Havent been around here in a while. Finally got a nice enough computer to run this sim in most if not all its glory. My big question here is understanding the file structure and why they seem to be in differing places and on different drives when I installed the Steam version into my D drive which is a new WD Black 4TB SSD. I have a separate directory I created on the SSD for this install . I just recently installed this drive specifically for FS so it has no other folders. These folders are labeled Flight Sim, which is what I named it for the FS install, and Steam Library which appeared after the install from steam which took FOREVER, but thats another story 😉 The Flight sim folder has two folders inside it, Official and Community. Since I have no add ons ...yet....the Community folder is empty. The Official folder is all the resident stuff on my computer and is about 158GB with the fresh install.

 I then find out after roaming (%appdata%) that I have a Microsoft Flight Simulator folder on my C drive. In it is a bunch of stuff totaling about 8GB, but in this folder there is a Packages folder and inside it are another Community folder and Steam one. Can someone enlighten me as to why this is set up like this? Also when I want to install some aftermarket things, like scenery, aircraft,tools, where do I point installers to do that? Im assuming its going to the main folder on the Big SSD in my "Flight Sim" folder, but after doing a lot of tweaking and reading in this last week after installing, Im kinda confused. Any light you gurus can shine on this mystery I am sure will help. TIA...and oh, I just found out you cannot open and close doors on any of the default aircraft!!!  😉 I suspect it has something to do with "apps" and how they are handled/run by windows and Im not the youngest chicken in the roost. Lotta old school knowledge here and only recently went to newer versions of windows in the last few years. Win 7 ran everything EXTREMELY well here.

Dont get me wrong, Im loving the graphics in this sim, but finding things and getting used to all the camera oddities etc. is quite daunting!

From one of my own posts:
 

Quote

• When you first start the setup of MSFS, it asks you where to install the core files. Since it is only a few Gbytes, this takes just a short while. I chose C:\Games\Xbox\...
• After that, when you first start MSFS, it asks you again for a location. This is for the rest (the bulk) of the installation and contains the default aircraft, scenery etc. Here, I chose D:\MS Flight Simulator.
  IIRC, if you don't choose your own location it will default to your userprofile which means all these Gbytes end up in your userprofile, probably in C:\users\xxxxx\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wexxxxxxxx\LocalCache\packages\Official\. I don't recommend this.

On my computer, I have THREE locations that contain parts of MSFS:

• C:\Games\Xbox\Microsoft Flightsimulator\
  This contains the core files installed by the first setup.
• D:\MS Flight Simulator\ (including an "Official" and "Community" folder)
  The Official folder contains the files that are downloaded when the sim is first started. These are the base simulator files, the default aircraft and scenery and all marketplace purchases.
  The Community folder contains all the files you installed yourself or those from third party addons like OrbX, Aerosoft, Simmarket etc.
• C:\users\xxxxx\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wexxxxxxxx\
  This is where your settings including third party settings are kept. Some settings are also stored in the cloud in your Xbox account and copied here when MSFS "syncs" during start.
  Deep inside these folders there are an empty Community and Official folder. If they are not empty you have probably installed your entire MSFS there or it is a leftover from a previous installation.

Additionally, there are a few junctions or links that point to the core files in C:\Games\Xbox. On my computer these are in C:\Program Files\WindowsApps and on D:\Windows\WindowsApps.
These folders are probably hidden, you can only enter them with elevated rights. In there are just links but no real content.

Hopefully this helps.
BTW, I changed the path on D to D:\MSFS because it is shorter.

I also use an external library "D:\MSFS Libraries" where all the OrbX and other third party stuff goes. These are subdivided per developer, and freeware is again subdivided for Scenery, aircraft, traffic and miscellenous...
These are linked to the Community folder by MSFS Addon Linker, which is a great tool for organising addons.

Edited January 18, 20242 yr by orchestra_nl
addons library folder

So based on all that Im assuming any installer I download for whatever scenery/aircraft etc, I point to the folder with my main install, which is the one on my Specific SSD for FS?

6 minutes ago, Hornit said:

So based on all that Im assuming any installer I download for whatever scenery/aircraft etc, I point to the folder with my main install, which is the one on my Specific SSD for FS?

Most installers will find the Community folder by themselves.

Suggest you get to know and love the Addons Linker..

Thanks Bert, Im all over it, have seen refs to that all over the place recently in my efforts to understand this stuff better!