FS2004: F2/F3 throttle and F7 flaps keys not working (keyboard only)

F2/F3 and F7 not responding (FS2004 keyboard control)

A couple of things to check first, because FS2004 will usually respond to those keys unless something is intercepting them or the assignments have been changed.

1) Make sure FS is actually “seeing” the keypresses
The most common culprit is another program grabbing the function keys before FS ever gets them.

• If you have any Logitech/keyboard “hotkey” software running, try exiting it (or temporarily disabling any function-key shortcuts).
• Same goes for screen capture tools, video card utilities, messenger overlays, etc. A lot of them love the F-keys.
• Also check if your keyboard has an “F-Lock” key (some do). If F-Lock is off, the top row may not send plain F2/F3/F7 at all.

2) Verify the key assignments inside FS2004
It’s possible the defaults got altered (or another device profile has overwritten them).

1. In FS2004 go into the Controls/Assignments area.
2. Look up the commands for Throttle (decrease), Throttle (increase), and Flaps (decrement).
3. Confirm they’re actually assigned to F2, F3, and F7 respectively.
4. If they’re missing or duplicated, reassign them and click OK/Apply.

3) Check for conflicts from another connected device
Even if you’re “keyboard only,” Windows may still have a game controller listed (or a driver installed) that’s fighting you.

• If you have any joystick/gamepad/throttle hardware plugged in at all, unplug it and test again.
• If you don’t have anything plugged in, still have a quick look in the FS controls section to see if there’s a controller listed/enabled that you weren’t expecting.

4) Quick in-sim test
Try these with the default Cessna at a runway (engines running):

• Press F4 (full throttle). Does that work?
• Press F1 (idle). Does that work?
• Press F6 / F7 (flaps increment/decrement). Does either one work?

If F1/F4 work but F2/F3 do not, that usually points to either a key assignment issue or something external intercepting only certain F-keys.

A couple of questions so I don’t send you in circles:

• Do any other function keys work in FS (like F1/F4, F5/F8, etc.)?
• Are you using a “multimedia” keyboard with an F-Lock or special function mode?
• Have you installed any joystick/keyboard utilities recently (Logitech, etc.) even if no joystick is currently connected?
• When you check in FS2004 assignments, are F2/F3/F7 still mapped to those commands?

Answer those and we can narrow it down pretty quickly.