Windows 7

Step 1 - Search for the Firewall

Click on the Windows Start button and in the search box above it type "Firewall".

Select the option called Windows Firewall with Advanced Security:

FSWidgets

Step 2 - Delete Firewall Entries

In the left panel select Inbound Rules.

Under Inbound Rules, select and delete all entries for the following (if present):

Flight Simulator
Flight Simulator X
X-Plane
Aerofly FS
Flight Simulator 2004
FSWidgets Connect
FSWidgets Network Pack

FSWidgets

Step 3 - Allow Connection

The final step will generate a Windows Security Alert by doing the following:

MSFS - launch the simulator
FSX/P3D - launch the simulator
FS9 - launch the FSWidgets Network Pack utility and start the server
X-Plane - launch the simulator
Aerofly FS - launch the simulator and turn on the FSWidgets option

Click Unblock:

FSWidgets

Step 5 - Test Connection

Now try connecting the app again using the IP address and port number shown on the FSWidgets Connect info panel, or in the case of X-Plane the IP address and port shown on the FSWidgets Connect panel (select Plugins > FSWidgets Connect > Show Info in the X-Plane menu). Aerofly users please follow our Aerofly FS Help instructions.

Important Note: If you use a third-party firewall you will need to add an explicit rule to unblock the FSWidgets Connect service (FSWidgetsConnect.exe), or the Network Pack (FSWNetHost.exe), or even the simulator itself (e.g. X-Plane.exe or Aerofly_FS_2.exe).