Bug mate - I actually had the same thing happen to me back in October 2024, I think after upgrading to Windows 11 24H2. It turned out to be a bug - either in Windows itself or something else - but yeah, it was definitely a bug.
https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/empty-official-folder-after-uninstalling-msfs-launcher/661994
FS2020
Doesnāt apply to FS2024.
Many things have changed.
Nothing has changed - the uninstall process for MSFS 2020 and 2024 is identical. I uninstalled the MSFS 2024 launcher myself and Official and Community folders remained untouched on drive T in MSFS 2024 folder. You really need to acknowledge that - thatās just how it works.
If someone has a similar setup and their packages still got deleted after uninstalling, then thatās a bug.
I decided to copy my entire D: drive to another backup in preparation for a possible planned uninstall/reinstall of the whole bloody thing and a D: reformat. I say āpossibleā because the sim is actually running well, but with SU4 on the way I figured it might be a good time to simply āclean houseā. Also, I have FS2020 on that drive, and I havenāt touched it in almost a year. Might as well reclaim the space while Iām at it.
The copy process simply stops when it gets to the folder D:\MSFS.
No error message, no request to āSkipā - just no more activity at all. Ughā¦
Iāve tried to restart that process several times.
I thought about using āUnlockitā on that folder, but who knows what sort of problems that will cause.
I understand Microsoftās desire to protect certain sim files from things like deletion or edits. But simple copying?
If it keeps failing Iām going to make sure I have my AddonsLinker, Downloads, Documents, and ZIP file folders backed up. Then if I decide to do a complete delete Iāll at least have the folders that canāt be replaced with a new sim install.
If you have the MSFS launcher installed in the D MSFS folder, or if youāve moved the files there using the āMoveā option, there might be a permissions issue.
In that case, move the folders instead of the whole main folder.
Alternatively, as a workaround, you can zip the Community folder and move it that way.
Thanks. Iāll try your suggestions.
I would think the āSystemā user would have access for file copy. Maybe not. Iāll look at it.
Anyway, Launcher is on C: and Packages on D: unless through some bizarro world process my stint with the SU4 Beta did something weird like install launcher files on D:
Itās possible something got mixed up - WpSystem folder on your D: drive suggests that. It usually means that game files (settings) or related files ended up there at some point.
Just out of curiosity - what folders do you see in your MSFS directory on the D drive?
I wanted to see which folders were inside that directory because I suspected you might also have the launcher installed there - which turned out to be the case. Thatās why youāre unable to make a āfull copyā.
So, to sum up - on your D drive, inside the MSFS folder, youāve got the launchers (core) for both MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024. You also have the Official and Community folders from MSFS 2020 in there. Things are pretty tangled up. We can sort it out if youād like.
I think itās best if I uninstall FS20 and FS24, format my D: drive, and start over.
My 3rd Party content is in my AddonsLinker folder (already backed up) except for 3rd Party items that got forced into the Official folder. Iāll deal with those.
Thatās a good idea. After you uninstall and format the D drive, try setting it up a bit more cleanly this time - install the MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 launchers on the C drive.
Then, on the D drive, create two separate folders - MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 - and have only the game Packages inside those.
Do you know what I mean?
MS Store
FS2024 only.
I donāt have FS2020 installed anymore.
Both FS2024 app uninstall and Xbox app uninstall deletes the files in the Packages subfolders.
But leaves the empty folders there.
I just did both uninstalls to test this.
There is no install launchers.
There is only install FS2024.
On MS Store app:
- You can only choose the drive; not a drive\folder.
- FS2024 app (launcher) is installed in the default folder, \XboxGames
- Packages are installed in:
C:\Users\userid\AppData\Local\Packages
or
drive:\WpSystem\S-1-5-21-2997017442-1106904157-1831008082-1001\AppData\Local\Packages
In either case, the Packages folder is icrosoft.Limitless_8wekyb3d8bbwe
On Xbox app
- You can choose the a drive\folder.
- FS2024 app (launcher) is installed in the drive\folder.
- Packages are installed in:
C:\Users\userid\AppData\Local\Packages
or
drive:\WpSystem\S-1-5-21-2997017442-1106904157-1831008082-1001\AppData\Local\Packages
In either case the Packages folder is āMicrosoft.Limitless_8wekyb3d8bbweā.
It seems you still donāt fully understand and things are getting a bit confusing. Iām getting a bit tired of explaining the same thing over and over.
Iāll stop here, and please donāt write to me anymore because I wonāt reply. Iām really trying to be polite, but repeating the same thing over and over to a reasonable person has already bored me.
That is what is installed on your PC.
My reply is what the FS2024 program installs or uninstalls.
I am not replying to you.
My reply is for anyone reading these Topics with the intent on
providing accurate information.
MS/Asobo has changed the install & uninstall programs.
-
If you install FS2024 now, the installation screen that we used to be able to select the non-default location for the Packages does not display now.
-
The uninstall programs now delete the files on the installed drive.
A clean re-install of FS2024 is easy now.
It take 8.9 GB to download the app.
Then FS2024 starts.
Why donāt you uninstall. See what happens.
Then re-install to T:. See what happens.
I did this morning.
I know what you mean.
Do it exactly the way I did it back in November - except that Iām not going to reinstall MSFS 2020.
The MSFS (core) launcher is installed on my C drive in the default XboxGames folder - thatās the default location. The Packages (which includes Official and Community), is currently on my T drive in a folder named MSFS 2024.
If I uninstall the launcher via apps ā uninstall , the packages (Official, Community ā¦) - which, again, are on my T drive - remain untouched
I have had similar issues before. Have you tried uninstall MSFS, restart your PC, and reinstall? It seems to cleanup most problems like this.
Copy your community folder before uninstall and restore after install.
I perceive the issue with MSFS 2020 and 2024 is there are too many teams doing too many tasks without a change management team. They break working functions when introducing fixes or new functionality. Technicians seem pressured to install new products and releases before they are ready and fully tested.
Until steakholders are more interested in quality and stability than their pockets, there will be no change.
I struggle daily with the decision whether I should go back to Prepar3D.
1.6.16.0
Uninstall via the MSFS2024 app deletes all data in the \Microsoft.Limitless_8wekyb3d8bbwe folder on the C: drive and any other drive that FS2024 is installed onto.
The folders are left but are empty.
Nothing new - itās always deleted everything from that folder.
I have folder on drive T: named MSFS 2024, which contains Official and Community folders. The path to this folder is set in UserCfg.opt - the last line reads:
InstalledPackagesPath "T:\MSFS 2024"
Official and Community folders inside T:\MSFS 2024 are not uninstalled or deleted, as Iāve said many times.
OP has already marked a solution, so moderator @TheSevenflyer @skypilotYTS should probably just close this thread - repeating the same thing over and over is really boring.
Youāre rightā¦again.