Where is the FS9.cfg file in FS2004 on modern Windows?

On Windows 10 and 11, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 stores FS9.cfg in %APPDATA%\Microsoft\FS9\. Press Windows key + R, paste that folder path, and press Enter. The file is inside your user profile’s hidden AppData folder, not the Flight Simulator 9 installation directory.

How do I open FS9.cfg on Windows 10 or 11?

The quickest and most reliable method is to open the FS9 configuration folder through the Windows Run box.

1. Close FS2004 completely. The simulator can overwrite configuration changes when it exits.
2. Press Windows key + R to open Run.
3. Paste %APPDATA%\Microsoft\FS9 and press Enter.
4. Find FS9.cfg. Windows may display it simply as FS9 when known file extensions are hidden.
5. Make a backup before editing by copying the file to another folder or creating a clearly named backup copy.

If necessary, enable File name extensions in File Explorer’s View options. This prevents mistakes such as creating FS9.cfg.txt instead of a valid configuration file.

Where is the full FS9.cfg path?

The expanded location is normally C:\Users\your-user-name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\FS9\FS9.cfg. The %APPDATA% shortcut is preferable because it automatically opens the correct Windows user profile.

Installing FS2004 on another drive does not move this file. The simulator executable and aircraft folders can be elsewhere, but FS9.cfg remains in the per-user AppData location. Each Windows account can also have its own separate copy.

Why can’t I find FS9.cfg?

A missing FS9.cfg usually means FS2004 has not generated it yet, you are checking the wrong user profile, or Windows is hiding its extension.

• Run FS2004 once: Let it reach the main screen, then exit normally. This should create the configuration file.
• Use the Run path: Do not search the Flight Simulator 9 installation directory or its Modules folder.
• Check the Windows account: Open %APPDATA% while signed in as the same user who runs FS2004.
• Reveal extensions: A file shown as FS9 may already be the required CFG file.

If FS2004 cannot start far enough to create the file, follow our Windows 11 installation procedure for FS2004 before looking for the configuration folder again.

Can I safely reset FS9.cfg?

Yes. Renaming FS9.cfg forces FS2004 to create a clean default configuration the next time it starts.

1. Close the simulator.
2. Rename FS9.cfg to FS9.cfg.bak.
3. Start FS2004 and allow it to generate a replacement file.
4. Test the simulator before restoring any customised settings.

This resets many graphics, sound, realism and controller preferences, but it does not uninstall aircraft or scenery. If the clean file fixes a startup or stability problem, do not immediately copy the old file back wholesale; reapply only the settings you need. Our modern-Windows FS2004 troubleshooting checklist covers the related compatibility and permissions checks.

How should I edit FS9.cfg?

Edit the existing file with a plain-text editor while FS2004 is closed, and change one setting at a time. Avoid word processors and confirm that the filename remains FS9.cfg after saving.

Many old FS9.cfg tweaks are hardware-dependent and should not be copied blindly. For settings that still have a practical purpose, use our guide to useful FS9.cfg graphics changes and retain the untouched backup so every edit is reversible.