Are Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 add-ons compatible with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024?
Yes, many Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 add-ons can work in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, but not all of them. Simple scenery, airports, liveries and some aircraft often transfer well; complex aircraft, utilities and older packages may need updates, partial fixes or may not work properly at all.
Short answer: some do, some do not
The key point is this: compatibility is add-on specific, not universal. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 was built to carry over a lot of the 2020 ecosystem, but that does not mean every existing package is fully supported just because it worked in the earlier sim.
We would treat every add-on as one of three cases:
- Works as-is – common with many scenery packages, airports, liveries and lighter mods.
- Works but needs an update – common with aircraft, missions, avionics-heavy packages and anything using custom systems.
- Does not work properly – most likely with older, abandoned or highly customised add-ons.
Which MSFS 2020 add-ons are most likely to work in MSFS 2024?
| Add-on type | Typical compatibility | What usually happens |
|---|---|---|
| Landmarks and basic scenery | High | Often works with little or no change, unless it conflicts with newer default scenery. |
| Airport scenery | High to medium | Usually usable, but may show elevation issues, duplicate objects or layout conflicts. |
| Liveries | Medium to high | Often fine if the aircraft structure is unchanged; can break if the base aircraft changed. |
| Simple aircraft | Medium | May load and fly, but systems, sounds or animations can need work. |
| Complex study-level aircraft | Medium to low | Often needs a developer update for systems, avionics, EFB functions or custom code. |
| Utilities and ground tools | Low to medium | External tools may depend on sim interfaces that changed between versions. |
| Camera, weather or UI mods | Low to medium | Can break if menus, internal files or sim behaviour changed. |
Why are some MSFS 2020 add-ons not fully compatible?
There are a few common reasons.
1) MSFS 2024 is not just a patch for 2020
Even where the two sims feel similar, the underlying systems are not identical. Aircraft logic, avionics behaviour, package structure, streaming content and default world data can differ enough to expose problems in older add-ons.
2) Complex aircraft rely on custom code
A detailed airliner or business jet usually does much more than replace a 3D model. It may use custom flight systems, its own tablet or EFB, external tools, special navigation logic, sounds, failure modelling and bespoke avionics. That is exactly the sort of package most likely to need a dedicated MSFS 2024 update.
3) Scenery can conflict with the new base world
Airports and scenery often appear to work at first, then show missing jetways, floating buildings, terrain bumps or duplicate objects. That usually means the add-on is loading against changed default airport data or altered terrain in the new sim.
4) Some developers actively support 2024, some do not
If the developer has updated and tested the package for 2024, your odds improve a lot. If the add-on has been abandoned, compatibility is basically luck.
Can you just copy your MSFS 2020 Community folder into MSFS 2024?
We would not recommend copying everything across in one go. It is one of the fastest ways to create crashes, endless loading, broken aircraft and scenery conflicts that are hard to trace.
A safer approach is to test add-ons one by one or in very small batches. That lets you isolate the package causing trouble.
How to test MSFS 2020 add-ons in MSFS 2024 safely
- Back up your add-ons before moving or copying anything. Keep your original MSFS 2020 setup untouched.
- Start with an empty add-on setup in MSFS 2024 so you know the base sim is stable on its own.
- Install one add-on at a time, beginning with simpler items such as liveries or scenery rather than complex aircraft.
- Load the sim and test properly. For scenery, check the airport for terrain issues, duplicate buildings and missing markings. For aircraft, test startup, avionics, autopilot, sounds and shutdown.
- Watch for symptoms such as longer loading, missing cockpit displays, broken controls, CTDs, odd performance drops or visual corruption.
- Remove any problem package immediately and confirm the sim behaves normally again.
- Keep separate profiles or folders for 2020 and 2024 if possible. That makes troubleshooting much easier than sharing one giant library.
What are the most common compatibility problems?
- Aircraft loads but systems do not work – screens stay black, switches do nothing, autopilot misbehaves.
- Airport looks wrong – sunken or elevated runways, duplicate terminals, missing taxiway signs.
- Performance drops – older or poorly optimised packages may hit frame rate harder in 2024.
- Sim crashes or hangs on loading – usually points to an incompatible package or outdated custom code.
- Livery mismatches – textures may show incorrectly if the target aircraft changed.
- External tools stop talking to the sim – utilities sometimes need their own update even if the in-sim package seems unchanged.
What about Marketplace add-ons?
Marketplace content is not automatically safe just because it came through the official ecosystem. Some products need to be updated, repackaged or re-listed for full 2024 support. Others may work straight away.
The practical rule is simple: look for explicit MSFS 2024 compatibility from the product developer or publisher. If that confirmation is missing, assume nothing.
Should you keep separate MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 add-on libraries?
Yes, in most cases we think that is the cleanest way to manage both sims. Even when a package works in both, the safest setup is still separate folders or separate profiles rather than one shared live library.
That avoids version mix-ups, keeps troubleshooting sane and stops a 2024-only update from breaking a 2020 installation, or the other way round.
How do you know an add-on is truly compatible?
Loading into the sim once is not enough. We would call an add-on truly compatible only if it:
- Installs cleanly in MSFS 2024
- Does not trigger crashes or long loading problems
- Works through a normal full flight or scenery session
- Shows no obvious visual, terrain or system faults
- Performs roughly as expected
If it only half works, it is not really compatible; it is merely usable for now.
Our recommendation
If you are moving from Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 to 2024, assume that many add-ons will carry over, but every important add-on needs verification. Start with your most essential packages, test them carefully, and wait for confirmed updates for complex aircraft and utilities.
If you are building a fresh library, it is smarter to prioritise add-ons that are clearly maintained for the newer sim. For freeware, you can browse our library at Fly Away Simulation Downloads and keep your installs organised by simulator version.