Where is the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 EXE file?

On PC, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020’s executable is FlightSimulator.exe. Steam normally stores it under ...\Steam\steamapps\common\MicrosoftFlightSimulator\. Microsoft Store installs usually place it in a protected WindowsApps package, while Xbox app installations may use a chosen XboxGames\Microsoft Flight Simulator\Content\ folder. The drive and package version can vary.

Common MSFS 2020 executable paths

FlightSimulator.exe belongs to the application installation, not the separate folder containing downloaded aircraft, scenery and other packages.

A custom Steam library or Xbox game folder changes the drive and preceding directories. Microsoft Store package names include a version component, so that full path can change after an update. The Xbox app has also used different installation formats; some installations remain under WindowsApps. Our breakdown of the application, package and content locations explains how those separate folders fit together.

How do I find the exact FlightSimulator.exe location?

The safest approach is to let the launcher or Windows reveal the installed path rather than guessing it.

Steam installation

1. Open the game properties. In the Steam library, open Microsoft Flight Simulator’s properties.
2. Browse the installed files. Select the installed-files section and use its Browse option. Steam opens the folder containing FlightSimulator.exe.

Microsoft Store or Xbox app installation

1. Check the Xbox app’s file controls. Open the game’s Manage page and use the Files or Browse option when it is offered.
2. Inspect the running process. Launch MSFS 2020, open Task Manager with Ctrl+Shift+Esc, select the Details view, right-click FlightSimulator.exe and choose Open file location.
3. Query the Store package if necessary. In PowerShell, run (Get-AppxPackage -Name Microsoft.FlightSimulator).InstallLocation. If MSFS uses the packaged Store format, Windows returns the package directory containing the executable.

If the PowerShell command returns nothing, check that it is running under the Windows account used for the installation. The game may instead be in an Xbox app folder outside WindowsApps.

Why does Windows deny access to WindowsApps?

WindowsApps is a hidden, protected application directory, so an access-denied message does not mean the simulator is missing. We advise against taking ownership of the folder or changing its permissions: doing so can interfere with Microsoft Store and Xbox app updates.

A versioned package directory may be replaced during an update. Avoid hard-coding that full path when a utility can detect the running FlightSimulator.exe process instead.

Is FlightSimulator.exe in the Community or Official folder?

No. Community, Official\OneStore and Official\Steam contain simulator packages; they do not contain the main executable. A mistake we see constantly is searching the large packages directory for the EXE because that is where most of the simulator’s downloaded data resides.

The active packages location is recorded as InstalledPackagesPath near the end of UserCfg.opt. If that is the folder you actually need, use our guide to locate UserCfg.opt and identify the active packages path.

Which file should an add-on or utility use?

A utility asking for the simulator executable should normally be pointed to the real FlightSimulator.exe, not the desktop shortcut, Start menu entry or packages folder. Do not copy the EXE elsewhere; it depends on files and package registration within its installation directory.

For an external companion application that must start with MSFS, using the simulator’s startup configuration can be more reliable than saving a versioned WindowsApps path. Follow our instructions to configure the MSFS exe.xml file safely.