MSFS Addons Linker. If you have been using Microsoft Flight Simulator for a while, you probably know exactly how quickly the Community folder can get out of hand.
At first, it all seems simple enough. You install a few aircraft, maybe a couple of scenery add-ons, some liveries, a utility or two, and everything works nicely. Then one day you look at your simulator setup and realise you have add-ons everywhere. Aircraft, airports, scenery, GSX profiles, liveries, utilities, and all sorts of bits and pieces sitting in different folders.
That is where MSFS Addons Linker becomes incredibly useful.
This article is written for simmers who want a cleaner, more organised way to manage their Microsoft Flight Simulator add-ons, especially if you are using MSFS 2024 or still running MSFS 2020. It is not really about making the simulator magically faster, although it may help in some cases. For me, the big advantage is control. I like knowing what is active, what is not active, and where everything is stored.
MSFS Addons Linker lets you store your add-ons outside the Community folder and activate only the ones you want to use. It keeps your simulator cleaner, easier to manage, and much less confusing as your add-on collection grows.
What Is MSFS Addons Linker?
MSFS Addons Linker is a free utility that helps you manage your Microsoft Flight Simulator add-ons without having to keep everything permanently inside the Community folder.
Instead of dumping every aircraft, airport, scenery pack, livery, and utility directly into the Community folder, you store your add-ons somewhere else on your computer. Addons Linker then creates links to the add-ons you want active.
Microsoft Flight Simulator still treats those add-ons as if they were in the Community folder, but the actual files can be stored in a much neater folder structure elsewhere.
For example, you might have your add-ons stored like this:
- D:\MSFS Addons\Aircraft
- D:\MSFS Addons\Airports
- D:\MSFS Addons\Scenery
- D:\MSFS Addons\Liveries
- D:\MSFS Addons\Utilities
- D:\MSFS Addons\GSX Profiles
Then, when you want to fly, you simply tick the add-ons you want to use.
Why I Think Addons Linker Is Worth Using
The biggest reason I like Addons Linker is that it brings order to what can easily become a messy simulator setup.
Flight simulation add-ons are wonderful, but they can quickly become overwhelming. In one week, you will install a new aircraft. The next week, you add a scenery package. Then you add a few liveries. Then a few airports. Before long, you have no idea what is active, what is old, what is broken, or what might be causing a problem.
Addons Linker makes the whole thing easier to manage.
Do not wait until your Community folder is completely out of control. Addons Linker is much easier to set up while your add-on collection is still manageable.
Does Addons Linker Make MSFS 2024 Load Faster?
This is probably one of the most common questions, and the honest answer is: it depends.
If you have a lot of add-ons permanently active, reducing the number of add-ons loaded by the simulator may help with loading times. If your setup is already fairly clean, you may not notice much difference.
For me, the main reason to use Addons Linker is not just speed. It is an organisation.
I would rather have a clean setup where I know exactly what is being loaded than have hundreds of add-ons sitting in the Community folder all the time. Even if the loading time difference is small, the management benefit is still worth it.
How Addons Linker Works
Addons Linker works by using links between your add-on storage folders and the simulator’s Community folder.
That may sound a little technical, but in normal use, it is quite simple.
Your add-ons live in your organised storage folder. When you tick an add-on inside Addons Linker, the program creates a link inside the Community folder. When you untick it, the link is removed.
The original add-on remains safe in your storage location.
This means you are not constantly copying and deleting large files. You are simply activating and deactivating links.
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How To Set Up MSFS Addons Linker
Step 1: Create A Main Add-ons Folder
The first thing I would do is create one main folder where all your add-ons will live.
For example:
D:\MSFS Addons
If you have a second SSD, that can be a very good place to store them. Add-ons can take up a lot of space, especially aircraft, scenery, and high-quality airports.
Step 2: Create Simple Categories
Inside your main add-ons folder, create a few simple categories.
Something like this works well:
- Aircraft
- Airports
- Scenery
- Liveries
- Utilities
- GSX Profiles
- Test Add-ons
I would not overcomplicate it at the start. The goal is to make things easier, not create another system that becomes a job in itself.
Step 3: Move Your Add-ons Out Of The Community Folder
Once your storage folders are ready, move your add-ons from the Community folder into your new organised folders.
This is the part where you need to be a little careful.
Make sure you are moving the correct add-on folder, not an extra parent folder that contains the actual package folder inside it. If the folder structure is wrong, the add-on may not appear in the simulator.
One of the biggest mistakes is linking the wrong folder level. If an aircraft or airport does not appear in MSFS, check that the actual package folder is being linked, not a folder above it.
Step 4: Point Addons Linker To Your Add-ons Folder
Open Addons Linker and tell it where your add-ons are stored.
Once it scans the folder, you should see your add-ons appear in the program. From there, you can tick or untick the items you want active.
Step 5: Set Your Community Folder Location
Addons Linker also needs to know where your Microsoft Flight Simulator Community folder is located.
This location can vary depending on whether you installed MSFS through Microsoft Store, Xbox app, Steam, or a custom installation location.
Once Addons Linker knows where the Community folder is, it can create the links properly.
Using Profiles In Addons Linker
Profiles are one of the best parts of Addons Linker.
Instead of manually ticking individual add-ons every time, you can create different profiles for different types of flying.
For example, you could create:
- Australia Flying
- PMDG 737 Flights
- General Aviation
- Bush Flying
- Airliner Flying
- Testing New Add-ons
- Scenery Only
This is very handy if you fly different types of aircraft and routes.
If I am flying the PMDG 737 between major airports, I do not need a pile of bush strips, small GA liveries, or scenery packages from the other side of the world loaded. I can just activate what suits that flight.
Using Addons Linker With MSFS 2024
MSFS 2024 has changed quite a few things compared with MSFS 2020, but add-on management is still very important.
Some users will have add-ons for both simulators, while others are slowly moving from MSFS 2020 to MSFS 2024. That can become confusing if you do not keep things organised.
My advice is to keep MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 add-ons clearly separated if you use both simulators.
For example:
- D:\MSFS 2020 Addons
- D:\MSFS 2024 Addons
This helps prevent accidentally linking the wrong add-ons to the wrong simulator.
Troubleshooting Addons Linker Problems
Add-on Not Showing In MSFS
If an add-on does not appear in the simulator, check the folder structure first.
Open the add-on folder and look for files such as:
- manifest.json
- layout.json
These files usually need to be inside the folder that is being linked.
Red Items In Addons Linker
If you see red entries inside Addons Linker, it usually means the program cannot find the folder it expects.
This can happen if:
- The add-on folder was moved
- The folder was renamed
- The drive letter changed
- The add-on was deleted
- The original path is no longer valid
The fix is usually to check the folder location and correct the path.
PMDG Aircraft Not Appearing
PMDG aircraft can be a little different from simple scenery add-ons because some parts may be installed outside the normal Community folder.
If your PMDG aircraft does not appear, do not immediately blame Addons Linker. First, check that the aircraft is properly installed through the correct PMDG installer or operations centre, and then check whether any Community-folder components are properly linked.
Changes Not Taking Effect
If you tick or untick add-ons while MSFS is already running, you may need to close and restart the simulator before the change is properly recognised.
As a general rule, I prefer to set up my add-ons first, then launch the simulator.
Real Pilot Tip
In real-world flying, the organisation reduces workload. The same applies in the simulator. If your setup is organised before the flight, you spend less time troubleshooting and more time actually flying.
Who Should Use Addons Linker?
I think Addons Linker is most useful for anyone who has moved beyond a very basic simulator setup.
You should seriously consider using it if you have:
- Lots of aircraft add-ons
- Several payware airports
- Large scenery packs
- Many liveries
- GSX profiles
- Both MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 were installed
- A separate SSD for simulator add-ons
If you only have two or three add-ons, you may not need it yet. But once your collection starts growing, Addons Linker becomes one of those tools that makes everything feel more under control.
Buying Considerations
Addons Linker itself is free, but it may change how you think about storage.
If you have a growing simulator setup, a dedicated SSD can be very useful. Flight simulator add-ons can take up a surprising amount of space, especially detailed scenery and high-quality aircraft.
If I were setting things up from scratch, I would seriously consider having a dedicated drive just for simulator add-ons. It keeps the main Windows drive cleaner and makes backups easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MSFS Addons Linker free?
Yes, Addons Linker is free and widely used by the Microsoft Flight Simulator community.
Does Addons Linker delete my add-ons?
No. It does not delete your add-ons. It simply creates links to them from the Community folder.
Can I use Addons Linker with MSFS 2024?
Yes, it can be used with MSFS 2024, provided you set the correct folders and paths.
Will Addons Linker fix broken add-ons?
No. If an add-on itself is broken or not compatible with your simulator version, Addons Linker will not fix that. It only helps manage the add-ons.
Can I still install add-ons normally?
Yes, but I prefer to keep things organised through Addons Linker once the system is set up.
Final Thoughts
MSFS Addons Linker is one of those utilities that may not sound exciting at first, but once you start using it, it becomes hard to imagine managing a large simulator setup without it.
For me, the real benefit is not just about loading times. It is about keeping control of the simulator.
I like knowing what is active. I like being able to switch profiles. I like keeping my Community folder clean. And I like being able to test add-ons without turning the whole simulator setup into a guessing game.
If you are serious about Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, or even if you are still using MSFS 2020, Addons Linker is well worth learning.
Summary
MSFS Addons Linker helps keep your Microsoft Flight Simulator add-ons organised by storing them outside the Community folder and linking only the ones you want active. It is especially useful for simmers with large add-on collections, multiple aircraft, scenery packages, liveries, and MSFS 2024 setups. It may help reduce clutter, make troubleshooting easier, and give you much better control over your simulator.
