Microsoft Flight Simulator ATC not working? Fix missing voices, blank radio options, flight-plan clearance and controller replies on PC or console.
Microsoft Flight Simulator ATC usually fails because the radios are unpowered or mistuned, the route was not filed with the simulator, AI radio assistance has control, speech output is disabled, or an add-on has broken the session. Check each cause before reinstalling; most ATC faults are settings or session problems.
ATC fault diagnosis by symptom
The visible symptom usually separates radio setup, route filing, speech output and a stalled ATC session. MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 arrange their communications controls differently, but the underlying checks are the same.
| Symptom | Likely cause | First check |
|---|---|---|
| ATC panel is blank or options are greyed out | Unpowered avionics, no valid station or a panel conflict | Battery, generator, avionics master and active COM frequency |
| Only traffic or nearest-airport options appear | No IFR plan was filed, or the airport has no tower | Flight-plan filing and the airport's available services |
| ATC text appears but voices are silent | Speech, volume or communications-output problem | ATC voice settings and selected audio device |
| Responses disappear before you can select them | AI or copilot radio assistance is answering | Disable automatic radio communications |
| ATC stops after a frequency hand-off | New frequency remained on standby, the wrong COM radio is selected, or the session stalled | Active frequency and COM1/COM2 selection |
How do I fix ATC not responding?
Work from aircraft power and tuning outwards; reinstalling Microsoft Flight Simulator is the wrong first move.
- Separate silence from a complete ATC failure. Open the communications panel and look for controller text or selectable replies. If text continues, ATC is operating and the fault is in speech or audio output.
- Power the radios fully. Switch on the battery, alternator or generators, avionics master and the aircraft's audio panel where fitted. A lit radio display does not always mean the COM receiver is connected to the audio system.
- Check the active COM frequency. The assigned frequency must be on the active side rather than standby, and the audio panel must monitor the correct COM radio. NAV frequencies used for VOR or ILS reception do not contact ATC. Our guide to tuning stations and using the built-in ATC panel covers the normal clearance and hand-off sequence.
- Confirm that the station exists. An uncontrolled airfield will not offer Ground or Tower services. Tune a nearby controlled airport or centre frequency instead; limited choices at a small strip are normal rather than an ATC fault.
- File the route with simulator ATC. A route visible only inside an aircraft's FMS may not be known to the built-in controller. Create or file it through the simulator planner, using the separate ATC filing action where one is offered. See our instructions for building a route that the simulator's ATC can recognise.
- Turn off automatic radio assistance. Disable the AI or copilot option that handles radio communications if you want to answer manually. Setting names vary by simulator version, but they normally mention AI radio communications, ATC or copilot assistance.
- Test without third-party packages. On PC, start with an empty
Communityfolder or use Safe Mode when offered. If many packages are installed, isolating add-ons without deleting them is quicker than removing everything permanently. Console users should disable recently installed aircraft, avionics or toolbar packages through the simulator's content management controls.
Why can I see ATC text but hear no voices?
Visible ATC text proves that the exchange is running, so troubleshoot speech and audio rather than the radio frequency or flight plan.
- Make sure the ATC voice or communications volume is not at zero.
- Check whether communications are routed to a headset while the rest of the simulator uses speakers.
- Confirm that text-to-speech is enabled rather than set to Off.
- If cloud-generated speech is selected, try an offline or local speech option where the platform provides one. On PC, offline speech may also depend on an installed Windows speech voice.
- In aircraft with a modelled audio panel, select reception for the COM radio carrying the controller.
A cloud voice outage can remove speech while leaving ATC text and choices intact. Our silent ATC and communications-audio checks cover output devices, voice sliders and headset routing in more detail.
Does a flight plan in the FMS automatically reach ATC?
No: a route loaded into an aircraft's FMS is not always filed with Microsoft Flight Simulator's built-in ATC.
This is common with complex third-party aircraft and externally imported routes. The avionics may display every waypoint while ATC sees only a VFR flight or no plan at all. In MSFS 2024 workflows, sending a route to the avionics and filing it with ATC may also be separate actions.
The practical test is whether an IFR-clearance option appears at an appropriate airport. If it does not, file the plan through the simulator's planning interface or request IFR clearance in flight when that option is available. Changing the FMS route after clearance does not necessarily update the route ATC expects.
When should I restart or repair MSFS?
Restart the flight when ATC's conversation state is stuck; repair the installation only if clean test flights fail repeatedly.
First retune the last assigned frequency manually and close and reopen the communications panel. If that fails, return to the main menu and create a fresh flight with a default aircraft, a runway start and a controlled airport. This removes cold-and-dark setup errors and confirms whether the basic ATC system works.
Saved-flight restoration, teleporting or slewing, replacing a route in flight and a malfunctioning avionics add-on can leave ATC waiting for an event that never completes. Loading the same save may preserve the fault, so use a new flight for diagnosis.
If a default aircraft works with add-ons disabled, the simulator installation is sound. Restore the aircraft, route, speech mode and add-ons one at a time. Only use the platform's file verification or repair process after ATC fails across several clean flights, airports and default aircraft.