See the best mods for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, covering aircraft, traffic, VFR scenery and tools, plus PC, Xbox and PS5 limits.
The best Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 mods are FlyByWire’s A32NX for a freeware airliner, FSLTL for traffic, We Love VFR for landmarks, GSX Pro for ground handling and Little Navmap for planning. These are PC choices; Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 users can install only add-ons distributed through the in-sim Marketplace.
Our best MSFS 2024 mod picks
For most PC simmers, the strongest starter set is one aircraft, one world-detail package and one utility—not a Community folder full of overlapping add-ons.
| Mod or add-on | Best for | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| FlyByWire A32NX | A freeware Airbus with detailed systems and airline procedures | Use a build explicitly offered for MSFS 2024 rather than reusing an old manually copied package |
| Fenix A320 family | A paid, systems-focused Airbus experience | PC only, requires companion software and adds more processing load than a simple aircraft |
| FSLTL | Free traffic models, model matching and real-world-style injection | Competing built-in traffic should be disabled, while density must be kept realistic for the PC |
| We Love VFR | Chimneys, masts and other missing landmarks useful for visual navigation | Install only the regions needed and check for duplicate objects around custom scenery |
| GSX Pro | Pushback, passenger handling and airport ground services | PC only; results depend heavily on the airport profile and its compatibility with custom jetways |
| Little Navmap | Flight planning, maps, airport information and flight monitoring | It is an external companion application, not an in-sim aircraft or scenery package |
Choose A32NX when cost matters and you want to learn Airbus procedures. Choose Fenix when deeper aircraft simulation is the priority and your PC has room for another companion process. General-aviation pilots will usually gain more from regional VFR objects and carefully chosen airports than from installing an airliner they rarely fly.
FSLTL is valuable at quieter airports and on airline routes, but excessive traffic can become CPU-limited. Running it alongside the simulator’s own live or AI traffic also produces duplicate aircraft and confused ground movements.
For more choices without a purchase, see our shortlist of zero-cost aircraft, scenery and utility options. Simmers who prioritise operational accuracy should also compare the procedure-focused upgrades we rate most highly.
Which MSFS 2024 mods should I install first?
Install the mod that fixes a specific weakness in your flying, then test it before adding another package.
- Start with the aircraft. Pick one detailed aircraft only if you intend to learn its normal procedures. The default fleet already covers many casual flights.
- Add scenery for places you use. A favourite airport or the relevant We Love VFR region provides more value than hundreds of airports you never visit.
- Add traffic cautiously. Begin with low density, disable competing traffic injection and check performance at a large hub in poor weather.
- Add ground services last. Confirm that the aircraft and airport work correctly before introducing GSX profiles, replacement jetways or additional service vehicles.
- Keep planning tools outside the diagnosis chain. Little Navmap is useful early because it does not replace aircraft or scenery files inside the simulator.
There is no single best airport or aircraft for everyone: route choice, preferred type of flying and platform decide that. Our comparison of specialist aircraft, scenery and utilities covers the wider choice between freeware and commercial add-ons.
Do Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 mods work in MSFS 2024?
Some MSFS 2020 packages work in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, but backward compatibility does not guarantee that every aircraft, livery, scenery package or utility will behave correctly.
- Simple liveries often work if the underlying aircraft model and its internal identifiers have not changed.
- Traditional scenery may load, but altered terrain, exclusions and handcrafted airports can create duplicated buildings or elevation faults.
- Complex aircraft should have a dedicated MSFS 2024 update because gauges, flight models, sounds and external processes are more sensitive to simulator changes.
- Traffic and ground-service tools need confirmed compatibility with the simulator interfaces they use; copying an old Community package is not enough.
Do not transfer an entire MSFS 2020 Community folder into MSFS 2024. Install fresh, use the package author’s MSFS 2024 build where one exists and add packages in small groups. Files obtained from our MSFS aircraft and scenery library should still be checked for the simulator version stated in each listing.
Can you install MSFS 2024 mods on Xbox or PS5?
Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 cannot accept manually downloaded Community-folder mods; console users are restricted to compatible products supplied through the in-sim Marketplace.
That rules out PC-only external programs such as FSLTL, GSX Pro and Little Navmap integration. Before buying a console add-on, check that its listing names your platform and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 rather than assuming every PC or MSFS 2020 product is included. Marketplace catalogues and compatibility can differ between platforms.
On console, prioritise a well-supported aircraft or airports you fly regularly. Large livery bundles and overlapping scenery consume storage but seldom improve the actual simulation as much.
Why do MSFS 2024 mods cause crashes or disappear?
Most mod failures come from obsolete builds, duplicate packages, an extra folder level, missing dependencies or two add-ons trying to control the same system.
- Isolate third-party content. Use Safe Mode when it is offered after a failed launch, or temporarily disable Community and Marketplace add-ons.
- Check the package root. A normal Community package should expose files such as
manifest.jsonandlayout.jsoninside its own package folder. An extra wrapper folder can make it invisible. - Remove old copies. Do not leave stable, development and previous-version folders installed together unless the developer explicitly permits it.
- Restore packages in small batches. If the problem returns, split the latest batch in half until the conflicting package is identified.
- Stop competing systems. Avoid two traffic injectors, duplicate airport packages or multiple add-ons replacing the same jetways and ground services.
- Check external software separately. Emptying the Community folder does not stop companion applications, shader tools or Marketplace packages from loading.
A mistake we see constantly is blaming the last simulator update and reinstalling everything before testing an empty add-on setup. Isolation is faster and preserves working packages while exposing the actual conflict.