Learn where to download the ATR 72 for MSFS 2020, install Marketplace or freeware packages, and fix missing aircraft and folder errors.
The official ATR 42-600/72-600 package is the simplest ATR 72 download for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020: obtain it from the in-simulator Marketplace and install it through Content Manager. On PC, a compatible complete freeware ATR 72, when available, can instead be extracted to the Community folder; Xbox accepts Marketplace add-ons only.
Which ATR 72 download should I choose?
Choose the official Marketplace package if you want the ATR 72-600 and support on either PC or Xbox. It is a separate paid add-on rather than part of the base MSFS 2020 aircraft fleet, and the package also includes the ATR 42-600.
PC users can also browse our MSFS aircraft download library for freeware. Availability changes, so read the description rather than assuming that an ATR-labelled file contains a complete aircraft. Our guide explains how to check whether an aircraft download is genuinely complete.
| Download type | Choose it when | Installation method |
|---|---|---|
| Official ATR 42-600/72-600 | You want the ATR 72-600 on PC or Xbox | Marketplace and Content Manager |
| Complete freeware ATR 72 | The description explicitly says it is a flyable MSFS 2020 aircraft | Extract to the PC Community folder |
| Livery or repaint | You already own the required base ATR model | Community folder on PC; it does not add an aircraft by itself |
If you specifically want an older ATR 72 variant rather than the 72-600, verify the model before downloading. An FSX, Prepar3D or MSFS 2024-only aircraft cannot simply be copied into MSFS 2020.
How do I install the Marketplace ATR 72?
The official ATR installs through MSFS 2020 itself and should not be moved manually into the Community folder.
- Sign in to the correct account. Launch MSFS 2020 using the Microsoft/Xbox account that will own or already owns the add-on.
- Open Marketplace. Search for
ATRand select the official package whose listing includes the ATR 72-600. Do not mistake a livery pack for the aircraft. - Purchase and download it. Allow the in-simulator download to finish without closing the simulator.
- Check Content Manager. Open
Profile, thenContent Manager, and search for ATR. If the package is marked as not installed or has an update available, select the relevant install or update option. - Select the aircraft. Return to the World Map aircraft selector and search for ATR or 72-600. Restart MSFS if it does not appear immediately.
If Marketplace is unavailable or greyed out, confirm that the simulator is online, the account is signed in and Online Functionality is enabled in the data settings.
How do I install a freeware ATR 72 on PC?
A complete freeware ATR 72 normally installs by placing its extracted package folder in the active MSFS 2020 Community folder.
- Check the requirements. The download must support MSFS 2020 and say that it includes a complete aircraft. Watch for phrases such as “requires the official ATR” or “livery only”.
- Extract the archive. Do not place the ZIP, RAR or 7z archive directly in Community.
- Find the package root. Open the extracted folders until you reach the folder containing files such as
manifest.jsonandlayout.json. Copy that folder, not an extra wrapper folder above it. - Use the active Community folder. Its location differs between Microsoft Store, Xbox app, Steam and custom installations. Follow our aircraft-specific Community-folder instructions if you need to locate it.
- Restart MSFS 2020. Search the aircraft selector for ATR and clear any category or manufacturer filters that could hide it.
Why is the ATR 72 missing from the aircraft list?
A missing ATR usually means the file is a livery, the package is nested incorrectly or the required base aircraft has not been installed.
- Livery instead of aircraft: A repaint contains textures, not a flyable model. Check the stated base-aircraft requirement and our advice on choosing ATR-compatible liveries.
- Folder nested too deeply: If Community contains a wrapper folder followed by another folder containing
manifest.json, move the actual package folder up one level. - Missing dependency: Some freeware modifications require the official Marketplace ATR. Installing the modification alone will not create a usable aircraft.
- Wrong simulator version: Packages made for FSX, Prepar3D or another MSFS release are not automatically compatible with MSFS 2020.
- Marketplace content not installed: Owning the ATR is not enough if Content Manager still marks its package as not installed.
- Conflicting modification: Temporarily remove other ATR-related packages from Community and test again. Restore them one at a time to identify the conflict.
Can I install a downloaded ATR 72 on Xbox?
Xbox users can install only ATR content distributed through the in-simulator Marketplace. Xbox does not expose the Community folder, so freeware ZIP packages and manually downloaded PC aircraft cannot be installed there.