Completely uninstall Microsoft Flight Simulator on PC, including Community add-ons, Packages, caches, custom folders and optional cloud saves.
To uninstall Microsoft Flight Simulator completely on PC, first record and back up anything you want from its Community and custom package folders. Uninstall the app through Windows, the Xbox app or Steam, then delete its remaining Packages, configuration and cache folders. Remove synchronised cloud data separately only if you want a factory reset.
What does a normal MSFS uninstall leave behind?
A standard uninstall usually removes the simulator application, but it may leave hundreds of gigabytes of downloaded content elsewhere. This happens because MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 can store packages, add-ons and caches outside the main application directory.
The result depends on where the simulator came from and whether you selected a custom Packages location during installation.
| Data | Removed automatically? | What it contains |
|---|---|---|
| Base application | Usually | Executable files installed through Microsoft Store, Xbox or Steam |
| Packages folder | Not always | Official content, Marketplace downloads and Community add-ons |
| Configuration and caches | Often retained | Graphics settings, package indexes, rolling cache and temporary data |
| External add-on libraries | No | Aircraft and scenery stored outside the Community folder |
| Cloud profile | No | Synchronised settings, progress and other account data |
How do I remove every local MSFS file?
Close the simulator and related software. Exit MSFS, the Xbox app or Steam, and any add-on manager. Restart Windows if files remain locked after the simulator closes.
Find the active Packages folder before uninstalling. This is the most frequently missed step. In MSFS 2020, the
UserCfg.optfile normally records the active folder besideInstalledPackagesPath. A custom installation can point to any internal or external drive.Our guide to finding MSFS application and package locations on PC covers the differences between Microsoft Store, Xbox and Steam installations.
Back up only the files you want. Copy personal flight plans, controller-setting backups and wanted Community add-ons somewhere outside the MSFS directory. Marketplace purchases remain attached to the account and can be downloaded again, so there is normally no reason to back up the large Official folder.
If the Community directory is difficult to identify, our explanation of where MSFS 2020 mods and the active Community folder belong will help confirm the correct location.
Uninstall the base application. For a Microsoft Store or Xbox installation, use the Xbox app or Windows' Installed apps controls. For Steam, use the uninstall command from the game's Library entry. Let the launcher finish before deleting leftovers.
Do not take ownership of
WindowsAppsand force-delete it. That protected directory can contain other games and shared Microsoft components.Delete the remaining package content. In MSFS 2020, the package root normally contains
CommunityandOfficial; the latter may contain a storefront-specific subfolder. Delete both if no add-ons need to be kept.MSFS 2024 streams more content, but locally downloaded aircraft, scenery, Community packages and caches can still remain. Delete only the simulator's package directory, not a shared parent folder used by other applications.
Remove simulator-specific AppData folders. Open the Windows Run box and inspect
%LOCALAPPDATA%and%APPDATA%. Remove only folders clearly belonging to the relevant MSFS 2020 or MSFS 2024 installation. Microsoft Store and Xbox versions may leave an application-package container under Local AppData, while Steam commonly retains simulator configuration under Roaming AppData.Also remove any rolling or manual cache stored at a custom location. If uncertain, search the expected MSFS folders for
UserCfg.optand package directories rather than deleting broadly named Microsoft folders.Check external add-on libraries. Add-on managers often place symbolic links in Community while keeping the real aircraft and scenery on another drive. Deleting the link frees almost no space; remove the external library as well if those files are no longer wanted.
Empty the Recycle Bin and restart Windows. Large package folders continue occupying their full disk space while they remain in the Recycle Bin. After restarting, check every drive that previously held MSFS content.
Should I delete MSFS cloud saves as well?
Delete cloud data only when the aim is to reset the simulator's profile, not merely to reclaim disk space or perform a clean installation. Removing local AppData does not necessarily remove settings and progress synchronised through the Microsoft account or platform service.
Cloud deletion can affect control profiles, logbook information, settings and version-specific progress. MSFS 2024 also contains online account and Career data that may not behave like an ordinary local save. Use the platform's saved-data or cloud controls where available, and treat deletion as irreversible.
Purchased Marketplace entitlements remain associated with the account even after all local and cloud save data is removed. Uninstalling the simulator does not cancel ownership or erase purchase history.
Why is disk space still missing after uninstalling MSFS?
Missing disk space almost always means that a secondary content location or cache was overlooked.
- Custom Packages path: check every drive, especially the folder selected during the simulator's first large content download.
- External add-on library: inspect the actual target of any link that previously appeared in Community.
- Manual or rolling cache: these can be stored separately from both the application and Packages folders.
- Recycle Bin: deleted Official and Community packages still consume space until it is emptied.
- Another Windows user account: AppData and Community folders are user-specific, so another account may hold a separate installation or cache.
Do not remove Xbox Gaming Services, Microsoft Store components or shared Steam files simply because they remain installed. They are not part of the MSFS content library and may be required by other games.
What should I keep before reinstalling?
Keep personal files and irreplaceable freeware, but leave caches and downloaded Official packages behind. Restoring an old cache or the entire configuration folder can reintroduce the fault that prompted the clean uninstall.
After reinstalling, start MSFS once with an empty Community folder. Add third-party aircraft and scenery back in small groups so an incompatible package is easy to identify. If the uninstall is part of a computer move, follow our steps for transferring and reinstalling MSFS on a new PC rather than copying the complete old installation blindly.