Learn how to use FlightControlReplay with MSFS 2020: connect, record, save and replay flights, then fix desync and SimConnect errors.
To use FlightControlReplay with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 on PC, start MSFS, load into the cockpit, open FlightControlReplay and connect through SimConnect. Press Record before the manoeuvre, Stop when finished, save the track, then select it and press Play. Keep the same aircraft loaded for the most reliable replay.
How do I set up FlightControlReplay for MSFS 2020?
Install a FlightControlReplay release that explicitly supports MSFS 2020, then run it as a desktop application alongside the PC simulator. The Steam and Microsoft Store/Xbox app PC editions use the same basic workflow.
FlightControlReplay is not a conventional Community-folder mod. Its desktop component communicates with the running simulator through SimConnect; our explanation of how SimConnect links utilities to MSFS covers that connection in more detail. Developer Mode and the full MSFS SDK are not normally required.
- Install the application: use its supplied installer and choose a release that lists MSFS 2020 compatibility. Do not place the desktop executable in the
Communityfolder. - Start MSFS 2020: select the aircraft and airport, load the flight and wait until the cockpit, scenery and avionics have finished initialising.
- Open FlightControlReplay: running it after reaching the cockpit makes connection problems easier to diagnose. Run both applications with the same Windows privilege level; if MSFS runs normally, run FlightControlReplay normally as well.
- Confirm the connection: some builds connect automatically, while others provide a Connect control. Wait for the application to report that MSFS or SimConnect is connected before recording.
- Prepare the flight: use normal 1x simulation speed and start with the default recording options. For repeatable filming, use fixed weather, time and traffic rather than live conditions that may change between passes.
- Record: press Record shortly before the section you need. Avoid Active Pause, slew mode and aircraft changes during the recording.
- Stop and save: stop after the manoeuvre, then save the replay track before changing aircraft, returning to the main menu or closing either application.
- Play the replay: keep the same aircraft and livery loaded, select the recording and press Play. Leave the flight controls alone while FlightControlReplay drives the aircraft, and use its timeline controls to review the required section.
Does FlightControlReplay record video or flight data?
A FlightControlReplay track is primarily recorded aircraft data, not a finished video file. It lets the application reproduce the flight so that you can inspect a landing, move the camera or film the same pass from several angles.
For a conventional video, play the saved track and capture or export the resulting footage using the facilities available in your edition. Camera movement can be changed on each pass, so one clean recording can produce cockpit, runway and external shots. Our guide to camera tools for MSFS 2020 filming explains the useful camera options without changing the recorded flight.
Which aircraft replay reliably?
Default aircraft and add-ons using standard simulator variables are generally the safest starting point. Complex aircraft may use custom systems that a replay utility cannot completely rewind or reproduce.
Position, attitude and the visible flight path may replay correctly while cockpit switches, FMS progress, engine logic, sounds, reversers or specialised animations do not. Use the same aircraft version for recording and playback, and make a short test containing gear, flaps, spoilers and engine changes before recording a long flight. These practical MSFS replay-recording checks also help prevent unusable tracks.
Why will FlightControlReplay not connect or replay correctly?
Most FlightControlReplay problems come from an incomplete SimConnect connection, conflicting control input or aircraft systems that use custom variables.
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No connection | MSFS is still at the menu, the applications use different privilege levels, or the FlightControlReplay build is incompatible | Load fully into a flight, close and reopen FlightControlReplay, run both applications at the same privilege level and verify MSFS 2020 support |
| Aircraft jumps or freezes | Frame-time spikes, accelerated simulation, pausing or another SimConnect utility | Use 1x speed, avoid Active Pause, keep the default recording options and temporarily close other utilities that control the aircraft |
| Replay drifts or fights the pilot | Joystick noise, autopilot logic or an assistance feature is still issuing commands | Do not move the controls during playback; disable AI piloting and test with a simple default aircraft |
| Gear, lights or cockpit systems are wrong | The aircraft stores those functions in custom variables | Test the latest compatible builds of both products; if the fault remains, treat it as an aircraft-specific replay limitation |
| Playback stutters | The simulator is loading scenery or cannot maintain stable performance | Let the area finish loading, reduce demanding graphics settings and record a shorter test before repeating the full flight |
A mistake we see constantly is attempting to diagnose a complex add-on first. Record a 30-second circuit segment in a default aircraft: if that works, the connection is sound and the remaining issue is probably aircraft-specific.
Can I use FlightControlReplay with MSFS 2020 on Xbox?
The normal FlightControlReplay workflow is PC-only because the companion application must run beside MSFS and communicate through SimConnect. An Xbox Series X or Series S cannot run the Windows desktop executable or install it through the simulator's Community folder.