Find the DCS World kneeboard file location, add aircraft-specific PNG or JPG pages correctly and fix custom pages that do not appear.
DCS World custom kneeboard pages belong in your Windows Saved Games profile, normally Saved Games\DCS\Kneeboard, not in the simulator installation directory. Add PNG or JPG images directly to that folder for general pages, or use an aircraft-specific subfolder, then reload the mission—or DCS itself—so the pages are indexed.
What is the DCS World kneeboard folder location?
The normal personal kneeboard path is C:\Users\<Windows-user>\Saved Games\DCS\Kneeboard\. Windows can relocate the Saved Games folder, so treat that as the usual path rather than an absolute rule.
Older installations may still use Saved Games\DCS.openbeta\Kneeboard\. Do not create copies in both locations blindly: launch DCS, then use the profile whose Logs\dcs.log file has just been updated. Our explanation of how DCS Saved Games folders are organised covers the same separation between user content and core simulator files.
Factory-supplied pages can be spread across module or terrain files, embedded in a mission, or generated dynamically from briefing data. Those are separate from your personal image pages and should not be edited in the DCS installation directory, where an update or repair can replace them.
How do I add custom kneeboard pages?
Create the personal folder if necessary and copy one image file per page.
- Open the active profile: go to
Saved Games\DCS, or the legacyDCS.openbetaprofile if that is the one DCS is updating. - Create the kneeboard folder: make a directory named exactly
Kneeboardif one does not already exist. - Choose the page scope: place images directly in
Kneeboardwhen they should be available generally, or create a module-specific subfolder when they belong to one aircraft. - Use the aircraft's internal name: examples include
FA-18C_hornet,F-16C_50andA-10C_2. The marketing name shown on the module store page may not match the identifier DCS expects. - Copy PNG or JPG files: put them directly in the chosen folder. Do not add an extra
IMAGESdirectory or leave the files inside a ZIP archive. - Reload the cockpit: restart the mission first. If DCS still does not detect the files, close and reopen the simulator, then use your assigned kneeboard controls to view them. We cover those bindings and display options in our guide to opening and controlling the DCS kneeboard.
Use simple, zero-padded filenames such as 01-startup.png, 02-radios.png and 03-approach.png. This keeps the intended order clear, although DCS may place custom pages before or after module-generated material according to how that aircraft assembles its kneeboard.
Which image format should I use?
PNG is best for text-heavy charts, while JPG is more efficient for photographs and scanned material.
| Format | Best use | Practical guidance |
|---|---|---|
| PNG | Checklists, diagrams and small text | Keeps lettering and sharp lines clear |
| JPG | Photographs and detailed scans | Produces smaller files when moderate compression is used |
| Source documents only | DCS does not display a PDF directly; export each required page as PNG or JPG |
A portrait 3:4 image, such as 768 by 1024 pixels, fits the traditional kneeboard shape well, but it is not a mandatory resolution. DCS scales other dimensions; very wide pages will simply be harder to read in the cockpit.
Why are my custom kneeboard pages not showing?
Most missing pages are caused by the wrong Saved Games profile, an incorrect aircraft folder name or an extra directory level.
- Wrong profile: the files are under
DCSwhile the simulator is readingDCS.openbeta, or the reverse. - Wrong aircraft identifier: a folder such as
F-16will not substitute for the internal type name DCS expects. - Nested files: the actual image is under
Kneeboard\Aircraft\Images\rather than directly inside the aircraft folder. - Unsupported source file: a PDF, document or archive has been copied without first converting or extracting it. Hidden Windows extensions can also disguise a filename such as
chart.png.pdf. - Mission still loaded: DCS may not rebuild the kneeboard deck until the mission or simulator is restarted.
- Unreadable artwork: the page exists but uses tiny text, a landscape layout or poor contrast, making it appear blank or useless in VR and at normal cockpit zoom.
For a quick diagnosis, put one simple PNG directly in the main Kneeboard folder. If that appears, the image and active profile are valid, so the aircraft-specific folder name or nesting is the likely fault.
Can I replace default or mission kneeboard pages?
Leave default module files untouched and add personal replacements through Saved Games instead. This protects your pages from simulator repairs and updates, although a custom page does not automatically suppress a factory page with similar content.
Mission authors can also package kneeboard material inside a .miz mission, but that content applies only when the mission is loaded and uses a different internal structure. Do not copy that packaged folder layout into your personal Kneeboard directory.
Steam and standalone DCS installations both use Windows Saved Games for personal content, though they may point to different or legacy profile names. Back up the complete Kneeboard folder before changing editions or Windows profiles; our Steam-versus-standalone comparison explains the broader installation distinction.