How do you use ATC in Microsoft Flight Simulator?

Yes. Microsoft Flight Simulator, including MSFS 2024, has built-in, menu-driven ATC. Load or file a flight plan when needed, open the Communications/ATC panel, tune or select the correct service, choose a request, acknowledge each instruction and accept frequency hand-offs. Human-controller networks are separate from this simulated system.

How to use ATC in MSFS 2024: quick start

In MSFS 2024, ATC works through the Communications panel and responds according to your flight plan, position, active radio frequency and available airport services.

1. Load or file the route. For an IFR flight, create or load the route in the simulator’s planner or EFB and make sure it is filed with, or otherwise available to, ATC. Sending a route only to the aircraft’s avionics may not give it to the ATC system. Our route-planning walkthrough for MSFS 2020 and 2024 explains the pre-flight process.
2. Start from a suitable position. Begin at a gate or parking stand if you want clearance, pushback and taxi interactions. A runway start skips most of the departure ground sequence.
3. Open Communications. Use the panel shortcut or select Communications from the in-flight toolbar. The panel lists nearby airports, frequencies and context-sensitive replies.
4. Select or tune the service. Listen to ATIS where available, then contact Clearance Delivery or Ground. Selecting a listed frequency can tune it automatically; if tuning manually, put it into standby and transfer it to the active side.
5. Make the request. Choose the offered action, such as requesting IFR clearance, taxi, take-off, flight following, landing or parking directions.
6. Acknowledge and act. Select the displayed read-back, then set the assigned squawk, altitude or heading and fly the clearance. Sending the acknowledgement does not itself change the aircraft’s controls.
7. Accept each hand-off. When instructed to contact Tower, Departure, Centre or Approach, acknowledge the hand-off and tune the new frequency. Continue through Approach, Tower and Ground on arrival.

How to open the ATC menu in MSFS 2024 on Xbox

On the default MSFS 2024 Xbox controller profile, press RB + D-pad Right to open the Communications panel.

You can also use the menu path in-flight toolbar > Communications. Enter cursor mode if required, move to the top toolbar and select the Communications or ATC-related icon.

A customised controller profile can replace or remove the default shortcut. Open the Controls settings, select the active controller profile and search for ATC or communications. Bind the command that opens or toggles the Communications panel, check that the combination does not conflict with another assignment, then save the profile.

How does Microsoft Flight Simulator ATC work?

Built-in Microsoft Flight Simulator ATC generates menu choices from the flight stage, airport facilities, active COM frequency and flight plan known to the simulator.

ATIS is an information broadcast rather than a controller you call. At smaller airports, one controller may combine several roles. An uncontrolled airport has no Tower or Ground controller, so the panel may offer position announcements on the local traffic frequency instead.

The standard system uses listed requests and read-backs rather than interpreting unrestricted microphone speech. Simulator-controlled traffic can interact with it, but multiplayer pilots may be using different procedures or no built-in ATC at all.

How do you tune the ATC radio to Ground in Flight Simulator?

To contact Ground, make the airport’s Ground frequency active on the COM radio being used by the Communications panel.

1. Confirm that the airport has Ground service. Open the airport or nearest-airport entry in Communications and inspect its listed frequencies. Some airfields are uncontrolled, while others combine ground duties with Tower.
2. Select Ground from the panel. Choosing the listed Ground frequency usually tunes it for you. If the panel offers “Tune Ground” before “Contact Ground”, tune it first.
3. Check manual tuning carefully. If using the cockpit radio, enter the frequency in standby and press the transfer or swap control so it becomes active. A frequency left in standby cannot be contacted.
4. Monitor the correct radio. Make sure COM1 or COM2 is selected on the audio panel, powered and audible. The active frequency must be on the same radio the aircraft is monitoring.
5. Request the appropriate service. Choose taxi, taxi for take-off or taxi to parking as offered. For more detail, see our explanation of requesting and following a taxi clearance in MSFS.

Does Microsoft Flight Simulator ATC need a flight plan?

No flight plan is required for basic VFR airport operations, but built-in ATC normally needs a simulator-filed IFR plan before it can issue an IFR clearance and manage the full en-route sequence.

A common mistake we see is programming the route only into the aircraft’s FMS. The aeroplane can then follow the route while the ATC system knows nothing about it. If “Request IFR clearance” is missing, confirm that the plan is classified as IFR and was loaded or filed through the simulator rather than merely entered into the cockpit.

Without a plan, you can still tune local frequencies, request taxi, take-off and landing, make traffic announcements at uncontrolled airports and request VFR services where the simulator provides them.

Why are the ATC panel or controller unavailable or silent?

Missing options or silence usually comes from the panel shortcut, airport service, active COM selection, radio power or audio configuration rather than the ATC request itself.

Xbox troubleshooting: unavailable panel or silent controller

On Xbox, check these four points before restarting the flight:

• The controller shortcut does nothing: open in-flight toolbar > Communications instead. If that works, inspect the active controller profile and restore or rebind the communications-panel command.
• Ground or Tower is unavailable: verify that the selected airport is controlled and actually provides that service. At an uncontrolled field, use the traffic-frequency announcement choices instead.
• ATC does not answer: confirm that the required frequency is active rather than in standby and that the correct COM radio is selected.
• There is no controller audio: power the aircraft’s electrical, avionics and radio systems, raise the communications volume and make sure the audio panel is monitoring that COM radio. If text replies appear, the exchange is working; inspect the simulator’s ATC voice and audio-output settings.

Other common MSFS ATC failures

The option shown by ATC must match the flight stage and information available to the simulator.

• No IFR clearance: file an IFR plan and contact Clearance Delivery or Ground at the departure airport.
• No expected request after a hand-off: acknowledge the hand-off, tune the stated frequency and verify that it is active before reopening the station menu.
• The co-pilot answers automatically: disable the assistance option that handles ATC or radio communications. Its label varies between simulator editions.
• ATC repeatedly shows an earlier stage: close and reopen Communications, confirm the active frequency and select the station again. If the state does not advance, reloading the flight may be the only practical reset.

For the radio sequence behind these interactions, our guide to frequency selection, read-backs and controller hand-offs covers the terminology and expected responses.

Is MSFS ATC live, and can you talk to it through a microphone?

Built-in MSFS ATC is simulated, not a live person, and its standard interface uses on-screen menu choices rather than unrestricted microphone conversation.

The controller voices are generated or played by the simulator. Real airport radio audio and networks staffed by human controllers are separate systems; our comparison explains the difference between simulator speech, real airport radio and human-controlled ATC.

Is built-in MSFS ATC accurate enough for IFR flying?

Microsoft Flight Simulator ATC is useful for practising the broad IFR sequence, but it should not be followed blindly.

It can issue late descents, awkward vectors, unsuitable altitude changes or repeated frequency hand-offs. Cross-check instructions against terrain, aircraft performance and the planned procedure. If an instruction produces an unsafe approach, remain clear of terrain, discontinue the approach or go around rather than forcing the aircraft to comply.