Fix the MSFS 2020 not enough disk space error by checking the Packages path, clearing temporary files and safely moving the installation.
To fix Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020’s “You do not have enough space on this disk” error, make room on both the Packages drive and Windows system drive, verify the installer’s Packages path, then retry. The sim needs temporary download and unpacking space beyond the final installed size, especially during large updates.
Why does MSFS report insufficient space when space is available?
The free space may be on a different drive from the one Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 is actually using. Its small launcher application and its much larger Official and Community package folders can reside on separate drives.
The size shown by the package installer is not always the maximum working space required. An update may temporarily retain an old package while downloading and unpacking its replacement, while Windows, Steam, the Xbox app or Microsoft Store may also use space on the system drive.
| Location | Why it needs space |
|---|---|
| Packages drive | Stores aircraft, scenery, updates and temporary package data. |
| Windows system drive | May hold temporary files, launcher data and Windows working files. |
| External drive | Must have sufficient capacity, a suitable file system and a stable drive letter. |
How do I clear the disk-space error?
- Close every related application. Exit Microsoft Flight Simulator, Steam or the Xbox app, then restart Windows. This releases temporary files and ensures that Explorer reports the correct free space.
- Check the Packages path. On the installation or update screen, inspect the path shown near the download controls. If necessary, locate
UserCfg.optand read its finalInstalledPackagesPathentry; its location differs between Store and Steam editions. - Confirm that it is the correct folder. The Packages root contains both
OfficialandCommunity. Store installations normally haveOfficial\OneStore, while Steam installations normally haveOfficial\Steam. Do not select theOfficialsubfolder itself. - Free space on both drives. Empty the Recycle Bin and use Windows Storage settings to remove temporary files. Leave more than the installer’s quoted minimum because there is no single safe buffer for every package or update.
- Move optional simulator content. Temporarily move third-party add-ons out of
Community, or uninstall unused World Updates and optional aircraft through Content Manager if the simulator opens. Do not delete complete folders fromOfficialat random. - Check the rolling cache. A large rolling-cache file can consume space without being obvious in Content Manager. If MSFS opens, clear, reduce or relocate it under its Data options; our rolling-cache management steps explain each choice.
- Retry with the correct path. Reopen the installer, confirm the Packages location again and resume the download. If existing packages are detected, MSFS should scan them rather than download everything again.
Which folder should I choose on another drive?
Choose the Packages root—the folder directly containing Official and Community. A mistake we see constantly is selecting an empty parent folder or the Official folder, which makes MSFS appear to have lost the installation and can trigger a complete redownload.
Changing only the Steam library or Microsoft Store application drive does not necessarily move the Packages folder. For an existing installation, follow our procedure for moving MSFS packages to another drive without redownloading them.
Can MSFS 2020 use an external drive?
Yes, the Packages folder can be placed on an external drive, preferably an SSD formatted as NTFS. Keep the same drive letter, connect it before starting MSFS and disable any power-saving behaviour that repeatedly disconnects the device.
FAT32 cannot store individual files larger than 4 GB and may produce a misleading capacity error even when plenty of total space remains. Our external-drive installation checklist covers file-system limits, temporary working space and abandoned downloads. Back up the drive before reformatting because formatting erases its contents.
What if the error appears during an update?
An update can need much more temporary space than its final increase in installed size. This commonly happens when the updater stages a replacement package before removing the old version.
If the update always fails on the same package despite ample space, an interrupted download or damaged partial package is more likely than a genuine capacity shortage. Avoid deleting the whole Official folder or using an application reset as the first fix, since either can force a very large redownload.
Restart the PC, verify the Packages path and let MSFS scan the installation again. If the same package still loops or fails, use the appropriate platform-specific MSFS file and package repair method before reinstalling the simulator.