Find free MSFS scenery add-ons for airports, cities and landmarks, plus PC installation steps, compatibility checks and console limits.
For the PC versions of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024, download free scenery add-ons from our curated MSFS scenery library, which covers airports, cities, landmarks, terrain and photoreal enhancements. Check the listed simulator compatibility and dependencies before downloading. Xbox and PlayStation users cannot install ordinary Community-folder scenery files.
Where should I look for free MSFS scenery?
Our main scenery library is organised around airports, cities, landmarks and wider regional enhancements. If you have a destination in mind, a geographical collection such as our free United States scenery catalogue is faster to browse than a general mod library.
Read each file page rather than choosing from screenshots alone. A regional package such as the Dallas city enhancement and its installation notes shows the coverage and documentation to look for, although you must still verify that any individual download supports your edition of Microsoft Flight Simulator.
How do I choose the right scenery download?
Choose scenery by its stated coverage, simulator compatibility and dependencies—not simply by file size or image quality.
| Scenery type | Best used for | Main check before downloading |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | Improved terminals, aprons, markings and objects | Whether another package already modifies the same airport |
| City or landmark | Recognisable buildings and visual reference points | The exact geographical coverage |
| Terrain or mesh | Improved elevation and landforms | Possible overlap with other terrain packages |
| Photoreal scenery | More detailed ground imagery | Storage use, loading demands and colour matching |
Do not assume that every Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 package works in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Many do, but compatibility depends on how the package was built and whether it relies on changed scenery systems. Also check for required object libraries, base content or world updates.
How do I install free MSFS scenery on PC?
Most freeware scenery is installed by extracting its package folder into the active Community folder.
- Close the simulator. Installing or replacing scenery while MSFS is running can prevent it from being detected correctly.
- Extract the downloaded archive. Do not copy a ZIP, RAR or 7z archive directly into
Community. - Find the actual package folder. A typical package root contains files such as
manifest.jsonandlayout.json. Some downloads place that folder inside an extra wrapper directory. - Copy the package into the active Community folder. Its location varies with the MSFS edition, installation source and any custom packages path. Updates or reinstalls can leave behind an old, inactive Community folder.
- Start MSFS and test the covered location. For an airport replacement, temporarily disable other packages for the same airport so that you can identify conflicts.
Can Xbox and PlayStation install downloaded scenery?
No. Console editions do not provide access to the Community folder, so ordinary freeware archives downloaded from the web cannot be sideloaded.
Xbox users must obtain compatible content through the simulator's built-in content system. The same restriction applies to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on PlayStation 5 and PS5 Pro. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 was not released for PlayStation.
Why does downloaded scenery not appear?
Missing scenery is usually caused by an installation or compatibility problem rather than a failed download. Check these points in order:
- The package has been extracted and is not still inside an archive.
- The folder containing
manifest.jsonis not buried under unnecessary nested folders. - You used the Community folder belonging to the active installation.
- The scenery supports your simulator edition and has all required dependencies.
- No second add-on modifies the same airport, city or terrain area.
- You are viewing the exact location covered by the package; some enhancements affect a much smaller area than their title suggests.
What if the scenery loads but looks blurry?
Blurriness usually points to graphics settings, data streaming, bandwidth, cache behaviour or level-of-detail limits rather than an incorrectly installed airport package. Use our MSFS blurry-scenery troubleshooting steps before replacing the add-on.