Recently, Microsoft and Asobo Studio released its highly anticipated Microsoft Flight Simulator after 14 years from the last chapter of the series. In addition to an internal store with paid content, Microsoft’s simulator also supports user-created content, that is in most cases available for free. In this Microsoft Flight Simulator how to install mods and free content guide, I will explain how to achieve this, both for those who bought the game on Steam, and for those who bought it on the Microsoft store.
THE GROWTH OF CONTENT
One of the most peculiar features of Asobo Studio’s Microsoft Flight Simulator is having the entire planet as a game map, generated with the help of AI. As I briefly mentioned this in my review, the combined effort of Bing’s satellite data and a company called ‘blackshark.ai’ produces excellent results, but still with limitations. Details of aircrafts, points of interests, and airports remain in fact to be modeled by hand.
Therefore, Microsoft also allows the community to create mods. At the moment officially the base edition of the game features 20 planes and 30 airports, the deluxe edition has 25 planes and 35 airports, and the premium deluxe edition has 30 planes and 40 airports. Thanks to both the work of the developers and the users, the list will constantly expand.
HOW TO FIND THE COMMUNITY FOLDER
You can add Microsoft Flight Simulator mods and additional content in a folder called “Community”. The path varies slightly based on Steam or Microsoft Store editions, and if you have selected a custom folder for installation. In both cases you will find the folder in the Windows AppData folder, hidden by default. To find it, click on “View” at the top of the File Explorer, and check “Show hidden items”.
When you have reached this point, go to the path below.
C:\Users\[Your User Name]\AppData\Local\Packages\
For the Microsoft Store version, then follow the below path.
Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages\
If, on the other hand, you have purchased the game on Steam, then follow the below path.
Microsoft.FlightDashboard_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages\
HOW TO FIND FOLDER IF YOU CHANGED INSTALLATION PATH
In case you have changed the installation path of the game, you will find the “Community” folder in the path you have chosen. If you don’t remember where you installed the title, you can find out directly from Microsoft Flight Simulator by using the below steps.
- Open the game.
- Go to the Options menu.
- Select the “General” section and then “Developers”.
- Set Developer Mode to On.
- A bar will appear at the top, select “Tools”.
- Select “Virtual File System”.
- In the window that opened, select “Watched Bases”.
- At the end of the list, you will find the path to the Community folder.
WHERE TO DOWNLOAD USER CREATED CONTENT
Once you have found the Community folder, you just have to download the various mods to add to it. You can already find some aircraft, livery, and scenery at MSFSaddons. Another site is the classic Nexus Mods, a reference point for mods for almost any game that supports them. Once you have downloaded the mod, simply extract the contents into the Community folder and you should find the new content in the game.
Was my Microsoft Flight Simulator how to install mods and other free content guide useful or is something missing? Please let us know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below, or make sure to read my full Microsoft Flight Simulator review.