Find the FSX screenshot folder for boxed and Steam editions, change ScreenshotDir safely, and fix missing V-key captures or redirected paths.
FSX saves screenshots taken with its V key in the Windows Pictures folder, normally %USERPROFILE%\Pictures\Flight Simulator X Files. To move them, close FSX and change the ScreenshotDir= entry under [Display] in the active FSX configuration file. Steam-overlay screenshots are separate and are not controlled by this setting.
How do I find the FSX screenshot folder?
Open Windows’ actual Pictures folder, then look inside Flight Simulator X Files. This is more reliable than typing a fixed drive path because Windows may have redirected Pictures to OneDrive, another drive or a network location.
- Press Windows key + R.
- Enter
shell:My Picturesand press Enter. - Open the
Flight Simulator X Filesfolder. - Look for numbered BMP images, usually matching
fsx*.bmp.
If the folder does not exist, start FSX, load a flight and press V once. Our explanation of FSX’s screenshot controls and capture methods covers the key assignment if V produces nothing.
Did FSX or Steam take the screenshot?
The storage location depends on the capture system, not simply on whether you use boxed FSX or FSX: Steam Edition.
| Capture method | Where the image goes | Controlled by ScreenshotDir |
|---|---|---|
| FSX V key | Windows Pictures under Flight Simulator X Files | Yes |
| Steam overlay, commonly F12 | Steam’s own screenshot library | No |
| Windows or third-party capture tool | The clipboard or that tool’s selected folder | No |
A mistake we see constantly is searching the FSX folder for an image captured through Steam. If you used the Steam overlay, manage that image through Steam’s screenshot or recordings library instead.
How do I change the FSX screenshot folder?
Change ScreenshotDir in the active per-user configuration file after FSX has been closed.
- Close FSX completely. Editing the file while the simulator is running risks having your change overwritten when FSX exits.
- Create the destination folder first. For example, make
D:\Screenshots\FSX. Choose a folder where your Windows account can write files; avoid protected locations such as Program Files. - Open the active configuration file. Boxed FSX normally uses
%APPDATA%\Microsoft\FSX\fsx.cfg. A Steam-only installation commonly uses that location too, while systems where boxed FSX and Steam Edition have coexisted may use%APPDATA%\Microsoft\FSX-SE\fsx_se.cfg. - Back up the configuration file. Copy it somewhere safe before editing.
- Find the Display section. Under
[Display], locate the line beginningScreenshotDir=. If it is absent, add one under that section. - Enter the new path. For the example above, use
ScreenshotDir=D:\Screenshots\FSX. Do not add quotation marks, and keep only oneScreenshotDirentry. - Save and test. Launch FSX, press V, then check the new folder for a BMP file.
If both FSX configuration locations exist and you are unsure which is active, change a harmless setting inside the simulator, close it, and compare the files’ modified times. Edit the one FSX has just updated rather than changing both blindly.
Why is FSX ignoring the new screenshot path?
If FSX continues saving to the old folder or creates no image, one of these faults is usually responsible:
- The wrong configuration file was edited. This is common on PCs that have had both boxed FSX and Steam Edition installed.
- FSX was open during the edit. Close it, make the change again and save before restarting.
- The destination does not exist. Create the folder manually; FSX may not build an entire missing folder structure.
- Windows denied write access. Use a folder owned by your account rather than an installation or system directory.
- The screenshot came from Steam. The
ScreenshotDirsetting affects only FSX’s native V-key captures. - Pictures has been redirected. Use
shell:My Picturesto reveal the location Windows has actually assigned.
Does changing ScreenshotDir move saved flights too?
No. ScreenshotDir changes only the destination for FSX’s native screenshots. Saved flights and other personal simulator files retain their own locations; our guide to backing up FSX’s personal files and settings explains those paths and the effect of redirected Windows folders.
Can FSX save screenshots as JPG instead of BMP?
The native V-key capture saves BMP images; changing ScreenshotDir changes the folder, not the image format. Convert the BMP files afterwards or use a separate capture facility when you need JPG or PNG output directly.