Google announced on Friday, June 15, 2026, that its long-hidden flight simulator feature in Google Earth is now accessible directly through a web browser, requiring no app download or installation.
The flight simulator has existed as a hidden mode in the desktop version of Google Earth since 2007, but has remained largely unknown to most users. By moving it to the browser, Google is making the feature available to a significantly wider audience.
To access the simulator, users need to visit the Google Earth website and click the “Explore Earth” button near the top right of the page. From there, the Flight Simulator option appears as the last item in the Tools section of the top menu bar. Google recommends navigating to a specific location before launching the simulator, as the default starting point may load over open ocean. Switching the basemap type from Map to Satellite is also recommended for a more photorealistic view.
Google has published a help page explaining how to control the aircraft using a keyboard or mouse. The controls are described as straightforward to learn but may take practice to use effectively. Unlike dedicated flight simulation software such as Microsoft Flight Simulator, the Google Earth experience is less complex and realistic. If the aircraft crashes into terrain, the simulator pauses and offers the option to reset to a safe altitude.
The move could expand the reach of a feature that has gone largely unnoticed for nearly two decades, giving casual users a low-barrier way to explore the globe from a pilot’s perspective without any additional software.
Source: The Verge