What Is MSFS 2020 and How Do You Find Free Add-Ons for It?

MSFS 2020 is the common abbreviation for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, Microsoft's flight simulator that supports free add-ons for aircraft, liveries, airports, scenery, and tweaks. You can find these add-ons on community sites such as Flightsim.to, which lists freeware mods for both MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024. To use them, download the add-on and place it in the simulator's Community folder, then check that it matches your simulator version.

What MSFS 2020 Is

MSFS 2020 stands for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020. It is a flight simulator, and its add-on ecosystem is one of the main reasons players stay with it. Add-ons let you expand the base simulator without buying a new title.

The main free add-on categories are:

  • Aircraft — new or modified planes you can fly
  • Liveries — paint schemes and markings for existing aircraft
  • Airports and scenery — detailed airports, landmarks, and terrain
  • Tweaks — adjustments that change performance or visuals

Flightsim.to describes its catalog as covering "a wide range of new Aircraft, Liveries, Airports, Tweaks, and more for both MSFS 2020 and 2024 at no cost." That combination — multiple categories, both simulator versions, freeware — is what makes a community library useful when you are looking for something specific.

How to Find Free Add-Ons

  1. Go to a community library. Flightsim.to is one example; it hosts freeware mods and add-ons for MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024.
  2. Filter by simulator version first. Because the site serves both MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024, confirm the listing supports MSFS 2020 before downloading. A mod built for one version may not work correctly in the other.
  3. Filter by category. Narrow to aircraft, liveries, airports, scenery, or tweaks depending on what you want to change.
  4. Read the listing before downloading. Check the description, version notes, and any stated requirements. This is where compatibility problems usually show up.

How to Install an Add-On

The general pattern for MSFS 2020 add-ons is:

  1. Download the add-on file.
  2. Extract it if it is compressed.
  3. Move the add-on folder into your MSFS 2020 Community folder.
  4. Launch the simulator and confirm the add-on appears or loads.

Expected result: the aircraft, livery, airport, or tweak becomes available in the simulator after restart.

Common snags:

  • The add-on was built for MSFS 2024, not MSFS 2020.
  • The folder was nested one level too deep inside Community, so the simulator does not detect it.
  • A required dependency or update is missing.

Choosing Add-Ons Safely

  • Prefer listings that clearly state MSFS 2020 support.
  • Check that the file type and contents match what the listing describes.
  • Treat version compatibility as the first filter, not an afterthought — it prevents most failed installs.

If you only want to change how an existing plane looks, a livery is the lightest option. If you want new flying experiences, look at aircraft. If you want the world to look better on the ground, airports and scenery are the place to start.

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✓ Discover Freeware Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 & 2024 mods and add-ons - Explore a wide range of new Aircraft, Liveries, Airports, Tweaks, and m…