Find the MSFS 2024 controller settings file location on Steam and Microsoft Store PC, understand cloud saves, and avoid editing the wrong file.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 does not store controller bindings in one plainly named settings file. On PC, they are cloud-synchronised save data cached under the Microsoft Store/Xbox app wgs folder or the Steam userdata folder. Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 do not expose these files for direct access.
Where are MSFS 2024 controller profiles stored?
| Platform | Controller settings location |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Store or Xbox app on PC | %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.Limitless_8wekyb3d8bbwe\SystemAppData\wgs |
| Steam on PC | <Steam folder>\userdata\<Steam user ID>\2537590\remote |
| Xbox Series X|S | Managed through console and cloud save data; there is no browsable controller file. |
| PlayStation 5 or PS5 Pro | Managed as console save data; individual controller files are not exposed. |
On the Microsoft Store version, paste the path into File Explorer's address bar because AppData is hidden by default. The wgs directory contains long, hashed folder and file names rather than an obvious file such as controls.cfg.
For Steam, 2537590 is the MSFS 2024 game directory within the active Steam account's userdata folder. If several people have used Steam on the computer, there may be multiple numeric user-ID folders.
Why is there no recognisable controller settings file?
MSFS 2024 treats controller presets as account-linked save data, not as a user-editable configuration document. A single preset may be represented within hashed platform data, and the surrounding folder can also contain other saved information.
This is why copying or editing whichever file has the newest modification date is unreliable. A mistake we see regularly is backing up one hashed file, only to discover that the profile depended on other data in the same save structure.
Are controller bindings stored in UserCfg.opt?
No. UserCfg.opt contains graphics, display and installation-related settings; it is not the main controller-binding file. Our explanation of what UserCfg.opt contains and where to find it covers that file separately.
Also avoid confusing MSFS 2024 with an MSFS 2020 package folder. The retail MSFS 2024 Microsoft package is identified by Microsoft.Limitless, whereas the older simulator uses a different package name.
Can I edit the MSFS 2024 controller files manually?
Manual editing is unsupported and risks corrupting the profile or having cloud synchronisation overwrite the change. Create, rename and modify presets through the simulator's Controls menu instead; our guide to mapping and saving controller bindings explains the supported method.
Close Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 before copying any save-data folder. If the simulator or platform client is writing to it, the copy may contain mismatched files.
How should I back up the controller settings?
- Exit MSFS 2024 completely. Do not copy the files while the simulator is returning to the main menu or saving a profile.
- Locate the correct platform folder. Check the Windows package name or Steam user ID carefully, especially when several accounts are present.
- Copy the whole relevant save folder. Do not select only the newest hashed file.
- Keep the backup outside the live folder. Cloud synchronisation is convenient, but it can also propagate an unwanted reset or overwrite a restored copy.
Restoring these files requires care because the local and cloud copies may conflict. Follow our safe backup and restoration procedure for controller profiles before replacing anything.
What if the folder is empty or missing?
Launch MSFS 2024 under the intended Windows, Steam and simulator account, create or change a controller preset, save it, and exit normally. Then check the location again. On Steam, confirm that you opened the user-ID folder belonging to the account that runs the simulator; on the Microsoft version, confirm that you used the Microsoft.Limitless package rather than an MSFS 2020 folder.