Does MSFS 2024 have replay mode, and how do I use it?

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 has a built-in replay tool on PC, but it sits in Developer Mode rather than the normal flight menus. Enable Developer Mode, open Tools > Replay, start recording before the manoeuvre, stop the recording, then play or scrub the captured timeline. Xbox and PlayStation do not offer this PC workflow.

How do you use replay mode in MSFS 2024?

You must begin recording before the part of the flight you want to review; replay mode cannot recover a landing or incident that was never recorded.

1. Enable Developer Mode. Turn it on through the simulator settings so that the developer toolbar appears across the top of the screen. Our Developer Mode setup instructions cover the setting and toolbar in detail.
2. Load the flight. Select the aircraft, airport, weather and time, then enter the cockpit. Start from a stable aircraft state rather than changing aircraft after recording has begun.
3. Open the Replay tool. From the developer toolbar, choose Tools > Replay. The precise panel layout can change between simulator updates, but the essential record, stop, play and timeline controls remain recognisable.
4. Start recording. Allow several seconds of lead-in before the take-off, approach or manoeuvre. This gives you room to position the camera when playing it back.
5. Stop after the event. End the recording only after the useful portion is complete. Stopping the flight, returning to a menu or resetting the aircraft may discard an unsaved recording.
6. Play or scrub the timeline. Move to the desired point, select play and adjust playback controls where available. Keep flight-control inputs centred so they do not interfere with the replay.
7. Save before leaving. If you want to retain the replay, use the save control in the Replay panel before closing the flight. A saved replay is simulator data, not a standard video file.

The mistake we see most often is opening Replay after touchdown and expecting an instant replay of the preceding approach. MSFS 2024 does not maintain a rolling replay buffer, so recording must already be running.

Can you change the camera during an MSFS 2024 replay?

Yes, the camera can be moved independently while the recorded aircraft follows its captured path.

You can use cockpit, external, chase or Showcase camera views, depending on the aircraft and active camera settings. For a landing review, position the camera before starting playback and leave enough recorded lead-in to frame the aircraft; our guide to replaying a landing from external camera views explains the practical camera choices.

Camera movement is not the same as changing the recorded flight. Avoid manipulating throttles, flight controls, simulation rate or aircraft systems unless you know the selected replay method isolates them.

What does replay mode actually record?

Replay mode primarily reproduces the aircraft's recorded movement and associated animation rather than creating a complete, deterministic copy of the whole simulation.

• Live traffic, multiplayer aircraft and online services may not return to identical positions.
• Weather, add-on systems and complex aircraft logic can behave differently during playback.
• Long recordings are more likely to expose timing errors or system-state mismatches than short approach or take-off clips.
• The replay timeline is not an MP4 or other shareable video. Run the replay while using a screen-capture function if you need a video file.

Use the built-in tool for quick flight-path review and camera footage. If you need a replay library, more polished playback controls or an alternative workflow, compare the available MSFS replay tool options; third-party utilities remain PC-only.

Why is the Replay option missing?

The Replay entry is usually missing because Developer Mode is disabled, the developer toolbar is hidden or the simulator is not inside an active flight.

Load into Free Flight, confirm that Developer Mode is enabled, restore the toolbar and check the Tools menu again. If the command still does not appear, restart the simulator after toggling Developer Mode and consult our Replay option troubleshooting steps.

Do not assume the tool will be exposed in every Career Mode mission or restricted activity. It is a development utility, not a Career Mode feature, so Free Flight is the safest place to record planned replay footage.

Does replay mode work on Xbox or PlayStation?

No, the retail Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and PS5 Pro versions do not expose the PC Developer Mode Replay tool.

Console capture preserves what was shown on screen, but it cannot reconstruct the flight afterwards or provide a new camera angle. Console users therefore need to choose the desired view before the manoeuvre and capture it live.