How to Use Autopilot in MSFS 2024

Autopilot can feel intimidating the first time you press the button.

Autopilot is one of those things that feels magical when it works and completely maddening when it doesn’t. The good news is that most “autopilot problems” in MSFS 2024 aren’t bugs at all. They’re usually mode confusion, the wrong navigation source selected, or the aircraft simply not being stable when the autopilot is engaged. Once you understand a handful of basic modes and a simple workflow, autopilot becomes a genuine workload-saver and your flights instantly feel more realistic.

What autopilot does (and what it doesn’t)
Autopilot does exactly what you tell it to do, not what you meant.

Autopilot can

• Hold a heading or track a navigation course
• Hold an altitude or climb/descend at a set rate
• Capture and track an ILS (in aircraft that support it)
• Reduce workload during cruise, climbs and descents

Autopilot cannot

• Fix an unstable aircraft
• Make bad trim or bad speed management disappear
• Guess your intention if the wrong mode is selected
• Fly a correct approach if you haven’t set it up correctly

Before you press anything

This is where most people go wrong. If you do these basics first, autopilot behaves far better.

Make sure the aircraft is stable

• Wings level (or close to it)
• Airspeed is stable and not close to stall
• Trim reasonably set (not fighting the yoke/joystick)
• No wild climbs or dives happening

Confirm your input device isn’t constantly sending tiny inputs
A noisy joystick axis can cause the autopilot to disconnect or “hunt.” If you see control surfaces twitching slightly, add a small dead zone in controls.

The core autopilot modes you must understand
You can do 90% of normal flying with these.

Heading mode (HDG)
What it does

• The aircraft turns to and maintains the heading bug

When to use it

• ATC gives you “turn heading 250”
• You want to steer the aircraft without hand-flying
• You want a simple, predictable turn before going back to NAV tracking

How to use it properly

• Rotate the heading bug to the heading you want
• Engage HDG mode
• Watch the aircraft roll into the turn and settle

Altitude hold (ALT) What it does

• Holds your current altitude

Common mistake

• Engaging ALT while you’re still climbing or descending, then wondering why it locks the “wrong” altitude

How to use it properly

• Level off at your target altitude
• Let speed settle for a moment
• Engage ALT

Vertical speed mode (VS)

What it does

• Climbs or descends at a selected feet-per-minute rate

When to use it

• Smooth, controlled climbs and descents
• Managing a descent to meet an altitude restriction (basic method)

How to use it properly

• Select your target altitude first
• Engage VS
• Dial in a sensible rate
  • Light GA: 300–700 fpm often feels realistic
  • Airliners: higher rates are normal, but keep it appropriate for speed and altitude
• As you approach the selected altitude, reduce VS (or let altitude capture work if the aircraft supports it)

Navigation mode (NAV) What it does

• Follows a navigation source (GPS/FMS or NAV radios), depending on aircraft setup

Two common meanings in MSFS aircraft

• NAV tracking the GPS/FMS flight plan (most GA aircraft)
• NAV tracking a VOR/LOC signal (when source is NAV1/NAV2)

This is the number one cause of “autopilot is broken.”
If your CDI/source is set to NAV1 when you think you’re tracking GPS, the aircraft may turn away and chase the wrong signal.

Approach mode (APR) What it does

• Captures and tracks an ILS localiser and glideslope (if available and correctly tuned)

When to use it

• ILS approaches when you have tuned the correct frequency and course
• You are established and intercepting the localiser at a sensible angle

Basic autopilot workflow for a normal flight
This is a simple method that works for beginners.

After takeoff

• Hand-fly to a safe height (many people wait until 800–1500 ft AGL)
• Stabilise the aircraft: speed, trim, wings roughly level
• Set a heading bug to your current direction of travel
• Engage autopilot (AP master)
• Engage HDG mode
• Engage ALT once you level at your initial altitude

Transition to following your flight plan (GPS)

• Confirm your navigation source is GPS/FMS (not NAV1)
• Turn to intercept the magenta line using HDG mode if needed
• When you’re close and intercepting nicely, press NAV
• Watch for the aircraft to track the route smoothly

Climb to cruise

• Set target altitude
• Use VS (or FLC if your aircraft supports it)
• Monitor speed during climb and adjust power as needed
• Let altitude capture work, or reduce VS as you approach the target

Descent

• Set target altitude
• Use VS to descend
• Reduce power slightly to keep speed under control
• Plan early: most “messy descents” come from starting too late

Common autopilot problems and fixes

Aircraft won’t follow the flight plan

Likely causes

• NAV source is wrong (you’re on NAV1 instead of GPS)
• You haven’t intercepted the route before pressing NAV
• The flight plan has discontinuities or odd legs

Fix

• Confirm CDI/source is GPS/FMS
• Use HDG to intercept the course first, then enable NAV
• Check the flight plan legs in the avionics

Aircraft constantly climbs or dives

Likely causes

• You engaged ALT while not level
• VS set is too high for the aircraft and speed
• Trim wildly out, causing constant corrections

Fix

• Disconnect AP, stabilise, re-trim, then re-engage
• Use smaller VS values
• Confirm the selected altitude is sensible

Autopilot disconnects unexpectedly
Likely causes

• You’re overriding with control inputs
• Overspeed or stall protection limits
• Control axis noise or a conflicting binding

Fix

• Hands off the controls briefly and see if it holds
• Add a small dead zone to pitch/roll/rudder
• Check for duplicate bindings (e.g., two devices mapped to the elevator)

Aircraft turns the wrong direction in NAV
Likely causes

• It’s trying to rejoin the route from the wrong side
• Wind and intercept angle are too aggressive
• You’re tracking a VOR/LOC instead of GPS

Fix

• Use HDG to place the aircraft on a gentle intercept (20–30 degrees)
• Then enable NAV
• Confirm source selection

Practical tips that make autopilot feel “real.”

• Use autopilot to reduce workload, not to stop paying attention
• Make small changes and give the aircraft time to respond
• Set the target altitude before changing the climb/descent mode
• Don’t be afraid to disconnect and hand-fly for 30 seconds to reset the situation
• On approach, slow down early. Autopilot behaves better when the speed is stable

Summary

Autopilot in MSFS 2024 becomes easy once you treat it as a set of simple tools: HDG to point the aircraft, ALT to hold level flight, VS to climb or descend, NAV to track a route, and APR for ILS capture when properly set up. Most issues come from engaging autopilot while the aircraft is unstable or from having the wrong navigation source selected. Start stable, pick one mode at a time, and you’ll find autopilot quickly becomes one of the most useful skills you can learn in the simulator.