Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Sea; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50; Flight Crew Total 1600; Flight Crew Type 100
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert
Procedure
I am having difficulty with consistent activation of my VFR Flight Plans using mobile device app technology. On [date]; I created a SFRA VFR plan from JYO to ZZZ1; and filed and activated it on the Garmin Pilot mobile app prior to departure; believing that it had been filed. I departed  JYO; reporting my departure on CTAF and talking to Potomac TRACON for VFR flight following services; and shortly after departure received a call to contact the TRACON by phone for a possible pilot deviation. I was departing under the rules of the Leesburg maneuvering area near the DC SFRA; which do not require a VFR flight plan. However; I entered a corner of the SFRA inadvertently; which does require a SFRA VFR flight plan; thus the request from the TRACON to make a phone call for 'possible pilot deviation.' During the flight I diverted to ZZZ2 for fuel. On the ground at ZZZ2; I called 1-800 WXBrief to ask if my VFR flight plan could be closed. The briefer explained that he had no flight plan for me. He further explained that if a flight plan is activated through LEIDOS or through Garmin; Flight Service (FSS) will not see those plans. In reviewing my flight plans stored in my Garmin Pilot app; I see that the subject flight plan was 'unconfirmed' and therefore not activated. I have written to FltPlan.com technical support for clarification on this issue as well; with no response as yet. After landing at my destination for the day ZZZ1; I call Potomac TRACON and spoke with [a] Controller; who informed me that he did not have any record of the incident for review.  My resolution of this issue will be to file my flight and activate my plans with Flight Service; for verbal confirmation.
Small aircraft pilot reported he has had difficulty filing flight plans using the Garmin Pilot mobile app.