How do I recover my Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 product key?
Recover your Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 product key or account licence with clear steps for Microsoft Store, Steam, retail codes and boxed DVDs.
In most cases, you cannot recover a visible Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 product key because digital purchases use an account-bound licence. Sign in to the Microsoft account or Steam account that bought or redeemed it, then reinstall from that storefront. Boxed DVD copies use the printed activation code supplied in the package.
Where is my Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 product key?
For most digital copies, there is no standalone product key to find or enter again.
| Copy type | What proves ownership | What you need to recover |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Store or Xbox digital purchase | The entitlement attached to the purchasing Microsoft account | The correct Microsoft account, not a key |
| Steam purchase | Ownership in the purchasing Steam account | The correct Steam account; the Microsoft account used inside the simulator does not replace Steam ownership |
| Game Pass access | An eligible subscription and catalogue entitlement | The subscription account; there is no permanent product key |
| Boxed DVD edition | The activation code supplied in the box, together with the account on which it was redeemed | The printed card or insert if unredeemed, or the redeeming Microsoft account if already activated |
| Retail download code | The code from the purchase email or retailer account | The original email, order record or account on which the code was redeemed |
If MSFS 2020 already appears in your library, follow our instructions for installing through the correct Microsoft or Steam channel rather than searching for a key.
How do I recover access to MSFS 2020?
Recover the owning account or proof of purchase rather than trying to extract the original code.
- Identify where the copy came from. Check the purchase receipt, confirmation email, DVD packaging or the library in which Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 appears.
- Recover the owning account. For a Microsoft Store purchase, sign in with the Microsoft account that paid for or redeemed the simulator. For Steam, recover the Steam account that owns it. A different Microsoft account used for the in-simulator Xbox profile does not transfer Steam ownership.
- Check the library and order history. A completed order or an Install option confirms the entitlement even when no product key is displayed. On PC, also check that the Store and Xbox applications are not unintentionally using different accounts while troubleshooting.
- Look for the original activation material. For a boxed or retail-code copy, inspect the activation card, manual, disc sleeve, purchase email and retailer order record. Our boxed DVD installation instructions explain where that code fits into the disc installation process.
- Contact the original seller or official support with proof. If an unredeemed code is missing or unreadable, provide the receipt, order number and photographs of the boxed contents where applicable. Replacement is not guaranteed, and support normally cannot reveal a code that was bought from an unrelated seller.
A mistake we see constantly is buying another copy before checking every account used on the computer. Also be wary of second-hand boxed editions: if the included code has already been redeemed, possessing the discs alone does not create a new licence.
Can I recover the key from an installed copy?
No reliable method can extract a reusable MSFS 2020 product key from the Windows registry or simulator files.
The installation contains licence data and account tokens, not a readable copy of the original retail code. Generic product-key finder utilities designed for Windows or Office will not recover an account-bound Microsoft Flight Simulator licence, and unknown key tools create an avoidable security risk.
Can I reinstall MSFS 2020 without the original key?
Yes, provided you can sign in to the account that owns or redeemed the simulator.
Install it through the same channel used for purchase: Microsoft Store or Xbox app for a Microsoft entitlement, and Steam for a Steam purchase. Those licences are not interchangeable. For a replacement computer, use our account-based MSFS reinstallation procedure before considering another purchase.
Boxed copies require the original discs, and they may continue to use Disc 1 as a launch ownership check after activation.
Why does MSFS 2020 say “Please insert game disc”?
The Please insert game disc message does not normally mean that Microsoft Flight Simulator needs your product key again.
On a boxed installation, it can be the expected Disc 1 verification. On a digital installation, it more often points to an account, entitlement or licence-validation problem. Follow our specific checks for the MSFS 2020 game-disc error rather than attempting to redeem another code.