Find the MSFS UserCfg.opt location for 2020 and 2024 on Steam or Microsoft Store, see what the file controls, and edit it safely.
On PC, UserCfg.opt sits in Microsoft Flight Simulator's per-user AppData folder, with a different path for Steam and Microsoft Store/Xbox app installations. It is a plain-text configuration file for graphics and display options; its InstalledPackagesPath entry points the simulator towards its active package location.
Where is UserCfg.opt in MSFS 2020 and 2024?
The standard UserCfg.opt locations depend on the simulator version and the store through which it was installed.
| Simulator | PC edition | UserCfg.opt location |
|---|---|---|
| MSFS 2020 | Steam | %APPDATA%\Microsoft Flight Simulator\UserCfg.opt |
| MSFS 2020 | Microsoft Store or Xbox app | %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\UserCfg.opt |
| MSFS 2024 | Steam | %APPDATA%\Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024\UserCfg.opt |
| MSFS 2024 | Microsoft Store or Xbox app | %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.Limitless_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\UserCfg.opt |
Paste the relevant path into File Explorer's address bar and press Enter. Using %APPDATA% or %LOCALAPPDATA% avoids having to reveal the normally hidden AppData folder.
A custom installation on another drive usually moves the large package files, not UserCfg.opt itself. Our explanation of how MSFS installation and package locations differ helps distinguish these folders.
The Xbox app entry in the table refers to the PC version. Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 do not expose UserCfg.opt for manual access; console users must change supported options through the simulator's menus.
What does UserCfg.opt control?
UserCfg.opt stores many of Microsoft Flight Simulator's local graphics, display and rendering settings. Depending on the simulator version, these include resolution and window mode, quality presets, level-of-detail values, anti-aliasing, V-Sync and related rendering options.
The especially useful line is InstalledPackagesPath, normally near the bottom. Its quoted value tells MSFS where its package tree is located. This is why the file is commonly used to find the correct Community folder after choosing a custom drive during installation.
For MSFS 2020, see how to follow InstalledPackagesPath to the active Community folder. MSFS 2024 uses a revised content system, so its package and scenery add-on locations need version-specific handling.
The file does not contain aircraft, scenery, account entitlements or the add-ons themselves. Nor should it be treated as a complete backup of control bindings and simulator progress.
How do I identify the active UserCfg.opt file?
The active file is the one belonging to the installed edition and updated when that simulator closes normally. Old installations, backups and a switch between Steam and Microsoft Store can leave several copies on the same PC.
- Close Microsoft Flight Simulator. This ensures its latest settings have been written to disk.
- Open the expected AppData path. Use the matching version and store entry from the table above.
- Check the modified date. It should correspond to a recent simulator session, although a timestamp alone is not absolute proof.
- Inspect InstalledPackagesPath. Open the file in a plain-text editor and confirm that the path matches the Packages location used by your installation.
A mistake we see constantly is editing a stale UserCfg.opt found through a whole-drive search. Nothing changes in the simulator because that copy belongs to an older installation or another edition.
Can I edit or delete UserCfg.opt safely?
You can edit UserCfg.opt, but only while Microsoft Flight Simulator is closed and after making a backup. The simulator may overwrite manual changes when it exits, and a malformed path or invalid setting can cause options to reset.
- Copy the original file to a safe location before changing it.
- Use a plain-text editor and preserve the existing layout, spelling and quotation marks.
- Change only the intended entry. An incorrect
InstalledPackagesPathcan make installed content appear missing or prompt the simulator to obtain packages again. - Do not leave the file read-only. That can prevent legitimate graphics changes from being saved.
If the file appears damaged, renaming it is safer than deleting it outright. MSFS can generate a replacement, but this also resets local configuration values, so record the existing package path first. If settings repeatedly revert without manual editing, use our checks for permissions, cloud restoration and graphics-setting resets.
Why is UserCfg.opt missing?
A missing file usually means the simulator has not completed its first launch, the wrong store path is being checked, or AppData is hidden. Start the correct MSFS version, let it reach the main interface, close it normally, and then check the matching location again.
Also confirm that Windows has not hidden known file extensions. The file should be named exactly UserCfg.opt, not UserCfg.opt.txt. Security software or damaged folder permissions can also prevent MSFS from creating or updating it.