Learn how to download the Boeing 787 in MSFS 2020, which edition you need, how freeware 787-8 and 787-9 add-ons work, and fix missing aircraft.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 includes the Boeing 787-10 only with the Premium Deluxe edition. Owners can install it through Content Manager. On PC, freeware 787-8 and 787-9 add-ons are also available, but the established versions depend on that Premium Deluxe 787-10; they do not give Standard-edition users a complete independent 787.
Which Boeing 787 can you download in MSFS 2020?
The right download depends on your platform, edition and preferred 787 variant.
| Choice | Platform | Requirement | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official Boeing 787-10 | PC and Xbox Series X|S | MSFS 2020 Premium Deluxe | Complete aircraft supplied by Microsoft |
| Freeware 787-8 | PC | Premium Deluxe 787-10 | A separate variant using assets and systems from the official aircraft |
| Freeware 787-9 | PC | Premium Deluxe 787-10 | A separate variant with the same base-aircraft dependency |
| 787 livery | PC, or Xbox when supplied through the in-sim Marketplace | The matching 787 model | New paint only, not a flyable aircraft |
The Deluxe edition is not enough; it must be Premium Deluxe. Base access through Game Pass also does not include the 787-10 unless the relevant upgrade entitlement has been purchased.
For the PC freeware choices, our comparison of the available 787-8 and 787-9 add-ons explains their differences and Premium Deluxe dependency.
How do I install the official Boeing 787-10?
Premium Deluxe owners should install the official 787 inside MSFS 2020 rather than placing anything in the Community folder.
- Confirm your edition. Check that your account owns MSFS 2020 Premium Deluxe or the Premium Deluxe upgrade. Standard and Deluxe licences do not grant the aircraft.
- Launch the entitled copy. Sign in with the Microsoft or Xbox account associated with the simulator installation and entitlement.
- Open Content Manager. From the main menu, open Profile, then Content Manager.
- Search for the aircraft. Search for 787 or Boeing, and check the uninstalled-content filter if necessary. Package grouping can change after simulator updates, so inspect the Premium Deluxe content if there is no separate aircraft entry.
- Install the package. Select the Boeing 787-10 or its containing Premium Deluxe package and use the offered download or install command.
- Restart and check the hangar. Return to aircraft selection and look for the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner.
You do not need to buy or download the entire simulator again. If the aircraft is absent from Content Manager, the usual cause is a missing Premium Deluxe entitlement or being signed into the wrong account.
Can I get a free Boeing 787 with the Standard edition?
The recognised freeware 787-8 and 787-9 options do not bypass the Premium Deluxe requirement. They reuse parts of the official 787-10, so they cannot function properly when that base aircraft is absent.
A mistake we see often is downloading a file labelled as a Boeing 787 only to discover that it is a livery. A livery contains textures for an aircraft you already own. Our guide to distinguishing complete freeware aircraft from liveries and dependencies shows what to check before downloading.
How do I install a freeware 787 on PC?
Once the Premium Deluxe 787-10 is installed, a compatible freeware variant normally uses the standard Community-folder method.
- Check compatibility. Confirm that the download is specifically for MSFS 2020, supports your installed simulator build and requires the 787-10 you own.
- Extract the archive. Do not place the ZIP or other compressed archive directly in the Community folder.
- Find the package root. The folder copied into Community should contain files such as
manifest.jsonandlayout.json. Extra nested folders are a common reason aircraft fail to appear. - Copy it to Community. Do not place freeware packages inside the Official or OneStore folder.
- Restart MSFS 2020. The 787 variant should then appear as its own aircraft in the selection menu.
Community-folder locations differ between Microsoft Store, Xbox app and Steam installations. Follow our package-root and Community-folder installation instructions if you are unsure which folder MSFS is actually reading.
Xbox players cannot install aircraft from downloaded ZIP files or access a Community folder. They can use the official Premium Deluxe 787-10 and compatible content distributed through the in-sim Marketplace.
Why is the Boeing 787 not showing in MSFS 2020?
A missing 787 usually points to an entitlement, dependency or folder-structure problem.
- No Premium Deluxe licence: Standard, Deluxe and base Game Pass access do not include the official 787-10.
- Wrong account: The simulator is running under an account that does not own the Premium Deluxe content.
- Missing dependency: A freeware 787-8 or 787-9 cannot load correctly because the official 787-10 is absent, disabled or incomplete.
- Nested package folder: The actual package sits one or two folders below the directory copied into Community.
- Archive not extracted: MSFS cannot load the aircraft directly from a compressed download.
- Livery mistaken for an aircraft: The download only adds paint for a specific 787 model.
- Wrong simulator version: A package made only for MSFS 2024 should not be assumed to work in MSFS 2020.
- Conflicting or outdated copies: Remove duplicate versions from Community and replace an old build after major simulator changes.
Test the stock 787-10 before troubleshooting a freeware derivative. If the official aircraft itself will not load, repair its Content Manager installation first. Once it is working, our 787 setup and flying guidance for MSFS 2020 covers cockpit preparation, flight planning, autopilot use and landing.