Fix missing trees and vegetation after an MSFS 2020 update by checking graphics, online data, content packages, cache and add-on conflicts.
Vegetation usually disappears after a Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 update because the update reset Trees or online-data settings, left scenery content incomplete, exposed an incompatible Community add-on, or made the rolling cache stale. Establish whether the loss is global or local, then check settings, content, cache and add-ons in that order.
Why can an MSFS 2020 update remove vegetation?
The update rarely deletes every tree asset; it usually changes which data, setting or package Microsoft Flight Simulator is loading. Core simulator updates and optional scenery packages are also handled separately, so one can be updated while another remains incomplete.
- Reset graphics settings: Trees, Grass and Bushes, Terrain Level of Detail or Objects Level of Detail may have been reduced.
- Online data disabled: Online Functionality or Bing Data World Graphics may have been switched off, or the simulator may have entered offline mode.
- Incomplete scenery content: A World Update or regional package may need updating separately through Content Manager.
- Stale rolling cache: Cached scenery from the previous build can fail to match the updated data.
- Add-on exclusions: An outdated airport, regional scenery, season mod or vegetation library can suppress default trees over a large area.
What does the pattern of missing vegetation reveal?
Where and how the vegetation is missing usually identifies the responsible setting or package.
| Symptom | Most likely cause |
|---|---|
| Trees and bushes are missing everywhere | Graphics settings, online data or damaged base content |
| Vegetation is absent around one airport | An airport exclusion or overlapping scenery add-on |
| One country or region is affected | Missing, outdated or conflicting regional scenery |
| Trees appear only close to the aircraft | Low Trees or level-of-detail settings |
| Vegetation returns with an empty Community folder | An incompatible add-on |
How do I restore missing trees and vegetation?
Restore vegetation by testing the least destructive fixes first and restarting the simulator after each material change.
- Perform a full restart. Exit MSFS 2020 completely rather than returning only to the main menu. On Xbox, quit the simulator from the dashboard instead of resuming it through Quick Resume. Test a default aircraft at an unmodified airport in two different regions.
- Check online scenery settings. Under General Options and Data, confirm that Online Functionality and Bing Data World Graphics are enabled and that the simulator reports a working connection. Photogrammetry may be enabled for supported cities, but it is not the master switch for all trees.
- Restore vegetation graphics settings. Under Graphics, raise Trees and Grass and Bushes from their lowest settings, then check Terrain Level of Detail and Objects Level of Detail. Medium or high settings should display vegetation; Ultra is not required. Apply the changes and restart the flight.
- Update installed scenery content. Open Content Manager and install outstanding updates for owned scenery and regional packages. A core simulator update does not guarantee that every optional World Update has also been installed. Our guide to updating World Update and scenery packages explains the separate package checks.
- Rebuild the rolling cache. Delete the rolling cache through the simulator's Data options, restart MSFS, and recreate it only if you normally use it. This does not remove aircraft, saved flights or installed scenery. Follow the fuller cache and scenery reload procedure if assets remain stuck.
- Test without Community add-ons. Close the simulator and temporarily move or rename the
Communityfolder; do not alter theOfficialfolder. If the trees return, restore add-ons in batches until the faulty airport, regional scenery, season package or vegetation library is identified. Our method for isolating overlapping scenery conflicts avoids reinstalling everything blindly. Xbox users should test suspected optional packages through Content Manager instead. - Repair the simulator files. If default scenery remains bare everywhere with an empty Community folder, repair or verify the installation through the platform used to install MSFS. Use the steps for repairing the MSFS 2020 installation before considering a complete reinstall.
Why are trees missing only at one airport or region?
Local vegetation loss is usually caused by a scenery exclusion rather than a global graphics fault. Airport developers use exclusion polygons to stop default trees appearing on aprons and runways, but an oversized or outdated exclusion can clear vegetation well beyond the airport boundary.
Disable duplicate versions of the airport first, followed by regional scenery, vegetation replacements and seasonal add-ons covering the same area. If the location belongs to a World Update, confirm that the relevant package is installed and fully updated.
Does photogrammetry need to be enabled for trees?
No, photogrammetry is not required for normal procedural vegetation. It controls detailed 3D city meshes in supported areas, while trees and ground vegetation also depend on their own graphics settings, scenery data and exclusions.
Turning photogrammetry off may change how a city looks, but it should not remove every tree worldwide. If all vegetation is gone, concentrate on Trees, Grass and Bushes, online functionality, installed content and add-on conflicts.
Do I need to reinstall Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020?
A complete reinstall is rarely necessary for missing vegetation. Settings, an incomplete optional package, stale cache data or a Community conflict account for most cases and can be corrected without downloading the whole simulator again.
Reinstall only when the problem affects default scenery globally, persists with no third-party content, and the platform's repair or verification process reports files it cannot restore.