Learn when it is safe to delete the MSFS SceneryIndexes folder, rebuild it without losing add-ons, and troubleshoot scenery that remains broken.
Yes. With Microsoft Flight Simulator fully closed, you can delete—or, more safely, rename—the SceneryIndexes folder on PC. The simulator rebuilds the index at the next launch; installed scenery and Community add-ons remain untouched. This can repair stale or corrupt index data, but it does not cure every scenery problem.
What happens when you delete SceneryIndexes?
Deleting SceneryIndexes removes a generated catalogue of scenery packages, not the scenery packages themselves. Microsoft Flight Simulator scans the available content and creates fresh index files when it starts again.
This does not uninstall Marketplace purchases, Official packages or Community add-ons. A mistake we see constantly is deleting folders from Community or Official instead of the separate index folder; those directories contain actual package files and must not be treated as disposable caches.
How do you rebuild the MSFS scenery index safely?
The safest method is to rename the folder first, test the rebuilt index, and delete the backup only after confirming that the simulator works.
- Close Microsoft Flight Simulator completely. Wait until its process has ended before changing any files.
- Locate the active
SceneryIndexesfolder. Its path varies between Microsoft Store and Steam installations, and MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 use separate per-user data locations. It is normally within the simulator's local profile or cache data, not insideCommunityorOfficial. - Confirm that it belongs to the correct installation. Multiple simulator versions can leave several similar directories behind. If necessary, use the active packages path to identify which Community folder your installation actually uses.
- Rename the folder. Change
SceneryIndexesto something such asSceneryIndexes.backup. Renaming provides the same clean rebuild while preserving an easy rollback. - Launch the simulator and wait. The initial start and first scenery load may take longer while the package catalogue is rebuilt. Do not interrupt the simulator during this scan.
- Test the affected airport or area. If the problem is resolved and a new
SceneryIndexesfolder has appeared, the backup can be deleted.
If no new folder appears, you may have edited an inactive profile or the simulator may not have completed its package scan. Do not create an empty folder manually; recheck the installation and user-data location instead.
Which scenery problems can rebuilding the index fix?
Rebuilding the scenery index is most useful after installing, updating or removing scenery when Microsoft Flight Simulator appears to retain stale package information.
| Symptom | Is an index rebuild appropriate? |
|---|---|
| An airport disappeared after an add-on or simulator update | Yes, it is a reasonable first repair after confirming the package is installed. |
| Removed scenery still appears to be referenced | Yes, stale index data may be involved. |
| The simulator hangs while scanning scenery packages | Try one rebuild, but a damaged or incompatible package may be the real cause. |
| Two airports, runways or sets of buildings overlap | Usually not; this points to competing scenery packages or package priority. |
| Photogrammetry or streamed terrain is blurry or absent | Usually not; online data, bandwidth and rolling-cache issues are more likely. |
What if the scenery is still missing?
If SceneryIndexes rebuilds successfully but the fault remains, the index was probably not the root cause. Check the symptom rather than repeatedly deleting the folder:
- If only a Community add-on is absent, verify its package structure and active location using our Community add-on detection checks.
- If two products cover the same airport or area, follow the steps for isolating conflicting scenery packages.
- If default scenery, streamed terrain or several unrelated airports are missing, work through our broader scenery-loading troubleshooting sequence.
- If a purchased package is absent, confirm that it is installed and enabled through the simulator's content-management interface.
Can you delete SceneryIndexes on Xbox or PlayStation?
No. This file-level repair is for PC installations because Xbox and PlayStation do not expose the simulator's SceneryIndexes directory. Do not delete all console saved data to imitate the procedure; that is not equivalent and may remove local settings or other user data.