Find the MSFS 2024 flight plan save location for .pln files, EFB routes and consoles, plus the quickest way to locate a missing plan.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 does not use one fixed, user-facing folder for every flight plan. On PC, a .pln file goes wherever the Save As window specifies; if no window appears, check Downloads. Planner-only saves are managed through your simulator profile, while console storage is not directly browsable.
Where is the MSFS 2024 .pln file on PC?
The location depends on how the plan was saved or imported, not simply on whether MSFS 2024 came from Steam or the Microsoft Store.
| Plan type | Where it is stored | How to reopen it |
|---|---|---|
Exported .pln file | The folder selected in the Save As window; some EFB exports may go to Downloads | Browse to that file from the planner's load or import command |
| Route saved inside Flight Planner or EFB | Simulator-managed profile storage; a separate visible .pln file may not exist | Open the planner's saved-routes list |
Downloaded or imported .pln | Its original download or user-selected folder | Load it from that location; MSFS does not necessarily copy it elsewhere |
| Plan created on Xbox or PlayStation | Sandboxed console or profile storage | Use the in-simulator planner; there is no normal folder to browse |
Do not assume that MSFS 2024's AppData package directory is a dedicated flight-plan library. Those folders mainly hold configuration, cache and profile data; our explanation of the correct Steam and Microsoft Store data paths shows what belongs there.
How do I find a missing MSFS 2024 flight plan?
The quickest method is to search for the file extension and then repeat the save operation with a recognisable test name.
- Search your user folders: open File Explorer and search for
*.pln. Start with Documents and Downloads, then search This PC if necessary. - Sort by modification date: the most recently saved plan should appear near the top.
- Check redirected folders: Windows may place Documents or Downloads under OneDrive, depending on your configuration.
- Save a test route: use a distinctive name such as
LOCATION-TEST.plnand note the folder shown in the Save As window. If no window appears, inspect Downloads. - Check the planner library: if no file exists, the route may have been saved only inside the Flight Planner or EFB.
For predictable storage, create an ordinary folder such as Documents\MSFS 2024 Flight Plans and select it whenever exporting. Our built-in planner walkthrough explains the separate save, load and import operations.
Are flight plans stored in the Community folder?
No. The Community folder is for add-on packages, not ordinary .pln route files. Placing a plan there can make it harder to find without making it appear automatically in the planner.
A downloaded plan normally remains in Downloads until you move it, and you then browse to it from MSFS 2024. See our instructions for importing downloaded flight plans for the correct workflow.
Does saving a flight plan also save flight progress?
No. A flight plan stores the route and related planning data; it does not necessarily preserve the aircraft's position, fuel, switches, weather or mid-flight state. To continue an interrupted session, use the simulator's situation-saving features described in our guide to saving and resuming a complete flight.