Can I install my bought copy of MSFS to a different computer?

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1

Long story but I haven’t run MSFS2020 for a long,long time and since then I have got a much improved computer.

On the original computer I see an MSFS Folder containing 2 files namely “Community” and “Official”.

The size of the folder is 116GB so I guess all is still there but long overdue updating. I can see the files only via a very small, very poor resolution screen and it is difficult to see exactly which files are still there!!

My question is can I re download MSFS2020 to the new computer? Or, as the two computers are networked (Home Cockpit set up), can I simply move the folder across?

Thanks for any help.

3

You would be better off just re-downloading to the new computer, using your original credentials, than trying to copy across. There are several links to other directories in MSFS and it’s a right pain trying to find them and set it up correctly. A fresh install does it all for you, albeit might take a bit longer to do a full download.

And as said above, you can have as many copies as you like but can only use one at a time (unless you buy a new set of credentials!)

4

Thank you for the replies. That is very good news. I def prefer a fresh download. Installing now.

5

A good answer. But it does open up anther question…Can 3rd pty add-ons (esp. a/c and scenery) fall under the same protocols? Do their license agreements permit d/loads onto subsequent computers?

6

Excellent question.

The “correct” answer is that you need to look at the license file for each download.

My Assumptions:
Note the word “assumptions” - though this seems reasonable to me, I cannot guarantee the absolute accuracy of them.

  • Anything bought via the Microsoft Store should transfer without any issues, license or otherwise, as it is bound to your ID and license credentials.
  • Since third-party content is useless without the underlying software, I am assuming that you can use third-party content on each of your legally licensed software installations.
    • If you, yourself, have a new machine, or multiple installs that are used individually, it should be OK to use the third-party content on each of them.  (Within reasonable limits - 20 installs might be an issue. :wink:)

Again, I’m not a lawyer, and I don’t even play one on TV, so - though these seem to be reasonable assumptions to me - the actual license is the definitive guide.