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To start the current Google Earth flight simulator, open Google Earth on a computer, click Explore Earth, then choose Tools → Flight simulator. Switch the basemap from Map to Satellite for imagery and terrain. Use Page Up and Page Down to control thrust, and the arrow keys to pitch and bank.
Updated August 18, 2026. Google’s current web simulator is labeled experimental and pre-GA, so its availability and interface may change.
What you need
- A computer with a desktop browser and access to Google Earth on the web.
- A keyboard and mouse. Google’s current web instructions center on these controls; they do not establish general joystick or HOTAS compatibility for the web simulator.
- An internet connection. Imagery and terrain load dynamically, so they may take time to appear.
Google describes the current feature as web only. Do not assume it is available in the standard Google Earth mobile apps. The steps below use Google’s current web interface, not the separate legacy simulator in the installed desktop application. Google’s flight simulator documentation
Start the current web simulator
- On a computer, open earth.google.com.
- Click Explore Earth on the home screen.
- Wait for the globe and top menu to load, then open Tools.
- Select Flight simulator.
If you land on the home screen, the simulator menu is not available until you click Explore Earth. If the menu still does not appear after Earth loads, refresh the page and try another current desktop browser. The feature is experimental, so availability can vary.
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Switch to satellite scenery
The simulator’s default Map basemap is an abstract view without terrain. Open the basemap control and change Map to Satellite to see available satellite imagery and 3D scenery. These assets stream as you fly; high speed or a slow connection can leave scenery temporarily incomplete. Slow down and give the area time to load.
Current web simulator controls
| Action | Control |
|---|---|
| Increase thrust | Page Up or the on-screen thrust control |
| Decrease thrust | Page Down or the on-screen thrust control |
| Pitch down or dive | Down Arrow |
| Pitch up or climb | Up Arrow |
| Bank left | Left Arrow |
| Bank right | Right Arrow |
| Toggle between mouse-guided and keyboard controls | Click inside the simulation |
| Recover after a crash | Click You crashed!, then Restart |
| Exit the simulator | Click the back arrow in the upper-left corner |
These are the documented controls for the current web version. Google says overlapping Google Earth map shortcuts are deactivated during flight to avoid conflicts with flight controls. Google’s flight simulator documentation
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Take off and steer
The following is practical beginner guidance, not a set of aircraft-performance instructions. Google characterizes the web simulator’s flight physics as simplified, and its documentation does not prescribe realistic takeoff speeds or aircraft-specific procedures.
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- Use Page Up or the on-screen thrust control to increase power gradually.
- Keep the aircraft pointed along its starting direction and make small pitch adjustments with the Up Arrow.
- Once airborne, release the key and use brief corrections rather than holding the Up Arrow. Level the aircraft instead of continuing to climb.
Make turns and regain control
Pitch changes the nose angle: up tends toward a climb, while down tends toward a descent. Banking tilts the aircraft left or right to change direction. Thrust controls engine power and forward speed. Make short arrow-key taps; long presses can produce abrupt changes. For a turn, bank gently, then ease back toward level before making another major correction.
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If the aircraft begins to spin or dive, reduce thrust with Page Down, check whether a click inside the simulation has switched you to mouse-guided controls, and avoid changing pitch and bank repeatedly at the same time. If the view is disorienting, use small corrections to settle the aircraft before turning again.
Recover from a crash or exit
A direct impact with terrain pauses the simulation. Click You crashed!, then choose Restart; the aircraft returns at a safe, playable altitude and location. To leave the web simulator without restarting, click the back arrow in the upper-left corner. Google’s flight simulator documentation
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Web simulator and legacy Google Earth Pro compared
Google’s newer Developers documentation describes the experimental web feature. A separate Google Earth Help page documents the older simulator in the installed desktop application. They are different interfaces, so use the instructions for the version you have open rather than mixing their shortcuts or controls.
| Current Google Earth web simulator | Legacy desktop simulator | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Google Earth on the web; Google documents it as web only | Installed Google Earth desktop application |
| Status in Google documentation | Experimental, pre-GA | Legacy desktop feature documented in Google Earth Help |
| How to launch | Explore Earth → Tools → Flight simulator | Tools → Enter Flight Simulator |
| Launch shortcut | No web shortcut is listed in Google’s current instructions | Ctrl + Alt + A on Windows/Linux; Command + Option + A on Mac |
| Controls | Arrow keys, Page Up/Page Down, and a mouse-control toggle | Keyboard, mouse, and joystick instructions are documented in the legacy help |
| Joystick support | Not established by the current web documentation | Supported in the legacy help instructions |
Sources: current web documentation and legacy Google Earth Help.
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Troubleshooting
The Flight simulator option is missing
- Confirm you opened Google Earth on a computer in a browser, rather than the mobile app.
- Click Explore Earth, then wait for the globe and top menu to finish loading before opening Tools.
- Refresh the page. If the option remains absent, try another current desktop browser. These are practical checks, not a guarantee that the experimental feature will be available in every situation.
- If you are using the installed desktop application, follow the separate legacy launch instructions in the comparison above.
The old keyboard shortcut does nothing
Ctrl + Alt + A on Windows/Linux and Command + Option + A on Mac belong to the legacy desktop instructions. Google’s current web instructions use Explore Earth → Tools → Flight simulator and do not document those shortcuts for the web version. Legacy Google Earth Help · Current web instructions
The scenery is flat, slow, or incomplete
Switch from Map to Satellite if you want imagery and terrain. Google says imagery and 3D buildings stream dynamically; high speed or low bandwidth can delay loading. Slow down and wait for the scene to fill in. Google also notes that terrain can occasionally flash or clip near ground level in areas below sea level, including Badwater Basin in California. Google’s flight simulator documentation
The controls feel wrong or unresponsive
Clicking inside the simulator toggles between mouse-guided and keyboard controls, so check which mode is active. If the aircraft is responding too sharply, use short key taps and lower thrust before making another correction. Google’s shortcut-conflict behavior also means some ordinary map shortcuts are unavailable while flying.
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Is Google Earth’s flight simulator for pilot training?
No. It is a lightweight way to explore real places using Google Earth imagery and terrain, not a high-fidelity aviation simulator. Google describes its physics as simplified and the feature as intended for casual exploration. It is useful for sightseeing over familiar cities, mountains, and coastlines; it should not be used to learn real-world aircraft handling, procedures, or navigation. A dedicated flight simulator is the better fit for realistic aircraft systems, instrument procedures, structured missions, or training.
Do you need a joystick?
No joystick is required for the documented web experience; keyboard and mouse controls are the straightforward starting point. A joystick may suit someone using the legacy desktop simulator, for which Google documents joystick instructions. Do not assume a particular joystick or HOTAS will work with the current experimental web version: Google’s current documentation does not establish that compatibility.
Quick Recap
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