To install scenery mods in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, place the add-on's extracted package folder into the simulator's Community folder, then restart the sim so it can index the new scenery. If the scenery came through the in-sim Marketplace, install and manage it from the simulator's own content library instead of copying files manually.
How scenery installation works in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
Most freeware and manually installed scenery for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 uses the same basic method long-time MSFS users will recognise: the scenery lives in a self-contained package folder, and that folder goes into Community.
The sim reads packages in that folder when it starts. If the package is valid, the new airport, landmark pack, city enhancement, mesh, texture replacement or object library becomes available automatically. There is usually no old-style scenery library entry to add by hand.
That simplicity hides the two mistakes we see most often:
- Putting the files in the wrong place.
- Copying the ZIP file itself or a wrongly nested folder instead of the actual package folder.
Where is the Community folder in MSFS 2024?
The Community folder is inside your MSFS packages location, but that location is not identical for everyone. It depends on whether you installed via Steam or the Microsoft Store/Xbox app, and whether you chose a custom packages path during installation.
So the right answer is not one hard-coded path. It is this: find the folder that contains both Community and Official. That is your active packages location.
If you are unsure where yours is, check the packages installation location you chose for the simulator. Many simmers move it to another drive because of storage demands, so the default Windows path often is not the real one.
What the correct folder structure should look like
Once installed properly, the structure usually looks like this:
...\Community\your-scenery-package\
Inside that package folder you should see the add-on's own files and subfolders. You should not have an extra unnecessary layer such as this:
...\Community\your-download.zip
or
...\Community\your-download\your-scenery-package\
That second example is the classic nested-folder problem. The sim often ignores it because the actual package is one level too deep.
How do I install scenery mods in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 step by step?
- Download the scenery add-on
Get the scenery package from a trusted source. If you are looking for scenery files, our own library is a sensible place to start: Fly Away Simulation downloads.
- Check the file format
Most manual installs arrive as a ZIP, RAR or 7z archive. Do not drop that archive straight into the Community folder unless the author explicitly says their installer handles it.
- Extract the archive
Unzip it first. After extraction, inspect the folders. You are looking for the actual package folder, not a parent folder that only contains documentation, screenshots or another folder with the same name.
- Find your active Community folder
Open the MSFS packages location and locate Community. Make sure it is the one tied to your live MSFS 2024 install, especially if you have had more than one version of the sim or have moved the installation to another drive.
- Copy the package folder into Community
Place the extracted scenery package folder directly inside Community. Do not merge it into another add-on folder, and do not place it in Official.
- Restart Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
If the sim was open, close it fully and start it again. MSFS usually scans Community packages at launch, so a proper restart matters.
- Check the scenery in the sim
Load the affected airport or area on the world map. If it is an airport add-on, confirm the airport layout, buildings and parking positions have changed. If it is a landmark or city pack, visit the exact location rather than assuming it failed.
Marketplace scenery vs manual scenery mods
Not every scenery add-on is installed the same way. The method depends on where the scenery came from.
| Scenery source | How to install it | Where it usually lives |
|---|---|---|
| Manual/freeware package | Extract and copy the package folder | Community folder |
| In-sim Marketplace purchase | Install through the simulator's content management screen | Managed by the sim, usually under Official |
| Standalone installer add-on | Run the installer and point it to your MSFS packages location if required | Varies; often Community |
If your scenery came from the Marketplace, do not try to copy files around manually unless the product specifically supports that. Let the simulator manage it.
What kinds of scenery mods can you install?
"Scenery mod" is broad, and the type affects what you should expect after installation.
- Airport scenery changes terminals, stands, taxiways, lighting and ground markings.
- Landmark packs add or improve specific buildings, bridges, towers and city features.
- Terrain or mesh enhancements alter the shape of the ground in a region.
- Aerial imagery or texture replacements improve the look of the surface in selected areas.
- Object libraries provide shared assets used by other scenery packages.
Object libraries are easy to overlook. Some scenery will not display correctly without them, so always read the included instructions.
Why is my scenery mod not showing up?
If the scenery does not appear, the install is usually wrong rather than the scenery being broken. Work through these checks in order.
- Check for a nested folder
Open the package you placed in Community. If the first folder only contains another folder with the same add-on name, move the inner package folder up one level.
- Make sure you extracted the archive
MSFS will not normally install scenery from a ZIP sitting in Community.
- Confirm you used the right Community folder
This catches a lot of people with multiple drives, old simulator installs or migrated package locations.
- Restart the sim completely
A world map refresh is not always enough. Close the simulator and relaunch it.
- Check for missing dependencies
If the author lists required libraries or supporting packages, install those too.
- Test at the exact airport or coordinates
Some add-ons affect only one small area. If you spawn nearby rather than at the actual location, it may look unchanged.
- Look for conflicts
Two airport sceneries for the same ICAO, or a city pack and an airport package covering the same area, can clash.
Can scenery mods conflict with each other?
Yes. The most common conflict is having two different versions of the same airport installed. That can produce duplicate buildings, broken taxiways, floating objects or missing terrain.
Conflicts also happen when one package includes terraforming or exclusion data that another package expects to control. If you have visual glitches at one airport, temporarily remove related scenery from Community and add it back one by one.
Good housekeeping for scenery add-ons
- Keep package folder names intact unless the author says otherwise.
- Do not mix several add-ons into one folder.
- Store downloaded archives somewhere outside Community as a backup.
- Remove outdated versions before installing a newer version of the same scenery.
- Keep a note of any required libraries or dependencies.
Should scenery mods go in the Official folder?
No, not for normal manual installs. We recommend putting manually installed scenery only in Community. The Official folder is used by simulator-managed content, including core files and content installed through the sim itself.
Mixing third-party manual files into Official makes troubleshooting harder and can complicate updates.
How do you uninstall or update scenery in MSFS 2024?
For a manual scenery package, uninstalling is usually simple: remove that package folder from Community. We suggest moving it temporarily to another folder first and testing the sim, rather than deleting it immediately.
To update a scenery mod, the safest method is usually:
- Remove the old package
Delete or move the previous version out of Community.
- Extract the new version cleanly
Avoid copying new files over old ones unless the author specifically instructs you to patch in place.
- Install the new package
Copy the updated package folder into Community and restart the sim.
If the scenery was installed through the in-sim Marketplace, update or remove it from the simulator's own content management tools instead.
Do scenery mods affect performance?
They can. Detailed airports, hand-placed city objects, large photoreal areas and heavy terraforming all add load. If a newly installed scenery causes lower frame rates, stutters or longer loading times, test with that package removed to confirm the cause.
Airports tend to hit performance hardest when they add dense interiors, animated clutter, complex lighting and lots of bespoke objects. Small landmark packs are often lighter, but there are no guarantees.
Best practice before installing lots of MSFS 2024 scenery
If you use many add-ons, keep your setup tidy from the start. That matters far more in the long run than the first install.
- Install one scenery package at a time.
- Test it before adding five more.
- Keep the Community folder organised and easy to audit.
- Read the included documentation for dependencies, known conflicts and special instructions.
- Avoid keeping unused scenery active if you are troubleshooting stability.
Used that way, scenery mods in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 are usually straightforward: put the correct extracted package folder in Community, keep duplicate airports out, and let the sim load the add-on on startup.