I am an ex RAF, and Commercial Pilot who retired in 1992. I have been involved in Flight Simulation for many years.

Unfortunately, my memory is beginning to give me problems. I have been using MSFS 2020 since it was launched, and last November I purchased MSFS 2024. I have been trying to set it up using the same keys I am using on MSFS 2020, but without much success.

If this is possible, I would like to contact any serious flight simmer who lives near me, who would be able to come to my house and help sort things out.

I live in the UK, in Buckinghamshire, between Aylesbury and High Wycombe.

If this request will be allowed, it will hopefully give me a few more years with my favourite hobby, many thanks, roytc.

I live several thousand miles away, but there is a setting in controls to use same keyboard commands as 2020 in 2024. I personally prefer 2020 and uninstalled 2024 so not positive what It’s called, but there is a checkbox in controls-keyboard called something like 2020 regression. Someone using 2024 can probably elaborate.

Edited August 20, 2025Aug 20 by desbean

Roy, if I weren't so far away, I'd be happy to help you! I'd have given you all the tips you need to fully enjoy MSFS 2024 for the next 30 years (at least)!
In any case, I sincerely hope that someone can help you quickly.
🍻

1 hour ago, desbean said:

I live several thousand miles away, but there is a setting in controls to use same keyboard commands as 2020 in 2024. I personally prefer 2020 and uninstalled 2024 so not positive what It’s called, but there is a checkbox in controls-keyboard called something like 2020 regression. Someone using 2024 can probably elaborate.

Almost as old as OP and waiting to install SU3 but terrified of setting up the controls since I have read so many others had problems and welcome the place where one can find out where to use my 2020 controls that have become second nature

37 minutes ago, jaytee73 said:

Almost as old as OP and waiting to install SU3 but terrified of setting up the controls since I have read so many others had problems and welcome the place where one can find out where to use my 2020 controls that have become second nature

Trying to set up controls in 2024 took several years from my life, and is one reason I decided to stick with 2020 for now. Luckily as I am mostly flying IFR I am very happy with 2020 and don’t see much difference from the newest sim. For VFR I’m sure 2024 is superior but not enough for me.

It's pretty easy. Just go into the control settings, pick your keyboard. You will see on the top bottom left the presets config. The first lines "General Controls" and the second one "AIrplane Controls". Be the default it should say something like "MSF2024 Controls" By clicking on the arrows you can change the config and there is another default one that says "MSFS2020 Controls". That should give you the default control bindings you are used to.

Edited August 20, 2025Aug 20 by Farlis

4 hours ago, roytc said:

Unfortunately, my memory is beginning to give me problems

It's not your memory 😉 it's just not very user-friendly!

Hopefully someone will be able to give you hands-on help!  Until then if you haven't looked at this short video I highly recommend it:
 

 

Roy, I'm sure everyone on this forum will support you. FS2024 has some great changes, and you'll succeed. Your professionalism and common sense will be a big part of this hobby. I'm 71 years old and have many memory lapses.

2 hours ago, jaytee73 said:

Almost as old as OP and waiting to install SU3 but terrified of setting up the controls since I have read so many others had problems and welcome the place where one can find out where to use my 2020 controls that have become second nature

Every time I think of setting up controls again in 2024, I am happy to have not purchased it. And I am only 85.

Edited August 20, 2025Aug 20 by Bobsk8

2 hours ago, Bobsk8 said:

Every time I think of setting up controls again in 2024, I am happy to have not purchased it. And I am only 85.

Setting up controls in FS 2024 is not that difficult. A bit different than 2020 but once you complete one aircraft control settings the rest is quite simple. I setup my entire controls for helos and props and commercial jets in about 30 minutes. Then you can save your settings to another drive just incase they get messed up.

9 hours ago, roytc said:

I am an ex RAF, and Commercial Pilot who retired in 1992. I have been involved in Flight Simulation for many years.

... I have been trying to set it up using the same keys I am using on MSFS 2020, but without much success.

 

Edited August 20, 2025Aug 20 by bofhlusr

Just arrow through the profiles - there should be one called 2020 Transversal - that will give you functioning keys like in 2020 such as B to set altimeter.

Hi Roy,

I’ve sent you a Private Message. If you haven’t seen it or can’t access it, please reply to this thread.

Mike