Yes—MSFS 2024 on PC Game Pass supports Community-folder and Marketplace add-ons. Learn how to install them and fix common loading issues.
Yes. The locally installed PC Game Pass version of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 supports compatible third-party add-ons through its Community folder, plus content installed through the in-simulator Marketplace. Game Pass does not disable mod support; the key exceptions are Xbox Cloud Gaming and add-ons that have not been updated for MSFS 2024.
Does the PC Game Pass version restrict add-ons?
No; a local Xbox-app installation accepts the normal PC package types supported by Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. The subscription provides access to the base simulator, while freeware and separately purchased add-ons remain independent of Game Pass.
| How MSFS 2024 is running | Community add-ons | Marketplace content |
|---|---|---|
| Installed locally through the Xbox app | Yes | Yes, subject to product compatibility |
| Streamed through Xbox Cloud Gaming | No direct file access | Only content supported within the cloud session |
Cloud streaming is the common source of confusion: it may look like the PC version, but the remote machine gives you no access to its Community folder. A local installation is required for manually downloaded aircraft, scenery, liveries and utilities.
If the Game Pass subscription ends, the add-on files on your PC are not automatically deleted, but you cannot use them without access to the simulator. Marketplace purchases remain associated with the Microsoft account used to buy them, subject to the add-on's platform and simulator compatibility.
How do you install add-ons in MSFS 2024 on PC Game Pass?
Install Marketplace products from within the simulator; manually downloaded packages normally go into the active MSFS 2024 Community folder.
- Install and launch MSFS 2024 locally. Let the simulator complete its initial package setup before adding anything.
- Check the stated compatibility. Select a package specifically supporting MSFS 2024, such as one from our MSFS aircraft, scenery and add-on library.
- Find the active Community folder. Its location depends on the Packages path chosen during installation. Our guide to finding the MSFS 2024 Packages and Community folders covers the reliable ways to identify it.
- Extract the package correctly. Do not leave it as a ZIP file. For a conventional package, the folder directly inside
Communityshould contain files such asmanifest.jsonandlayout.json; an unnecessary extra folder level can prevent detection. - Restart the simulator and test it. Close MSFS before copying files, relaunch it, and initially test a new add-on without other newly installed packages.
Some commercial add-ons use an installer or an external companion application instead. If an installer asks which build you have, choose the Microsoft Store or Xbox-app version of MSFS 2024 rather than Steam or MSFS 2020. Our complete PC add-on installation instructions cover package layouts and installer-based products in more detail.
Do not place add-ons beside the simulator executable or attempt to unlock the protected Windows application directory. MSFS loads conventional third-party packages from its Packages structure, not from the executable folder.
Why is my Game Pass add-on not appearing?
The usual cause is that the files were copied into an inactive or incorrect Community folder, especially when MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 are both installed.
- Wrong Community folder: confirm that the folder belongs to the Packages path used by MSFS 2024, not an old MSFS 2020 installation.
- Archive not extracted: a ZIP, RAR or similar archive placed directly in
Communitywill not load as an add-on. - Extra folder nesting: move the actual package folder into
Communityrather than its outer download folder. - Old or incompatible package: remove it and obtain a version explicitly supporting MSFS 2024.
- Missing dependency: some aircraft, scenery and utilities require another package or a companion program before they work.
- Package conflict: disable other recent additions, then test the problem package by itself. Duplicate versions of the same scenery or aircraft are frequent offenders.
If an installer reports that MSFS cannot be found, point it to the active MSFS 2024 Community folder when that option is offered. Game Pass itself is not the blocker.
Do MSFS 2020 add-ons work in MSFS 2024?
Some do, but Game Pass has no bearing on that compatibility. Simple liveries and scenery may work unchanged, while complex aircraft, gauges, compiled modules and external utilities are more likely to require an MSFS 2024 update.
Do not copy an entire MSFS 2020 Community folder across at once. Add packages individually and test after each one; our MSFS 2020-to-2024 compatibility guidance explains which add-on types deserve particular caution.