Why can't Navigraph Simlink connect to my flight simulator, and how do I fix it?
We usually find Navigraph Simlink fails to connect because the tray app is not running properly, Windows security is blocking it, the simulator is still only at the menu, or the sim-side connector is missing. The fix is to restart everything cleanly, allow Simlink through security tools, and check the simulator-specific bridge.
Why Simlink will not connect to a flight simulator
Simlink is only a bridge. It has to see a live simulator session, talk to the simulator through the correct interface, and then pass that data to the companion app. If any one of those pieces is broken, the connection either never appears or drops in and out.
The common causes are boring but consistent: Simlink is stuck in the background, the simulator is not fully loaded into an aircraft, Windows Firewall or antivirus is interfering, or the simulator-side connection has been damaged by an update or incomplete install.
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Simlink shows no simulator | Simulator is still at menu, or Simlink is not running correctly | Load into a flight first, then restart Simlink |
| Connection worked before an update | Sim-side plugin or interface is broken | Repair or reinstall the relevant connector |
| Simlink runs, but data never updates | Firewall, antivirus or mixed administrator permissions | Allow access and run both apps at the same privilege level |
| Works on one simulator but not another | That simulator needs a different bridge or plugin | Check the simulator-specific installation |
| Charts or moving map stays disconnected | Simlink is connected locally, but the client app is not seeing it | Restart both apps and check local network or account/session issues |
How do I fix Navigraph Simlink not connecting?
- Make sure the simulator is actually in a loaded flight
For many sims, being at the main menu or world map is not enough. We would load into the cockpit at a gate or runway and wait until the aircraft is fully active before testing Simlink.
- Check that Simlink is really running
Simlink usually sits in the Windows system tray, so it can look closed when it is still hanging in the background. If in doubt, close it completely, end any leftover background process in Task Manager, and launch it again.
- Restart in a clean order
Close the simulator, Simlink and any companion charts app. Then start Simlink, launch the simulator, load into the aircraft, and see if it connects. If it still does not, try relaunching Simlink after the flight has already loaded.
- Run both applications with the same permissions
This catches people out all the time. If the simulator is running as administrator but Simlink is not, Windows can block communication between them. Either run both normally or run both elevated, but do not mix them.
- Allow Simlink through Windows Firewall and antivirus
Security software can block local network traffic or the simulator interface even when both programs appear to open normally. We would check both private and public network permissions, then temporarily disable third-party antivirus protection just long enough to test.
- Check the simulator-side connector
Different sims expose aircraft data in different ways. Microsoft-based sims often depend on SimConnect, while X-Plane usually relies on a plugin or bridge inside the simulator. If that part is missing, disabled or corrupted, Simlink cannot see the aircraft.
- Remove duplicate or stale installs
An old install left behind after an update can confuse detection. If you have reinstalled the simulator, moved it to another drive, or restored from backup, a clean reinstall of Simlink often helps.
- Reboot and test with nothing else open
A clean reboot clears stuck background processes and locked interfaces. We would then test with only the simulator and Simlink open, without overlays, streaming tools or unrelated add-ons.
Simulator-specific checks
Microsoft Flight Simulator, FSX and Prepar3D
On Microsoft-based platforms, Simlink usually needs the sim's data interface to be healthy. If the simulator launches but external apps cannot read position, heading or route data, the problem is often a broken SimConnect component or a permissions mismatch.
We would also make sure the sim is loaded into the aircraft, not paused at a menu screen. After major simulator updates, reinstallation or file repair can sometimes break external connections even though the sim itself still flies normally.
X-Plane
With X-Plane, the usual fault is the plugin side. If the relevant bridge is missing from the simulator, disabled, or not loading because of a version mismatch, Simlink will sit there waiting forever.
We would check that the plugin is present and enabled, then restart X-Plane fully rather than just reloading an aircraft. A partial reload inside the sim does not always reinitialise external plugins cleanly.
What if Simlink sees the simulator but the map or charts still do not move?
That usually means the local bridge is alive, but the client app is not consuming the data properly. We would restart the charts app, make sure it is signed into the correct session, and confirm the aircraft is not paused, in replay, or in slew mode.
If you are using a second device on your home network, both devices need to be on the same local network segment. Guest Wi-Fi, access-point isolation and aggressive router security can stop discovery even when the PC itself looks connected.
Gotchas we see often
- The simulator is open, but not in a flight — menu screens do not always provide live position data.
- Mixed administrator rights — one app is elevated, the other is not.
- Firewall rules are incomplete — allowed on one network profile, blocked on another.
- A simulator update broke the bridge — especially after repairing, moving or reinstalling the sim.
- Simlink is still running in the tray — but the process is stale and needs a full restart.
- Pause, replay or slew mode — position data may freeze or behave oddly.
When a clean reinstall is the right move
If you have checked permissions, firewall rules and simulator loading, and Simlink still will not connect, a clean reinstall is often faster than chasing ghosts. Remove Simlink fully, reboot Windows, install a fresh copy, and then test before adding other utilities back into the mix.
If the problem started immediately after a simulator update, we would also repair or reinstall the sim-side connector at the same time. Most persistent Simlink failures come down to one of those two things: Windows blocking communication, or the simulator no longer exposing data correctly.
The short version
If you want the quickest fix path, we would do this in order: load fully into the aircraft, restart Simlink, run both apps at the same privilege level, allow Simlink through firewall and antivirus, then repair the simulator-side interface or plugin. That solves the vast majority of Simlink connection problems.