How do I back up and restore my FSX logbook and rewards?

To back up your FSX or FSX: Steam Edition logbook and rewards, close the simulator, copy Logbook.BIN from Documents\Flight Simulator X Files, and copy GrantedRewards.BIN from the active FSX folder under %APPDATA%\Microsoft. To restore them, replace the corresponding files while FSX remains closed, retaining rollback copies.

Where are the FSX logbook and rewards files?

FSX stores logbook records and unlocked rewards in separate binary files within your Windows user profile.

Open the Windows Documents folder rather than assuming it is under a particular C:\Users path. Windows folder redirection or OneDrive may place the active Documents folder elsewhere while still displaying it simply as Documents.

For the rewards file, paste %APPDATA%\Microsoft into the File Explorer address bar. Boxed FSX normally uses the FSX folder. FSX: Steam Edition can use FSX or FSX-SE; the latter is commonly encountered where boxed FSX and Steam Edition have coexisted.

Do not choose FSX-SE solely because FSX came from Steam. If both folders exist, initially preserve both and identify the profile used by the installation you run. The folder containing its active FSX.cfg and recently updated profile files is the relevant one; our guide to finding the active FSX or FSX-SE configuration profile explains the distinction.

How do I create a safe FSX logbook backup?

The safest backup captures Logbook.BIN and GrantedRewards.BIN together while FSX is fully closed.

1. Exit FSX completely. Wait for the simulator to finish closing so it cannot write to either file during the copy.
2. Copy the logbook. Open Documents\Flight Simulator X Files and copy Logbook.BIN. Copy it rather than moving it.
3. Copy the rewards file. Open the active %APPDATA%\Microsoft\FSX or %APPDATA%\Microsoft\FSX-SE folder and copy GrantedRewards.BIN.
4. Use a dated backup folder. Store both files outside their original folders and note the Windows account and FSX profile from which they came.
5. Check the copies. Confirm that both filenames and file sizes match the originals before relying on the backup.

Do not keep the only backup beside the live files. Reinstalling FSX, deleting a Windows profile or clearing user data could then remove the originals and backup together.

These two files do not back up saved flights, controls, FSX.cfg, scenery-library entries, aircraft or add-ons. Use our complete FSX backup and migration checklist when protecting an entire installation.

How do I restore Logbook.BIN and GrantedRewards.BIN?

Restore each BIN file to its matching active folder, keeping FSX closed until both copies are in place.

1. Prepare a new installation if necessary. On another computer, run FSX once under the destination Windows account, close it, and then locate the folders that installation created.
2. Protect the existing data. Copy the destination Logbook.BIN and GrantedRewards.BIN into a separate rollback folder before overwriting anything.
3. Restore the logbook. Copy the backed-up Logbook.BIN into the destination account’s Documents\Flight Simulator X Files folder.
4. Restore the rewards. Copy the matching GrantedRewards.BIN into the destination installation’s active FSX or FSX-SE AppData folder.
5. Check the exact filenames. They must remain Logbook.BIN and GrantedRewards.BIN. Enable the display of filename extensions in File Explorer if necessary so they have not become names such as Logbook.BIN.BIN.
6. Verify the result in FSX. Start the simulator, open Pilot Records and check the logbook totals, several individual entries and the expected rewards. Retain the rollback files until these checks pass.

When transferring to another PC or Windows account, use the destination account’s active folders. Do not recreate the old computer’s absolute folder paths, and do not copy the whole AppData profile merely to restore one rewards file; doing so can overwrite unrelated settings.

Can I merge an old FSX logbook with newer entries?

No supported FSX tool merges two Logbook.BIN files or combines separate GrantedRewards.BIN files. Restoring an older backup replaces any logbook entries and rewards recorded after that backup was made.

Choose the backup when recovering the older history matters more than retaining subsequent entries. Keep the existing files when they contain newer records you cannot afford to lose, and preserve both versions separately before deciding.

Why is my restored FSX logbook empty or unchanged?

An empty or unchanged logbook usually means FSX is reading a different Documents location, Windows account or file from the one you restored.

• Wrong Documents folder: check for OneDrive or Windows folder redirection instead of using a hard-coded user path.
• Wrong Windows account: Logbook.BIN belongs to the account running FSX and is not shared automatically with other users.
• Incorrect filename: hidden extensions can leave the file named incorrectly even though it appears normal in File Explorer.
• Read-only file or folder: FSX may display restored records but fail to save later flights. Confirm your account can write to the file and folder.
• Damaged backup: a corrupt Logbook.BIN may display no records, stop Pilot Records opening or cause FSX to fail while reading it.

If restoring the rollback copy fixes the simulator, keep the damaged backup untouched and attempt repairs only on a duplicate. Our FSX logbook recovery utility is intended for corrupt or unreadable logbook files.

If the old entries appear but subsequent flights or hours are not added, the restoration itself worked. Check logging settings, write permissions and file health using our FSX flight and hours logging troubleshooting steps.

Why are my restored FSX rewards missing?

Missing rewards usually mean the wrong GrantedRewards.BIN was restored or the destination installation lacks the content that defines those rewards.

• Check both AppData profiles: FSX: Steam Edition may read FSX even when an FSX-SE folder also exists, or vice versa.
• Match the backup date: confirm the selected rewards file was created after the rewards were earned.
• Install matching content: GrantedRewards.BIN records granted rewards but does not install mission packages, reward definitions or artwork supplied by another FSX edition or third-party add-on.
• Restore both files when migrating: copying only Logbook.BIN does not restore unlocked rewards, because the two files serve different purposes.

Keep the destination’s original rewards file as a rollback copy until default and add-on rewards have been checked. If only custom rewards are absent, confirm that the same mission or add-on content is installed before replacing the BIN file again.