Learn how to open the FSX map, read airports and navaids, show a flight-plan route, use a live moving map and avoid accidental aircraft relocation.
To open the map in FSX or FSX: Steam Edition, press Alt if the menu bar is hidden, then choose World > Map. Use the zoom and display controls to inspect airports, navaids and your route. If only looking, close with Cancel so an accidental drag or edited coordinate does not relocate the aircraft.
How do I open and read the FSX World Map?
The reliable way to open the FSX map is through the World menu; the same method works in the boxed and Steam editions.
- Reveal the menu bar: press Alt if FSX is running full-screen and its menus are hidden.
- Open the map: select
World > Map. - Find your aircraft: the aircraft symbol marks its present position and heading.
- Zoom and pan: zoom in for local airports and navigation aids, or out to see more of a loaded flight-plan route. Some details disappear at wider zoom levels.
- Control the clutter: use the map's display options to show or hide airports, VORs, NDBs, airways and other available features.
- Inspect a facility: point to or select an airport or navigation-aid symbol to see available identifiers, frequencies and related information.
- Leave safely: choose Cancel when you have only inspected the map. Use OK when you deliberately want any position changes to take effect.
The map is a modal FSX window rather than a cockpit instrument. You must close it before returning to normal flight controls.
Why doesn't the FSX map move while I fly?
The World Map is a static overview and positioning tool, not a continuously updating moving map.
| Map option | Best used for |
|---|---|
| World Map | Checking position, nearby facilities, frequencies and the overall route |
| Cockpit GPS | Following the aircraft continuously during flight |
| Flight Planner map | Creating, changing and loading an FSX route |
| External moving map | Keeping a larger map open outside the cockpit view |
For a live display, open the aircraft's GPS through Views > Instrument Panel. The GPS entry and keyboard shortcut depend on the aircraft's panel configuration, and some add-on aircraft replace or omit the default unit. A second option is our external moving-map add-on for FSX.
Can the FSX map move or reposition my aircraft?
Yes. The World Map can relocate the aircraft when you drag its symbol or change its latitude, longitude, altitude, heading or airspeed and then confirm with OK.
This is useful for repositioning near an approach or recovering from a bad location, but it also causes one of the most common map mistakes we see: an aircraft suddenly jumps elsewhere after the map closes. Press Cancel if the movement was accidental.
When relocating deliberately, allow enough altitude for the surrounding terrain and use a sensible airspeed for the aircraft. The altitude field is not a terrain-clearance guarantee, and retaining an unsuitable speed can leave the aircraft stalled or overspeeding as soon as control returns.
Why is my flight-plan route missing from the map?
A route appears only when an FSX flight plan has been created or loaded into the simulator; flying a heading or manually tuning a VOR does not create a route line.
If no route is present, use the Flight Planner first. Our step-by-step explanation of creating and loading an FSX flight plan covers airport selection, route types and loading the finished plan. After loading it, reopen the World Map and adjust the zoom until the route legs are visible.
Why is an airport, runway or navaid missing?
The usual causes are an unsuitable zoom level, a disabled display option or old facility data. FSX uses its installed scenery and navigation records rather than a live aviation chart, so its default airports and frequencies can differ from newer real-world information.
An airport add-on may update the map when it includes replacement airport facility data; scenery that only changes buildings or textures will not. Aircraft FMC databases can also be separate from the native FSX map database, which explains why the map and an add-on airliner sometimes disagree. See our guidance on which FSX navigation data can be updated before replacing files or databases.