Find free MSFS 2024 add-ons for aircraft, scenery and utilities, with compatibility checks, PC installation advice and console limits.
You can find free add-ons for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 in Fly Away Simulation’s MSFS downloads library and, on PC, install compatible packages through the Community folder. Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 users cannot sideload community files, so their free content must come through the simulator’s in-sim Marketplace or content library.
Where should I look for free MSFS 2024 add-ons?
Our Microsoft Flight Simulator freeware library is the main starting point for aircraft, scenery, liveries and utilities. Check each download’s description rather than assuming every MSFS 2020 package will work unchanged in MSFS 2024.
If you want to improve airports or local detail, browse the dedicated free MSFS scenery collection. For aeroplanes, our guide to finding compatible freeware aircraft for MSFS 2024 explains the extra checks required before downloading.
Which types of freeware are most likely to work?
Scenery and simple liveries are often easier to carry across from MSFS 2020 than complex aircraft or utilities, but compatibility must still be checked package by package.
| Add-on type | What to check |
|---|---|
| Aircraft | Look for explicit MSFS 2024 support. Advanced avionics, flight models and cockpit systems are more susceptible to simulator changes. |
| Scenery | Confirm that the airport or landmark does not duplicate another installed package or newer default scenery. |
| Liveries | Make sure the livery matches the exact aircraft model and edition it was created for. |
| Utilities | Check whether the tool requires an external program, additional runtime or a specific simulator interface. These are normally PC-only. |
How do I check MSFS 2024 compatibility?
The safest choice is a download that explicitly lists Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 support. A package labelled only for MSFS 2020 may work, but that label is not proof of compatibility.
- Read the full description and included documentation for simulator requirements.
- Check whether a required base aircraft, premium edition or other dependency is mentioned.
- Avoid installing two packages that replace the same airport, aircraft systems or world object.
- Keep the original archive until you have confirmed that the add-on loads correctly.
A common mistake we see is installing a livery without its required aircraft. The livery may then be absent from the aircraft selector or appear against the wrong model.
How are free add-ons installed on PC?
Most conventional PC add-ons are extracted and placed in the active MSFS 2024 Community folder.
- Download and extract the archive. Do not place the ZIP or RAR file directly in the Community folder.
- Find the actual package folder. For a standard MSFS package, files such as
manifest.jsonandlayout.jsonshould be inside that folder rather than buried under an unnecessary extra directory. - Copy the package into Community. The active folder location depends on the PC edition and any custom packages path selected during installation.
- Restart the simulator. Aircraft should appear in the aircraft selector; scenery appears when its relevant location is loaded.
Our MSFS 2024 Community-folder installation guide covers folder discovery and the usual nested-folder problem in more detail.
Why is my downloaded add-on not appearing?
An add-on usually fails to appear because it remains compressed, sits one folder level too deep, was copied into the wrong Community folder or is incompatible with MSFS 2024.
Remove the package, confirm its folder structure and test it by itself. If the simulator starts only after the add-on is removed, leave it disabled until its author provides compatible files; repeatedly reloading a broken package will not repair it.
Can Xbox and PlayStation users install free community add-ons?
Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 cannot install external freeware archives or access a PC-style Community folder. Console users must obtain compatible free items through Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024’s in-sim Marketplace, content manager or official content library.
Marketplace availability can vary by platform, and a free PC download does not automatically have a console version. Copying files to a USB drive or external console storage does not bypass this restriction.