First flight with Microsoft Flight Simulator

Microsoft Flight Simulator offers plenty of support for beginners. You can easily start flying using the "Flight Training" and "Discovery Flight" menus.

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How to operate the Keyboard/Controller/Joystick

For information on how to operate the keyboard/controller/joystick, please see the page below.

How to manipulate Microsoft Flight Simulator for beginners

How to operate the camera

For information on how to operate the camera while operating the simulator, please see the page below.

How to control the camera/viewpoint in Microsoft Flight Simulator

What is the AOA indicator?

The AOA indicator, which is displayed along with various instruments when flying with MSFS switched to the external camera, visualizes the "angle of attack", the angle of the wing in relation to the airflow. It allows you to know the signs before the airplane stalls. When the part above the central circle lights up, it indicates that the possibility of a stall is increasing. The FAA is promoting the retrofitting of this device to aircraft.

What You Should Know About Angle-Of-Attack Indicators (Boldmethod)

The No Longer Invisible Angle of Attack: AOA Indicators (Learn To Fly)

AOA (Angle of Attack) Display System (Japanese PDF:MLIT)

Warning when starting the game

If you see this screen when starting MSFS, MSFS or another game is already running on another computer using your Steam account. In this case, you will not be able to start MSFS on this computer. You will be making a remote connection to the computer on which the game is already running.
If you enter the 4-digit passcode displayed on this screen onto the computer screen where the game is already running, you will be connected remotely.
If you want to start MSFS on this computer, please shut down the game on the other computer.

If a warning screen like this one appears when starting MSFS, your computer's functionality and performance do not meet the minimum requirements for MSFS. However, this does not mean that the game cannot be started. Clicking "OK" will start the game.
For the minimum MSFS requirements, please see the following page:

Can you enjoy Microsoft Flight Simulator without a GPU? What are the minimum requirements?

If the INSTALLATION MANAGER screen appears when you start MSFS and an "UPDATE" button like this is displayed, you need to update MSFS. Make sure your computer is connected to the network and click "UPDATE."

First flight in 'Flight Training'

MSFS has prepared an activity called [FLIGHT TRAINIG]. It will carefully teach beginners how to fly an airplane, starting with how to operate the controller and move the viewpoint. Even if you're a flight simulator professional, we recommend you try it out at least once to learn the game controls specific to MSFS.

How to open the Flight Training screen

For MSFS2024

Select the "Activities" menu on the MSFS2024 main screen.

You can start training by selecting "Flight Training" from the "Activities" menu.

For MSFS2020

Click [FLIGHT TRAINIG] at the bottom left of the MSFS2020 main screen.

How to operate the Flight Training

Seven courses are available, ranging from "BASIC HANDLING" to "IFR NAVIGATION." Let's start with "BASIC HANDLING".

Each course is further divided into several steps. In the case of "BASIC HANDLING", 8 steps are prepared, and each step can be learned in about 5 minutes. However, if you are a beginner, you may not know the basics, such as how to move the switches, so it will take quite a while. Work slowly until you are satisfied.
Please try in order from "INTRODUCTION" in the upper left. If you complete the first three steps, I think you will be able to enjoy scenic flights in a Cessna.
From around the 5th step, "TURNS (ROLL)", delicate operation of the control stick is required. It becomes difficult to get good scores by maneuvering with a mouse or game controller. Consider getting a Controller for flight simulator .

When you select a step, a screen like this will appear. The left side of the screen explains what you will learn in this step. Click the [FLY] button at the bottom right of the screen.

The activity data will then start loading. Once loading is complete, the screen will change. Click the [READY TO FLY] button at the bottom right of the screen.

The training will then begin and the instructor will explain each step.

icons will tell you which items you should pay attention to. Move the dot (cursor) to turn your viewpoint there.
The "OBJECTIVES" column at the top right of the screen displays the current training objectives and operations to be performed. If you follow the instructions, the background will turn green and a check mark will appear, as shown in this image. Then move on to the next goal.
If you wish to cancel the training, please press the [ESC] key.

When you complete all the goals of the steps, you will see the score you earned. Click [NEXT].

At the end, you will see the score you earned for each goal. If you don't get a high enough score, try again and again to improve.
Click [BACK] to return to the previous screen.
Click [RESTART] to try this step again.
Click [TRAINING MENU] to move to the [FLIGHT TRAINIG] menu screen.
Clicking [BACK TO MAIN MENU] will take you to the main screen of Microsoft Flight Simulator.

With 'DISCOVERY FLIGHTS', even beginners can suddenly take a sightseeing flight

From the "DISCOVERY FLIGHTS" menu, you can immediately start a scenic flight over the world's attractions without any troublesome steps. Even beginners can easily enjoy sightseeing flights as long as they learn the very basic operating methods.

How to open the Discovery Flight screen

For MSFS2024

Select the "Activities" menu on the game's main screen.

Scroll through the "Activities" menu and select "Discovery" to take a scenic flight.

For MSFS2020

Click [ACTIVITIES] at the bottom center of the main screen of Microsoft Flight Simulator.

The ACTIVITIES menu screen will open. Search for [DISCOVERY FLIGHTS] and click on it.

How to operate the Discovery Flight

On the DISCOVERY FLIGHTS menu screen, find the menu of your choice and click on it. There are eight basic menus in the "CORE CONTENT" column. If you have installed the free "WORLD UPDATES" , more than 40 menus will be displayed below.

Obtaining Microsoft Flight Simulator additional content - How to install WORLD UPDATE

I guess my first choice would be "Mt. Fuji".

When you select the menu, a screen like this will appear. A description of this content is displayed on the left side of the screen. Click the [FLY] button at the bottom right of the screen.

The activity data will then start loading. Once loading is complete, the screen will change. Click the [READY TO FLY] button at the bottom right of the screen.

Then, it suddenly starts flying from the right position and in the right direction. All you have to do is operate the control stick and enjoy the scenic flight.
If you wish to cancel the sightseeing flight, please press the [ESC] key.
Also, with the aircraft that appears in the Mt. Fuji scene, it is impossible to fly over the top of Mt. Fuji in one go. In order to surpass the peak of Mt. Fuji, you need to gain altitude little by little. I think you will be able to reach the top by the time you go around Mt. Fuji about three times.

Take photos of tourist spots around the world with 'World Photographer'

"World Photographer," a new activity added to MSFS2024, is an activity in which you visit tourist spots around the world by plane and take photos. You can view the photos you take at any time in the "Photo Album." Just like the "Discovery Flight" introduced above, you can start flying above famous places around the world without any complicated procedures and take photos as if you were a photographer.
For more information, please see the page below.

How to enjoy MSFS's "Photo Mode" and "World Photographer"

With 'Free Flight/WORLD MAP', sightseeing flights from the large airport, even you are a beginner

In the "Free Flight (MSFS2024)" or "World Map (MSFS2020)" menu, you can take off from any airport around the world, at any time, and in any weather. Once you have acquired the skills to take off in a Cessna, even beginners can enjoy taking off from large airports and taking scenic flights.
For more information, please see the page below.

Read the aircraft manual

On the Aircraft Manuals (Microsoft) page, you can read the manuals for the major aircraft implemented in MSFS. When trying to fly a new aircraft, we recommend that you read the manual first.