It is truly important to address and fix a “forgotten” feature for the Xbox version: the saving and restoring of peripheral profiles!
It happens quite often on Xbox that all custom profiles saved for various peripherals mysteriously vanish simply by changing aircraft!
If the profile export/import function (using backup files) available in the PC version were also available here, this “profile loss” issue would be far less painful for the user; as it stands, without these import/export functions, every time this happens, one has to start all over again and reprogram every single control!
Why not save profile files to the personal area, just as is done for Flight Planner flight plans?
Asobo, thank you for your attention!
Moved to Official Microsoft Flight Simulator > Wishlist since more likely an enhancement request.
Proposal: Cloud‑Based Import/Export of Control Profiles for Xbox Users
Title:
Enable Cloud Import/Export and External Editing of Control Profiles for Xbox Users
Summary
Xbox users currently have no way to export, import, back up, or externally edit their control profiles in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. This limitation affects keyboard users, HOTAS/joystick users, and anyone who wants to maintain multiple profiles or restore their setup after reinstalling the simulator or switching consoles.
Since Xbox already synchronizes controller profiles through its cloud save system, I would like to propose a new feature:
a cloud‑based import/export mechanism for control profiles, accessible through an official API or companion interface.
This would allow external tools (web apps or companion apps) to generate, store, and restore control profiles without requiring access to the Xbox local file system.
Why this matters
- Xbox users cannot back up their control profiles.
- Profiles cannot be transferred between consoles.
- Complex setups (HOTAS, yokes, pedals) require significant manual configuration.
- There is no way to share profiles within the community.
- PC users already have XML import/export, but Xbox users do not.
This creates a major usability gap between PC and Xbox, especially for users with advanced hardware.
Key idea
Microsoft Flight Simulator on Xbox already stores control profiles in the Xbox cloud (Connected Storage).
If the simulator could expose a controlled, secure import/export interface, similar to how flight plans can be exchanged through web services and EFB integrations, the community could finally build tools to help Xbox users manage their profiles.
This proposal does not require exposing the Xbox file system.
It only requires:
1. A cloud endpoint for profile upload/download
Accessible through the user’s Microsoft account authentication.
2. A documented profile format
Even a simplified or restricted version would be enough.
3. A small in‑sim menu option
- “Import profile from cloud”
- “Export profile to cloud”
This mirrors what already exists for flight plans, liveries, and other external assets on PC.
Benefits
- Full backup and restore of control profiles on Xbox
- Ability to share profiles with other users
- Web‑based editors for control bindings
- Cross‑platform consistency between PC and Xbox
- Reduced support load for users who lose their profiles
- Opens the door to community innovation (tools, visualizers, planners)
Why this is feasible
- Xbox cloud saves already store the profiles.
- MSFS already integrates with external web services (SimBrief, Navigraph, flight planners).
- PC already supports import/export of control profiles.
- No security or sandbox violation is required: only the simulator needs to expose a controlled API endpoint.
This proposal simply asks for an official, supported way to interact with the cloud‑stored profiles, just like PC users can interact with XML files.
Conclusion
This feature would dramatically improve the experience for Xbox users and bring parity with PC functionality.
It would also unlock an entire ecosystem of community tools for managing control bindings — something many users have been requesting for years.
I hope the team will consider this enhancement for future updates of Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Thank you for your attention and for continuing to improve the simulator for all platforms.