I just got a new computer with Windows 11. I install FS2020 and went looking for the sim on my SSD. Nothing! I can’t find it anywhere. Does anyone have any ideas on where I can find it? I’d like to reload my mods.
Thanks in advance.
I got it from the MS Store.
the bulk of the game by default from the ms store will install to
C:\Users<your_username>\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe
and if im not mistaken the mods will go in (i use a custom for the Packages)
C:\Users<your_username>\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages\Community
Thanks, I’ll see if I can find the files in those locations.
Interesting.
I have FS2020 installed on D:\FS2020.
I just looked at my C: drive.
C:\Users\userid\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages\Community
and
C:\Users\userid\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages\Official\OneStore
They are empty.
The Symbolic links are gone.
But they are at D:\FS2020. Not Symbolic.
thats as it should be RonS, those are the Default locations the installer automatically creates but doesnt use if you choose a custom “Packages” location on the first run of the game (i have the same empty folders)
the custom path you select/create is referenced by a file (last line of UserCfg.opt), there are no symlinks for this
The point was that there used to be Symbolic Links for FS2020 if you
don’t install in the default location.
Now, there are none.
There was confusion by some as to why FS2020 was installed on 2 different drives.
I submitted this Topic to explain the use of the Symbolic Links.
There are screenshots here of the Symbolic Links.
i cant say for windows 11 (im still running w10)
but in a default install they dont have any symlinks i can find in user folder pictured unless you changed the install location inside the ms Store?
what i have on my pc is
15mb in C:\Users\EzRyder\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe
which is just some configs because i Selected a custom location on first load of game, if you used a default install it will have the bulk of the game inside the \LocalCache\Packages folder here, if not it will have empty folders
175gb in C:\MsFS my custom chosen install location (contains a Community and Official folder)
then 1.14gb in C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_1.24.5.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
i believe this is the ms launcher part, its hidden in part as a form of DRM and should probably not be really be messed with
like i said i dont have any idea if this changed in win11 or the ms store but …
Win 10 was/is the same as Win 11 per this.
Symbolic links have always been there.
The following quote is from May 2021. @Hester40MT
Someone at Asobo/MS has changed the install
to remove the Symbolic Links.
I will update my Topic to reflect this so readers will not be confused.
Maybe Hester 40MT (Forum Moderator) can clarify.
Thanks for your reply.
the key lines in that statement are
"You can instruct the MS Store to fully install on a target. "
&
"It is better to keep apps on C and change the target for install in the MSFS installer. "
again i have no idea how the ms store option to move apps work
but if thats what you have done or are trying to do then this is a ms store issue and i have no exp with it really
i do believe if you change the install in the ms store it uses this folder you mention on that other post
D:\WpSystem\S-???364?xxxxxx or some similar starting with the WpSystem iirc, only did this once - realized it saved me practically nothing so changed it back to C drive
after thinking about it that WpSystem folder may the folder used if you ‘move’ the stiore install thru the Windows Settings - Apps
im thinking thats how i moved it the first time (when the game came out) not thru the ms store itself but hard to say for sure
i really suggest just installing to C: (default) up untill you get to the menu in game that allows you to choose where to put the “Packages” - thats the bulk of the game (all except a couple gb)
Where ae these?
MS Store is the installer.
“keep apps on C” is, I think, a reference to the Windows10/11 option.
It is a Windows MS Flight Simulator APP option.
It saved me 130 GB of storage from the my C: drive that went on the D: drive.
The bulk (130 GB) is where the “Packages” is installed.
if you do it right you will have a similar installation to mine, i have less than 2gb on c: drive (other than the Packages that i could easily have put on D:\ drive from the InGame menu but Only on first Launch)
see my post above, your just trying to move everything Before you get to the option to install the Packages from ingame
i Do Not have any WpSystem folder anywhere, on your Previous installation you moved the ms store launcher (either in the store or thru windows settings) thats what gave you the symlinks
exactly which you can move/put anywhere
if you wish pm me and we can fix/move yours without having to dl everything again
having realized you are not the OP i do not wish to hijack this post any further
but again i suggest just putting the launcher (C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_1.24.5.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe) and configs (C:\Users\EzRyder\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe) in the default locations and the Packages (Community and Official folders) in w/e location you want
You do not have a choice in putting the default location contents anywhere. (Except to your Boot drive instead of the C: drive.)
You can put the “Installed Packages” wherever you wish.
if you wish to continue, please pm me (again we are hijacking a post here)
im not sure what ‘default location content’ your reffering to but You Can move the ms store files via the Windows Settings Apps page (they appear to have removed this ability from the ms store in the last few updates) this is likely how you got that WpSystem folder and symlinks you mention in your other post you linked above
or you can move Only the Packages from ingame or just manually if you know how
The default location contents is anything the installer installs
to the default location which is the C: or Boot drive including the “Installed Packages”.
Unless your tell the installer to install the “Installed Packages” to a
location (drive\folder) of your choice.
I’m confused. My Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe does not show up, and I am showing all hidden files.