Where can I download a free Ryanair 737 for MSFS 2020?
Find a free Ryanair 737 for MSFS 2020, see why PMDG is not free, match the correct livery and fix common installation problems.
For MSFS 2020, download a complete freeware 737 and then install a Ryanair livery built for that exact aircraft. There is no legitimate free PMDG 737; PMDG repaints require the paid base model. Check that the first download includes the model, cockpit, flight dynamics and sounds, not only textures.
Where can I download a free Boeing 737 for MSFS 2020?
The no-cost route is to find a listing explicitly described as a complete MSFS 2020 aircraft, then obtain a separate Ryanair repaint for that model. Start with our comparison of complete freeware 737 add-ons for MSFS 2020, which separates flyable aircraft from repaints and legacy conversions.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 does not include a default Boeing 737. The mistake we see most often is downloading a file called “Ryanair 737”, placing it in the Community folder and expecting a new aeroplane to appear. In most cases, that file contains textures for a base aircraft that must already be installed.
| Wording in the listing | What it usually contains | What else you need |
|---|---|---|
| Complete aircraft or standalone freeware | Model, cockpit, flight dynamics, sounds and textures | Possibly a separate Ryanair livery |
| Livery, repaint or texture pack | Ryanair colours only | The exact base aircraft named in the description |
| Requires PMDG 737-800 | Textures configured for PMDG | A legally installed PMDG 737-800 |
| Conversion or legacy port | An aircraft adapted from an older simulator | Acceptance of possible cockpit, system or compatibility limitations |
Do not rely on the screenshot or file size. Look for an explicit statement that the cockpit and flyable aircraft are included, and check that the download names MSFS 2020 rather than only MSFS 2024, FSX or another simulator.
Can I download the PMDG Boeing 737-800 free?
No. The PMDG 737-800 for Microsoft Flight Simulator is commercial payware, so a legitimate free download normally refers only to a livery, not the aircraft.
Search results labelled “PMDG 737 free”, “PMDG Boeing 737-800 gratis download” or “pre-activated” should not be treated as authorised freeware. Avoid cracked installers, key generators and repackaged aircraft. Apart from the legal issue, modified packages can contain malware, omit required components or stop working when the aircraft is updated.
If you already own the PMDG 737-800, you can add a compatible Ryanair repaint at no extra cost. Use the livery-management method specified by the repaint or PMDG rather than assuming every package belongs directly in the Community folder.
If you want a cheap option rather than a completely free one, buy only the variant required by the livery you intend to use. Choosing a different 737 simply because it costs less is a false economy: a 737-800 repaint will not ordinarily work on a 737-600, -700 or -900.
Can I download a free 737 MAX for MSFS 2020?
A free 737 MAX is usable only when the package is a complete MSFS 2020 aircraft or you already own the precise base model it requires. A “737 MAX Ryanair livery” is usually just a repaint.
The Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX are different aircraft generations. PMDG’s 737-800 is a 737 Next Generation model, not a MAX, and installing a MAX repaint cannot convert it into one.
Ryanair MAX repaints may be labelled 737 MAX 8, 737 8-200 or 737-8200. Check the add-on developer’s model designation carefully because texture mapping and door layouts can differ. A livery designed for one MAX add-on will not normally fit another developer’s aircraft.
Be especially cautious with free MAX packages described as conversions. Confirm that they include a usable cockpit, working controls and MSFS 2020 compatibility; some ports provide an acceptable exterior model but rely on generic systems or have incomplete animations.
Which Ryanair livery should I download?
Download a Ryanair livery that matches both the 737 variant and the developer of your installed base aircraft. Our guide to compatible free Ryanair repaint packages and their aircraft requirements helps identify the correct combination.
- For a freeware 737-800: use only a repaint made for that specific freeware model.
- For the PMDG 737-800: choose a repaint explicitly labelled for the PMDG -800.
- For a 737 MAX or 737-8200: match the exact MAX add-on and variant; an NG 737-800 repaint is incompatible.
- For another developer’s 737: do not assume that sharing the same Boeing variant makes the textures interchangeable.
A repaint may also depend on an optional configuration, such as a particular winglet or door layout. Read its requirements before downloading rather than trying to correct mismatched textures after installation.
How do I install the aircraft and Ryanair livery?
On PC, install and test the base 737 before adding its Ryanair livery. This makes it much easier to identify whether a problem belongs to the aircraft or the repaint.
- Read both descriptions: confirm that the aircraft supports MSFS 2020 and that the livery names the same developer and 737 variant.
- Extract the archives: do not place ZIP, RAR or other compressed archives directly in the Community folder.
- Locate the package root: a conventional Community add-on normally has
manifest.jsonandlayout.jsonin its main package folder. - Install the base aircraft: copy its package to the active
Communityfolder, unless its documentation provides an installer or management utility. - Start MSFS 2020 and test it: verify that the 737 appears and can be loaded before installing the repaint.
- Install the livery: copy its package to
Communityor import it using the aircraft developer’s specified livery tool. - Restart the simulator: select the correct 737, then choose the Ryanair design from that aircraft’s available liveries.
The Community folder location varies with the PC installation and any custom packages path. The active location is recorded in UserCfg.opt beside InstalledPackagesPath. Our detailed MSFS livery installation instructions cover the folder structure and extraction process without relying on a guessed default path.
Can I install a downloaded Ryanair 737 on Xbox?
No, Xbox users cannot copy web downloads into a Community folder. MSFS 2020 add-ons on Xbox must be distributed through the simulator’s in-game Marketplace; if that aircraft or livery is not offered there, it cannot be sideloaded like a PC package.
Why does the Ryanair 737 not appear?
A missing Ryanair 737 is usually caused by an absent base aircraft, an incompatible repaint or an extra folder level created during extraction.
- No 737 appears in the aircraft selector: check whether the download was only a livery. Then verify that the complete aircraft is in the active Community folder.
- The 737 appears but Ryanair does not: confirm that the repaint supports that exact developer and variant.
- The package is ignored: remove unnecessary wrapper folders. The folder containing
manifest.jsonshould be the package placed inCommunity. - The aeroplane is pink or has missing textures: reinstall the repaint, remove duplicate older copies and check for missing dependencies.
- The livery is distorted or parts remain unpainted: it was probably made for a different model, winglet option or door configuration.
- MSFS becomes unstable after installation: remove the new package and retest. An outdated conversion may be incompatible with the installed simulator build.
How can I check that a free 737 download is safe?
A safe freeware listing should identify the simulator, aircraft variant, included content, dependencies and installation method before you download it. Apply the checks we recommend for free MSFS aircraft downloads, especially when a file claims to provide a normally paid PMDG product at no charge.
Basic Community packages do not need a crack, licence bypass or instructions to disable security software. If the description is vague about the source, calls a repaint a complete aircraft or conceals the required payware base model, skip it.