Download a Boeing 737 MAX for MSFS 2020 safely, install it on PC or Xbox, and fix missing aircraft, livery-only and Community folder errors.
To download a Boeing 737 MAX for MSFS 2020, choose a complete, compatible aircraft and obtain it through the in-sim Marketplace or its authorised PC installer. Marketplace purchases install through Content Manager; manually supplied PC packages go in the Community folder. A livery by itself does not add a flyable 737 MAX.
Which Boeing 737 MAX package should I download?
Choose the package according to your platform, required system depth and preferred installation method. Our comparison of the available MSFS 2020 737 MAX aircraft explains the main choices and their limitations.
| Download type | Best suited to | Installation | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-sim Marketplace aircraft | PC or Xbox users wanting managed installation | Downloaded inside MSFS 2020 and managed through Content Manager | Xbox support applies only when the listing explicitly includes Xbox |
| Authorised PC release | PC users seeking a particular third-party aircraft | Normally installed with the supplied installer or updater | An external PC purchase does not automatically provide an Xbox copy |
| Manual Community package | PC freeware, liveries and compatible modifications | Extracted into the Community folder | Many files require a separate base aircraft |
Check the model name carefully. The Boeing 737-800 belongs to the earlier 737 Next Generation family; it is not a 737 MAX. An add-on labelled only as a 737 livery or enhancement is also not necessarily a complete aircraft.
How do I install a 737 MAX in MSFS 2020?
- Confirm what the download contains. The listing should say that it is a complete aircraft for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020. Check the supported platform and any required base aircraft before acquiring it.
- Use the correct download route. For a Marketplace aircraft, acquire and download it inside MSFS 2020. For an authorised PC release, use the installer or download manager supplied with that aircraft.
- Extract manual PC packages. Do not put the unopened ZIP archive in the Community folder. The usable package folder normally contains
manifest.jsonandlayout.json. - Avoid an extra folder level. Those two files must sit inside the package folder placed in
Community, not inside another identically named nested folder. Our aircraft installation instructions for MSFS 2020 cover the variable Community folder locations. - Restart the simulator. Open the aircraft selection screen and search by Boeing, 737 or the add-on developer's name. Marketplace content should also show as installed in Content Manager.
If the aircraft uses its own installer, let that installer manage the files. Copying part of an installed aircraft into Community can break updates, dependencies or activation.
Can I download a 737 MAX on Xbox?
Xbox users can install only the 737 MAX products offered for Xbox through the MSFS 2020 Marketplace. Xbox does not accept ZIP files, external installers or manually copied Community packages.
Read the Marketplace platform information before buying. A PC-only add-on cannot be converted into an Xbox package, and owning an externally purchased PC edition does not mean it will appear in the Xbox content library.
Why is my downloaded 737 MAX not showing?
A missing 737 MAX is usually caused by an incomplete installation, a missing dependency or a package made for the wrong simulator.
- It is only a livery: install the exact base aircraft named in the file description.
- The ZIP was not extracted: unpack it before placing the aircraft folder in Community.
- The folders are nested: move the folder containing
manifest.jsonandlayout.jsonup to the correct level. - It targets MSFS 2024: do not assume an aircraft made for MSFS 2024 also works in MSFS 2020.
- Marketplace content is not installed: check Content Manager rather than searching for it in Community. Marketplace packages are managed separately.
- Another mod conflicts with it: temporarily move unrelated Community add-ons elsewhere, start the simulator with only the 737 MAX installed, and add the other packages back in small groups.
Can I download a free Boeing 737 MAX?
Free 737 MAX downloads exist in several forms, but many are liveries, visual modifications or enhancements rather than complete flyable aircraft. Our guide to finding complete free MSFS 2020 aircraft explains how to recognise the difference and check package requirements.
You can also search our MSFS add-ons and mods library for relevant 737 MAX files. Read each description before downloading: if it names another aircraft as a requirement, that base aircraft must be installed separately.