Fix an FSX Weather.dll error by resetting weather files, testing Clear Skies, disabling injectors and repairing boxed or Steam Edition files.
A Weather.dll error in Microsoft Flight Simulator X (FSX) or FSX: Steam Edition usually means corrupt generated weather data, a damaged saved-flight weather file, or a conflicting weather injector—not a bad DLL. Test a new stock flight in Clear Skies, reset FSX’s weather files, disable weather add-ons, then verify or repair the installation.
What does a Weather.dll crash actually mean?
A Weather.dll crash identifies where FSX failed, but not necessarily what caused the failure. If Windows Event Viewer lists it as the faulting module, FSX was processing weather when invalid data, a damaged theme, an injector, or another module caused the simulator to stop.
The timing of the error is more useful than the DLL name:
| When the error occurs | Likely cause | Best first test |
|---|---|---|
| Only with one saved flight | Its .WX weather file or .FLT file | Create a completely new flight |
| Only when live weather is active | Weather injector, injector cache, or startup module | Run FSX with the weather utility closed |
| With every flight, including Clear Skies | Generated weather data, configuration, or installed files | Reset the profile files in stages |
| When opening the weather editor or choosing a theme | Damaged or modified weather-theme data | Test a stock theme, then repair installed files |
| With a different faulting module on each attempt | A broader add-on, driver, or system-stability problem | Stop treating it as a weather-only fault |
How do I fix the weather error without losing my FSX setup?
The safest fix is to reset per-user weather data before repairing installed files. Back up each file before renaming it, launch FSX after every change, and stop once a new stock flight works reliably.
- Close FSX and every companion utility. This includes weather injectors, flight planners and launchers that may keep files open or start FSX with an active weather session.
- Back up the active FSX profile. Boxed FSX normally uses
%APPDATA%\Microsoft\FSX. Steam Edition may use that folder or%APPDATA%\Microsoft\FSX-SE, depending on the installation history. If both exist, the active one is normally the folder whosefsx.cfgmodification time changes after running that edition. - Establish a clean baseline. Start a new flight with a stock aircraft, stock airport and the stock Clear Skies theme. Do not load the previous default flight or any saved flight. If this works, the installed
Weather.dllis almost certainly usable and the fault lies with a saved flight, add-on or weather source. - Rebuild the weather-station database. In the active profile folder, rename
wxstationlist.bintowxstationlist.bin.old. FSX will create another copy when required. If the file is not present, leave the folder unchanged and continue. - Exclude the saved weather file. Saved flights are normally stored in the user’s Flight Simulator X files folder and can include matching
.FLTand.WXfiles. Move the suspect pair to a backup folder or simply create and save a new flight under a different name. Do not make the old flight the default again until testing is complete. - Rebuild the main configuration. Rename
fsx.cfgtofsx.cfg.old, then launch FSX so it generates a clean file. This resets many graphics, sound and simulator preferences. Reapply settings individually rather than copying the whole old configuration back, which can restore the error. - Disable weather add-ons and startup entries. Keep externally launched injectors closed. To test modules that start with FSX, back up and temporarily rename
dll.xmlandexe.xmlin the active profile. If the crash stops, restore those files and disable their entries one at a time. If the module list is missing or malformed, use our instructions for rebuilding or restoring FSX’s DLL.xml safely.
A weather injector is a higher-priority suspect than an add-on that only replaces cloud or sky textures. However, any package that modified stock themes or other files in FSX’s Weather folder should remain disabled until the simulator runs with an entirely stock theme.
Which weather file should I rename?
Choose the file according to when the crash occurs rather than deleting every weather-related file at once.
wxstationlist.bin: reset this first when several flights fail or FSX crashes while processing weather stations.- A saved flight’s
.WXfile: suspect this when only one saved flight fails. Keep its matching.FLTas a backup and test a newly created flight. fsx.cfg: rebuild this when the fault affects fresh flights, the Weather dialogue, or several unrelated weather options.Weather.dll: never rename or replace this manually. Repair it through the appropriate boxed or Steam installation process.
What if the weather editor or theme selector causes the error?
An error limited to FSX’s Weather dialogue, User-defined Weather controls, or theme selector points towards configuration or modified theme data. Rebuild fsx.cfg, test Clear Skies, and remove any add-on that changed the stock weather themes before repairing the installation.
If “weather editor error” refers to a separate third-party editor, keep that utility closed and prevent it from starting with FSX. A stable stock flight without the editor shows that the problem belongs to the utility, its generated weather data, or its FSX interface rather than the core simulator alone.
Should I download a replacement Weather.dll?
No. A loose Weather.dll taken from another computer, FSX edition or patch level can introduce a version mismatch and create additional crashes. Do not register it with regsvr32; that does not repair this type of FSX module.
For FSX: Steam Edition, use Steam’s installation-file verification function. For boxed FSX, use the repair option from the original installation media, then restore the same official service-pack or Acceleration state used by that installation. Our FSX file-repair instructions for boxed and Steam editions cover the differences.
Verification or repair can replace deliberately modified stock files. Back up those modifications first, but do not immediately restore them over repaired files or the Weather.dll error may return.
Can FSX’s real-world weather test Weather.dll?
No; the original built-in FSX real-world weather download service was discontinued, so a failed download is not evidence that Weather.dll is corrupt. Use Clear Skies or another stock offline theme for diagnosis.
Once the clean flight is stable, add one external weather engine at a time. See the practical options for adding real-world weather to FSX without relying on the discontinued built-in service.
What if FSX freezes while loading worldwide weather?
A freeze during worldwide weather loading is usually handled as a weather-data or injector problem rather than a DLL-replacement problem. Test Clear Skies first, then follow our focused diagnosis for FSX freezing while loading worldwide weather to isolate corrupt saved weather and conflicting injectors.
What if Weather.dll still crashes after these fixes?
A persistent crash after resetting individual files calls for one final clean-profile test. Back up and rename the entire active FSX or FSX-SE profile folder, allow FSX to create a new one, and test only a stock aircraft, stock airport and Clear Skies. Do not copy the old profile back as a single block.
If the crash remains after a clean profile, disabled add-ons and repaired installation files, inspect Windows Event Viewer under the Application log again. A repeatable Weather.dll fault at the same action still implicates the weather path, while changing faulting modules indicate a wider add-on, driver, memory or Windows stability issue.
A complete reinstall should be the last step. Uninstalling FSX can leave profile files, saved flights and add-on launch entries behind, so reinstalling without isolating those files often reproduces the same weather error.