Find the FSX manual and SDK documentation, with edition-specific advice, install-order caveats and fixes for blank help files.
FSX’s main user manual is the built-in Learning Center, available from the opening screen or the Help menu. For development work, install the SDK matching your FSX edition and open its local help files; our downloadable FSX SDK SP2 package provides the official SP2 documentation, templates and development tools.
Where is the FSX user manual?
The Learning Center is the most complete user manual supplied with Microsoft Flight Simulator X and FSX: Steam Edition. Open it from the simulator’s main screen or through the Help menu; if the menu bar is hidden during a flight, press Alt to reveal it.
Its searchable topics cover aircraft operation, flight planning, navigation, ATC, weather, multiplayer features and simulator settings. The printed material supplied with some boxed editions is only a starting guide, so do not assume a missing booklet means the full manual is unavailable.
For a separate reference that is easier to print or keep open on another screen, use our printable FSX keyboard and controls reference. Remember that add-ons and custom controller profiles can replace the default assignments shown there.
Which FSX SDK documentation should I use?
Use SDK documentation matching the simulator code level and features for which you are developing.
| FSX installation | SDK source | Main caveat |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Deluxe | Base SDK from the Deluxe installation media, followed by the applicable SDK updates | An SDK service pack may expect the base SDK and earlier update to be installed first. |
| Gold or Acceleration | Base Deluxe SDK followed by the matching Acceleration SDK update from the retail media | Acceleration added features and APIs, so its matching documentation is preferable for those features. |
| FSX with Service Pack 2 | FSX SDK SP2 documentation and tools | Treat the SP2 installer as an SDK update unless its package instructions explicitly say otherwise. |
| FSX: Steam Edition | SP2 and Acceleration-era SDK documentation remains the main technical reference | Steam Edition uses a different installation location and build, so some legacy tools may look for boxed-edition folders or registry entries. |
| Retail Standard | No original developer SDK was included with Standard | An SDK update may refuse to install when the required Deluxe base SDK is absent. |
If you are unsure which feature set your simulator has, our explanation of FSX Acceleration and its differences clarifies how it relates to Deluxe, Gold and SP2.
How do I open the installed SDK help files?
The SDK installer normally adds local documentation alongside its development kits and may also create a Windows shortcut for the SDK help.
- Find the SDK directory. Look under the Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK installation folder, which may be inside
Program Files (x86)on 64-bit Windows. - Open the documentation shortcut or help file. If no shortcut exists, search within the SDK folder for compiled HTML Help files with the
.chmextension. - Keep the documentation structure intact. SDK links often depend on neighbouring files, so moving one help file away from the rest can break images and cross-references.
- Check the installed SDK version. If documented commands or tools are missing, confirm that the base SDK and its updates were installed in the correct order.
The documentation is organised around areas such as the Environment Kit, SimObject Creation Kit, Mission Creation Kit and Core Utilities Kit. For one practical extract, our FSX SDK camera-position reference PDF covers the camera definitions without requiring the complete help system.
Why does the FSX SDK help open as a blank page?
Blank SDK help pages are usually caused by Windows blocking an old .chm file rather than by missing documentation.
- Copy or extract the documentation to a local drive before opening it; Windows may block active help content opened from an archive, network share or remote location.
- Right-click the
.chmfile, select Properties, and use Unblock if that option appears. - Extract the entire package instead of opening the help file directly from a compressed folder.
- If the installer reports a prerequisite error, check the SDK installation order. Repeatedly reinstalling only the latest service-pack update will not supply a missing base SDK.
Do I need the SDK just to use FSX?
No. The SDK is for creating or converting aircraft, scenery, missions, gauges and other simulator content; it is not required for ordinary flying or for installing most finished add-ons. The Learning Center and controls reference are sufficient when you only need operating instructions.