Microsoft Flight Simulator: Keyboard Shortcuts You Need To Know

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 is one of the most complicated and realistic flight simulators available. There is no shortage of settings and switches which can be adjusted to make the flight experience as fine tuned as possible. This is truly a complex program that players can really get the most out of.

The vast majority of players aren’t going to have a fully build flight rig in their home, although these are definitely available on the market. For most, the keyboard shortcuts are going to be the only viable option. This is a very intuitive way to play, although the controls can get confusing. Here’s every control you’ll need to know in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020. Feel free to press Crtl-F to search for the controls you need.

Flight Simulator 2020 Instruments & Systems Keys

Anti Ice

Toggle Anti Ice – H
Toggle Pilot Heat – SHIFT + H

Electrics

Toggle Master Alternator – ALT + A
Toggle Master Battery – ALT + B
Toggle Master Battery & Alternator – SHIFT + M

Engine Instruments

Decrease Cowl Flap – SHIFT + CTRL + C
Increase Cowl Flap – SHIFT + CTRL + V
Select Engine – E
Auto Start Engine – CTRL + E
Engine Autostop – SHIFT + CTRL + E
Magneto – M
Magnetos Both – SHIFT + ALT + F
Magnetos Left – SHIFT + ALT + S
Magnetos Off – SHIFT + ALT + Q
Magnetos Right – SHIFT + ALT + D
Magnetos Start – SHIFT + ALT + G
Toggle Master Ignition Switch – ALT + I

Flight Instruments

Select Airspeed Bug – SHIFT + CTRL + R
Select Altitude Bug – SHIFT + CTRL + Z
Toggle Autorudder – 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

Fuel

Toggle Fuel Dump – SHIFT + CTRL + D
Fuel Selector 1 All – ALT + W
Fuel Selector 1 Off – CTRL + ALT + W
Toggle All Fuel Valves – ALT + V

Flight Simulator 2020 Camera Keys

Slew Mode

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 Roll Left – NUM 7
Slew Roll Right – NUM 9
Slew X-Axis Translation Freeze – NUM 5
Slew Yaw Left – NUM 1
Slew Yaw Right – NUM 3
Slew Translate Left – NUM 4
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
Toggle Slew Mode – Y

Camera Mode Switches

Cockpit/External View Mode – END
Toggle Drone – INSERT

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 / F
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 Top Down View – CTRL + SPACE
Attach Drone To Next Target – CTRLl + 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 / F
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

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 – PGUP
Reset Smartcam – CTRL + F
Set Custom Smartcam Target – T
Next Smartcam Target – PGUP + CTRL
Camera AI Player – HOME + CTRL
Previous Smartcam Target – PGDOWN + CTRL
Toggle Follow Smartcam Target – PGDOWN
Unset Custom Smartcam Target – SHIFT + T

Flight Simulator 2020 Autopilot Keys

Autopilot Airspeed Hold – Alt + R
Decrease Autopilot Reference Altitude – CTRL + PGDOWN
Increase Autopilot Reference Altitude – CTRL + PGUP
Toggle Autopilot Approach Hold – CTRL + A
Toggle Autopilot Attitude 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 – PGUP
Toggle Flight Director – CTRL + F
Toggle Yaw Damper – CTRL + D

Brake Keys

Brakes – NUM DECIMAL
Left Brake – NUMMULT
Right Brake – NUM SUB
Toggle Parking Brakes – CTRL + NUM DECIMAL

Flight Simulator 2020 Flight Control Surface Keys

Primary Control Surfaces

Aileron Left (Roll Left – NUM 4
Aileron Right (roll Right) – NUM 6
Center Ailer 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
Extends 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

Landing Gear

Toggle Landing Gear – G
Gear Down – CTRL + G
Toggle Tail Wheel Lock – SHIFT + G

Flight Simulator 2020 Lights Keys

Exterior Lights

Toggle Landing Lights – CTRL + I
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

Flight Simulator 2020 Menu Keys

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 – .
Previous Toolbar Panel – /
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

Flight Simulator 2020 Power Management Keys

Mixture

Decrease Mixture – SHIFT + CTRL + F2
Increase Mixture (Small) – SHIFT + CTRL + F3
Set Mixture Lean – SHIFT + CTRL + F1
Set Mixture Rich – SHIFT + CTRL + F4

Propeller

Decrease Propeller Pitch – CTRL + F2
Propeller Pitch Hi – CTRL + F4
Increase Propeller Pitch – CTRL + F3
Propeller Pitch Lo – CTRL + F1

Throttle

Throttle Cut – F1
Decrease Throttle – F2
Increase Throttle – F3

ADF

ADF – SHIFT + CTRL + A

Comms

Com Radio – C
Set Com1 Standby – SHIFT + ALT + X
Com1 Switch To Standby – ALT + U

DME

NAV

Decrease NAV1 Frequency (Fract, Carry) – SHIFT + CTRL + PGDOWN
Increase NAV1 Frequency (Fract, Carry) – SHIFT + CTRL + PGUP
NAV1 Swap – SHIFT + CTRL + N
NAV Radio – N

VOR

Decrease VOR1 OBS – SHIFT + CTRL + END
Increase VOR1 OBS – SHIFT + CTRL + HOME
VOR OBS – SHIFT + V

XPNDR

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

Flight Simulator 2020 Miscellaneous Keys

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 Navlog – N
Display Map – V
Sim Rate – R
Skip RTC – BACKSPACE
New UI Window Mode – RIGHT ALT
Toggle Delegate Control To Copilot – CTRL + ALT + X

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