How do I completely uninstall Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 or 2024 on PC?

To completely uninstall Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 or 2024 on PC, first back up wanted Community add-ons and personal files. Uninstall the base app through Steam, the Xbox app or Windows, then delete its separate Packages folder, configuration folders and caches. Remove cloud data only if you also intend to reset your synchronised profile.

What does a normal Microsoft Flight Simulator uninstall leave behind?

A normal uninstall removes the storefront-managed application, but it may leave the simulator’s largest content folders on another drive.

Microsoft Flight Simulator separates the base app from downloaded packages, Community add-ons, caches and user data. Deleting only the application—or manually deleting its programme folder—is therefore not a complete uninstall.

How do I uninstall MSFS 2020 or 2024 from Steam, the Xbox app or Windows?

Use the uninstall command belonging to the storefront that installed that edition of Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Steam users searching for how to uninstall MSFS 2020 should not stop after the Library uninstall finishes. Steam removes the application it manages, but it does not guarantee removal of content downloaded by the simulator itself.

How do I completely uninstall MSFS 2020 or MSFS 2024?

A complete local uninstall requires removing the base app and then checking every content, cache and add-on location used by that installation.

1. Close MSFS and its supporting tools. Exit Microsoft Flight Simulator, Steam or the Xbox app, add-on managers, traffic tools and any programme that accesses the Community folder. Restart Windows if a file remains locked.

2. Record the active Packages location before uninstalling. This is the step most often missed. A custom installation may place its large content library on any internal or external drive, regardless of where Windows says the application is installed.

   In MSFS 2020, open UserCfg.opt and find InstalledPackagesPath. Typical locations for that file include %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\UserCfg.opt for a Microsoft installation and %APPDATA%\Microsoft Flight Simulator\UserCfg.opt for Steam, although a custom setup can differ. Our guide to finding the application, Packages, Community and cache locations explains what each path contains.

   MSFS 2024 has its own configuration and content locations. If its files were placed on another drive, use the steps for identifying a custom MSFS 2024 content path through UserCfg.opt rather than guessing from the application location.

3. Back up only what you want to preserve. Move wanted Community add-ons, personal flight plans and other irreplaceable files to a folder outside every MSFS directory. Record custom control and graphics settings if you may need to recreate them.

   Marketplace ownership stays attached to the account, so purchased content can be downloaded again. Backing up the large Official folder may save download time, but restoring it can also reintroduce damaged packages; leave it behind when the purpose is a genuinely clean reinstall.

4. Uninstall the base application. Use Steam, the Xbox app or Windows Settings as described above, and let the process finish. If MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 are both installed, remove each edition separately.

   Do not take ownership of WindowsApps and force-delete it. That protected folder can contain other games and shared Microsoft components.

5. Delete the active package content. In MSFS 2020, the Packages root normally contains Community and Official. Delete both after confirming that the Community add-ons you want are safely backed up.

   MSFS 2024 streams more content than MSFS 2020, but Community packages, explicitly downloaded content and local caches can still remain. Delete only the folder confirmed as belonging to that edition; never delete a shared drive root, a general Packages parent or an entire Steam library.

6. Remove simulator-specific configuration and cache files. Inspect %LOCALAPPDATA% and %APPDATA% for folders belonging to the edition and storefront you removed. For MSFS 2020 from Microsoft, this can include the Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe application container. Steam commonly retains MSFS 2020 configuration under %APPDATA%\Microsoft Flight Simulator.

   Delete a custom rolling or manual cache as well. A rolling cache may appear as ROLLINGCACHE.CCC, but its location can be changed, so remove it only after confirming that it belongs to MSFS. Avoid deleting broadly named Microsoft, Xbox, Steam or Packages folders.

7. Check external add-on libraries and links. Add-on managers may keep the real aircraft or scenery on another drive and place only a symbolic link or junction in Community. Deleting that link frees almost no space; remove the external library separately if it is no longer wanted.

8. Empty the Recycle Bin and restart Windows. Deleted Official and Community packages continue to consume disk space while they remain in the Recycle Bin. After restarting, check the free-space figure on every drive that previously held simulator content.

What is different when uninstalling Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024?

MSFS 2024 uses more streamed content than MSFS 2020, but uninstalling its base app still does not guarantee removal of Community add-ons, local downloads, caches or configuration data.

MSFS 2020 commonly leaves a large Official package tree at the path recorded in UserCfg.opt. With MSFS 2024, the amount of persistent content depends more heavily on what was downloaded locally and where its content library was configured. This means a smaller amount of recovered space does not by itself indicate that the MSFS 2024 uninstall failed.

If removal is intended to repair the simulator rather than dispose of it permanently, follow the version-specific advice for reinstalling MSFS 2024 while deciding whether to preserve Community add-ons.

Should I delete Microsoft Flight Simulator cloud saves as well?

Delete cloud-linked data only when you deliberately want to reset settings or progress; it is not required to uninstall MSFS or reclaim local storage.

Local AppData deletion does not necessarily remove control profiles, logbook information, settings or other data synchronised through the signed-in account. Steam installations also use a Microsoft account inside the simulator, so deleting Steam files alone does not guarantee an account-level reset.

MSFS 2024 includes online profile and Career information that may not behave like an ordinary local save. Some service-side data may not be erased by removing files from the PC. Use only account or platform controls that explicitly identify the simulator’s saved data, and read any choice between deleting locally and deleting everywhere carefully.

Uninstalling the simulator does not erase ownership, Marketplace purchase history or account entitlements.

Why is disk space still missing after uninstalling MSFS?

Disk space that remains occupied usually belongs to a missed custom package path, cache, external add-on library or Recycle Bin.

• Another drive holds the Packages folder: check the path previously recorded in UserCfg.opt, not just the Windows application location.
• An add-on manager stores files externally: inspect the target behind any former Community link or junction.
• A rolling or manual cache remains: these can be placed outside both the application and Packages folders.
• The Recycle Bin still contains the files: large deleted package folders continue to occupy their original space until the bin is emptied.
• Another Windows user has separate data: AppData and some simulator content locations are user-specific.
• Both simulator editions are installed: MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 have separate applications and local data.

A mistake we see constantly is searching only the system drive after the simulator itself has been removed. The bulk content is often on the secondary drive selected during the first in-simulator download.

Do I need to delete registry entries or Xbox Gaming Services?

No registry cleaning or removal of Xbox Gaming Services is required for a complete Microsoft Flight Simulator uninstall.

Old registry entries occupy negligible space and are safer left for Windows and the storefront to manage. Gaming Services, Microsoft Store components, shared runtime libraries and Steam client files may be needed by other games. Removing them can turn a straightforward reinstall into a launcher or sign-in repair problem.

What should I keep before reinstalling Microsoft Flight Simulator?

Keep personal files and trusted add-ons, but do not restore caches, package indexes or suspect Official content after a clean uninstall.

Start the reinstalled simulator once with an empty Community folder. Confirm that it loads correctly, then return third-party aircraft and scenery in small groups so an incompatible package is easy to identify.

If the uninstall is part of a computer replacement, use our advice on moving MSFS to a new PC without copying the entire old installation blindly.