Restore missing FSX Scenery Library entries from a scenery.cfg backup or re-add each area correctly, including path and save fixes.
To restore missing Scenery Library entries in FSX or FSX: Steam Edition, close FSX and back up the active scenery.cfg file. Restore a known-good copy if available; otherwise re-add each add-on through Settings > Scenery Library > Add Area, selecting the folder that directly contains Scenery and usually Texture. Restart FSX and confirm the entries remain active.
Where does FSX store Scenery Library entries?
FSX stores Scenery Library registrations in scenery.cfg; it does not store the add-on's BGL or texture files there. The active file is normally under C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\FSX\scenery.cfg.
Steam Edition may instead use an FSX-SE folder, particularly on systems where boxed FSX and Steam Edition have existed together. Installation history affects the folder name, and ProgramData is hidden by default. Do not assume a similarly named file inside the FSX installation directory is active.
If several copies exist, check which one receives a new modification time after you make and save a harmless Scenery Library change. Before replacing anything, follow our guide to backing up FSX settings and add-on registrations.
Should I restore scenery.cfg or re-add each area?
Use the Scenery Library for a few missing areas, restore a backup when many registrations disappeared, and reset the configuration only when the stock library is damaged.
| Situation | Best method |
|---|---|
| One or two add-ons are missing | Re-add them through Add Area. |
| Most add-ons vanished and a good backup exists | Restore the backed-up scenery.cfg. |
| Entries exist but point to an old drive or folder | Remove and re-add those areas using their present locations. |
| Default scenery entries are missing or corrupted | Generate a fresh stock configuration, then register add-ons again. |
Restoring a known-good scenery.cfg backup
- Close FSX completely. Editing or replacing the file while the simulator is running can cause your changes to be overwritten.
- Rename the active file. Keep it as a recovery copy rather than deleting it.
- Copy the backup into the same folder and name it
scenery.cfg. - Check its paths. Entries using an old drive letter or a folder that no longer exists will not restore the underlying scenery.
- Start FSX and inspect the library. Let the simulator rebuild its scenery indexes before loading a flight.
Avoid merging arbitrary Area blocks by hand. Duplicate area identifiers or layer numbers can cause FSX to skip, reorder or rewrite entries; the Scenery Library interface is safer.
How do I re-add missing scenery through FSX?
Re-add scenery by selecting the add-on's parent folder, not its inner Scenery folder or an individual BGL file.
- Inspect the add-on folder. The expected layout is usually
My Scenery\Scenery\*.bgl, with an optional neighbouringTexturefolder. - Open the library. From the FSX start screen, use Settings > Scenery Library, then choose Add Area.
- Select the parent folder. In the example above, select
My Scenery. - Confirm the area. Make sure it is enabled, then accept the library changes and allow FSX to rebuild the scenery database.
- Exit FSX normally and reopen it. This confirms that the registration was written to the active configuration file.
Some installations use FSX's old folder-selection dialog, which can appear to ignore the final confirmation. After opening the intended parent folder, click once in the blank white area of the file list. Our practical Add Area walkthrough shows this legacy dialog behaviour.
Why do restored entries disappear after restarting FSX?
Entries that vanish again usually mean FSX is writing to a different scenery.cfg, cannot save the active file, or another scenery-management tool is replacing it.
- Confirm that you edited the file whose modification time changes when FSX closes.
- Check that
scenery.cfgis not marked read-only and that your Windows account can write to its folder. - Close FSX normally after changing the library; a crash can prevent the update from being saved.
- Check whether an add-on installer or scenery manager restores its own configuration at launch.
For the persistence problem specifically, use our diagnosis for Scenery Library entries that vanish after a restart.
What if the entry is restored but the scenery is still missing?
A visible, enabled library entry does not prove that FSX can find valid scenery files at its recorded path.
- Verify that the registered folder still contains a
Scenerysubfolder with active.bglfiles. - Check for an accidental extra folder level, such as
My Scenery\My Scenery\Scenery. - Confirm that the area is enabled in the library.
- Look for another package covering the same location; a higher-priority area may exclude or replace it.
Once the entries are back, arrange conflicting airports and regional packages using our explanation of how FSX scenery priority should be ordered.
How do I rebuild a completely missing FSX scenery library?
If both default and add-on entries have disappeared, rename the active scenery.cfg while FSX is closed and start the simulator so it can create a fresh stock configuration.
If FSX cannot create one, use the appropriate repair process for boxed FSX or file verification for Steam Edition. A fresh configuration restores registrations for stock scenery, not deleted scenery files. Re-add third-party areas afterwards, preferably in small groups so a bad path or duplicate package is easy to identify.