Compare Microsoft Flight Simulator checklist tools: the built-in panel, aircraft EFBs, PDFs and printed cards, plus fixes for incomplete lists.
The best checklist tool in Microsoft Flight Simulator is the aircraft’s own integrated checklist or EFB, because it matches that model’s systems. For default aircraft, use the simulator’s Checklist panel. Keep an aircraft-specific PDF or printed checklist alongside it for reliable flows, especially when the built-in list is incomplete.
Which MSFS checklist option is best?
Choose the checklist supplied by the aircraft developer when one exists; otherwise, the built-in MSFS panel is the strongest starting point.
| Checklist tool | Best for | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Aircraft EFB or cockpit checklist | Detailed airliners and add-on aircraft | Not every aircraft includes one, and some are read-only |
| MSFS Checklist panel | Default aircraft, guided starts and casual flying | Coverage and system detection vary by aircraft |
| Aircraft-specific PDF | Learning complete flows and using a second screen | It must match the exact aircraft, avionics and add-on |
| Printed or custom checklist | Home cockpits and memorised flows | No automatic state detection |
| State-aware companion utility | Voice prompts, custom lists or hardware integration | Often aircraft-specific and usually limited to PC |
A checklist is not necessarily better because it ticks items automatically. Accuracy, variant matching and sensible phase organisation matter more than automation.
How do I use the built-in MSFS Checklist panel?
Open the in-flight toolbar, select the Checklist panel and work through the available flight phase without automatically completing the entire page.
- Open the panel: display the in-flight toolbar and select Checklist. Toolbar placement and controller prompts can differ between Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024.
- Select the correct phase: start with the first available section, such as pre-flight, engine start or before take-off.
- Perform each action: operate the control in the cockpit, then confirm that the line is recognised. Some aircraft provide a camera-focus control to show the relevant switch.
- Mark unsupported items manually: custom-coded switches are not always visible to the simulator’s checklist logic.
- Advance only after checking the configuration: automatic completion can operate supported controls for you, which is useful for recovery but poor practice when learning a flow.
Our walkthrough of the in-flight toolbar and Checklist panel explains how to find and manage the panel.
When is an aircraft EFB checklist better?
An aircraft’s electronic flight bag is usually the better choice when the add-on uses custom systems that the generic MSFS checklist cannot monitor.
This is particularly relevant to detailed airliners. Their EFB checklist may reflect the model’s electrical logic, engine-start sequence, performance setup and developer-specific options. It may also distinguish between a completed cockpit flow and the short checklist used to verify that flow.
Use the flow first, then the checklist as a cross-check. Airbus pilots can follow our A320 sequence from cockpit preparation through shutdown, but should still follow any differing instructions supplied with their particular aircraft package.
Are PDF and printed checklists still useful?
Aircraft-specific PDFs remain the most dependable backup because they do not rely on cockpit state detection or an aircraft developer implementing the MSFS checklist system.
They work especially well on a tablet or second monitor. A printed card is often faster in a home cockpit, while an in-sim EFB or toolbar panel is usually easier in VR.
Before using any downloaded checklist, confirm that it matches:
- The exact aircraft variant and engine type.
- The installed avionics, such as analogue instruments versus a glass cockpit.
- The specific add-on when its procedures differ from the default aircraft.
- The intended use: normal procedures, abbreviated flows or emergency reference.
- The flight phases you need, including securing and shutdown rather than stopping at landing.
For general aviation, our practical Cessna 172 checklist with simulator-specific guidance shows how a complete list should be organised. You can also browse downloadable aircraft checklist files in our library.
A real-aircraft checklist is not automatically the right choice. Airline documents may assume two pilots, company procedures or equipment that the simulated model does not include. Simulator checklists must never be treated as approved material for real flight.
Why is the MSFS checklist missing or not working?
A missing, incomplete or stuck checklist usually means the aircraft has limited checklist integration rather than a fault with the simulator installation.
| Problem | Likely cause and fix |
|---|---|
| Checklist panel is not visible | Reopen or customise the in-flight toolbar and check that the panel has not been hidden. |
| Only a few flight phases appear | The aircraft package probably supplies a partial checklist. Use its EFB or an exact PDF instead. |
| An item stays incomplete | Check the required switch position, then mark it manually if a custom system is not recognised. |
| Automatic completion changes controls unexpectedly | Avoid automatic completion while learning and verify the aircraft configuration before continuing. |
| The instructions do not match the cockpit | Confirm that the checklist belongs to the loaded variant, avionics fit and add-on rather than a similarly named aircraft. |
A mistake we see often is trying random switches until a line turns green. That can leave fuel pumps, lights or electrical sources in the wrong configuration. If the displayed condition is correct but the item is not detected, mark it manually and continue.
Do I need a paid checklist add-on?
No; the built-in panel plus an accurate aircraft-specific document is enough for most Microsoft Flight Simulator pilots.
A paid or specialised utility only makes sense when it supports the exact aircraft and adds something you will use, such as voice call-outs, custom checklist editing, hardware controls or reliable state sensing. Check that it can read the add-on’s custom systems and is maintained when the aircraft changes.
Console pilots, including Xbox users and PlayStation users of MSFS 2024, should favour tools contained within the simulator or aircraft. PC companion applications and Community-folder packages cannot be assumed to work on consoles, although a PDF on a separate phone or tablet remains a practical option.
What checklist setup should I choose?
For most simmers, the right setup is one integrated checklist backed by one exact reference document.
- Default general aviation aircraft: use the MSFS Checklist panel with a matching PDF for the full procedure.
- Detailed airliners: prioritise the aircraft’s EFB checklist and developer-specific flow.
- VR or console flying: use an in-cockpit EFB or toolbar checklist to avoid leaving the simulator view.
- Home cockpits: use a concise printed or tablet checklist arranged by flight phase.