How do I install an aircraft livery in a flight simulator?

To install an aircraft livery, confirm it matches the exact simulator, aircraft developer and model variant. Extract the download, read its instructions, then copy the livery package to the simulator’s required folder or import it with the aircraft’s manager. Restart or reload the aircraft and select the paint scheme.

This answer covers flight simulators generally; the installation method changes between Microsoft Flight Simulator, DCS, FlightGear, X-Plane, FSX and Prepar3D. A livery is normally a set of textures and configuration data, not a flyable aircraft, so its required base aircraft must already be installed.

What must an aircraft livery match?

An aircraft livery must match the simulator, the exact developer’s aircraft and usually its model variant.

• Simulator: An MSFS 2020 livery is not automatically compatible with MSFS 2024, and an FSX repaint should not be assumed to work in Prepar3D.
• Aircraft developer: Two developers can model the same real aircraft with completely different texture maps and package identifiers.
• Variant: Passenger, freighter, engine, winglet and fuselage-length versions may each need separate liveries.
• Base aircraft: A repaint for a freeware or paid add-on does not install that aircraft. Install the named base package first.
• Platform: A PC livery package cannot normally be side-loaded on Xbox or PlayStation 5.

A mistake we see constantly is matching only the aircraft’s marketing name. Check the developer, model suffix, engine option and simulator edition stated in the download description or readme.

How do I install a downloaded livery safely?

The safest method is to inspect the extracted package first and leave the original aircraft files untouched unless the instructions explicitly require an edit.

1. Confirm compatibility. Match the simulator, aircraft developer, model and variant.
2. Extract the archive. Unpack ZIP, RAR or 7z files into a temporary folder. Do not put an unopened archive into a folder that expects extracted files.
3. Read the included instructions. A proprietary importer or aircraft manager takes priority over a generic folder method.
4. Back up files before editing. Save a copy of files such as aircraft.cfg before changing legacy FSX, Prepar3D or FS2004 aircraft.
5. Preserve the folder structure. Do not flatten texture, object or configuration directories.
6. Restart or reload. Many simulators scan for new liveries only during start-up or when the aircraft is reloaded.

A normal manual livery commonly contains textures and text-based configuration files. Treat an unexpected executable cautiously unless the aircraft publisher’s instructions specifically require an installer or management application.

Where do aircraft livery files go?

The required location depends on the simulator and, in some cases, the individual aircraft.

How do I add liveries to MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024?

On Windows PC, an MSFS livery normally works as a self-contained package placed in the active Community folder.

1. Close the simulator. This prevents files being read while they are still being copied.
2. Extract the download. Open the resulting folders until you find the actual package root.
3. Check the package root. A conventional MSFS package normally has manifest.json and layout.json directly inside its top-level folder.
4. Copy that folder to Community. The finished path should resemble Community/LiveryPackage/manifest.json, not Community/LiveryPackage/LiveryPackage/manifest.json.
5. Start MSFS and choose the correct aircraft. Select the new paint scheme from that aircraft’s livery or variation selector.

The active Community location varies with the simulator edition, installation source and any custom packages path. Our detailed MSFS Community-folder instructions explain how to identify the folder and diagnose package nesting.

Do not manually copy a proprietary import file into Community. If the livery instructions name an aircraft manager or importer, use it. Liveries obtained through an in-simulator content system are also installed and removed through that system rather than managed as ordinary Community packages.

Can an MSFS 2020 livery work in MSFS 2024?

An MSFS 2020 livery should be used in MSFS 2024 only when its creator lists MSFS 2024 compatibility or provides a converted package.

Some packages continue to work because the underlying aircraft and package references remain compatible; others fail because the MSFS 2024 aircraft has different models, materials, texture mapping or internal identifiers. Copying the old package is not proof of compatibility even if it appears in the menu.

How do Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 PS5 liveries work?

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 liveries on PS5 and PS5 Pro must be supplied through a console-compatible, in-simulator content channel.

PlayStation does not expose the PC Community folder, so a downloaded PC ZIP cannot be copied to PS5 by USB or installed with a desktop add-on manager. The same side-loading restriction applies on Xbox. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 was never released for PlayStation; PlayStation livery instructions therefore apply only to MSFS 2024.

How do I install DCS liveries?

DCS user liveries should normally be installed in the active Saved Games profile rather than the core DCS installation directory.

1. Extract the livery. Find the folder containing its textures and description.lua.
2. Open the active DCS profile. This is commonly under Saved Games/DCS, although an older or customised installation may use a differently named DCS profile.
3. Create the required path. Use Liveries/Aircraft Identifier/Livery Name beneath that profile.
4. Copy the livery folder. The description.lua file should be inside the named livery folder, not hidden one level deeper.
5. Restart DCS. Select the scheme through the aircraft’s livery list in the mission editor or relevant loadout interface.

If the livery does not appear, verify the aircraft’s internal DCS identifier. It may differ from the name printed in the aircraft-selection menu. Also inspect any country restrictions declared by the livery: some schemes appear only when the aircraft is assigned to an allowed nation.

How do I install FlightGear liveries?

FlightGear liveries are installed inside the exact aircraft package while preserving the directories and filenames supplied by the repaint author.

1. Identify the base aircraft. Confirm that the livery was made for that specific FlightGear aircraft package, not merely the same real-world type.
2. Extract the archive temporarily. Inspect its readme and folder tree before copying anything.
3. Locate the aircraft’s livery directory. A common structure is Aircraft/Aircraft Name/Models/Liveries, but individual aircraft can implement liveries differently.
4. Merge the supplied files without flattening them. Keep XML descriptors, textures and subdirectories in their original relative positions.
5. Reload the aircraft. Choose the paint scheme through the launcher or the aircraft’s own livery control, depending on how that model is implemented.

Filename case matters on case-sensitive systems. A texture referenced as one combination of upper- and lower-case letters will not load if the actual filename uses another.

Where do X-Plane liveries go?

An X-Plane livery belongs inside the exact aircraft package at Aircraft/Exact Aircraft/liveries/Livery Name.

Exterior textures are commonly stored in an objects subfolder beneath the named livery, although the supplied structure should be preserved exactly. Installing the repaint in X-Plane’s top-level Aircraft directory will not associate it with its base aircraft.

Reload the aircraft or restart X-Plane after installation. If textures are missing, check that the repaint targets the same aircraft release and that filename capitalisation matches on macOS or Linux.

How do I add a livery to FSX, Prepar3D or FS2004?

Legacy Microsoft-format aircraft use a texture folder plus a matching [fltsim.x] configuration entry, while some Prepar3D products use self-contained add-on packages instead.

1. Back up aircraft.cfg. Close the simulator before editing it.
2. Copy the texture folder. Place the supplied texture.name directory beside the aircraft’s existing texture folders.
3. Add the supplied configuration block. Give it the next sequential [fltsim.x] number.
4. Check its references. The texture= suffix must match the part after texture. in the folder name. The model= and sim= values must also identify valid files or subfolders.
5. Keep the title unique. Duplicate title= values can prevent one entry from loading correctly.

Our worked FSX texture-folder and aircraft.cfg procedure covers the complete edit. Prepar3D users should also check the Prepar3D methods for legacy and add-on-package aircraft before changing files inside a managed product.

If an edit appears to have no effect, confirm that the configuration file was actually saved. Windows can prevent or redirect changes made inside protected installation locations.

Why is my installed livery not showing?

A missing livery is usually caused by the wrong installation folder, double nesting, an absent base aircraft or a mismatch with the selected aircraft variant.

• Check the base aircraft first. Open it using one of its original liveries to confirm that the aircraft itself works.
• Inspect the directory depth. The most common MSFS and DCS failure is an extra same-named folder created during extraction.
• Confirm the active location. Multiple MSFS package paths or DCS Saved Games profiles can leave files in a valid-looking but inactive folder.
• Match the precise variant. A freighter repaint may not appear under the passenger model, even when both use the same aircraft name.
• Review configuration identifiers. Check MSFS package references, the DCS aircraft identifier, X-Plane’s aircraft folder and legacy [fltsim.x] entries.
• Remove possible conflicts. Temporarily move another repaint for the same aircraft out of the active add-on folder, then restart and test again.

What do pink, chequered or plain white aircraft textures mean?

Pink, chequered or unexpectedly white surfaces mean the simulator loaded the aircraft or livery entry but could not find or interpret one or more required textures or material references.

Re-extract a clean copy and preserve its folder structure. Then verify the exact aircraft variant and package version. In FSX-family simulators, check texture=, model= and any texture fallback arrangement; in MSFS, DCS, X-Plane and FlightGear, make sure texture filenames and paths have not been renamed or flattened.

How do I uninstall an aircraft livery?

Remove a livery through the same system used to install it, taking care not to delete shared files from the base aircraft.

• MSFS PC: Close the simulator and remove only the standalone livery package from Community. Use the in-simulator content system for liveries installed through it.
• DCS: Delete only the named livery directory beneath the Saved Games Liveries path.
• X-Plane and FlightGear: Remove the livery’s own folder or the exact files identified by its installation instructions.
• FSX, Prepar3D and FS2004: Delete the matching texture folder and its exact [fltsim.x] block from the backed-up aircraft.cfg, then make the remaining section numbers sequential.