Set up the SimBrief panel in MSFS 2020, enter the correct Pilot ID, retrieve your OFP, and fix a missing or blank toolbar panel.
To set up a SimBrief panel in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, install the panel package in the Community folder, restart the simulator, open it from the in-flight toolbar, and enter your SimBrief Pilot ID or sign in when prompted. Generate a fresh operational flight plan before trying to import or display it.
Which SimBrief panel are you setting up?
MSFS 2020 does not include one universal SimBrief panel; the setup depends on where you want to see or import the briefing. The term can mean a toolbar add-on, an aircraft's EFB integration or a flight-plan file loaded through the World Map.
| Option | What it does | What you configure |
|---|---|---|
| Toolbar panel | Displays the latest OFP inside MSFS | Community package plus account sign-in, username or Pilot ID |
| Aircraft EFB or FMS integration | Imports route, fuel or payload data into a supported aircraft | Pilot ID inside that aircraft's EFB or settings |
Exported .pln file | Loads a route into the MSFS World Map | No toolbar panel required |
If your aircraft already has a SimBrief page in its tablet, do not install a separate toolbar panel unless you also want the OFP available from the top toolbar.
How do I install a SimBrief toolbar panel?
A downloaded SimBrief toolbar panel is normally installed as a Community package on PC, then linked to your account from inside a flight.
- Check the platform and package type. A manually downloaded panel requires the PC version of MSFS 2020. Loose Community packages cannot be installed on Xbox; only integrations supplied through Xbox-supported in-sim channels can be used there.
- Find the active Community folder. If MSFS has been moved or given a custom packages location, open
UserCfg.optand check the path besideInstalledPackagesPath. The correctCommunityfolder sits under that location. - Extract the package. Place the panel's package folder directly inside
Community. Open that folder and confirm thatmanifest.jsonis at its top level. A common mistake is leaving an extra archive or duplicate folder around the actual package. - Restart MSFS 2020. Toolbar packages are detected when the simulator starts. Load into an aircraft before looking for the panel; these icons generally do not appear on the main menu.
- Show the panel icon. Open the in-flight toolbar and check its customisation controls if the SimBrief icon is hidden. Select the icon to open the panel window.
- Connect the account. Enter the numeric Pilot ID when the field specifically asks for it. Some panels instead request the exact SimBrief username or display an embedded account sign-in, so follow the wording shown by that particular panel.
- Generate and refresh the OFP. The panel normally retrieves the latest generated briefing, not an unfinished draft. If you still need to prepare one, follow our SimBrief flight-planning steps for route, fuel and payload, then reopen or refresh the panel.
Where do I find my SimBrief Pilot ID?
Your SimBrief Pilot ID is the numeric identifier shown in your SimBrief account details or profile. Copy only the number into a field labelled Pilot ID; an email address, callsign or account password will not work there.
A field labelled Username is different and expects your exact SimBrief username. Embedded web panels may use an account sign-in instead of either value.
Why is the SimBrief panel missing or blank?
A missing panel icon almost always points to installation depth, the wrong Community folder, toolbar visibility or a disabled Community package.
- No toolbar icon: make sure the archive was extracted, check for a nested folder, confirm the active Community path and restart MSFS.
- MSFS started in Safe Mode: restart in Normal Mode. Safe Mode deliberately disables Community content.
- Blank panel window: confirm that the PC is online, complete any account sign-in and verify that the installed panel build supports your MSFS installation.
- “No flight plan” message: generate the OFP rather than merely saving a draft, confirm the Pilot ID or username, then refresh the panel.
- An old flight keeps appearing: generate the revised briefing again. Editing planning fields without regenerating the OFP usually leaves the previous dispatch available to integrations.
- MSFS fails after installation: remove the panel temporarily and start the simulator again. If that fixes it, the package is incompatible or conflicting with another toolbar add-on.
Will the SimBrief panel load the route into the aircraft?
Most SimBrief toolbar panels display the OFP but do not load the World Map route or programme an aircraft's FMS. For those jobs, use the aircraft's own integration or export the appropriate flight-plan format.
Our guide to loading a SimBrief plan into MSFS 2020 explains the available World Map and aircraft methods. For the FlyByWire A32NX or A380X, use the dedicated FlyByWire SimBrief connection procedure; the Microsoft A320neo V2 instead uses its own EFB workflow.
After any import, compare the runway, SID, STAR and approach with the OFP. Navigation-data cycle differences can omit or replace waypoints, while fuel and payload often require separate confirmation or loading controls in the aircraft's EFB.