Install FSX add-on scenery correctly: where to put Scenery and Texture folders, activate the area, set priority and fix missing airports.
To install an FSX or FSX: Steam Edition scenery add-on, extract it, keep the package’s parent folder containing Scenery and usually Texture intact, copy that folder to a permanent location, then register the parent folder in Settings > Scenery Library. Enable it, set its priority and restart Microsoft Flight Simulator X.
FSX scenery download and installation steps (ダウンロード手順)
For a downloaded ZIP or similar archive, a self-contained scenery folder is the safest choice because it is easy to inspect, update and remove.
- Read the included instructions. Check for required object libraries, elevation corrections, optional layouts and a stated Scenery Library order.
- Extract the complete archive to a temporary folder. FSX cannot load scenery directly from a compressed file.
- Select the FSX version. If the download contains separate files for FS2004, Prepar3D or another simulator, do not mix them. Install only one runway, AFCAD or configuration option unless the author says otherwise.
- Find the scenery area folder. This is normally the folder directly containing
Sceneryand, when supplied,Texture. Ignore wrapper folders used only to hold documentation or several simulator versions. - Copy the complete area folder to a permanent location, such as
[FSX]\Addon Scenery\My Airportor a dedicated FSX add-ons directory elsewhere on the drive. - Install additional components as directed. Effects, sounds, gauges, object libraries and elevation corrections may have separate destinations. Do not register these as scenery areas unless the instructions specifically require it.
- Open FSX and choose Settings > Scenery Library > Add Area. Browse to the folder directly above
SceneryandTexture, then confirm it. - Work around the Add Area dialogue if necessary. Some FSX installations open the selected folder instead of accepting it. With the intended parent folder open, try right-clicking the empty white area; alternatively, return one level, select the folder once and confirm.
- Enable the new entry and give it the priority specified by the author. Allow FSX to rebuild its scenery data, then close and restart the simulator before checking the location.
For the exact controls used to add, enable, reorder, disable and remove areas, see our detailed guide to managing the FSX Scenery Library.
Where do I put it? The correct FSX add-on scenery folder
FSX can load registered scenery from inside or outside its installation directory, but each scenery add-on should normally remain in its own named folder.
| Location | When to use it | Scenery Library action |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated folder outside FSX | Best for straightforward backups, updates and removal, and for avoiding protected Windows folders. | Register the package’s parent folder. |
[FSX]\Addon Scenery\Package Name | Use when the documentation assumes the standard FSX layout while keeping the package isolated. | Register Package Name. |
[FSX]\Addon Scenery\scenery and texture | Use only when the instructions explicitly require loose files in the existing global area. | Usually none if the existing Addon Scenery entry is active. |
Do not leave registered scenery in a temporary extraction or Downloads folder that may later be moved or deleted. FSX stores the path to the area; changing that path breaks the library entry.
Which folder should I add to the FSX Scenery Library?
Add the folder immediately above the package’s Scenery and Texture subfolders.
For example, if the files are in D:\FSX Add-ons\My Airport\Scenery and D:\FSX Add-ons\My Airport\Texture, register My Airport. Do not register the Scenery subfolder itself.
A mistake we see constantly is registering an archive’s outer wrapper, such as Download Name\FSX Version, when the actual area is nested another level down. Open the folder and confirm that Scenery sits directly inside it.
If the package contains only loose .bgl files, create a named parent folder with a Scenery subfolder and place the BGL files there. Add a sibling Texture folder only if texture files are supplied.
Avoid putting ordinary airport files in core locations such as Scenery\World\Scenery. Some elevation corrections genuinely belong there, but only install them when the package documentation identifies the file and destination.
Does the same method apply to Tábor airport (letiště Tábor)?
Yes. A Tábor airport or letiště Tábor scenery package installs like any other local FSX airport: use the FSX files, register the folder above Scenery and Texture, and follow any supplied dependency or elevation instructions.
Confirm that the download was actually made for FSX or FSX: Steam Edition. After installation, search using the airport name, identifier or coordinates stated in the documentation; a visual scenery package does not always add a new airport name to FSX’s selection menu.
Do boxed FSX and FSX: Steam Edition install scenery the same way?
Yes. Both editions use the same scenery folder structure and Scenery Library system, but their installation paths and detection by older installers can differ.
If an installer asks for the simulator location, select the intended folder containing fsx.exe. An older installer may detect boxed FSX when Steam Edition is intended, particularly when both have been installed on the same computer. Our Steam Edition installation and activation steps cover that workflow in more detail.
After using an installer, check that the files reached the stated destination and that only one library entry was created. When FSX is under Program Files, Windows may block or redirect writes from older software; use elevated permission only for a trusted installer that genuinely needs it.
Why is my FSX scenery not showing up?
Scenery that does not appear is usually registered at the wrong folder level, inactive, installed for the wrong simulator or being overridden by another BGL file.
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| The add-on is absent from Scenery Library | It was never registered, or an installer targeted another FSX installation. | Locate the actual package folder and add its parent manually. |
| The entry is enabled but default scenery remains | The wrong folder level or simulator version was installed. | Confirm that Scenery sits directly inside the registered folder and contains the expected BGL files. |
| Runways change but buildings are missing | The airport BGL loaded, but an object library, texture set or effects component did not. | Install the documented dependencies and supplementary files. |
| Buildings are black or untextured | Textures are missing, misplaced or nested too deeply. | Check that Texture is beside Scenery within the registered parent folder. |
| Duplicate runways, taxi signs or flickering surfaces appear | Two airport versions or alternative layout files are active. | Disable overlapping add-ons one at a time; do not delete default files at random. |
| The airport is raised, sunken or surrounded by a plateau | An elevation correction is missing or conflicts with another airport BGL. | Install the supplied correction in its documented location and disable competing versions. |
| The entry disappears or fails after a restart | The folder moved, its drive letter changed or the scenery configuration was not retained. | Restore the original path or re-add the accessible parent folder. |
After changing files, options or priorities, close FSX completely before testing again. For a focused diagnosis, use our checks for scenery that FSX appears to ignore.
How should FSX scenery priority be set?
Local airport scenery should usually sit above broader regional scenery, landclass, photo scenery and default layers when it is intended to override them.
Entries nearer the top of the Scenery Library have higher priority, but moving every package to the top can create exclusions, duplicate airports and elevation faults. Terrain mesh also behaves differently because FSX generally favours the finest available mesh resolution. Follow the author’s order where one is supplied, or use our practical guide to arranging FSX scenery layers.
Do mesh, landclass and photo scenery install differently?
They use the same basic registration system, but their folder contents, overlap rules and preferred library positions differ.
| Scenery type | Installation consideration |
|---|---|
| Airport scenery | Keep each airport isolated and normally place it above broader products that cover the same location. |
| Landclass | Controls which terrain textures FSX uses. Overlapping landclass packages can conflict even when both are installed correctly. |
| Terrain mesh | Changes ground elevation. Do not assume moving it to the top will solve an airport plateau or elevation mismatch. |
| Photo scenery | May contain a large Texture folder and placement BGL files. Keep Scenery and Texture together under the registered parent. |
| Object library | Supplies reusable buildings and models. Install the required library once rather than copying duplicate versions into multiple airports. |
How do I update or uninstall FSX scenery cleanly?
Disable or remove the Scenery Library entry before deleting or replacing its files.
- Disable or remove the area in Scenery Library, then close FSX.
- Replace rather than merge versions unless the update instructions explicitly require a merge. Old BGL files left behind can cause duplicate runways and elevation conflicts.
- Delete the self-contained package folder or use the supplied uninstaller for installer-based scenery.
- Preserve shared libraries unless the documentation confirms that no other scenery depends on them.
- Register the updated folder again if its name or location changed, restore the intended priority and let FSX rebuild its scenery data.