Windows says “Unknown publisher” — is that normal?

Yes. The warning shows until a file accumulates download reputation and says nothing about what the program contains. To check the file yourself, compare its SHA-256 checksum against the list on our site.

My antivirus deleted the file or blocks the install

That is a false positive, most often on NSIS-built installers. Restore the file from quarantine and add it to exclusions. If the antivirus keeps objecting, write to us — we submit the build to the vendor, which usually resolves it within a day or two.

No administrator prompt appears and the app works only partially

Your account most likely has no administrator rights, or machine policy forbids elevation. Press “Restart as administrator” in the app and supply administrator credentials. On a work machine under corporate policy you may need your IT administrator.

The installer won't download, or stops halfway

Take the offline installer — it arrives as a single file and touches no network while installing. If that will not download either, try another network or a mobile connection: some providers restrict access.

My simulator was not found

Open Simulators and point at the install folder by hand. MSFS needs the folder that contains Community; X-Plane needs the simulator's root folder. Then press Check again.

The app opens with an empty or black window

That is usually an outdated WebView2 runtime. Update it through Windows Update, or reinstall Tap Flight with the offline installer, which ships WebView2 itself. If that does not help, send a report with the “Report a problem” button in the app.

The VPN won't connect

Make sure the app is running with administrator rights — without them the VPN cannot come up. Then try a different server from the list. If connections drop only on your provider, tell us which one it is and we will add a route around it.

I bought a subscription but the app doesn't show it

Check that you signed in with the same account you bought it on. Then sign out and back in so access refreshes. If the subscription still does not appear, send us the order number.

How to install Tap Flight

Eight steps from download to your first installed add-on. Below is exactly what happens on every screen — including the Windows warning and the administrator prompt — and what to do when something goes wrong.

Before you start

Windows 10 (version 1809 or newer) or Windows 11, 64-bit.
About 2 GB of free disk space — plus room for the add-ons themselves, which can be large.
An account with administrator rights: you will need it once, on first launch.
A rupmdg account — the same one the store uses. You can create it inside the app if you don't have one.
The Microsoft Edge WebView2 runtime. Windows 11 already ships it; on Windows 10 the installer adds it silently.

Step-by-step

Download the installer. Press one of the buttons above. Your browser may ask whether to keep the file — allow it. The file is named Tap-Flight-Setup-Online-<version>.exe or Tap-Flight-Setup-Offline-<version>.exe.

Download only from tapflight.app or rupmdg.com. We publish no builds anywhere else and cannot vouch for what they contain.

Allow it to run. Windows shows a blue “Windows protected your PC” dialog and the words “Unknown publisher”. Click “More info”, then “Run anyway”.

This does not mean anything is wrong with the file. Windows greets every program that has not yet built up download reputation this way. To satisfy yourself the file is genuine, check its checksum as described below.

Run through the installer. It asks for a language and a folder, then copies the program into your user folder — no administrator rights needed at this step. A shortcut appears in the Start menu and on the desktop.
Confirm administrator rights. On first launch Windows shows the User Account Control prompt. Click “Yes”. The rights are needed to install add-ons into protected simulator folders, to start vendor launchers and to manage the VPN.

You confirm once: Tap Flight then registers a launch task and the prompt stops appearing on later starts. If your account has no administrator rights, the app starts in limited mode and offers a “Restart as administrator” button.

Sign in. Enter the email and password of your rupmdg account, or sign in with Telegram, VK, Google or Yandex. The account is shared with the store, so purchases, keys and your subscription appear automatically.
Activate your subscription. If you subscribed or pre-ordered on the site, access appears by itself once you sign in. A purchased key can be entered under Library → Activate key.
Connect your simulator. Tap Flight finds installed copies of MSFS 2024, MSFS 2020, X-Plane 11 and 12, Prepar3D, DCS World and FSX on its own, Steam and Microsoft Store editions included. Check that the simulator you want is marked as active.

If a simulator sits on another drive or in a non-standard folder and was not found, point at it by hand under Simulators.

Install your first add-on. Open the Library, pick an add-on and press Install. Downloading and unpacking into the simulator folder happen on their own; watch progress under Queue or in the tray menu.

If something goes wrong

Windows says “Unknown publisher” — is that normal?: Yes. The warning shows until a file accumulates download reputation and says nothing about what the program contains. To check the file yourself, compare its SHA-256 checksum against the list on our site.
My antivirus deleted the file or blocks the install: That is a false positive, most often on NSIS-built installers. Restore the file from quarantine and add it to exclusions. If the antivirus keeps objecting, write to us — we submit the build to the vendor, which usually resolves it within a day or two.
No administrator prompt appears and the app works only partially: Your account most likely has no administrator rights, or machine policy forbids elevation. Press “Restart as administrator” in the app and supply administrator credentials. On a work machine under corporate policy you may need your IT administrator.
The installer won't download, or stops halfway: Take the offline installer — it arrives as a single file and touches no network while installing. If that will not download either, try another network or a mobile connection: some providers restrict access.
My simulator was not found: Open Simulators and point at the install folder by hand. MSFS needs the folder that contains Community; X-Plane needs the simulator's root folder. Then press Check again.
The app opens with an empty or black window: That is usually an outdated WebView2 runtime. Update it through Windows Update, or reinstall Tap Flight with the offline installer, which ships WebView2 itself. If that does not help, send a report with the “Report a problem” button in the app.
The VPN won't connect: Make sure the app is running with administrator rights — without them the VPN cannot come up. Then try a different server from the list. If connections drop only on your provider, tell us which one it is and we will add a route around it.
I bought a subscription but the app doesn't show it: Check that you signed in with the same account you bought it on. Then sign out and back in so access refreshes. If the subscription still does not appear, send us the order number.

How to remove it

Tap Flight uninstalls normally, leaving no services or drivers behind. Add-ons you installed can either stay in your simulator or go with the app — the uninstaller asks.

Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps.
Find Tap Flight in the list and choose Uninstall.
In the uninstall window, say what should happen to installed add-ons and to your settings.