Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (MSFS 2024) is one of the most realistic and immersive flight simulators available. Whether you’re a new pilot learning procedures, a licensed pilot staying sharp, or just looking to play pilot and explore the world from above, it’s a powerful platform for both training and fun.
But let’s be honest: firing it up for the first time can feel like stepping into a real cockpit – perhaps even harder if you’ve never used other simulators or video games before! This guide is here to help.
We’ll walk you through the essentials, from getting started and configuring settings to understanding basic controls and completing your first flight, focusing on practical steps and common hurdles new users face.
New to flight sims? Don’t worry! We’ll cover the absolute basics so you can get in the air right away.
Real-world pilot? We’ll highlight how to use MSFS effectively for training.
(Looking for other quick tips? Check out our Sim Tip Resources)
Choosing Your MSFS 2024 Edition & Platform
MSFS 2024 comes in different versions and runs on PC or Xbox Series X/S.
There are several editions, including Standard, Deluxe, Premium Deluxe, and Aviator Editions). The main difference is the number of handcrafted airports and highly detailed aircraft.
You can also run MSFS on either PC or Xbox:
- PC: Offers the most flexibility with hardware choices, third-party add-ons, and detailed settings. Recommended for serious training. Needs a reasonably powerful computer (check official system requirements).
- Xbox Series X/S: A simpler, console-optimized experience. Great for accessibility but lacks the customization and add-on depth of the PC version.
Still deciding between PC and Xbox? Check out our full breakdown of the pros and cons in Microsoft Flight Simulator on Xbox: What You Need to Know.
Game Pass & Cloud Gaming: MSFS 2024 is available through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which includes access to the sim on both Xbox and PC, plus the ability to stream it via Xbox Cloud Gaming. That means you can play without installing it, even on lower-end PCs, tablets, or phones — as long as you have a fast internet connection.
It’s a great way to try the sim before committing to a full install or buying hardware.
Installation: Steam vs. Microsoft Store
On PC, you can buy MSFS 2024 via Steam or the Microsoft Store (it’s also included with PC Game Pass).
- Microsoft Store/Game Pass: Often gets updates slightly faster. Required if you want cross-buy/play with an Xbox console.
- Steam: Generally easier installation folder management and potentially simpler refund process if needed. Updates might lag slightly behind the Store version.
Key Tip: Installation is huge (often >100GB) and can take hours. Start the download well before you want to fly.
First Launch: Essential Settings for New Users
Before flying, tweak these settings for a smoother start:
- Assistance Options: (Found under Options > Assistances)
- For enthusiasts/gamers: Start with presets like “All Assists” if you want help with piloting, navigation, and aircraft systems.
- For real-world pilots and student pilots: Set “Default Assists” but also turn off visual assistance
- Consider turning Crash Damage OFF initially. This lets you learn from mistakes without instantly ending your flight.
- As you improve, gradually reduce assistance for more realism.
- Controls Sensitivity: (Options > Controls > Select Your Device > Hardware settings)
- If controls feel too twitchy, reduce Sensitivity (try -30% to -50% as a starting point).
- Graphics: (Options > Graphics)
- Start with a Global Rendering Quality preset like “Medium” or “High-End” based on your PC.
- If performance (FPS) is low, especially near large airports, reduce the quality until you get an acceptable frame rate.
- Sound: Ensure your correct audio output is selected.
Understanding the Interface: Menus & Views
- Main Menu: Features large tiles for key modes.
- Free Flight: Where you’ll set up custom flights
- Activities: Pre-packaged flights, training lessons, landing challenges, bush trips. Great for structured fun, but often lock weather/aircraft.
- Career: New in MSFS 2024 — progress through aviation-related missions and goals to build a simulated pilot career.
- World Photographer: Fly to scenic locations and capture specific in-game photos to complete challenges.
- Marketplace: Buy/download add-ons.
- Profile: Logbook, achievements.
- Options (Gear Icon): Access all settings.
- Bottom Buttons: On most menu screens, look for buttons at the bottom with associated keyboard shortcuts.
- Windowed vs. Fullscreen: Press Alt + Enter to toggle between fullscreen and a resizeable window. Windowed mode is handy if you want to view charts or guides alongside the sim.
- In-Flight Toolbar: Hover your mouse near the top center of the screen while flying to reveal a toolbar with quick-access icons:
- Camera (Cockpit/External views)
- Weather controls
- Assistance options
- ATC (Air Traffic Control)
- And more! You can customize which icons appear via the gear icon on the toolbar itself.
Controls Explained: Yokes, Joysticks & Keyboards
MSFS supports various control methods: keyboard/mouse, gamepads, and dedicated flight yokes, sticks, throttles, and rudder pedals.
- Basic Setup:
- Go to Options > Controls. Select your device (e.g., “Logitech Yoke”).
- Use the Filter on the bottom of the window (set to “Assigned”) to see what functions are already mapped. Most popular devices have default profiles that work well.
- Assigning Controls: If something isn’t mapped (like flaps or trim):
- Change the Filter to “All” or search for the specific function (e.g., “Elevator Axis”).
- Click the empty input box next to the desired function.
- Immediately move the physical control (axis or button) you want to assign. Don’t move your mouse away until the assignment appears.
- Validate the assignment.
- Axis Tuning: Use the Sensitivity menu (see Section 3) to fine-tune how axes respond.
Your First Flight: Free Flight vs. Other Modes
While Activities and Training Missions are great, Free Flight is where you have total control – perfect for structured practice and learning.
Here’s how to set up a Free Flight:
- Select Free Flight to go to the World Map.
- Select Aircraft: Click the aircraft picture (top left). Choose a simple trainer like the Cessna 152 or Cessna 172 (G1000 or Classic). Check the ‘Variants’ or ‘Configure’ option if needed to select the specific model (e.g., G1000 vs steam gauges).
- Select Departure: Click the map or search for an airport code (e.g., KPAE). Choose a specific Runway or Parking Spot (more on this below).
- Set Flight Conditions: (Top right) and select the Clear Skies preset with the time set to daytime. You can turn off Live Traffic/Multiplayer for less distraction initially.
- Click Save and Back, then click Start Flight!
Starting Options: Runway vs. Parking Spot
Where you choose to start on the World Map significantly changes the initial state.
If you start on a Runway:
- You’ll appear lined up on the runway, ready for takeoff.
- Engine running, avionics on, basic systems configured.
- Easiest way to get airborne quickly.
If you start Parking Spot (Gate or Ramp):
- You’ll appear parked at the selected spot, often outside the aircraft initially (see Walkaround below).
- Engine OFF, systems cold and dark.
- More realistic, requiring startup procedures and taxiing. Great for practicing checklists!
The Walkaround: Getting Started from Parking
If you start at a parking spot, MSFS 2024 introduces a “Character Mode” walkaround. You must interact with certain items before you can even get in the cockpit and start the engine.
- Navigation:
- Use W, A, S, D keys to walk forward, left, back, right.
- Move your mouse to look around (initially, you might need to press the middle mouse button/scroll wheel once to unlock the cursor for clicking items). Press it again to re-enable looking with the mouse.
- Hold Right Mouse Button + Drag to pan view without moving.
- Use C to crouch if needed.
- Required Items: You must get close enough to click and remove/check certain items:
- Wheel Chocks
- Pitot Tube Cover
- Engine Inlet/Exhaust Covers
- Static Port Covers
- Control Surface Locks (like rudder gust lock)
- Tie-downs
- (Failure to remove these can lead to issues like no airspeed indication or inability to taxi).
- Entering the Cockpit:
- Walk close to the door and click it.
- OR, simply press Shift + C anytime during the walkaround to instantly jump into the pilot’s seat.
- Quick Start (After Entering Cockpit): If you just want to get the engine running without doing the full checklist, press Ctrl + E for auto-start (works on most default piston aircraft).
Interacting with the Cockpit
Once inside, here’s how to look around and manipulate controls:
- Looking Around (Panning): Hold the Right Mouse Button and drag.
- Zooming: Use the Mouse Scroll Wheel.
- Moving Your Head Position (Translating):
- Hold Shift + A/D to move left/right.
- Hold Shift + W/S to move forward/back (alternative zoom).
- Hold Shift + Q/E to move down/up (useful for adjusting view over the glareshield).
- Press Shift + Space to reset to the default cockpit view.
- Saving Custom Views: Find a view you like (e.g., zoomed in on radios), press Shift + F5 (or F6, F7, F8) to save it. Recall it later by pressing Shift + F1 (for F5), Shift + F2 (for F6), etc.
- Clicking Switches/Buttons: Hover until you see the hand icon, then Left Click. Click the yoke itself to make it disappear/reappear for better visibility of lower switches.
- Turning Knobs (like Radios/GPS):
- Many knobs have an inner and outer ring. Hover over the part you want to turn.
- Use the Mouse Scroll Wheel: This is often the easiest way. Scroll up/down to change the value.
- Alternatively, Left Click and Drag the mouse left/right.
- Look for a frequency swap button (often looks like <->) to make the standby frequency active.
Basic Flight Controls: Ailerons, Elevator, Rudder
These are the primary flight controls:
- Ailerons (Control Roll): Moved by turning the yoke or joystick left/right. Causes the aircraft to bank. Keyboard default often NUM 4/6.
- Elevator (Controls Pitch): Moved by pushing the yoke or joystick forward (nose down) or pulling back (nose up). Controls the aircraft’s pitch attitude. Keyboard default often NUM 8/2.
- Rudder (Controls Yaw): Moved by rudder pedals or twisting a joystick. Causes the aircraft’s nose to move left/right (yaw) without banking. Essential for coordinated turns and counteracting crosswinds/P-factor on takeoff. Keyboard default often NUM 0/Enter.
(Tip: Enable Auto-Rudder in Assistance if you don’t have pedals initially). - Trim: Helps you avoid needing to hold constant pressure on the elevator control. Crucial for reducing workload! Map Pitch Trim Up/Down to easily accessible buttons on your controls—it’s the most common thing you will need to adjust as you fly.
Takeoff, Cruise, and Using the Pause Feature
Let’s assume you’ve started on the runway or taxied out:
- Takeoff (Simple Piston Single like Cessna 172):
- Release the parking brake (Ctrl + Space or click the lever).
- Apply full throttle smoothly.
- Use rudder to stay aligned with the runway centerline.
- At rotation speed (≈55 knots in a Cessna 172), gently pull back on the yoke/stick to lift off. (For full procedures, search online for the Pilot’s Operating Handbook of the specific aircraft you’re flying.)
- Establish a positive climb attitude and maintain runway heading.
- Cruise: Level off at desired altitude, reduce power, and use Trim to fly hands-off!
- Pausing the Sim: Essential for learning or taking breaks!
- Active Pause (P key): Stops the aircraft’s movement but time and simulation (like engine sounds) may continue. Convenient for quick pauses.
- Menu Pause (Esc key): Freezes everything, including sound and simulation time. Brings up the main menu overlay. Use this for longer breaks or accessing settings without the sim running in the background. Press Esc or Resume to return.
We also recommend this 5-minute tutorial video, which walks you through a simple flight from Paine Field (KPAE) to SeaTac (KSEA) in the G1000 Cessna 172. It’s designed as a step-by-step guide that’s perfect for beginners. While the video uses MSFS 2020, all the basic aircraft procedures work the same way in MSFS 2024.
Using MSFS 2024 Effectively for Flight Training
While MSFS 2024 is fantastic for exploration and fun, it’s also a powerful tool for real-world pilots and student pilots when used correctly. The key is structure and focus. Instead of just random flying, you can leverage the simulator’s capabilities to supplement your training efficiently.
Here are some of our top tips:
- Cockpit Familiarization: Learn the layout and basic operation of avionics (like the G1000) and switches before you even get in the real aircraft.
- Procedure Practice: Repetitively practice checklist flows (startup, shutdown, emergencies) and procedures until they become second nature.
- Instrument Scan Development: Practice maintaining a scan pattern during instrument flight without the cost and pressure of being in the actual aircraft.
- Maneuver Repetition: While the sim lacks physical feel, you can practice the procedural steps and sight pictures for maneuvers like steep turns or slow flight. Use the replay tools (like the built-in Flight Control Replay accessed from the top toolbar) to analyze your performance immediately.
- Scenario-Based Training: Use features like Slew Mode (Shift+Z) to instantly position yourself for specific practice, like an engine failure simulation near a chosen field, or start directly on final approach to practice landings repeatedly without flying the full pattern.
- Navigation Practice: Set up flights to practice VOR navigation, GPS usage, and flight plan execution.
- Controlled Conditions: Practice operations in specific weather you might not encounter often in real life, like strong crosswinds or low IFR conditions (within the sim’s weather simulation capabilities).
- Efficiency: Skip the parts of flight you’re already comfortable with (like long cruise segments) and focus your limited sim time on areas needing the most work.
Important Considerations:
- Home flight simulation can be a valuable supplement, but it’s not a replacement for real-world instruction. For a deeper dive, see our post: Can You Learn to Fly Using a Flight Simulator?
- MSFS cannot replicate the physical sensations of flight.
- It’s crucial to practice correct procedures to avoid developing bad habits (“negative transfer”).
- For serious ATC practice, consider third-party online networks like PilotEdge or VATSIM, as the built-in ATC has limitations for realistic training.
To truly leverage these training benefits, you first need to master the simulator software itself – setting up flights efficiently, configuring controls properly, and understanding the interface.
Common Challenges & Troubleshooting
- Aircraft Veers Sharply on Takeoff: In a single engine aircraft, this is due to the natural left turning tendency resulting from P-factor/torque. Ensure you apply right ruder to counteract this.
- Engine Won’t Start: Did you complete the walkaround and remove covers/chocks? Is the battery/master switch ON? Fuel selector ON? Consider using Ctrl+E for auto start.
- Low FPS / Stuttering: Lower graphics settings, especially Terrain/Object LOD. Close background applications.
- Controls Not Working: Verify assignments in the Controls menu. Ensure the correct profile is active.
(Find more solutions in our Sim Tips Library)
Next Steps: Beyond the Basics
You’ve got the fundamentals! Now the real fun begins.
- Practice: Fly traffic patterns, practice landings, explore different areas. Repetition builds skill.
- Use Built-in Training: The Activities menu has excellent lessons covering basic maneuvers, navigation, and aircraft systems.
- Learn Procedures: Start using checklists for startup, takeoff, and landing.
- Explore Different Aircraft: Move from the C152/172 to more complex planes.
- Challenge Yourself: Try different weather conditions, night flying, or longer cross-country flights.
Ready to accelerate your learning?
- How to Use MSFS 2024 – Jumpstart Course: My focused 2-hour video course dives deeper into efficiently using MSFS, especially for training applications. Skip the frustration and get flying confidently!
- Personalized Coaching: Book a one-on-one online session with real-world flight instructors to get tailored guidance for your specific goals, whether for real-world training or sim mastery.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is a journey, not just a destination. Be patient with yourself, enjoy the learning process, and welcome to the virtual skies!
Questions? Leave a comment below or contact us!
(Also check out our guides on the best flight simulators and essential hardware recommendations)
