MSFS 2020 can run from an HDD on PC, but loading, updates and scenery may suffer. Learn what belongs on an SSD and the Xbox storage limit.
Yes. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 can run from a hard disk drive on PC, and an SSD is not a strict requirement. Expect much longer start-up and flight-loading times, slower updates, and more texture or scenery pop-in. For regular use, put its active package files on an SSD if space allows.
Can MSFS 2020 run from an HDD on PC and Xbox?
On PC, yes; on Xbox Series X|S, no external USB HDD can be used as the playable drive.
| Platform | Can it run from an HDD? | Storage requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Windows PC | Yes | An internal or external HDD can hold the application and package files, although an SSD performs better. |
| Xbox Series X|S | No, not from a USB HDD | It must run from the console's internal SSD or compatible expansion storage. A USB HDD can store it temporarily, but it must be moved back before playing. |
What performance changes when MSFS 2020 uses an HDD?
An HDD mainly hurts loading and frame-time consistency rather than the simulator's peak frame rate. Once a flight and its nearby scenery are loaded, the graphics card and processor usually have a greater effect on average frame rate.
- Start-up and flight loading: MSFS 2020 reads a large number of package files, which exposes the slow random-access performance of a mechanical drive.
- Detailed airports and add-ons: Complex aircraft and scenery may load more slowly or produce short pauses as new assets are requested.
- Updates: Downloaded packages must be verified, unpacked and rewritten, so major updates take longer on an HDD.
- Scenery pop-in: Objects and textures may appear late, particularly during fast or low-level flight. Internet speed, server delivery and add-on quality can cause similar symptoms, so the HDD is not always solely responsible.
- Rolling cache: Online imagery is streamed, but the rolling cache still uses local storage. If an HDD-based cache causes pauses, compare it with the cache on an SSD or temporarily disabled.
A SATA SSD already removes most of the mechanical-drive penalty; an NVMe drive is helpful but not essential. A slow portable, 5,400 rpm or heavily occupied HDD is the least suitable option.
What should be placed on the SSD first?
Put the Installed Packages folder and rolling cache on an SSD first; store backups and inactive add-ons on the HDD.
| Drive layout | Expected result |
|---|---|
| Launcher on SSD, Installed Packages on HDD | Only a small improvement because the large Official and Community package folders remain on the slower drive. |
| Installed Packages and rolling cache on SSD | The best practical arrangement for loading flights, airports and add-ons. |
| Everything on HDD | Playable on PC, but with the longest waits and the greatest chance of storage-related stutters. |
| Active files on SSD, backups on HDD | A good compromise when SSD capacity is limited. |
Allow free space for updates to download and unpack; our storage planning breakdown for packages, cache and add-ons explains why the nominal installation size is not enough. If both simulator generations are installed, our guidance on assigning MSFS 2020 and 2024 to different drives covers the practical trade-offs.
How do you move MSFS 2020 to an HDD safely?
Move the package root as one unit and update its configured path; moving only the launcher does not relocate most of MSFS 2020.
- Close the simulator and its launcher. Back up the
Communityfolder if it contains add-ons. - Locate the real package root. This is normally the folder containing both
OfficialandCommunity, not merely the small launcher installation. - Copy the complete package root. Preserve its folder structure on the destination drive and keep the original until the copied installation has been tested.
- Point MSFS 2020 to the new location. Select the copied package folder if the simulator requests a content path, or update
InstalledPackagesPathinUserCfg.opt. That configuration file's location differs between Microsoft Store/Xbox app and Steam installations. - Launch and verify the content. Check that installed aircraft and add-ons appear before deleting the old files.
A full-download prompt usually means the configured path is one folder too high, one folder too deep or points to the old drive; it does not necessarily mean the copied packages are unusable. For an external PC HDD, use a direct USB 3-class connection, keep its Windows drive letter fixed and avoid disconnecting it while the simulator or updater is open.
An HDD is acceptable for occasional flying when capacity matters more than waiting. For frequent use, detailed scenery or large add-on collections, an SSD is the better choice and produces a more noticeable improvement than moving only the MSFS launcher.