MSFS2020 has installed itself twice on the same external drive

User Support Hub Install, Performance & Graphics
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A couple of weeks ago I launched MSFS2020 like I always have, and when it started to load, it was asking me to configure all these settings, as if this was the first time installing the application. I have had MSFS2020 installed on an external drive since it was launched.

It then began reinstalling all the content as if it wasn’t installed, on the same external drive. So now I have what appears to be two instances if the sim installed on the same drive. How is that even possible?

The external drive used to be just under half way full, now it is completely full which makes no sense. Yet, if I check the drive content, there is no doubling up of files. It’s absolutely nuts. It sees the new installation if I launch the application, but not the original installation with all my add-ons, etc.

Has anyone else had this happen? Or know how I can fix this? Hopefully without wiping the drive and starting again.

Thanks.

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first is this a removable external drive? that probably isnt suggested and may cause issues (like the drive may use a different drive letter if another drive is plugged in)

this can happen easily and ive seen others have this issue

if you do a custom install location then get an update be Sure to choose the exact same location
if not you will end up with another install to the new location you give when the update asks where to install the files

EDIT: an easier way to find the working Packages folder would probably be to use the in game menu
I show how thats done in this video at the beginning

then just delete the other one

you can look in the UserCfg.opt file (open with notepad) located at C:\Users\”username”\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache to find the current working Packages location and remove the one thats not being used

The very last line in that file will tell you where the game expects to find the packages (inside that you will find the Community and Official folders)
example of my custom location
InstalledPackagesPath “D:\MSFS Packages”

2026-04-04 09_58_12-_UserCfg.opt - Notepad
2026-04-04 09_58_12-_UserCfg.opt - Notepad599×703 30.8 KB
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Is this a removable external drive?

No, the drive is an internal drive (drive F:\), it’s just not the same drive that the OS is installed on (drive C:\). The drive letter has never changed since the day it was installed.

I believe when I originally installed the sim, the installation files were installed on the C:\ drive in the following directory:

Users\”username”\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe

And I opted to move the Community and Official directories onto my F:\ drive. I can’t remember how I did this, but it has worked without issue for years.

After looking into this a bit further, I believe it has somehow managed to install another instance of the sim through the XBox app as I have now found the other instance in a directory called XboxGames which is also on my F:\ drive. I don’t recall ever using the xbox app to install the original copy, and I never installed a new copy with it either.

Community and Official Directory Locations

I followed your video and found that the location of the Official directory that it is now pointing to is:

Users\”username”\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages\Official\OneStore

Which is the one on the C:\ drive and not the F:\ drive.

I also looked at the location of the Community folder that it is now pointing to which is:

Users\”username”\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages\Community

Again, this is the one on the C:\ drive and not the F:\ drive.

UserCfg.opt File

I checked the Packages directory location in the UserCfg.opt file and this was also pointing to:

Users\”username”\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Package

Which is the one on the C:\ drive and not the F:\ drive.

I changed this to point to my F:\ drive location and … BOOM! I’m back in the game with all my add-ons!

Thank you for taking the time to respond.

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Yep thats what happened, there was an update and that update chose to use the ‘new’ default location on that F:/ drive (it is select able during updates but its not obvious) rather than your custom location

be sure to click on the address bar if it doesnt match the working Packages folder you want/have during updates
afaik its not necessary to use the xbox app to install for this too happen

Im glad you got it sorted