Download Dassault Rafale liveries for MSFS 2020 and 2024, then install them correctly and fix missing paints or incompatible variants.
You can download Dassault Rafale liveries for Microsoft Flight Simulator from our Rafale M aircraft-and-livery package. It includes the complete carrier-capable aircraft and a collection of liveries matched to that model, making it the simplest option for PC users of MSFS 2020 or MSFS 2024.
Which Rafale download should you choose?
The bundled Rafale M package is the right choice if you do not already have the exact base aircraft required by a standalone repaint. An MSFS livery is normally only a set of textures and configuration references; it cannot operate without the aircraft for which it was made.
| Package type | Choose it when | Main compatibility check |
|---|---|---|
| Complete Rafale M package | You want the flyable aircraft and matching liveries together | Remove an older copy before installing an updated package |
| Standalone repaint | You already have the named Rafale add-on | The developer, aircraft model and variant must match exactly |
A mistake we see constantly is assuming every add-on called “Rafale” uses the same internal aircraft definition. A repaint made for one Rafale M will not normally attach itself to another developer's Rafale, nor should an M repaint be assumed to fit a different Rafale variant. You can also browse our Microsoft Flight Simulator add-on library, but check each file description for its required base aircraft before downloading.
How do you install the Rafale liveries?
On PC, extract the package and place its add-on folder in the active MSFS Community folder. The correct directory varies with the simulator edition, installation source and any custom packages location, so use our MSFS 2020 and 2024 livery installation instructions if you are unsure which folder is active.
- Remove an obsolete copy: delete or move the previous version of the same Rafale package rather than merging old and new files.
- Extract the download: do not place the unopened archive in
Community. - Find the package root: copy the folder that directly contains files such as
manifest.jsonandlayout.json, not an extra wrapper folder above it. - Restart Microsoft Flight Simulator: add-ons copied while the simulator is running may not be recognised until the next launch.
- Select the supplied Rafale M: open the aircraft-selection screen and inspect the liveries attached to that aircraft entry.
Because this download contains a complete aircraft, its paint schemes belong to its own Rafale M entry. Do not expect them to appear beneath an unrelated Rafale already installed from another package.
Why is a Rafale livery missing in MSFS?
A missing Rafale livery is usually caused by the wrong package path, an incompatible base aircraft or a duplicate installation. Check these points before downloading the file again:
- Wrong Community folder: multiple MSFS installations or a custom packages location can leave an unused
Communityfolder on the computer. - Folder nested too deeply: MSFS cannot discover the add-on if its package root sits inside unnecessary wrapper directories.
- Wrong Rafale model: the repaint must reference the exact aircraft and variant for which it was created.
- Duplicate versions: two copies of the same aircraft can conflict or create confusing duplicate entries.
- Incomplete extraction: missing configuration or texture files can leave a blank thumbnail, a default paint scheme or no selectable livery.
Can you install Rafale liveries on Xbox or PlayStation?
Manually downloaded Rafale livery packages can only be installed on PC because consoles do not expose a PC-style Community folder. MSFS 2020 on Xbox and MSFS 2024 on Xbox, PlayStation 5 or PS5 Pro therefore cannot use this external archive; console users need compatible content distributed through the simulator's own content system.