MSFS 2024 needs a separate licence and installation. See what transfers from MSFS 2020, how to migrate add-ons safely and when to remove 2020.
No. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is a separate simulator, licence and installation, not a free or in-place upgrade for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 owners. Buy 2024 or use an eligible Game Pass plan, install it separately, then reconfigure settings and restore only add-ons confirmed compatible with 2024.
Is MSFS 2024 a free upgrade from MSFS 2020?
No—owning MSFS 2020 does not grant an MSFS 2024 licence or convert a 2020 edition into the equivalent 2024 edition. For example, owning MSFS 2020 Premium Deluxe does not unlock the Premium Deluxe benefits in 2024.
Our practical comparison of MSFS 2020 and 2024 covers the feature, performance and streaming differences. Once you decide to move, compare the available MSFS 2024 editions and purchase options rather than assuming your old edition determines the new one.
| Option | What it provides | Effect on MSFS 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Buy MSFS 2024 | A separate licence for the selected 2024 edition | Your 2020 licence and installation remain available |
| Use eligible Game Pass access | Access while the qualifying plan and catalogue entitlement continue | Your owned 2020 copy is unaffected |
| Stay with MSFS 2020 | No new purchase or migration work | You keep using the existing simulator and add-ons |
There is no universal owner discount or upgrade installer. Subscription access should not be treated as a permanent owned licence.
What carries over from MSFS 2020 to MSFS 2024?
Some account entitlements and compatible add-ons can carry over, but the installed files, settings and MSFS 2020 base licence do not form a complete upgrade.
| MSFS 2020 content | What to expect in MSFS 2024 | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
| Base simulator licence | Does not unlock MSFS 2024 | Obtain a separate licence or eligible subscription entitlement |
| Marketplace purchases | Many eligible products remain owned when the correct account and supported platform are recognised, subject to availability, compatibility and publisher restrictions | Check the 2024 content library before buying anything again |
| Aircraft and airports included with a higher 2020 edition | Supported owned content may appear in the 2024 library, but it does not grant the corresponding 2024 edition | Verify each product in the content library |
| Add-ons bought outside the Marketplace | May need a 2024-compatible release, updated installer or developer-supplied licence handling | Use the product's dedicated 2024 version where available |
| Community packages | Are not copied automatically, and compatibility varies by package | Install confirmed-compatible versions individually |
| Official scenery and World Updates | Are managed separately and may be streamed rather than stored in the same way | Use the MSFS 2024 content system instead of copying old packages |
| Controls, graphics settings and saved files | Should not be assumed to transfer cleanly | Create fresh profiles and copy only files known to be usable |
| Career and activity progress | MSFS 2024 maintains its own progression and activity data | Keep 2020 if you still need its simulator-specific records |
Ownership does not guarantee compatibility. Complex aircraft, compiled modules, external utilities and scenery dependencies are more likely to need a dedicated MSFS 2024 update than a simple livery or asset package.
How do I move from MSFS 2020 to 2024 safely?
Treat MSFS 2024 as a clean installation and migrate content only after the unmodified simulator works correctly.
- Choose the platform and edition. Buy or activate MSFS 2024 on the platform you intend to use. Sign into the same Microsoft/Xbox account where possible, but do not assume licences or add-on entitlements cross every storefront or platform.
- Preserve the 2020 installation. Back up its
Communityfolder, saved flight plans, customised files and third-party installer records. Take screenshots or notes of controller bindings rather than relying on automatic migration. - Install MSFS 2024 separately. Do not use the existing 2020 package or Community folder as the new simulator's package location. Allow storage for base files, rolling cache and local content even though MSFS 2024 streams more data than its predecessor.
- Run 2024 without third-party add-ons. Complete the initial setup, then load a default aircraft at a simple default airport. Confirm that controls, audio, graphics and online services work before changing anything else.
- Create fresh control profiles. Check every axis for duplicate assignments, especially throttle, rudder, brakes and cockpit cameras. Start with fresh graphics settings as well; settings with the same name can have different performance costs.
- Check the content library. Eligible Marketplace purchases may appear when the correct account and platform entitlement are recognised. Some products remain unavailable until their publisher supplies 2024 support.
- Restore add-ons in small groups. Use 2024-specific installers when available and test aircraft, scenery and utilities separately. Keep MSFS 2020 until your essential content and peripherals have been verified.
Can MSFS 2020 and 2024 remain installed together?
Yes. Both simulators can remain installed when there is enough storage, but each must use its own installation, package and Community folders.
A mistake we see constantly is pointing both PC simulators at one Community folder. This can produce duplicate packages, loading stalls or crashes because manifests, dependencies and compiled modules may not support both versions. Keep the folders separate even when the same add-on works in each simulator.
Console users cannot manually migrate PC Community-folder packages. MSFS 2020 was never released on PlayStation, so moving from PC or Xbox to MSFS 2024 on PS5 or PS5 Pro is a platform change and new purchase, not a direct upgrade. Do not assume every entitlement crosses platforms.
Why are add-ons missing or causing crashes after migration?
Most migration failures come from an account mismatch, an unsupported add-on or copying the entire MSFS 2020 Community folder into MSFS 2024.
- Marketplace purchase missing: confirm the signed-in account and platform, clear content-library filters and check that the publisher supports MSFS 2024 before repurchasing it.
- Simulator hangs while loading: empty the 2024 Community folder and test again. Restore packages individually until the faulty add-on is identified.
- Aircraft has blank displays or broken systems: install its 2024-compatible release. Complex avionics and external applications rarely become compatible through a folder copy alone.
- Controls are duplicated or unresponsive: create a clean device profile and bind the essential axes first.
- Performance is unexpectedly poor: return to fresh graphics settings and test without third-party aircraft, scenery or utilities.
Should I upgrade or keep MSFS 2020?
Choose MSFS 2024 for its newer simulation platform and features, but keep MSFS 2020 when a critical aircraft, airport or specialist utility has no reliable 2024 version.
- Move mainly to MSFS 2024 when your essential add-ons are confirmed compatible and your hardware and internet connection suit its streaming model.
- Keep using MSFS 2020 when the stability of a mature add-on collection matters more than the newer platform.
- Run both during the transition when you need time to test compatibility without losing a working setup.
Our hardware, internet and add-on criteria for choosing between MSFS 2020 and 2024 cover that decision in more detail.
When should I uninstall MSFS 2020?
Uninstall MSFS 2020 only after MSFS 2024 is stable and your controls, account purchases, essential add-ons and saved files have been checked.
Before deleting leftover package folders, confirm that they belong to 2020 rather than 2024. Both installations can reside on the same drive, and removing the wrong shared-looking parent folder may delete content from the simulator you intended to keep. Uninstalling 2020 changes neither your licence ownership nor an add-on's compatibility; follow the complete MSFS removal and leftover-file checks when reclaiming its storage.