> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.simflypad.com/v1/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.simflypad.com/v1/feature-guides/stream-screens-to-simfly-pad.md).
# Stream Screens to SimFly Pad
## **Things to Know**
* SimFly Linker uses the pop-out window mechanisms in MSFS and X-Plane together with Windows window capture to stream content such as the PFD and ND to SimFly Pad. Since there is currently no automatic pop-out mechanism, you need to manually pop out the target window during setup.
* If you are using MSFS 2024, you can also enable [DX12 Direct Capture](#dx12-direct-capture) — supported screens are captured directly from the simulator, with no pop-out window required.
## **Steps**
1. On the Cockpit page of SimFly Pad, click “Connect” in the upper left corner. Select the screen you want to stream and click the “Connect” button in the middle of the screen. When the screen prompts “Waiting for the window to be popup,” proceed to the next step.
2. After SimFly Pad prompts “Waiting for the window to pop up,” switch to MSFS. Hold down the right ALT key, move your mouse over the screen you want to stream, and click the left mouse button. (When you move the mouse over it, the cursor changes to a magnifying glass icon. If holding the right ALT key still does not let you click to pop out the window, see the setup blockers below.)
3. After clicking the left mouse button, the corresponding game screen will briefly appear as a pop-up window. Wait a moment, and SimFlyPad will automatically hide this window and start transmitting the image data.
## DX12 Direct Capture (Alpha)
Starting from SimFly Linker 4.7.1, if you fly in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, you can enable **DX12 Direct Capture**. Instead of capturing a pop-out window, this mode captures the cockpit display images directly from the simulator's DX12 rendered textures:
* Supported screens start streaming right away — no pop-out window is required.
* Touch-enabled screens (such as the EFB) can be controlled directly, without installing a virtual monitor.
* Streaming is faster and more reliable than the pop-out window capture, and it avoids the frame-rate cost of pop-out windows.
### Requirements
* SimFly Linker 4.7.1 or later. (4.7.3 or later is recommended for the widest aircraft support.)
* Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, running in **DirectX 12** rendering mode (check the in-game graphics settings). If MSFS is running in DX11 mode, streams automatically fall back to the legacy pop-out window capture.
* MSFS 2020 and X-Plane are not supported. With the option enabled, they automatically continue to use the legacy pop-out window capture.
### Enable DX12 Direct Capture
1. Open the Settings page in SimFly Linker and find the **DX12 Direct Capture** card in the **Streaming** section.
2. Check **Enable**, read the experimental feature notice, and confirm.
3. (Optional) Adjust **Max FPS** (30 or 45; the default is 30).
You do not need to restart SimFly Linker after changing this option. Screens that are already streaming keep their current mode — reconnect them from SimFly Pad to apply the change.
{% hint style="warning" %}
DX12 Direct Capture is an experimental (Alpha) feature. It is still in testing and may affect MSFS stability — in rare cases it can even cause the game to crash to desktop (CTD). If you run into problems, simply uncheck **Enable** to return to the legacy pop-out window capture mode.
{% endhint %}
### Supported Aircraft and Screens
Only some aircraft screens can be captured directly. Click **View list** on the **DX12 Direct Capture** card to open the **DX12 Supported Panels** dialog — this in-app list always matches the version you have installed and is the authoritative reference.
Screens that are not in the list automatically fall back to the legacy pop-out window capture mode, so you still need to pop out those windows manually as described in the Steps above.
If your aircraft or screen is not in the list, or a supported screen does not stream correctly after enabling this feature, please contact us and let us know the aircraft and panel.
## **Install Virtual Monitor Driver \[Optional]**
SimFly Pad not only supports displaying pop-out windows from the simulator, but for many touch-enabled windows—such as the B777’s MFD and the EFB—you can also directly control them with touch gestures in SimFly Pad.
However, due to technical reasons, this feature requires you to install a virtual display monitor. You can go to the Tools page in SimFlyLinker and click **Install Driver** to install the virtual display driver. Once the driver is installed, you can click the Add button below to add a virtual display.
{% hint style="success" %}
The virtual display will automatically reset after you restart your system.
{% endhint %}
{% hint style="success" %}
By default, SimFlyLinker uses **usbmmid\_v2** as the virtual display driver solution. In addition, SimFly Linker also supports the [**VDD**](/v1/feature-guides/stream-screens-to-simfly-pad/use-vdd-as-virtual-monitor.md) solution. Please refer to this document for more information.
{% endhint %}
### Use an Existing Monitor as a Virtual Display
If you do not want to install a virtual display driver, or you simply prefer another setup, you can choose one of your existing monitors and use it as the virtual display instead, as shown below.
### Use with MSFS Pop Out Panel Manager
MSFS Pop Out Panel Manager and SimFly Linker may both try to adjust window positions in some cases. When used together, this can cause conflicts and lead to window position issues, such as SimFly Linker crashing or the streamed screen turning black.
You can go to the Settings page in SimFly Linker and set **Pop Out Window Location** to **"Don't Hide"**.
## Customize Capture Window Titles
If a panel still does not start streaming after its pop-out window is already visible, the aircraft may be using a window title that is different from SimFly Linker's built-in capture list. In that case, you can add an extra capture title in the Settings page.
1. Open the Settings page in SimFly Linker, then open **Edit Titles -> Advanced Streaming Settings**.
2. In **Simulator**, choose **MSFS** or **X-Plane**, then select the corresponding **Profile**.
3. In **Capture List**, click **Add** and enter the exact title shown on the pop-out window.
4. Try streaming again. New titles are applied immediately to windows that are still waiting to be found.
{% hint style="info" %}
Built-in titles are read-only. Only the titles you add yourself can be deleted. The capture title lists for MSFS and X-Plane are stored separately, even for the same Profile.
{% endhint %}
## Setup blockers
### **\[MSFS] Cannot pop out the window**
> **When press the right ALT key and move the mouse over the corresponding screen, the mouse icon does not change.**
This may be because you have accidentally changed the binding of the right ALT key. You can go to the Control Settings in MSFS, search for “NEW UI WINDOW MODE,” and rebind it.
### **Error: "Please add a virtual monitor first."**
This is because you are attempting to stream a screen that supports touch controls, such as the B787’s MFD or the A320’s EFB. Before streaming these screens, you need to add a virtual monitor in SimFlyLinker. You can follow these steps:
1. Relaunch SimFlyLinker as an administrator, go to the *Tools* page, and click *Install* to install the Virtual Monitor driver.
2. Click the *Add* button below to add a virtual monitor.
3. (Optional) Open *This PC* and go to Display Settings to ensure that the newly added virtual monitor’s resolution is set to 1920x1080 with a 100% scaling ratio, as shown in the image below.
## More troubleshooting
If streaming already starts but the image turns black, shows “unstable network” or “FPS: 0.”, becomes unstable after 1-3 minutes, or feels laggy, see:
{% content-ref url="/pages/UazALnsWrjSBAtEvkCqC" %}
[Streaming Screen Issues](/v1/troubleshooting/streaming-screen-issues.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}