GAU File

What are GAU files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a GAU file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your GAU files.

What is a GAU file?

A .GAU file is a Microsoft Flight Simulator Gauge file.

Microsoft Flight Simulator Gauge (extension .gau) files are custom instrument modules used by Microsoft Flight Simulator. Each .gau file implements a specific cockpit gauge or instrument - such as altimeters, GPS displays, radio panels, radar displays - and these are created by developers to be placed into aircraft cockpits within the simulator. The simulator reads these files at runtime and displays the instrument visuals and functionality inside virtual aircraft panels.

These gauge modules are typically written in C or compiled form, often including custom visual art for the gauge face, needles, or display screens. The .gau file is built by the gauge's author - often as part of an aircraft add-on or panel modification - and then installed into the simulator's Gauges folder (for example the "Gauges" subdirectory in the Flight Simulator program folder). Once installed, an aircraft's panel configuration file references the .gau gauge by filename and places it at specific screen coordinates and size, so that during flight simulation the instrument appears in the correct position and with expected behavior.

Technically a .gau file is an executable‐style binary module. Files begin with the signature bytes "MZ" (hex 4D 5A) at offset 0 and include embedded strings typical of Windows executables such as "THIS PROGRAM", "IMPORTTABLE", ".TEXT", ".DATA", ".RSRC" etc. These identifiers confirm its structure follows the Windows Portable Executable/COFF format adapted for gauges.

How to open GAU files

We have identified one GAU opener that is compatible with this specific type of GAU file.

Programs that open Microsoft Flight Simulator Gauge files

Last updated: August 6, 2026

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