What is MSFS 2024 World Update 20 and how do I install it?
See what MSFS 2024 World Update 20 adds, how to install its Japan scenery, choose streaming or download, and fix missing content.
MSFS 2024 World Update 20, officially World Update XX: Japan, is a free regional scenery upgrade with refreshed terrain and imagery, enhanced cities, handcrafted airports and landmarks, plus Japan-themed activities. Update the simulator, claim the package in Marketplace, then use My Library to choose streaming or local installation and enable its content.
What does World Update 20 add to MSFS 2024?
World Update 20 upgrades Japan’s scenery and activities rather than changing the flight model, aircraft systems, ATC or simulator performance.
| Content | What it adds |
|---|---|
| Regional world data | Refreshed elevation, aerial imagery, terrain representation and ground detail across Japan. |
| Cities | Enhanced three-dimensional coverage and photogrammetry in selected cities and built-up areas. |
| Airports | Handcrafted airports and regional airport improvements included with the package. |
| Landmarks | Custom points of interest representing notable buildings, structures and cultural sites. |
| Activities | Japan-themed discovery flights, landing challenges and bush-trip content. |
The update supplements Japan’s existing scenery, including content carried forward from earlier releases. Our guide to the MSFS 2024 World Update series explains how the numbering and inherited content work.
Not every city, building or airport becomes handcrafted. Areas outside the bespoke locations still depend on the underlying world data and online scenery services. The Marketplace description and My Library component list are the safest sources for the exact airport, landmark and activity manifest because individual assets can be revised without renaming the update.
If several Japanese scenery packages appear, choose the official Microsoft package marked World Update XX or World Update 20. Aircraft promoted around the same release are not automatically included; separately listed aircraft have their own entitlement and installation status.
How do I install MSFS 2024 World Update 20?
Install any required platform and simulator update first, then claim World Update 20 through Marketplace and manage its components in My Library. A mandatory Sim Update changes the base simulator; this World Update is optional regional content.
- Update MSFS 2024. Install updates offered by your PC or console platform, launch the simulator and allow any mandatory in-sim update to finish.
- Check your account and connection. Sign in with the account used for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and confirm that online services are available.
- Open Marketplace. Search for
World Update 20,World Update XXorJapan. - Claim the official package. Open Microsoft’s World Update XX: Japan listing and use the free acquisition option. Merely viewing the card may not add it to your library.
- Open My Library. Find World Update 20, select its associated components and choose streaming or local installation where offered.
- Enable and process the content. Make sure the package is enabled, then allow downloads or content processing to finish without closing the simulator.
- Verify its status. My Library should report the package as installed, enabled or available through streaming rather than merely owned. Restart if requested.
Button names and filters can differ between PC, Xbox and PlayStation builds. Our complete World Update installation and verification guide covers the Marketplace and My Library workflow in more detail.
World Update 20 is official managed content. Do not unpack it into the Community folder, move its files manually or delete individual package folders.
Should I stream or download World Update 20?
Stream World Update 20 when storage is limited and your connection is reliable; install it locally when you fly in Japan regularly or want to reduce repeated content transfers.
| Option | Choose it when | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|
| Stream | You have fast, uncapped broadband and want to conserve local storage. | Detail can degrade, blur or load late when bandwidth or online services fail. |
| Local download | You frequently fly in Japan, have sufficient storage or need more consistent delivery. | It consumes drive space and may require another download when updated. |
A local package does not make the whole of Japan available offline. Global imagery, photogrammetry, live services and some surrounding world data may still be streamed. See what MSFS 2024 can download instead of stream before committing storage.
Why is World Update 20 missing or not showing?
A missing World Update is usually caused by an outdated simulator, an account or Marketplace filter problem, an incomplete entitlement, disabled components or unavailable online world data.
- No Marketplace listing: finish the base simulator update, restart MSFS 2024, remove filters that hide free or owned content and search for both
World Update XXandJapan. - Stuck on a required update: resolve the platform or simulator update before looking for the scenery package. World Update 20 may remain unavailable while the client update is incomplete.
- Owned but scenery is absent: set My Library to show all owned content and check that every associated component is enabled, streamed or downloaded. Claiming the package does not necessarily activate every optional asset.
- Download will not complete: check free storage, pause other content downloads, restart the simulator and retry the individual package from My Library.
- Flat, generic or blurred scenery: enable online world data, scenery streaming and photogrammetry, then check whether a bandwidth limit has been reached.
- Duplicate buildings or runway objects: disable third-party scenery covering the same Japanese airport or city. Overlapping add-ons commonly produce duplicate terminals, uneven aprons, misplaced jetways and two sets of runway markings.
- Old or corrupted textures: restart the flight and simulator. If the problem remains after removing scenery conflicts, rebuild the rolling cache before reinstalling the complete update.
For persistent package or scenery problems, follow our World Update maintenance and troubleshooting steps rather than deleting official files manually.
Do I need to remove an older Japan World Update?
No. MSFS 2024 should manage official dependencies and replacements through My Library. Disable older official content only if the library reports a conflict or a troubleshooting procedure specifically requires it.
Third-party Japanese airports are different. Keep the version you prefer and disable overlapping scenery when duplicate structures, runway markings or elevation problems appear.
How can I confirm World Update 20 installed correctly?
My Library should show World Update 20 as enabled and either installed locally or available through streaming. Load an airport, landmark or activity named on the package card in clear daytime conditions, with online scenery services enabled, and check for the advertised detail.
Testing an arbitrary Japanese airport is unreliable because the update does not handcraft every field. If a listed showcase location appears correctly while another airport remains generic, World Update 20 is probably working as intended.