Can I install FSX scenery on a different drive?

Yes. FSX and FSX: Steam Edition can load scenery from another internal or external drive. Place each add-on in a folder containing its Scenery and, where supplied, Texture subfolders, then register that parent folder in the FSX Scenery Library. Keep the drive letter unchanged.

This works especially well for large airport, mesh and photoreal packages. Complex add-ons may still need effects, gauges, sounds or configuration tools installed in their expected locations, so do not assume every file belonging to an add-on can be moved.

How do I install FSX scenery on another drive?

The reliable method is to create a dedicated scenery collection on the second drive and add each scenery area to the library individually.

1. Create a main storage folder. For example, use D:\FSX Scenery. Avoid placing it inside protected Windows system folders.
2. Extract the add-on into its own folder. A typical result would be D:\FSX Scenery\Airport Name\Scenery and D:\FSX Scenery\Airport Name\Texture.
3. Check the supplied instructions. Some packages include extra effects, landclass, mesh or traffic files that must be installed separately. Large photographic packages also require their folder structure to remain intact; our photoreal scenery installation guidance explains that layout in more detail.
4. Open the Scenery Library. Start FSX, open its settings and select Scenery Library, followed by Add Area.
5. Select the add-on's parent folder. Choose Airport Name, not the Scenery subfolder inside it.
6. Activate the area. Confirm the selection, make sure its library entry is enabled and allow FSX to rebuild the scenery database. Restart the simulator if the new scenery is not visible immediately.

FSX records the location in its scenery configuration, so the source folder must remain accessible at the same path. Renaming the folder or changing D: to another drive letter breaks that reference.

What if the scenery uses an installer?

An installer asking for the FSX installation folder normally expects the real FSX root directory, not a new scenery folder on another drive.

• If it asks for the simulator folder, point it to the actual boxed FSX or FSX: Steam Edition installation.
• If it offers a separate scenery or data location, that location can usually be placed on the other drive.
• If it installs a self-contained scenery area into FSX, install it normally and then move only that area before updating the Scenery Library.

Do not redirect an installer blindly. It may be trying to place files in Effects, Gauges, Sound or SimObjects. For scenery that is already active, follow our procedure for moving FSX add-ons to another drive so the old library path is removed properly.

Which folder should I add to the Scenery Library?

Add the folder that directly contains the add-on's Scenery and optional Texture folders.

A mistake we see constantly is selecting one level too high after extracting a ZIP archive. If the structure is D:\FSX Scenery\Package\Airport Name\Scenery, the correct library path is Airport Name, not Package or Scenery.

Some downloads contain several separate areas, such as an airport, landclass and mesh layer. Add each folder that has its own Scenery subfolder, then place them at the appropriate priority. Our explanation of FSX scenery layer order covers where airport, regional and base layers belong.

Does scenery run slower from another drive?

A second drive does not inherently reduce FSX performance, but the drive's speed and connection can affect scenery-loading pauses and texture sharpness during flight.

• Internal SSD: the strongest choice for large airports, mesh and photoreal scenery.
• Internal hard drive: suitable for general scenery storage, though very large texture collections may load more slowly.
• External drive: workable if it remains connected, awake and assigned the same drive letter before FSX starts.

Moving scenery does not reduce FSX's memory usage; it only changes where the files are stored. For storage and loading considerations, see our comparison of SSD and hard-drive use with FSX.

Why does scenery on the other drive not appear?

Most missing scenery is caused by an incorrect library path, a changed drive letter or the wrong layer priority.

• Confirm that the selected folder directly contains Scenery.
• Check that the library entry is enabled and does not still point to the add-on's former location.
• Make sure an external drive is connected before launching FSX and has retained its original letter.
• Place airport scenery above broader regional, landclass and default layers.
• Check the add-on's documentation for required object libraries or other dependencies.

On some Windows installations, the old FSX folder picker opens the chosen folder and displays Scenery and Texture instead of accepting it. Click the blank white area in that window rather than opening either subfolder; the picker should close and add the parent area.