Learn how to enable Developer Mode in MSFS 2020, use its toolbar and SDK tools, and fix missing menus, editor issues and unrecorded flights.
On the Windows PC version of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, open Options > General Options > Developers, set Developer Mode to On, then select Apply & Save. A Developer Mode menu bar appears at the top, providing the console, FPS display, Project Editor, Scenery Editor, aircraft tools and SDK links.
How to turn on Developer Mode in MSFS 2020
- Open General Options: From the main menu select Options, then General Options. You can also reach the settings after pausing a flight.
- Select Developers: Choose the Developers category in the left-hand list. If it is difficult to find, use the options search field and search for
Developer Mode. - Enable the setting: Change Developer Mode from Off to On.
- Apply the change: Select Apply & Save. Return to the simulator and confirm that the slim Developer Mode toolbar is visible along the top edge.
The change does not require a new flight. To disable it later, return to the same setting and switch Developer Mode to Off.
What can you do with the Developer Mode toolbar?
The toolbar exposes MSFS 2020's diagnostic and add-on creation tools; it is not a separate flying mode. The exact arrangement of menus can change with simulator and SDK updates, but the principal tools retain recognisable names.
| Task | Tool | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Investigate frame-rate limits | Options > Display FPS | Shows frame rate, frame time and whether the main thread or GPU is the principal limitation. Our guide to reading the built-in FPS overlay explains the display. |
| Create or load an add-on project | Project Editor | Manages project definitions, package assets and package builds. |
| Place scenery objects | Scenery Editor | Edits airports, polygons and scenery objects within an open project. Follow our practical Scenery Editor workflow before starting a package. |
| Diagnose an add-on | Console and debugging windows | Displays errors and warnings generated while loading or using packages. |
| Record a test sequence | Replay tool | Replays aircraft movement so a camera shot or visual change can be checked repeatedly. |
A sensible development routine is to open or create the project first, load its package, open only the editor needed for the job, and watch the console while making changes. Save the source project regularly; loading a package into the simulator is not a substitute for saving its source files.
Do you need to install the MSFS 2020 SDK?
You do not need the separate SDK installation merely to display FPS, inspect the console or use other built-in diagnostics. Developer Mode supplies the in-simulator toolbar and editors.
Install the SDK when you need its local documentation, samples, schemas or supporting development components. The toolbar's Help menu provides the SDK installer link; our MSFS SDK installation and first-project instructions cover the complete setup. Do not edit files inside the simulator's Official package folders: create a separate project and build a package from that source.
Why is Developer Mode or one of its tools missing?
A missing toolbar usually means the setting was not applied, the simulator needs restarting, or the user is looking for the PC development workflow on an unsupported platform.
- No Developers category: Confirm that this is the Windows PC edition of MSFS 2020. The consumer Xbox edition does not provide the equivalent SDK development workflow.
- The option is On but no toolbar appears: Select Apply & Save, return to the main screen, and restart the simulator if necessary. Outdated interface modifications can also interfere with menus, so test without UI-related packages from the
Communityfolder. - An editor opens but contains nothing: Create or open a project and select the appropriate asset group first. An empty Scenery Editor normally indicates that no scenery project is loaded.
- The console immediately fills with warnings: Not every warning belongs to your project. Clear the console, reproduce the problem, and concentrate on new messages generated as your package loads. If necessary, repeat the test without unrelated Community add-ons.
- Replay is absent: Its visibility can depend on the simulator configuration and available developer options. Use our checks for a missing Replay menu rather than reinstalling the entire simulator.
Does Developer Mode affect normal flights?
Developer Mode is best disabled before ordinary flying. MSFS 2020 does not award achievements normally while it is active, and logbook or activity progress may not be credited as a standard flight. Open diagnostic windows and profilers can also affect the performance result being measured.
Finish the development task, close any editor windows, switch Developer Mode to Off under General Options > Developers, and apply the change before beginning a flight whose achievements or progress you want recorded.