Staring at the sky from an airplane’s window in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is fun—until you’re flying a long-haul flight. That’s when you’re stuck looking at the same scenery for hours, wishing there was a way to skip ahead to the landing. Fortunately, there is a way to speed up time in MSFS 2024, and this guide will show you exactly how to do it.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024: Autopilot Guide
Learning the basics of the autopilot mode in MSFS 2024 is crucial for completing long-haul flight missions; here’s what you need to know.
The previous shortcuts like “R + CTRL” used to speed up time in MSFS 2020 won’t work in the new installment.
How to Speed Up Time in MSFS 2024
- Go to Settings.
- Open the Controls tab.
- Search for “Sim Rate.”
- Assign Sim Rate to a key bind such as “ALT + R.”
- Assign other keys to increase and decrease the Sim Rate.
- Press the assigned key binds during a flight to speed up or slow down time.
Neither the Xbox nor PC versions of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 have the Sim Rate feature assigned to any keys by default. You’ll need to configure the key binds before using the feature.
On Xbox, when you select "Sim Rate" in the key binding menu, a "Scanning" message will appear. Once you see this, press the buttons you want to assign to the Simulation Rate feature. Be sure to choose keys that won’t interfere with controlling the airplane during flight.
How to Use Sim Rate as a Fast-Travel Feature
- Assign a key to the Sim Rate feature.
- During the flight, activate MSFS 2024’s autopilot mode.
- Set the autopilot to the NAV mode.
- Speed up time to reach destination faster like a fast-travel feature.
Since MSFS 2024 doesn’t have a built-in fast-travel option, you'll need to use a workaround. One method is to use the plane’s NAV mode on autopilot, which will follow your flight plan at the speed and altitude you set. This is a great option for long-haul flights and can make earning Credits much easier.
Things to Know About Sim Rate in MSFS 2024
Before using the Sim Rate feature in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, keep these points in mind:
- There’s no EXP penalty for using the Sim Rate. Unlike skipping parts of a flight, fast-forwarding time doesn’t affect the Experience Points you earn from a mission.
- Speeding up time during Career Mode missions can be risky. At higher speeds, you’ll have less time to react to flight incidents. Failing to respond quickly may cause a crash, resulting in significant losses to your business. Use this feature in the Career Mode carefully and only when you’re confident the flight route is safe.
- There’s no on-screen indicator for speed. One downside of using the Sim Rate is that you won’t know how fast time is passing. As a general rule, pressing the Sim Rate Increase button four times will reach maximum speed. To return to normal speed, press the Sim Rate Decrease button the same number of times you increased it.
- Speeding up time can cause frame rate drops. If you're already facing performance issues in MSFS 2024, avoid using the Sim Rate feature unless necessary, as it can lead to crashes.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 76 /100 Critics Rec: 68%
- Released
- November 19, 2024
- ESRB
- Everyone / Users Interact, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
- Asobo Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Xbox Game Studios
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- Asobo's
- Franchise
- Microsoft Flight Simulator
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PlayStation 5, PlayStation VR2, PC
- Genre(s)
- Flight Simulator
