Since I’ve seen that other people are just as annoyed as me of the “Press Any Key” screen, I thought I’d share my workaround for it. I’m using a freeware program called AutoHotkey to simulate pressing the space key after the program starts. I’m also using the -FastLaunch command line parameter to get rid of the intro videos.
Here’s a step by step:
Download & install AutoHotkey
Create a file called MSFS.ahk on your desktop.
Paste the following commands into the file (note that the application path on the “Run” line is for a Windows Store install. If you bought the game from Steam, that path will be different. See the end of this post for details). Also note that the line starting with “shell:” is part of the previous line, not a new line. The forum breaks it into two lines.
#NoEnv ; Recommended for performance and compatibility with future AutoHotkey releases.
; #Warn ; Enable warnings to assist with detecting common errors.
SendMode Input ; Recommended for new scripts due to its superior speed and reliability.
SetWorkingDir %A_ScriptDir% ; Ensures a consistent starting directory.
Run C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C start shell:AppsFolder\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App -FastLaunch
SetTitleMatchMode, 1
WinWait, Microsoft Flight Simulator
Sleep, 17000
WinActivate, Microsoft Flight Simulator
SendInput {Space down}
Sleep, 500
SendInput {Space up}
Save and close the file.
Double-click the file to launch MSFS from now on.
You can also add other Run commands into the script if you need to start any other utilities at the same time as MSFS. For example, I’m also starting LittleNavMap, FSUIPC7 and Fspanelserver with this script. This way I get into the game and all the tools I need with just one double-click.
If the keypress doesn’t happen, increase the value on the Sleep 17000 line. I set mine to 17 seconds because that’s how long it takes MSFS to get to the “Press Any Key” screen on my computer. Your case might be different. The second Sleep command simulates how long the Space key is held down (500 milliseconds).
Edit: For anyone using Steam, replace the 5th line of the script with the following:
Run C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C start “C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steam.exe” steam://rungameid/1250410
(This will work, no matter where the game is installed!) You’ll also want to set “-FastLaunch” (without the speech marks) as the launch options in Steam. Thanks to @GreatCabbage2 for this info!
Haha. I did that too for a while, but it became annoying. Now I just 2click the script and go get a glass of water while the program starts up and I come back to the actual menu.
At OP: ok sometimes I wish that screen to be entirely skippable (with an option in game settings) but I’m not installing a program to press a key for me…
Yeah, a proper option in Settings would be the right approach (or just removing that prompt entirely, since it doesn’t seem to serve any real purpose). But, until then, I’m using this workaround.
I know, it’s an extra program, but in my case, I’m also using it to start LittleNavMap at the same time as MSFS, and potentially for other automation in the future, so it’s worth the 2 min install.
At least on my machine, it depends on whether the app actually has “focus” - which you really can’t tell. When I launch the app, I wait the few seconds it takes to get the initial black screen, then click that with my mouse. Then I go grab a Dew while the production credits roll. When I come back, the opening mp4 is rolling and I just reach down and tap the space bar.
You don’t need to worry about that. AHK will indentify the window title, and make it the focus, so that mouse/keyboard inputs are applied to the correct window.
As @hobanagerik also mentioned, the script I wrote detects the MSFS window (the ‘WinWait’ line) and then brings it into focus (the ‘WinActivate’ line) to ensure that the Space key is sent to the correct window.
Asobo has so much problems with Focus lost, not only here probably but also elswhere, this starting me think that this will go to neverending story, same as I said after some days of release and see how many people have so different bugs!!!
Totally! But I’m a sucker for automation. My actual AHK script is longer than what I posted here. I’m also using it to automatically start LittleNavMap at the same time as MSFS, since I always use that to track my flights.
But I’m a sucker for automation. My actual AHK script is longer than what I posted here. I’m also using it to automatically start LittleNavMap at the same time as MSFS, since I always use that to track my flights.
