Google has added a free-to-play flight simulator inside the web version of Google Earth, letting users fly directly in a browser with a mouse and keyboard. The browser rollout, first available as a hidden feature in 2007, is drawing attention online—along with
A new kind of “just for fun” is taking over browser tabs: Google’s flight simulator is now live inside Google Earth—and you don’t need to download anything to try it.
The company has added a free-to-play flight simulator to the web version of Google Earth. It’s playable directly in the browser, whether you’re using Google Chrome or Apple’s Safari, and you can fly it with a mouse and keyboard.
Google first offered a flight simulator as a hidden feature within Google Earth in 2007, but that earlier version required downloading the software. This time, Google says the experimental simulator is free to use, with controls built for quick play right in the browser.
Google announced the addition on June 12 in a post on the social media platform X, describing the simulator inclusion as “just for fun,” along with other features added to the web version of Google Earth from the professional desktop edition.
To get in the air, Google says to go to the Google Earth webpage and click Explore. From there, choose Tools and then select Flight Simulator.
Once the simulator loads, the flight controls rely on the keyboard: use the up, down, left and right arrow keys to maneuver. There’s also a vertical gauge you can click to speed up or slow down. If your keyboard has them, you can also use Page Up and Page Down keys.
After the browser version arrived, it spread quickly online. A video posted on Twitter drew 5.5 million views. Some commenters on X said they ran into trouble controlling the plane.
“This is great, but controlling is too hard for me,” one person wrote. Another added: “I’ve crashed so many planes, heeelpp.”
Not everyone struggled. A few users praised the freedom of browser play, including one who boasted: “Finally I can crash a jet into my own house in 4K resolution directly from a browser tab.”
The rollout also revived a familiar tension for anyone who has tried steering in a simplified flight environment: the joy of flying, paired with the frustration of keeping control. One reporter said they had issues losing the horizon line, too.
The end result is a browser game that stays true to its roots—an old Google Earth trick refreshed for modern, no-download access. For anyone who wants to test their reflexes, it’s there now: open Google Earth in a browser, click Explore, and select Flight Simulator.
Google Google Earth flight simulator browser game Chrome Safari X June 12 free to play
So it’s basically like Microsoft Flight Sim but in Google Earth? Cool I guess.
I tried it and it wouldn’t load for me?? also why does my trackpad not work but keyboard does. Google always making stuff “just for fun” like that means it’s easy.
I’m confused, I thought Google Earth already had planes or whatever, like the whole “flight simulator” thing?? But apparently this is only inside Chrome/Safari?? either way I’m blaming it on my WiFi lol.
The controls are way too sensitive, I lost the horizon in like 10 seconds. My kid got it working though and now I’m annoyed because he’s “crashing jets into our house” like it’s a real thing. It says no download but it still feels sketchy like it’s loading something in the background. Also 2007 hidden feature… so they’re just catching up to something we already had? idk.