To reinstall Microsoft Flight Simulator on a new PC, sign in with the same account that owns the sim, install the base launcher from the same platform you bought it on, then let the simulator download or detect the main content packages. Your licence, cloud saves and add-ons are separate things, so each needs checking.
What you need before reinstalling Microsoft Flight Simulator
The first thing we check is where the sim was purchased. Microsoft Store/Xbox app and Steam each handle ownership differently. You must reinstall from the same platform you originally bought, unless you own a separate licence on the other one.
Also remember that Microsoft Flight Simulator itself, your settings, and your add-ons are not all stored in one place. Reinstalling the sim gets the core program back, but custom aircraft, scenery, liveries, controller profiles and cached data may still need to be restored or reconfigured.
| Item | What usually carries over | What may need manual work |
|---|---|---|
| Licence | Your entitlement on the original purchase platform | Using a different store platform |
| Core simulator | Base launcher reinstall | Main content package download location |
| Cloud saves | Many account-linked settings and progress items | Some local preferences and cache files |
| Add-ons | Nothing automatically unless managed externally | Community folder content and third-party installers |
How to reinstall Microsoft Flight Simulator on a new PC
Confirm your purchase platform. If you bought Microsoft Flight Simulator through the Microsoft ecosystem, reinstall it through the Xbox app or Microsoft Store on the new PC. If you bought it on Steam, reinstall it through Steam.
Sign in with the same account. Use the same Microsoft account, Xbox account and, if relevant, Steam account tied to your original purchase. A mismatched account is the most common reason the sim appears not to be owned.
Install the base simulator launcher. Start the install from your library just as you would with any other game. This initial step usually installs only the launcher and supporting files, not the full world content.
Launch the sim and choose the content location. On first run, Microsoft Flight Simulator normally asks where to place the main packages. Pick the drive with enough free space and good speed, ideally an SSD.
Let the main packages download, or point the sim to existing packages. If you copied your old package files across, the sim may be able to verify them instead of downloading everything again. If not, it will download the content fresh.
Update the simulator completely. Let the launcher finish any mandatory updates before restoring mods. Installing add-ons too early can cause confusion if the sim still has files to patch.
Restore your Community add-ons. Once the sim starts cleanly, copy compatible add-ons back into the new
Communityfolder, or reinstall them using their normal installer if they use one.Check controller profiles and settings. Some settings may come back from the cloud, but not always exactly as expected. We always verify sensitivities, assistance options, graphics settings, rolling cache and peripheral bindings after a fresh install.
Can you move Microsoft Flight Simulator files from the old PC instead of downloading again?
Yes, often you can, but only if you do it carefully. The useful part to preserve is usually the large package data rather than the tiny launcher install. If you still have access to the old PC or old drive, copying the existing packages can save a lot of time.
The safe approach is to install the base launcher on the new machine first, start the sim, and when it asks for the packages location either:
- choose the folder where you already copied the old packages, or
- let it create the new folder structure, then copy the old files into the correct location before restarting the sim.
The simulator should then scan and verify what is already there. If the folder structure is wrong, it may ignore the copied files and start downloading from scratch.
Which folders matter most?
For most users, the key folders are the package folders that contain Official and Community. Official holds the sim's downloaded core content and marketplace-style packages; Community holds manually installed mods and freeware.
We would not blindly copy every settings or cache folder from an old PC to a new one. Old shader data, cache files or damaged configuration files can carry problems over to an otherwise clean reinstall.
Do your add-ons transfer to the new PC?
Only if you move or reinstall them. A new installation of Microsoft Flight Simulator does not automatically rebuild your add-on library.
There are three common cases:
- Manual freeware mods: copy them back into the new
Communityfolder. - Installer-based aircraft or scenery: reinstall them so any required paths, permissions or dependencies are set up properly.
- Marketplace or account-linked content: these usually need to be redownloaded through the simulator's own content management system once your account is recognised.
Before restoring everything, we recommend testing the sim once with an empty Community folder. That makes it much easier to tell whether any problem is caused by the reinstall itself or by an outdated mod.
What happens to your settings, logbook and controller bindings?
Some account-linked data may sync back automatically, but you should not assume every setting will return exactly as before. Graphics options often need fresh tuning because the new PC may have different hardware, drivers or monitor resolution.
Controller bindings are especially worth checking. Devices can appear in a different order on a new system, and default profiles sometimes get applied when Windows detects the hardware for the first time.
After the reinstall, we suggest checking:
- graphics preset and render scaling
- V-Sync, frame generation or upscaling options if your hardware supports them
- traffic and data settings
- sensitivity curves for yokes, sticks, throttles and rudder pedals
- assistance options and realism settings
- rolling cache location and size
Do you need to uninstall Microsoft Flight Simulator from the old PC first?
Not usually. Reinstalling on a new PC does not normally require you to remove it from the old one just to make your licence work. The real requirement is that you are signed into the correct owning account and using the right storefront.
That said, if you are retiring the old machine, uninstalling later is sensible housekeeping and can help avoid confusion about which copy contains your latest add-ons and settings.
Common problems when reinstalling Microsoft Flight Simulator on a new PC
The sim says you do not own it
This is usually an account or platform mismatch. Check that you are using the same store platform as before and the same account that originally bought or activated the sim.
It starts downloading everything again even though you copied the files
That usually means the package location is wrong, the folders are nested incorrectly, or the existing files belong to a different install state. Verify that the copied content sits in the exact packages location the launcher expects.
Add-ons have disappeared
That is normal after a clean reinstall unless you manually restored them. Copy them back only after the base sim runs properly.
The sim launches but performs badly on the new PC
A clean install does not guarantee good settings. Re-check graphics options, drivers, storage location and whether the sim is on a fast SSD rather than a slow hard drive.
Buttons, yoke axes or pedals behave oddly
Bindings often need tidying after moving to a new system. Remove duplicate assignments and confirm that each device is using the intended profile.
Should you do a clean reinstall or a file transfer?
If your old installation was stable, transferring the large packages can save hours of downloading. If your old installation had crashes, missing textures, update errors or mysterious behaviour, a cleaner reinstall is usually the better route.
Our rule is simple:
- Stable old install: reuse packages where possible.
- Problematic old install: reinstall clean, then add content back gradually.
Best practice after reinstalling on a new PC
Once the simulator is running, bring things back in stages. First confirm the stock sim works. Then restore essential peripherals, then core add-ons, then the rest of your Community folder.
If you use freeware aircraft, scenery or utilities, keep only current, compatible versions. An old mod that worked on the previous PC can still break a fresh install if it is outdated.
For compatible freeware once your reinstall is complete, our MSFS library is here: https://flyawaysimulation.com/downloads/.
Quick answer
To reinstall Microsoft Flight Simulator on a new PC, use the same purchase platform and account, install the base launcher, choose your packages location, then either download the main content again or point the sim to copied package files. After that, restore add-ons and recheck your settings.