Learn how to install FSX on more than one PC, the boxed and Steam licence rules, and what is required to run it on two computers at once.
Yes, but the licence determines how. FSX: Steam Edition can be installed on several PCs through the same Steam account, but one licence does not cover simultaneous play on multiple machines. Boxed FSX is licensed to one PC at a time; use separate licences to run it concurrently.
Boxed FSX and Steam Edition have different rules
The installation method and licence enforcement depend on which FSX edition you own. Our comparison of boxed FSX and Steam Edition covers the wider differences in ownership, updates and activation.
| FSX edition | Installing on another PC | Running on two PCs simultaneously |
|---|---|---|
| Boxed FSX | Transfer the licensed copy by removing it from the old PC, installing it on the replacement and activating it with the original product key. | Each active PC should have its own valid FSX licence and product key. |
| FSX: Steam Edition | Sign in to the owning Steam account and install FSX from its library on the other PC. | One account-owned copy does not provide two simultaneous FSX sessions. Each user needs a separately owned copy on a separate account. |
Having the boxed DVDs or retaining downloaded Steam files does not create an additional licence. The same applies to a home cockpit, multiplayer arrangement or second simulator station.
Can two PCs run FSX at the same time?
Two PCs can run FSX simultaneously only when each machine has a valid licence. For boxed FSX, that means a separate legitimate product key for each installation; for Steam Edition, it means separate Steam accounts that each own FSX.
If the second computer is only for maps, charts, weather software or other companion utilities, it may not need FSX installed at all. Our guide to running FSX tools on a second PC explains the cleaner networked arrangement. Check the companion program's own licence because its machine limits are separate from the FSX licence.
How do I move boxed FSX to a new computer?
Treat a boxed FSX transfer as a fresh installation rather than copying the programme folder. A copied folder alone misses registry entries, prerequisites and add-on installer records.
- Back up your files. Save custom aircraft, scenery, gauges, effects, saved flights and the relevant FSX folders under Documents and AppData.
- Uninstall FSX from the old PC. FSX has no visible deactivation command, so uninstalling will not display a released activation slot.
- Install FSX on the new PC. Install the base simulator first, followed by the updates or Acceleration components appropriate to your edition.
- Activate with the original key. Hardware changes can cause the activation system to regard the new computer as a different device. Our boxed FSX activation guidance explains the transfer and activation limits.
- Reinstall add-ons before restoring settings. This recreates the paths and supporting components that aircraft and scenery installers expect.
If activation rejects a legitimate key, first confirm that the key belongs to the installed boxed edition and has been entered correctly. A boxed product key cannot activate Steam Edition; the usual causes and remedies are covered in our FSX product-key troubleshooting advice.
How do I install FSX: Steam Edition on another PC?
Install Steam, sign in to the account that owns FSX: Steam Edition, and download the simulator from that account's library. Run FSX once before restoring add-ons so it can create its local configuration folders.
Do not assume account synchronisation will transfer every saved flight, setting or add-on. Aircraft, scenery, utilities and local configuration changes normally require a separate backup or fresh installation on the second computer.
Do FSX add-on licences cover both computers?
FSX ownership does not determine an add-on's machine allowance. Freeware can generally be reinstalled on another computer, but commercial aircraft, scenery and utilities may require deactivation, a new installer login or a second licence.
A common mistake is to copy the entire FSX directory and expect everything to work. Add-ons may also depend on entries in the scenery library, configuration files, external modules and supporting software, so using their original installers is usually safer.