How do I install add-on aircraft in Microsoft Flight Simulator?

On PC, we install most add-on aircraft in Microsoft Flight Simulator by extracting the download and copying the aircraft’s package folder into the sim’s Community folder. On Xbox, manual installs are not supported, so aircraft must be installed through the in-sim Marketplace.

What you need to check before installing an add-on aircraft

• Make sure it is made for Microsoft Flight Simulator. Aircraft built for FSX, Prepar3D or X-Plane do not install into MSFS just by copying files across.
• Check whether it is a full aircraft or only a livery. A livery will not appear as a separate aircraft if you do not already own the base aircraft it is painted for.
• Close the simulator first. MSFS usually reads Community packages on launch, so it is best to install with the sim shut down.
• Extract the archive. Do not leave a .zip, .rar or .7z file sitting in Community unless the developer explicitly says the sim can read it that way.

How to install aircraft from the in-sim Marketplace

If the aircraft comes from the Marketplace, installation is handled by the simulator itself.

1. Buy or claim the aircraft in the Marketplace.
2. Download and install it through the sim when prompted.
3. Use the content management area in MSFS if you need to re-download, update or remove it later. In MSFS 2020 this is typically the Content Manager.
4. Restart the sim if the aircraft does not appear immediately after installation.

Marketplace aircraft are normally managed automatically, and we do not manually move those files around.

How to manually install add-on aircraft in the Community folder

This is the standard method for freeware and many third-party aircraft on PC.

1. Download the aircraft and extract the archive to a temporary folder.
2. Find the actual package folder. In MSFS, the folder you need usually contains a manifest.json file and often a layout.json file as well.
3. Open your Community folder. This sits inside your MSFS Packages location.
4. Copy the package folder directly into Community.
5. Check the folder depth. The correct structure is usually Community\addon-name\manifest.json, not Community\addon-name\another-folder\manifest.json.
6. Start Microsoft Flight Simulator and look for the aircraft in the aircraft selection screen. If it is only a livery, look under the matching base aircraft.

What the folder should look like

The most common mistake is copying the wrong level of folder. Many downloads extract into an outer folder containing documentation, screenshots or another folder with the same name inside it.

• Correct: Community\aircraft-name\manifest.json
• Wrong: Community\aircraft-name\aircraft-name\manifest.json
• Wrong: leaving the aircraft as Community\aircraft-name.zip

If you open the folder you placed in Community and cannot immediately see manifest.json, you have probably copied the wrong folder.

How to find the Microsoft Flight Simulator Community folder

The exact path varies by sim edition and by where you chose to install the Packages folder. For that reason, the most reliable method is not to memorise a path, but to check your MSFS configuration.

The most reliable way: check UserCfg.opt

1. Find the file called UserCfg.opt.
2. Open it in a text editor.
3. Look for the line containing InstalledPackagesPath.
4. Open that location in File Explorer. Inside it, you should see Community and Official.

Typical locations for UserCfg.opt are:

• Microsoft Store/Xbox app version on PC: usually somewhere under %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\[Flight Simulator package]\LocalCache\
• Steam version: usually under %APPDATA%\Microsoft Flight Simulator\

If you chose a custom Packages location during the sim’s initial setup, your Community folder will be there instead of in the default AppData path.

Default Community folder patterns

On many systems, the Community folder is found in one of these general locations:

• Microsoft Store/Xbox app on PC: under %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\... then LocalCache\Packages\Community
• Steam: under %APPDATA%\Microsoft Flight Simulator\Packages\Community
• Custom install: inside whatever folder you selected as your MSFS Packages location

The exact package name in the Microsoft Store path can differ between simulator releases, so reading UserCfg.opt is usually quicker and safer.

If the aircraft comes with its own installer

Some payware and a few freeware aircraft use an installer rather than a simple drag-and-drop package.

1. Run the installer with MSFS closed.
2. Point it to the correct MSFS packages location if asked. Many installers want the parent folder that contains both Community and Official, not the Official folder itself.
3. Finish the install and then launch the sim.

If the installer asks for a location and you are unsure, verify your Packages path from UserCfg.opt first.

Why your add-on aircraft is not showing up

If the aircraft does not appear in MSFS, one of these issues is usually the cause:

• The package is nested too deeply. The folder inside Community must be the one that contains manifest.json.
• The download is still compressed. MSFS will not normally read a zipped aircraft package.
• It is for a different simulator. FSX and Prepar3D aircraft do not work in MSFS just because the folder names look similar.
• It is only a livery. You need the required base aircraft installed first.
• The add-on is outdated. Major sim updates sometimes break older aircraft until the developer updates them.
• There is a package conflict. Two versions of the same aircraft, or an old folder left behind, can prevent the current one loading properly.
• You installed it on Xbox. Manual Community folder installs are a PC-only method.

A quick checklist if the aircraft is missing

1. Confirm compatibility with Microsoft Flight Simulator.
2. Open the folder in Community and check for manifest.json.
3. Remove duplicate old versions of the same aircraft from Community.
4. Restart the sim fully, not just return to the main menu.
5. Check whether it is a livery rather than a standalone aircraft.

How to update an add-on aircraft

Updates depend on how the aircraft was installed.

• Marketplace aircraft: update them through the simulator’s content management system.
• Manual Community installs: in most cases, delete the old aircraft folder from Community and copy in the new version. If the developer includes special update instructions, follow those instead.
• Installer-based aircraft: re-run the installer or use its built-in update process.

When updating a manually installed aircraft, we generally recommend removing the old version first rather than copying new files over the top, unless the package author specifically tells you otherwise.

How to uninstall an add-on aircraft

• Manual Community install: delete the aircraft’s folder from Community.
• Marketplace install: remove it through the sim’s content management area.
• Installer-based aircraft: use the installer’s uninstaller if one was provided.

If you remove a livery, only that paint scheme disappears. If you remove the base aircraft, any liveries that depend on it will also stop appearing.

Can you install add-on aircraft on Xbox?

No, not manually. On Xbox, Microsoft Flight Simulator does not provide direct access to a Community folder, so aircraft can only be installed if they are available through the in-sim Marketplace.

MSFS 2020 and later versions: does the method change?

The basic idea stays the same across modern Microsoft Flight Simulator versions on PC: package-based aircraft belong in Community unless they are Marketplace-managed or use their own installer. What can change is the default folder location, the package name used by the Microsoft Store install, and the exact names of the in-sim menus.

Where we usually see people go wrong

• Copying the outer download folder instead of the actual package folder
• Installing a livery and expecting a completely new aircraft entry
• Putting the add-on in Official instead of Community
• Trying to install an aircraft made for another simulator
• Forgetting that the Packages location was moved to another drive during first-time setup

If you need aircraft packages that are clearly labelled for Microsoft Flight Simulator, we maintain our own downloads library at https://flyawaysimulation.com/downloads/.