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Stratos reads your flight straight from the simulator. On most setups there’s nothing to do: start the simulator, open Stratos, and the top bar shows Connected to and the simulator’s name within a few seconds.

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Supported simulators

Stratos runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. X-Plane can run on the same computer on any of them. Microsoft Flight Simulator, Prepar3D and FSX run on Windows, so on a Mac or Linux computer Stratos connects to them over your home network: see Remote simulator.

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Check the connection

The top bar shows the simulator status on every screen: Until a simulator is connected, the bookings list shows No Simulator Connected in place of Start Tracking.

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Choose the tracking provider

The tracking provider decides which kind of simulator Stratos looks for. Open Settings → Simulator and pick one under Tracking provider:
  • Automatic (the default) looks for SimConnect and X-Plane at the same time and connects to whichever is running. Between flights it notices when you switch simulators.
  • SimConnect looks only for Microsoft Flight Simulator, Prepar3D or FSX.
  • X-Plane looks only for X-Plane.
Settings save as you change them, and Stratos reconnects with the new provider straight away. Change it between flights: a change during a flight reconnects straight away and can drop the simulator you’re flying in. Custom SimConnect address and Custom X-Plane address are for a simulator on another computer. Leave them showing Using default when the simulator runs on the same computer as Stratos.

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When it won’t connect

Work through these in order:
  1. Load into a flight. Some simulators only start sending data once you’re past the main menu and the aircraft is loaded.
  2. Click the status in the top bar. While it says Not connected, clicking it (Click to connect) starts a fresh connection, the same as restarting Stratos. Give it a few seconds.
  3. Check the tracking provider. If it’s set to SimConnect or X-Plane, make sure it matches the simulator you’re running, or set it back to Automatic.
  4. Check the custom address. If Custom SimConnect address or Custom X-Plane address is switched on but the simulator is on this computer, switch it off so it shows Using default.
  5. X-Plane: check the port. If you’ve changed the port X-Plane listens on, turn on Custom X-Plane address and enter the same Port.
  6. Restart the simulator, then Stratos. If Stratos can’t reconnect for a long time it shows Can’t reach the simulator, and a restart clears it.
Still stuck? Open a ticket from Support in the sidebar.
If the simulator drops out during a flight, Stratos holds the flight and waits for it to come back rather than ending it. See Pauses and disconnects.