Moving FS 2020 Steam version to a new computer?

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1

I’m finding information on moving to another drive, but don’t see anything on how to move steam version to another computer. Any help doing this much appreciated.

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From what I understand, you install steam on your new PC and start the msfs install process. Once it does the initial steam install and goes into the game (past the splash screen) to do the actual game file install, you pause the installation and shut it down. Then you copy across all the files from the old PC’s appdata MSFS folder, and restart the installation. It should scan all the files as already downloaded, and you won’t have to redownload the whole game.
I say it “should” because I tried this when I moved to a desktop from laptop, but I forgot I manually deleted the archive files because I was running out of disk space, and I ended up having to redownload the whole thing again anyway!
That’s what I understand anyway, someone else may have a better method or explanation.

3

the process is the same just the folders are in a slightly different location
since i have not done it i wont try to elaborate, but it should be doable with any instruction so long as you move the Official folder to the correct place and the game can find it

edit: the only reason to manually move files is to save download, there is No reason you cant just reinstall from scratch

4

Just do a normal install.
You can install on as many devices as you want, but you can only log onto one at a time.

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5

Or you could copy the original MSFS files to your new computer, install steam and launch the game, when it asks you for the dir at the update screen, just point to where you copied the files from the old computer to. It works fine…

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6

Yes, I can confirm that works. I did that when I wanted to change my MSFS files to a bigger drive, as I am only on ADSL. It saved me 24hrs of downloading, and then updating all the extras in free update section ie world updates etc. It only took about an hour to cut and paste the whole lot over.

I now backup the OFFICIAL folder every time there is an update so if anything happens all the stuff is there. I also have a community backup folder. The main game community folder is kept pretty clean. If I want to fly another plane I just copy it over to the game community folder and fly it. When I finish I delete it from the community folder. It makes the main game load quicker and it runs better.

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7

Thanks for the comments, BubbaBlitz7348 post sounds like the best, thanks again.

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8

Installed steam on the new computer, moved FS . Clicked on FS 2020 in steam, & did a download if about 800MB to get in steam\steamapps\common. Started FS 2020, & can’t get passed the checking for update screen. Any idea what I might try ?

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This is the Zendesk checklist, a good place to start

10

Thanks, but no help there. :frowning_face:

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I uninstalled on steam, then reinstalled & got passed checking for updates, but it was the huge download.

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