Since the release of MSFS 2024, I've been running both simulators side by side, using MSFS 2020 primarily for flying large aircraft with AI traffic, and MSFS 2024 for sightseeing etc. Lately, I've found myself tending more toward MSFS 2024, so I've decided to fully transition and uninstall MSFS 2020 to streamline my setup.

Before I proceed, are there any precautions I should take when uninstalling MSFS 2020? Is it advisable to uninstall and reinstall MSFS 2024 as part of the cleanup, or is that unnecessary?

I imagine many of you have already made this switch. If so, I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences and any tips you might have.

I hadn’t touched my 2020 install for a couple of years when going to 2024 a couple of months ago. And I’m glad I didn’t just wipe it out, as there were a few things I found I needed to migrate that weren’t obvious. But it sounds like you’ve probably done all this already. Just make sure all your add-ons, utilities, aircraft etc are working in the new sim before wiping out the old. 

I kept it installed for a long time but the last time I booted into 2020 was February. Recently reinstalled Windows and didn't bother with 2020. Happy with 2024 and XP 12 now. No real tips or anything, most things work, and the things that don't are well known now.. there were no surprises for me. 

The only thing that you might take care of is that some installers wont show MSFS2020-only products anymore if you uninstall MSFS2020, making it impossible to update or uninstall them afterwards (ORBX and Aerosoft e.g.). Other than that, no precautions necessary. You can later on still make a fake MSFS2020 installation to maintain those addons.

Still running a dual install. Don't use 2024 as much as 2020. 2024 is just not nearly as stable yet.

Edited August 13, 2025Aug 13 by udidwht

I completely unistalled fs2020 after have been considering all aircraft (pmdg 777 and fenix) work. I honestly woukd unistall 2020, it's a waste of hdd space vs 2024.

I still have 2020 on my rig, but I haven't started it up since maybe January...but it has come in handy a few times with installers and so forth.

You might need the sounds or an entire aircraft for an install (for the BSQ King Air for example).   Keeping 2020 on there would allow you to either a) install to 2020 and then copy the folder over to 2024, or 2) copy the plane's folder to 2024.   

That's a pretty limited set of circumstances though...they may not even apply to you.  I haven't really touched my 2020 install in months and if I were really housecleaning I might consider uninstalling it.

Question, just out of curiosity: Unless you have a problem with disc storage space -- which must be rare these days, given the availability of cheap multi-terabyte data storage -- why not keep both sims active for the time being? Is there any real reason not to? A few years ago, many simmers (including me) had to be careful about how much data could be accommodated at any one time, but not anymore. I just fail to see the issue here. 

5 minutes ago, cobalt said:

Question, just out of curiosity: Unless you have a problem with disc storage space -- which must be rare these days, given the availability of cheap multi-terabyte data storage -- why not keep both sims active for the time being? Is there any real reason not to? A few years ago, many simmers (including me) had to be careful about how much data could be accommodated at any one time, but not anymore. I just fail to see the issue here. 

Equally, why keep something you’ll never use? It’s just a preference not an issue. 

54 minutes ago, JonathanC said:

Equally, why keep something you’ll never use? It’s just a preference not an issue. 

The OP of this thread is concerned about complications that might arise if he deletes MS2020, and asks for tips on how to do it, etc. So for him at least, it seems to be an issue. My point is, in that case why even bother to remove it? What harm is it doing?

1 hour ago, JonathanC said:

Equally, why keep something you’ll never use? It’s just a preference not an issue. 

For the very first time today I got a screen telling me that too many people were using FS2024 and that I'd either have to wait or cold try again later. Amazing!

I flew in MS2020 instead.

I'm guessing SU3 is going to drop later this afternoon and the MS servers are being updated, but still ... this is Microsoft, which at any given moment is the largest corporate entity in the universe or a close second.

I switched on day one, and we will know about the launch issues. But 2020 wasn't ready for release on day one either. I'm one who likes to have the latest, as I see that as the future.  But if there is concern and you have the space, keep them both.

On 8/13/2025 at 3:01 PM, AnkH said:

The only thing that you might take care of is that some installers wont show MSFS2020-only products anymore if you uninstall MSFS2020, making it impossible to update or uninstall them afterwards (ORBX and Aerosoft e.g.). Other than that, no precautions necessary. You can later on still make a fake MSFS2020 installation to maintain those addons.

 This is the best answer!

Before this thread turns into another 2020 vs 2024 back and fourth!

No one's asking you all WHY you left MSFS 2020 and how MSFS 2024 compares.

The OP asked for specific advice!

At this stage in SU2 2024 is really good. Haven't used 2020 in several weeks but I keep it around for some of the black square planes and the 737 series. Other than that...2024 has almost all of the apps and some of the best planes available. 

For specifics... I would make sure you keep your 2020 install from orbx, contrails etc as most of these can be "linked" over to 2024 without any issues. If you delete 2020 some of these apps will not let you install them at all. Or be updated 

Edited August 20, 2025Aug 20 by Sonosusto

Anybody happen to have a link to the instructions on how to uninstall 2020 but leave some specific folders in place so all the addon managers still see it?  Ie: orbx