How Accelerators and Proxy Servers Work

This explanation may not apply to every accelerator or proxy application.

When the MSFS Map Enhancement service starts, it maps some imagery service domains to 127.0.0.1 in the hosts file. The simulator’s imagery requests reach Map Enhancement locally, and the application retrieves images from the selected providers. These diagrams describe MSFS, not XPME’s scenery mounting process.

An accelerator does not necessarily handle Map Enhancement’s requests to map providers. If the selected providers are accessible, no additional proxy is needed. Configure a proxy that can reach them only when access fails or is restricted. Leaving the in-app proxy empty does not prove that traffic is direct: system, router, or TUN rules may still handle those requests.

In TUN mode, which requests use the proxy still depends on the proxy application’s routing rules. Run Map Enhancement’s Network Diagnostic to check both primary and fallback providers, and configure direct-access rules for sources that need them, such as China HD. If your router or TUN connection already provides working access, an additional in-app proxy is unnecessary.