Compare the best Boeing 787 sound mods for MSFS 2020, including GEnx, Trent 1000 and FSRealistic options, compatibility checks and fixes.
For MSFS 2020, our first choice is an FTSim+ Boeing 787 sound pack matched to the fitted engine: GEnx or Trent 1000. Add FSRealistic Pro for cockpit, touchdown and airframe effects, not as an engine replacement. A pack mismatched to the 787 variant can produce stock, doubled or missing audio.
Which Boeing 787 sound pack should I choose?
Choose the engine-specific FTSim+ release that explicitly supports your installed 787 aircraft and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020.
| Sound option | Best for | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| FTSim+ 787 GEnx pack | GE-powered 787 configurations and a more distinctive fan, spool and thrust sound | Must support the exact 787 add-on you use |
| FTSim+ 787 Trent 1000 pack | Rolls-Royce-powered 787 configurations | Should not be installed alongside the GEnx replacement |
| FSRealistic Pro | Touchdown, braking, wind, cockpit and airframe effects | Supplements the aircraft sound set rather than replacing its engines |
The common mistake is choosing a pack simply because its name contains 787. Engine type, aircraft package and simulator platform all matter. A generic 787 pack, or one produced for another simulator, is not a safe substitute.
If you are unsure which model or dependency you have installed, check our comparison of MSFS 2020 Boeing 787 variants. The wider differences between dedicated replacements and effect layers are covered in our aircraft sound-pack comparison.
Will a 787-10 sound mod work on the 787-8 or 787-9?
A 787-10 sound mod works on another variant only when that aircraft aliases the same sound configuration or the sound-pack developer explicitly lists it as compatible.
The stock Asobo 787-10 belongs to the Premium Deluxe edition of MSFS 2020. Community 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft may use the Asobo aeroplane as a dependency, but that does not guarantee that every 787-10 sound replacement will load correctly. The derivative can have its own package name, sound routing or engine selection.
Do not assume that every 787-8 uses one engine and every 787-9 uses the other. Check the aircraft documentation or model configuration, then install the corresponding GEnx or Trent pack. A sound mod changes audio; it does not change the visible engine model or engine performance.
Should I combine FTSim+ with FSRealistic Pro?
FTSim+ and FSRealistic Pro can work together because they perform different jobs, provided overlapping effects are kept under control.
Use the dedicated 787 pack for engine start, idle, spool-up, take-off power and reverse thrust. Use FSRealistic for secondary cues such as touchdown impact, braking, wind and cockpit movement. If an effect sounds doubled or exaggerated, reduce or disable that category in one package rather than lowering the entire simulator volume.
Our FSRealistic Pro compatibility notes explain how the effects layer interacts with MSFS 2020 aircraft.
How do I install a 787 sound mod without conflicts?
The safest method is to test one engine replacement by itself before adding FSRealistic or another effects package.
- Confirm the target. Verify that the download names MSFS 2020, your 787 add-on and the correct engine. Do not use a similarly named X-Plane or FSX package.
- Remove older replacements. Move every other 787 sound mod out of the Community folder. Two packages trying to replace the same sound configuration can cause load-order conflicts.
- Check the folder structure. For a normal Community package, files such as
manifest.jsonandlayout.jsonshould be at the package root rather than buried inside an extra folder. - Restart MSFS 2020. The simulator should be fully closed while packages are added or removed. Load the same aircraft and engine configuration for each comparison.
- Add secondary effects last. Once the engine pack works alone, enable FSRealistic and adjust only the overlapping effects.
Community folder locations vary between Microsoft Store, Steam and custom installations. Our aircraft sound-mod installation checklist covers locating the active folder and resolving duplicate packages.
Why is the Boeing 787 sound mod not working?
Most failed 787 sound mods are caused by an incompatible aircraft target, a nested installation folder or another package overriding the same sound files.
- The aircraft still uses stock sounds: confirm that the mod supports that exact 787-8, 787-9 or 787-10 package, then check that it is in the active Community folder.
- Engine audio is missing: remove competing GE, Rolls-Royce and older 787 sound packages. Restore the stock configuration before testing one replacement.
- Wind or touchdown effects are doubled: disable the duplicated category in FSRealistic or the aircraft-specific effects package.
- The mod stopped working after an aircraft update: remove it until a build compatible with the updated aircraft is available. Copying old configuration files into the new aircraft can break other sounds.
- You are using Xbox: arbitrary Community folder sound packages cannot be installed on Xbox. Only add-ons distributed through the simulator's supported console content system can be used.
For most PC users, the best result is an FTSim+ pack matching the exact engine and aircraft, tested alone, with FSRealistic added conservatively afterwards. If no sound replacement explicitly supports your 787 build, retain the stock sounds rather than forcing an incompatible package to load.