTRL + Shift + 8
- Toggle Fixed Camera 9: CTRL + Shift + 9
- Reset Fixed Camera: F
- Previous Fixed Camera: Shift + A
- Next Fixed Camera: A
Autopilot
- Autopilot Airspeed Hold: ALT + R
- Decrease Autopilot Reference Altitude: CTRL + Page Down
- Increase Autopilot Reference Altitude: CTRL + Page Up
- Toggle Autopilot Approach Hold: CTRL + A
- Toggle Autopilot Altitude Hold: CTRL + T
- Toggle Autopilot Localizer Hold: CTRL + O
- Toggle Autopilot Mach Hold: CTRL + M
- Toggle Autopilot Master: Z Autopilot N1 Hold: CTRL + S
- Decrease Autopilot N1 Reference: CTRL + End
- Increase Autopilot N1 Reference: CTRL + Home
- Autopilot Nav1 Hold: CTRL + N Decrease
- Autopilot Reference Airspeed: Shift + CTRL + DEL
- Increase Autopilot Reference Airspeed: Shift + CTRL + Insert
- Decrease Autopilot Reference VS: CTRL + End
- Increase Autopilot Reference VS: CTRL + Home
- Toggle Autopilot Wing Leveler: CTRL + V
- Autopilot Off: Shift + ALT + Z
- Autopilot On: ALT + Z
- Arm Auto Throttle: Shift + R
- Auto Throttle To GA: Shift + CTRL + G
- Toggle Avionics Master: Page Up
- Toggle Flight Director: CTRL + F
- Toggle Yaw Damper: CTRL + D
Fuel
- Toggle Fuel Dump: Shift + CTRL + D
- Fuel Selector 1 All: ALT + W
- Fuel Selector 1 Off: CTRL + ALT + W
- Toggle All Fuel Valve: ALT + V
Brakes
- Brakes: Num Decimal
- Left Brake: Nummult
- Right Brake: Num Sub
- Toggle Parking Brakes: CTRL + Num Decimal
Landing Gear
- Toggle Landing Gear: G
- Gear Down: CTRL + G
- Toggle Tail Wheel Lock: Shift + G
Throttle
- Throttle Cut: F1
- Decrease Throttle: F2
- Increase Throttle: F3
Flight Control Surfaces
- Aileron Left (Roll Left): Num 4
- Aileron Right (Roll Right): Num 6
- Center Aileron Rudder: Num 5
- Elevator Down (Pitch Down): Num 8
- Elevator Up (Pitch Up): Num 2
- Toggle Water Rudder: CTRL + W
- Rudder Left (Yaw Left): Num 0
- Rudder Right (Yaw Right): Enter
Secondary Control Surfaces
- Decrease Flaps: F6
- Extend Flaps: F8
- Increase Flaps: F7
- Retract Flaps: F5
- Toggle Spoilers: Num Divide
Control Trimming Surfaces
- Aileron Trim Left: CTRL + Num 4
- Aileron Trim Right: CTRL + Num 6
- Rudder Trim Left: CTRL + Num 0
- Rudder Trim Right: CTRL + Enter
- Elevator Trim Down (Nose Down): Num 7
- Elevator Trim Up (Nose Up): Num 1
Exterior Lights
- Toggle Landing Lights: CTRL + L
- Landing Lights Down: Shift + CTRL + Num 2
- Landing Light Home: Shift + CTRL + Num 5
- Landing Light Left: Shift + CTRL + Num 4
- Landing Light Right: Shift + CTRL + Num 6
- Landing Light Up: Shift + CTRL + Num 8
- Toggle Strobes: O
- Toggle Beacon Light: ALT + H
- Toggle Nav Light: ALT + N
- Toggle Taxi Lights: ALT + J
Interior Lights
- Toggle Flashlight: ALT + L
- Toggle Lights: L
Power Management Mixture
- Decrease Mixture: Shift + CTRL + F2
- Increase Mixture: Shift + CTRL + F3
- Set Mixture Lean: Shift + CTRL + F1
- Set Mixture Rich: Shift + CTRL + F4
Power Management Propeller
- Decrease Propeller Pitch: CTRL + F2
- Propeller Pitch Hi: CTRL + F4
- Increase Propeller Pitch: CTRL + F3
- Propeller Pitch Lo: CTRL + F1
Radio
- ADF: Shift + CTRL + A
- Com Radio: C
- Set Com1 Standby: Shift + ALT + X
- Com1 Switch To Standby: ALT + U
- DME: F
- Decrease Nav1 Frequency: Shift + CTRL + Page Down
- Increase Nav1 Frequency: Shift + CTRL + Page Up
- Nav1 Swap: Shift + CTRL + N
- Nav Radio: N
- Decrease Vor1 OBS: Shift + CTRL + End
- Increase VOR1 OBS: Shift + CTRL + Home
- VOR OBS: Shift + V
- Transponder: T
- Set Transponder: Shift + ALT + W
- Display ATC: Scroll Lock
- ATC Panel Choice 0: 0
- ATC Panel Choice 1: 1
- ATC Panel Choice 2: 2
- ATC Panel Choice 3: 3
- ATC Panel Choice 4: 4
- ATC Panel Choice 5: 5
- ATC Panel Choice 6: 6
- ATC Panel Choice 7: 7
- ATC Panel Choice 8: 8
- ATC Panel Choice 9: 9
- Frequency Swap: X
- Increase Wheel Speed: Shift
Misc
- Toggle Fuel Pump: ALT + P
- Toggle Marker Sound: CTRL + 3
- Minus: CTRL + Num Sub
- Plus: CTRL + Num Plus
- Toggle Pushback: Shift + P
- Request Fuel: Shift + F
- Display Nav Log: N
- Display Map: V
- Sim Rate: R
- Skip RTC: Backspace
- New UI Window Mode: Right Alt
- Toggle Delegate Control: CTRL + ALT + X
Now that you know all of the keyboard controls in Microsoft Flight Simulator, be sure to check out some of our other helpful guides for the game including:
- The best joysticks and controllers for Microsoft Flight Simulator
- How to fix the loading screen bug in Microsoft Flight Simulator
- How to access the Assistance menu in Microsoft Flight Simulator
Morgan Shaver
Writer