Learn how to enable navigation markers in MSFS 2024, follow route waypoints, and fix missing markers, taxi ribbons and landing guidance.
To enable navigation markers in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, open Settings, select Assists, expand Navigation Aids and turn on Route & Waypoints. Create or load a flight plan the simulator recognises before departure. Route markers then show visual guidance; taxi ribbons and landing-path markers use separate switches.
How to turn on route and waypoint markers
The route overlay is controlled from the Navigation Aids assistance panel, not from Controls or the aircraft’s GPS.
- Open Settings. Do this from the main screen or pause the flight and open the settings menu.
- Find Navigation Aids. Follow
Settings > Assists > Navigation Aids. Some interface layouts label the main category Assistance rather than Assists. - Enable the route overlay. Set Route & Waypoints, sometimes written as Route and Waypoints, to On.
- Create a usable flight plan. Select a departure, destination and any intermediate waypoints in the pre-flight planner. A route programmed only inside a complex or add-on aircraft’s FMS may not feed the simulator’s visual overlay.
- Start or resume the flight. Use the displayed waypoint markers as visual references for the planned route.
Changing an individual aid may switch the overall assistance preset to Custom; that is normal. Our full explanation of the MSFS navigation-assistance switches covers the other options in the same panel.
Markers are guidance, not compulsory hoops. They do not provide guaranteed terrain clearance, a safe altitude or ATC clearance. When flying IFR, follow the active flight-plan leg, instruments and published procedure rather than waiting until the aircraft reaches a floating marker before turning.
Which navigation aid should I enable?
Enable only the overlay needed for the relevant phase of flight.
| Aid | What it displays | Main requirement or limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Route & Waypoints | Visual guidance along the planned route and towards its waypoints | The simulator must have a usable flight plan |
| Taxi Ribbon | A ground route along taxiways | Normally depends on receiving taxi instructions from ATC |
| Landing Path | Visual approach guidance towards the runway | It is an assistance overlay, not an autoland system |
| Airport and aircraft labels | Names or identifiers attached to locations and traffic | These are separate visual labels; you can change airport, aircraft and place labels independently |
Why are navigation markers not showing in MSFS 2024?
Missing navigation markers are usually caused by an absent sim-level flight plan or the wrong assistance switch.
- No recognised flight plan: Confirm that the route exists in the MSFS flight planner, not solely inside the aircraft’s FMS. If necessary, rebuild the route before loading the flight.
- Assistance preset overwritten: Selecting another global assistance preset can replace individual choices. Return to Navigation Aids and check Route & Waypoints again.
- Wrong type of marker: Route markers, airport labels, taxi ribbons and landing guidance are separate options. Enabling one does not enable the others.
- No taxi clearance: After landing, request and acknowledge taxi instructions. Our guide explains why a post-landing taxi ribbon may not appear.
- Route added after spawning: If the overlay does not refresh after an in-flight route change, reload the plan or restart from the pre-flight planner.
- Activity-specific guidance: Some missions provide objective markers instead of the normal route overlay. Test the same route in Free Flight to separate an activity restriction from a settings problem.
Do navigation markers control the autopilot?
No. Navigation markers are visual cues only; the autopilot does not steer towards the floating overlay.
For GPS or FMS navigation, the route must also be loaded and activated in the aircraft’s avionics, the correct navigation source must be selected, and the appropriate autopilot navigation mode must be engaged. An ILS approach has its own frequency, course and approach-mode requirements.
If the cockpit route and visual markers disagree, the simulator’s planner and the aircraft’s FMS probably contain different plans. Correct that mismatch rather than chasing the overlay.
Can I hide the markers without deleting my flight plan?
Yes. Turn off Route & Waypoints under Navigation Aids; the underlying flight plan remains available to compatible cockpit avionics.
Taxi Ribbon and Landing Path can also be disabled independently. This lets you retain instrument navigation while removing visual assistance from the outside view and windscreen.