Free iPad touchscreen app to control autopilot in FSX (instead of using the mouse)

iPad touchscreen control for FSX autopilot

Hi — there are a couple of important realities with FSX and iPads:

1. FSX can’t talk to an iPad directly on its own. You’ll always need a “bridge” running on the FSX PC (usually via SimConnect/FSUIPC), and then the iPad app talks to that over your network.
2. Truly free iPad solutions that give you a full autopilot panel are pretty rare. Most of the solid ones are either paid apps, or they rely on a paid PC-side module.

That said, here are the practical routes people typically use.

Option A: Use a remote-control app (free) and tap the FSX cockpit
If your goal is simply “touch instead of mouse hovering,” the easiest free workaround is to remote into your FSX PC from the iPad and then just tap the autopilot in the VC/2D panel.

Pros: Usually free, no aircraft-specific setup
Cons: You’re still operating the on-screen autopilot (just remotely), and responsiveness depends on Wi‑Fi

Option B: Dedicated autopilot panel apps
These exist, but almost all of them depend on a PC-side server and/or FSUIPC/SimConnect configuration. Some can be free-to-try but not fully free for autopilot functions.

If you tell me what you’re flying (default aircraft vs PMDG/other complex add-on), I can tell you whether a “generic” autopilot interface will actually work. Many advanced add-on aircraft don’t expose all AP functions through the standard FSX variables, so generic apps end up only partially working (or not at all).

A few quick questions so I don’t send you down the wrong path

1. Which FSX version are you on — boxed (SP2/Acceleration) or Steam Edition?
2. Are you trying to control the default 737/King Air/etc, or an add-on aircraft (PMDG, iFly, A2A, etc.)?
3. Do you already have FSUIPC installed (even the free/unregistered version), or are you wanting to avoid any paid components completely?
4. Is your iPad on the same Wi‑Fi/LAN as the FSX PC?

Answer those and I’ll narrow it down to the most realistic “free (or nearly free)” approach for your exact setup.