I’ve been searching around on this all day and continually find install sizes of 170GB etc mentioned. I’m wondering if these don’t include the optional package contents?
I have the Steam Premium Deluxe version. I have the packages set to install in the same folder as the install (Previously it was in my AppData/Roaming). Before I did this, my install location was over 200GB and the Roaming data was over 200GB with the packages. All told I think it was in the region of 450GB. This seemed excessive to me, hence why I started searching around.
Today I deleted the roaming data packages folder and then booted up the game. It told me I had updates, due to me removing them, so I changed the install location to the same location as the game itself (on a secondary drive). It’s still updating right now (150GB of downloads will take a while).
I currently have the manual cache set to 50GB. The install right now is 325GB, and rising, minus the 50GB cache, this would be 275GB.
With all free aircraft, all free airports, all free world updates and addons and all free activities… would 400+GB be expected?
I hadn’t realised the size of the game would get quite so unwieldy. I’m happy enough at around 400GB if that’s correct though. The load time is pretty good and I don’t have any community addons.
Does this seem right or should I wipe the install and start again?
Hi there. I’m not sure what the roaming data packages are, so can’t comment on those. I have Premium Deluxe, all of the world updates and a few addons (FranceVFR packs, JF Hawk, JF146, BN2, Hawker Hunter, most of the UK2000 airports (bought directly from the developer) and GAIST.
My rolling cache is set to 32 GB.
I use a dedicated drive for my MSFS, but the base program is on the C drive and is about 1.5 GB.
The MSFS drive in total only has 379GB.
I did uninstall all of the training missions last year as they seemed to be quite big and I’ll never fly any of them.
Regarding the roaming comment, it seems the default location for update packages to install is the appdata folder.
For me this is C:\Users*Username*\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft Flight Simulator
This particular path was over 200GB for me. I noticed it when my drive had 300GB of usage and all I really have on it is Windows & Programs.
Have a little look and see if yours is OK. As your install is around what I had previously I suspect that your entire install may be in the one location, including the packages
The 350 - 400 GB seems about right to me too, however, I decided to unload all areas except North America because I rarely fly outside of the US. I can re-load those areas later if I wish.
My current size is 160GB. Community folder is EMPTY.
…
I had a noticeable Decrease in loading time after I removed the areas outside of my normal fly zones.
Hi, yes, thats right. When you install from the Windows Store, the “base” app (just checked and its 1.96GB) installs on the C drive by default. When you launch the sim it then asks where you want to install (which seems counter intuitive as you think you’ve already installed it, but that’s basically just a launcher). At this point I specified my MSFS drive which is E:\ and the install path is E:\MSFS. Everything else is on that drive (nothing other than sim setting in the %appdata% areas.
Mine is a little different as it’s the steam install. When I installed via Steam it just asks for the location. At the beginning this installed around 170GB to the F: drive where I requested. For the very first world update the default location of AppData/Roaming/Microsoft Flight Simulator was used. I hadn’t actually noticed this at all.
I think this may actually lead to some duplication with the install as well, hence why I was significantly over 400GB at one point (between the 2 locations).
I’m definitely going to be more mindful of the install now and keep an eye on what’s happening with it. I may start to uninstall some areas as it’s unlikely I’ll use most of the stuff that’s on there. I just don’t like to feel like I’m missing out haha.
Thanks for the replies. You have set my mind at ease that nothing untoward is going on. It’s just the way the game is managed
Own the Premium Edition and the default install without the content manger item/s is 162GB. The addition of all the ‘Content manager’ stuff is an additional 225GB. This includes no add on content in ‘Community folder’. Just completed this install after adding a new 4TB drive.
