Correct me if I am wrong, for IFR plan, the ATC will guide you along the way. However, I don't get any instructions...I usually Request IFR Clearance before take off and the ATC tells me to fly runway heading at certain altitude. After that, I get no instructions at all, I have to use my GPS to fly the correct route. Basically, I have to recreate the IFR plan when I am near the destination and then I will start to get landing instructions.I usually do Flight Following along the way but get no direction information, just acknowledgement.Also, for cruising altitude, I changed it in the Flight Planner, but the ATC is still using the default auto generated altitude.

Correct me if I am wrong, for IFR plan, the ATC will guide you along the way. However, I don't get any instructions...I usually Request IFR Clearance before take off and the ATC tells me to fly runway heading at certain altitude. After that, I get no instructions at all, I have to use my GPS to fly the correct route. Basically, I have to recreate the IFR plan when I am near the destination and then I will start to get landing instructions.I usually do Flight Following along the way but get no direction information, just acknowledgement.Also, for cruising altitude, I changed it in the Flight Planner, but the ATC is still using the default auto generated altitude.

Check that you have planned the flight as an IFR flight by ticking the appropriate box in the flight palnner start up page. I say this because your query mentions "Flight Following" which is used for VFR flight only.

Correct me if I am wrong, for IFR plan, the ATC will guide you along the way. However, I don't get any instructions...I usually Request IFR Clearance before take off and the ATC tells me to fly runway heading at certain altitude. After that, I get no instructions at all, I have to use my GPS to fly the correct route. Basically, I have to recreate the IFR plan when I am near the destination and then I will start to get landing instructions.I usually do Flight Following along the way but get no direction information, just acknowledgement.Also, for cruising altitude, I changed it in the Flight Planner, but the ATC is still using the default auto generated altitude.

The way it works, is you create a flight plan, then in the ATC menu request IFR clearance. Then contact ground for taxi clearance. At the runway get takeoff clearance. You will be handed off to departure, which will give you your first climb segment, and give you a bearing towards your FP course, and ultimately release you to follow your own navigation, (Your flight plan via GPS, or FMC if your aircraft is so equipped, or fly it manual). Unless you deviate from that plan, the only other instructions you'll hear until descent is the remaining incremental climb instructions, radio frequency hand offs, and traffic warnings.