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On a computer, open Google Earth on the web, choose Explore Earth, then select Tools > Flight simulator. The browser simulator is an experimental, casual-exploration feature: use Page Up and Page Down for thrust, the arrow keys for pitch and banking, and click inside the simulation to switch between mouse-guided and keyboard control. It is not available in the Google Earth mobile app.
Open the current Google Earth flight simulator on the web
The current browser workflow is separate from the older installed-desktop workflow. Use a computer rather than a phone or tablet, because Google documents this version as web only. The feature is marked “Experimental (pre-GA),” so its interface and behavior can change as Google develops it.
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- Open Google Earth in a desktop web browser.
- Click Explore Earth.
- Open the Tools menu in the top navigation.
- Select Flight simulator.
The simulator initially opens with the abstract Map basemap. If you want the photographic surface and visible terrain, change the basemap to Satellite before or during the flight. The imagery, terrain and 3D buildings stream as you move, so the first view may take a moment to fill in.
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Map versus Satellite
Map is the initial abstract view. It is useful when you want a clean, low-detail orientation, but it does not show the photographic landscape that most people expect from an Earth flight. Select Satellite to see satellite imagery and terrain while flying.
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Changing the basemap changes what you see, not the aircraft controls. You can make this choice before launching the simulator or adjust it while exploring. High-resolution imagery and 3D buildings are streamed during the flight; temporary blank areas or delayed detail can therefore occur while the view catches up.
Desktop is required
Google’s web documentation does not support the browser simulator on mobile devices or in the Google Earth mobile app. If the Flight simulator command is missing on a phone, switching browsers on that phone will not solve the availability limitation; use a computer and the web version instead.
Web flight-simulator controls
Google’s documented controls are intentionally small in number. The table is the complete basic control set for the browser simulator.
| Action | Web control |
|---|---|
| Increase thrust | Page Up, or click the on-screen thrust indicator |
| Decrease thrust | Page Down, or click the on-screen thrust indicator |
| Pitch down (dive) | Down arrow |
| Pitch up (climb) | Up arrow |
| Bank left | Left arrow |
| Bank right | Right arrow |
| Switch between mouse-guided and keyboard controls | Click inside the simulation |
The thrust indicator is an on-screen control, so you can use it instead of the Page Up and Page Down keys. Clicking within the simulation is also important when the aircraft does not react to your keyboard: it activates the simulation’s input focus and switches the documented mouse/keyboard mode.
There is no separate web command listed for rudder, landing gear, brakes, flaps or a dedicated pause key. For this version, the documented interaction is limited to thrust, pitch, banking and the mouse/keyboard mode switch. A laptop may require holding a function key to access Page Up or Page Down, depending on its keyboard layout; use the visible thrust control if those keys are inconvenient.
A practical first flight
1. Activate the simulator
After launching Flight simulator, click inside the aircraft view. This puts the simulation in its interactive mode. Keep the pointer and keyboard available; the web version supports both documented input styles, but only one is active at a time according to the mode you select.
2. Add a little thrust
Use Page Up once or several times, or click the thrust indicator. Watch the aircraft’s response rather than holding a key continuously. A gradual increase gives you time to see how the view changes before you add more.
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3. Hold a climb or level the nose
Use the Up arrow to raise the nose for a climb and the Down arrow to lower it for a descent. Short inputs are easier to manage than large, repeated corrections when you are learning the view. This is a practical way to work with the simulator’s limited control set, not a claim about real-world flight technique.
4. Turn with a bank
The Left and Right arrows bank the aircraft. Apply one direction, observe the turn, and then make a small opposite correction when the heading is where you want it. Because the browser simulator is designed for casual exploration, the objective is to guide the camera over a place of interest rather than to reproduce instrument-rated flying.
5. Adjust speed while looking around
If you are moving too quickly to inspect a landmark, use Page Down or the on-screen indicator to reduce thrust. If the aircraft begins losing the view you want to explore, add thrust again. The simulator does not require a separate throttle, rudder or landing-gear procedure for this basic web experience.
6. Change the view when scenery is ready
Switch the basemap to Satellite when you want photographic terrain. Give streamed imagery and 3D buildings time to appear, particularly after moving quickly or entering an area with more detailed data.
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How the controls fit together
Thrust controls speed changes
Page Up and Page Down alter thrust; they do not point the nose. Use them when you need the aircraft to cover ground faster or when you want more time to inspect a location. The same adjustment can be made by clicking the visible thrust indicator, which is useful if you prefer mouse input.
Pitch controls vertical direction
The Up arrow raises the nose and the Down arrow lowers it. Think of these keys as controlling the aircraft’s forward angle in the view. A climb and a dive are different from a turn: use the arrow on the left or right for banking, not the up or down arrow.
Bank controls horizontal turns
Left and Right bank the aircraft. Banking changes the direction of travel, allowing you to arc toward a different part of the map. Combining a modest bank with a modest pitch change is enough for most sightseeing; there is no need to use a complicated sequence of keys.
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Mouse mode and keyboard mode
Click inside the simulation to switch between the mouse-guided and keyboard controls described by Google. If your pointer movement appears to do nothing, click the aircraft view once and try again. If you want to return to the keys, click inside the simulation again and use the documented arrow and Page keys.
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When the aircraft hits terrain
A direct collision with terrain pauses the web simulation. The screen displays You crashed! Restart. Click that control to restore the aircraft at a safe, playable altitude and coordinates, then resume using the same controls. You do not need to reload Google Earth or reopen the browser.
Return to the normal Earth map
To stop flying and return to the standard map view, click the back arrow in the upper-left corner of the simulator. This exits the flight view rather than restarting the aircraft.
Troubleshooting controls that do not work
The Flight simulator option is missing
- Confirm that you are using Google Earth on the web on a computer.
- Open the path exactly as Explore Earth > Tools > Flight simulator.
- Do not expect the command in the Google Earth mobile app; Google describes the browser feature as web only.
The arrow keys or Page keys do nothing
- Click inside the simulation to activate its input mode.
- Try the on-screen thrust indicator to determine whether the aircraft is responding while keyboard focus is being corrected.
- Use one documented control at a time: Up/Down for pitch, Left/Right for banking, and Page Up/Page Down for thrust.
- If the session is paused after a terrain collision, click You crashed! Restart before trying to fly again.
The scenery is blank or arrives late
Google streams 3D buildings and high-resolution imagery as you fly. Extreme speeds or a low-bandwidth connection can cause temporary loading delays. Slow the aircraft with Page Down, wait for the area to stream, and continue once the terrain is visible. A delayed texture or building layer is a loading condition, not necessarily a control failure.
The aircraft keeps hitting the ground
Use the Up arrow to raise the nose and reduce thrust if you are covering ground faster than you can steer. Make smaller steering corrections and watch the terrain ahead. If a collision occurs, use the restart control to return to a safe altitude instead of trying to recover a paused flight.
Why does the simulator feel unlike a real aircraft?
That behavior is expected. Google says the flight simulator is designed for casual exploration rather than high-fidelity aerodynamic training. Its simplified physics prioritize viewing the globe, not reproducing every aircraft system or procedure. Treat the controls as an interface for sightseeing, not as guidance for operating a real aircraft.
What the web simulator can—and cannot—do
Built for casual exploration
Google describes the flight simulator as designed for casual exploration rather than high-fidelity aerodynamic training. The simplified physics and small control set make it suitable for touring a city, tracing a coastline or viewing terrain from above. They do not make it a substitute for a flight-training program, an aircraft procedure trainer or a realistic simulator with aerodynamic modeling.
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Experimental availability
The web feature is labeled Experimental (pre-GA). That label means the interface is not presented as a finished, permanently fixed product. Menu wording, availability or behavior may change; the current documented path is the one listed above.
Streaming affects the experience
Terrain, satellite detail and 3D buildings are delivered while you fly. Fast movement can outpace what has loaded, and a low-bandwidth connection can extend the wait. Plan sightseeing around the view that is currently rendered rather than assuming every building will appear immediately.
No purchase is required for the browser version
The web simulator is a built-in Google Earth feature controlled with the keyboard, mouse and on-screen thrust indicator. Google’s web instructions do not require a joystick or other external accessory. Optional joystick support is documented for the installed desktop application only, so buying hardware is unnecessary if your goal is simply to fly in the browser.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Web versus the installed desktop version
Google maintains a separate Google Earth Help page for the simulator in the installed desktop application. Do not mix its menus or hardware options with the browser steps above.
| Feature | Google Earth on the web | Installed Google Earth desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Computer web browser; not supported on mobile devices or the mobile app | Google Earth installed on Mac, Windows or Linux |
| How to open it | Explore Earth > Tools > Flight simulator | Tools > Enter Flight Simulator or the desktop shortcuts documented by Google |
| Aircraft choices | Not listed in the current web instructions | SR22 or F-16 |
| Starting point | Starts from the web simulator’s current experience | Current View or a listed airport |
| Inputs | Keyboard, on-screen thrust indicator and mouse/keyboard mode switching | Mouse and keyboard, with optional joystick support |
| Documented controls and options | Page Up/Page Down, arrow keys and click-to-switch input mode | Page Up for thrust, mouse movement or arrow keys for steering, Space to pause, and a desktop exit shortcut/menu |
| Purpose statement | Experimental, simplified physics for casual exploration | Separate desktop feature with its own setup, aircraft and HUD guidance |
Using the desktop simulator instead
Requirements and launch choices
The desktop Help workflow requires Google Earth installed on Mac, Windows or Linux. Open Tools > Enter Flight Simulator, or use the platform shortcut shown in Google’s desktop documentation. The desktop version lets you choose between the SR22 and F-16 and start from the current view or from a listed airport.
Input hardware
You can use a mouse and keyboard on desktop, and Google documents optional joystick support. That joystick detail belongs to the installed application; the current web instructions do not require external hardware.
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Google’s desktop guidance uses Page Up to increase thrust and describes mouse movement or the arrow keys for steering. Press Space to pause, and use the desktop shortcut or menu command documented on the Help page to exit. The desktop page also covers HUD readings and takeoff guidance, which are not part of the browser simulator’s shorter control list.
A simple sightseeing plan
For a first session
- Open the web simulator on a computer and switch the basemap to Satellite.
- Click inside the aircraft view before pressing any keys.
- Add modest thrust, then use short pitch and banking inputs.
- Pause your steering when a landmark enters view so streamed imagery can finish loading.
- Reduce thrust while inspecting detailed terrain.
For a long-distance tour
- Use more thrust only after you have a stable direction.
- Expect imagery and 3D buildings to arrive progressively during fast travel.
- When the view becomes too fast to follow, reduce thrust and make a small bank correction.
- If terrain is struck, restart from the safe position and continue from there.
For comparing web and desktop behavior
Use the web version when you want the quickest, hardware-free exploration from a computer browser. Choose the installed version when you specifically need the SR22 or F-16 selection, an airport start, a joystick, desktop HUD information or the desktop pause and exit controls. The two workflows are related, but their menus and documented options are not interchangeable.
Key points to remember
- The browser path is Explore Earth > Tools > Flight simulator.
- Satellite imagery requires changing the basemap from Map to Satellite.
- Page Up and Page Down change thrust; Up and Down pitch; Left and Right bank.
- Click inside the simulation to switch between mouse-guided and keyboard control.
- A terrain collision pauses the web flight and provides You crashed! Restart.
- The web simulator is experimental, desktop-only and intended for casual exploration, not aerodynamic training.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Google Earth’s web flight simulator on my phone?
No. Google documents the current browser simulator for computers and does not support it on mobile devices or in the Google Earth mobile app.
Why are the aircraft controls not responding?
Click inside the simulation first to activate its input mode and switch between mouse-guided and keyboard control. Then use Page Up/Page Down for thrust and the arrow keys for pitch and banking.
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How do I get satellite imagery instead of the plain map?
Change the basemap from Map to Satellite. Satellite imagery, terrain and 3D buildings may take time to stream, especially at high speed or on a low-bandwidth connection.
What happens after I crash?
A direct terrain collision pauses the browser simulator and displays “You crashed! Restart.” Select it to restore the aircraft at a safe, playable altitude and coordinates.
Do I need a joystick to fly in Google Earth?
No joystick is required for the web version. The browser uses the keyboard, mouse-guided mode and on-screen thrust indicator. Google lists optional joystick support for the installed desktop simulator.
Is Google Earth’s flight simulator realistic flight training?
No. Google describes it as casual exploration with simplified physics, not high-fidelity aerodynamic training.
How is the desktop simulator different?
The installed Mac, Windows and Linux version opens through Tools > Enter Flight Simulator, offers SR22 and F-16 aircraft, can start from the current view or a listed airport, supports optional joysticks, and documents desktop pause and exit controls.
The Bottom Line
For the current browser version, use a computer, open Explore Earth > Tools > Flight simulator, switch Map to Satellite if desired, and click inside the aircraft view. Use Page Up/Page Down for thrust, Up/Down for pitch, and Left/Right for banking. If terrain stops the flight, choose You crashed! Restart. The experience is experimental and designed for casual exploration, not pilot training.
Quick Recap
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