See what MSFS 2020 World Update 10 added to the USA, then install its free scenery, airports and activities correctly on PC or Xbox.
MSFS 2020 World Update 10, also called World Update X: USA, is a free optional scenery expansion for the United States and its territories. It adds improved aerial imagery and elevation data, photogrammetry, handcrafted airports and landmarks, plus flying activities. Update the simulator first, then acquire it in Marketplace and verify it in Content Manager.
What was included in MSFS 2020 World Update 10?
World Update 10 was the second major USA-focused World Update for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, rather than a new aircraft pack or a replacement for the simulator. Our broader release order and regional coverage shows where it sits among the other MSFS 2020 World Updates.
| Category | Included content |
|---|---|
| Map data | Revised high-resolution aerial and satellite imagery, plus improved digital elevation data for the United States and its territories. |
| Photogrammetry | New or improved 3D coverage for selected urban areas, with highlighted locations including Albany, Key Largo, Olympia, San Diego and Seattle. |
| Handcrafted airports | Catalina Airport (KAVX), Valdez Pioneer Field (PAVD), Lake Tahoe Airport (KTVL) and Block Island State Airport (KBID). |
| Other airports | Detail improvements for 100 existing airports. These were enhancements, not another 100 fully handcrafted builds. |
| Landmarks | 87 handcrafted points of interest across the covered region. |
| Activities | Three Bush Trips, three Discovery Flights and three Landing Challenges. |
Those figures describe the original World Update X release. Microsoft can revise individual packages and fix assets without changing the update's name.
The downloaded content supplies the handcrafted airports, landmarks and activities, but it does not turn the entire USA into offline scenery. Detailed Bing imagery and photogrammetry still depend on online data streaming, and places outside the specifically enhanced areas may retain their normal autogen appearance.
How do I install World Update 10 on PC or Xbox?
Install the latest MSFS 2020 core update first, then acquire World Update X inside the simulator and check that all of its packages were downloaded.
- Update Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020. On PC, let Steam or the Microsoft Store or Xbox app install the platform update. On Xbox, install the available game update. Launch the simulator and allow its mandatory in-simulator download to finish. Follow our complete PC and Xbox core-update sequence if the launcher and simulator report different versions.
- Open Marketplace. From the MSFS 2020 main menu, search for World Update X: USA or browse the free World Update content. Acquire the official free package and choose the available download or install option.
- Let the download and installation finish. Keep the simulator open and ensure the drive has more free space than the displayed package size, because installation may need temporary room for unpacking.
- Check Content Manager. Open
Profile > Content Managerand search for World Update X or USA. Install anything marked Not Installed and apply anything marked Update Available. Our guide to finding, filtering and repairing packages in Content Manager explains the available status filters. - Restart and verify the scenery. Load one of the four handcrafted airports, such as KAVX or KTVL. A simulator restart is sensible after installing a large World Update, especially if it was added while another package was being updated.
A common mistake is assuming that the mandatory update downloaded at launch includes the optional USA scenery. It does not: the World Update must also be acquired through Marketplace and installed through the simulator's content system.
Why does World Update 10 say installed but look unchanged?
An Installed label on the Marketplace tile does not guarantee that every associated package is present or that streamed scenery data is enabled.
- The tile says Owned rather than Installed: ownership only means the free package was acquired. Open Content Manager and download its missing components.
- Photogrammetry cities look flat: open
Options > General Options > Dataand enable Online Functionality, Bing Data World Graphics and Photogrammetry. Check that a data limit has not stopped streaming. - The Marketplace is unavailable: finish any mandatory simulator update, confirm that online functionality is enabled and restart MSFS 2020. Also make sure the simulator is signed into the account that owns the base game.
- Old scenery still appears: delete and recreate the Rolling Cache from the Data settings if it is serving stale tiles. This is more appropriate than deleting files manually from the Official package folder.
- An airport has duplicate buildings: an add-on may overlap the handcrafted World Update airport. Disable either the third-party airport or the corresponding official airport package, keeping whichever version you prefer.
- The download repeatedly fails: create additional free drive space and retry from Content Manager. The installer may require room for both downloaded and unpacked data.
If Microsoft later revises the package, use the same Content Manager checks. Our instructions for keeping World Update and scenery packages refreshed cover the correct order for core, Marketplace and content updates.
Is World Update 10 the same as Sim Update 10?
No. World Update X is optional regional scenery for the USA and its territories, while Sim Update 10 refers to a separate core simulator release. You do not need to find or install that historical Sim Update specifically; install the latest available MSFS 2020 build before downloading World Update X.
Is World Update 10 required, and can I uninstall it?
World Update 10 is free but optional. Install it if you fly in the United States and want the enhanced airports, landmarks, activities and regional scenery; skip it if storage is more valuable and you rarely use that area.
To remove it, open Profile > Content Manager, locate World Update X or its individual components and choose the available uninstall or delete option. Removing it does not damage the base simulator, but its handcrafted airports, landmarks and activities will no longer be available.