SimConnect not connecting to MSFS? Diagnose flight state, version, permissions, configuration, firewall and runtime faults in the right fix order.
SimConnect problems usually come from the client, not a missing MSFS component: the simulator is not fully loaded, the app targets the wrong version, permissions differ, or custom network settings are wrong. Load a flight, update the add-on, match permissions, reset custom configuration, and test locally before changing firewall rules.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024 include SimConnect on Windows. It is not a separate service that must be switched on, and Developer Mode is not required. SimConnect provides the interface through which external tools read simulator data and send supported commands.
What does the SimConnect error tell you?
The exact symptom usually identifies whether MSFS, the client application or the network configuration is at fault.
| Symptom | Likely cause | First action |
|---|---|---|
| Waiting for simulator | MSFS is still loading, the wrong simulator is selected, or the client is outdated | Load a flight and confirm that the app supports your MSFS version |
| Connected, but data is frozen or missing | The aircraft is not fully initialised, or the tool needs aircraft-specific data | Test with a default aircraft |
| Connection refused or timed out | Incorrect address, port, protocol or firewall rule | Reset local settings or verify both ends of a remote connection |
| It works only when run as administrator | The simulator and client use different privilege levels | Run both normally, or temporarily match their privilege levels for diagnosis |
| The tool never opens automatically | A launcher or exe.xml entry has failed | Start the tool manually before diagnosing SimConnect itself |
How do you fix SimConnect not connecting?
The safest approach is to establish a simple local connection before reinstalling components or opening network ports.
- Load a complete flight. Start Microsoft Flight Simulator, select a default aircraft and airport, and wait until the cockpit is usable. Some clients can connect from the main menu, but many do not initialise or show useful data until a flight is loaded.
- Select the correct simulator. If the client offers separate profiles for MSFS 2020, MSFS 2024, FSX or Prepar3D, choose the exact simulator in use. An MSFS 2020 utility is not automatically compatible with MSFS 2024 merely because both support SimConnect.
- Update the client and its connector. Install the application's supported build and repair any companion bridge supplied with it. SimConnect may be working while an outdated connector, WASM module or aircraft integration prevents the tool from receiving the data it expects.
- Test a default aircraft. A third-party aircraft may keep systems in custom variables rather than standard SimConnect variables. If the application works with a default aircraft, the fault is aircraft compatibility or a required aircraft-specific module, not the base SimConnect connection.
- Match permission levels. Close both programs, then run MSFS and the client as standard Windows applications. If one has been forced to run as administrator, remove that setting or test both at the same level. Permanent administrator access should not be the normal fix.
- Remove unnecessary custom settings. Local clients normally do not require hand-written network configuration. Back up any custom
SimConnect.cfgorSimConnect.xmlchanges, then restore the application's default setup. File locations vary between MSFS versions and installation types, so do not copy a path or configuration from an unrelated guide. - Close duplicate clients. Exit old versions of the utility, monitoring tools and unwanted auto-started add-ons, then restart MSFS. A stale background process can make it appear that the newly opened copy is failing.
- Check automatic startup separately. If the application connects when opened manually but fails to start with MSFS, SimConnect is functioning. Inspect the startup command instead; our guide to checking and repairing MSFS exe.xml entries safely explains how to handle this without damaging other add-ons.
- Repair before reinstalling the simulator. Repair or reinstall the affected client first, then verify the MSFS installation if every known-compatible client fails. Follow our structured SimConnect repair sequence for MSFS 2020 and 2024 before attempting a full simulator reinstall.
How do you fix a remote SimConnect connection?
A remote connection requires matching server and client settings; local fixes alone will not correct a wrong address or port.
- Confirm that both computers are on the same trusted private network and can communicate with each other.
- Use the MSFS computer's local network address, not its public internet address or an obsolete address assigned by the router.
- Make sure the protocol and port in the client configuration match the connection defined on the MSFS computer.
- Allow MSFS and the client or supplied bridge through the firewall on private networks. Do not disable the entire firewall.
- If the add-on supplies its own connector, use that method instead of forcing a generic
SimConnect.cfgsetup.
Firewall changes rarely fix a normal client running on the same PC unless that client deliberately uses a local TCP connection. For the configuration model and the difference between local and remote clients, see our practical explanation of how SimConnect works in MSFS.
Do you need to install SimConnect separately?
You normally do not install SimConnect separately for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 or 2024 because the required MSFS component is included with the simulator.
An older utility originally written for FSX or Prepar3D may depend on a legacy SimConnect runtime, but that is an application compatibility requirement rather than the standard fix for MSFS. Our guide to legacy SimConnect runtime installation explains when those packages are appropriate.
Do not download an unidentified SimConnect.dll and place it in the MSFS folder, the client folder or a Windows system directory. Random DLL replacement can introduce the wrong architecture or runtime and make diagnosis harder.
What if the app connects but still does not work?
A successful connection with missing functions usually points to the add-on or aircraft integration rather than SimConnect itself.
Check the client's log for messages about unsupported aircraft, missing variables, a disabled WASM module or unavailable flight data. Testing with a default aircraft is the quickest divider: if standard altitude, position and engine values appear there, the underlying SimConnect link is healthy.
Can SimConnect utilities connect to console versions of MSFS?
Conventional SimConnect utilities are Windows programs and cannot be installed directly on Xbox or PlayStation consoles.
A companion application may support a console through its own network service, but only when that support is explicitly provided by the application. Do not assume that a PC SimConnect client can reach an Xbox or the MSFS 2024 PlayStation version simply because both devices use the same network.