Install the Antonov An-225 in FSX Steam Edition correctly, including aircraft, gauge and effects folders, plus fixes if it does not appear.
To install the Antonov An-225 in FSX: Steam Edition, extract the download, copy the aircraft folder that directly contains aircraft.cfg into FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes, then merge any supplied Effects and Gauges folders into their matching FSX folders. Restart FSX and select the An-225 from the aircraft list.
How do I install the An-225 files?
The safest method is to install the aircraft manually while preserving the archive’s original folder structure.
- Download and extract the package. Use our An-225 archive, compatibility notes and file details. Extract the ZIP into a temporary folder rather than opening or copying files directly from the compressed archive.
- Close FSX. FSX: Steam Edition scans its aircraft folders when it starts, so files added while the simulator is running may not appear until the next launch.
- Open the active FSX installation folder. In Steam, open the Library, right-click FSX: Steam Edition, choose
Manage, thenBrowse local files. This is more reliable than assuming Steam usesC:\Program Files (x86), especially with multiple Steam libraries. Our method for locating the active Steam add-on folders covers the possible layouts. - Find the real aircraft folder. Open the extracted folders until you reach the one that directly contains
aircraft.cfg, normally alongsidemodel,panel,soundand one or moretexturefolders. Do not install an outer download or version wrapper. - Copy the aircraft into Airplanes. Place that complete folder in
FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes. The finished path must resembleFSX\SimObjects\Airplanes\An-225 folder\aircraft.cfg. - Merge the supporting folders. If the extracted package includes top-level
Effects,Gauges,SoundorSimObjectsfolders, copy their contents into the identically named folders under the FSX root. Merge folders; never replace an entire existing FSX directory. - Start FSX and select the aircraft. Open the aircraft-selection screen, clear restrictive manufacturer or publisher filters, enable
Show all variationsif necessary, and look under Antonov, An-225 or Mriya. The exact displayed name comes from the package’saircraft.cfg.
Which An-225 files go in each FSX folder?
Only the folder containing aircraft.cfg belongs directly under SimObjects\Airplanes; global support files retain their matching FSX paths.
| Extracted item | Destination | Installation rule |
|---|---|---|
Aircraft folder containing aircraft.cfg | FSX root\SimObjects\Airplanes | Copy the complete folder without separating its model, panel, sound or texture files. |
Top-level Effects folder | FSX root\Effects | Merge its contents with the existing folder. |
Top-level Gauges folder | FSX root\Gauges | Preserve any supplied subfolders and review same-name file prompts carefully. |
Top-level Sound folder | FSX root\Sound | Copy only when supplied separately; the aircraft’s own lowercase sound folder stays inside the aircraft folder. |
If the archive already starts with SimObjects, Effects and Gauges, those folders are arranged relative to the FSX root. A common mistake is creating an extra path such as FSX\FSX\SimObjects or nesting the aircraft one folder too deeply.
Does the An-225 need activating in the Add-ons menu?
No. A conventional FSX aircraft becomes available when its files are in a registered SimObjects path; it does not require scenery-library activation or an Add-ons menu entry.
FSX may show a security prompt the first time a supplied custom gauge or module loads. Approve it only when its name and location correspond to files included with the trusted package. Declining a required gauge can leave parts of the panel blank without removing the aircraft from the selection screen.
Why is the An-225 not appearing in FSX Steam Edition?
If the An-225 does not appear, the cause is usually the wrong Steam library or an extra nested folder above aircraft.cfg.
- Confirm the active installation: use Steam’s
Browse local filescommand rather than a shortcut or an old boxed-FSX directory. - Check the final path:
aircraft.cfgmust sit directly inside one aircraft folder underSimObjects\Airplanes. - Extract everything: running from the ZIP or copying only selected model files produces an incomplete aircraft.
- Restart FSX: the aircraft list is rebuilt when the simulator launches.
- Clear selection filters: package metadata may catalogue the aircraft under Antonov, An-225, Mriya or another publisher label.
If those checks do not resolve it, work through our FSX aircraft-installation fault checklist, particularly the checks for nested folders, permissions and multiple simulator installations.
What if the aircraft appears but gauges or effects are missing?
Missing instruments, engine smoke or other visual effects mean the aircraft folder is installed correctly but one or more supporting files are not.
Return to the extracted package and copy only the supplied support folders into their corresponding FSX folders. Missing textures instead point to an incomplete aircraft copy or a broken texture-folder structure; do not move individual texture files out of their original folders.
How do I remove the An-225 later?
Delete its folder from SimObjects\Airplanes, but do not blindly remove shared gauges, sounds or effects because another aircraft may use them.
Keep the original archive so you can identify package-specific support files. For a clean removal without damaging shared content, follow our safe process for fully removing a Steam Edition add-on.