Why you should make backups
Imagine you've spent days installing your flight simulation computer. Wouldn't it be a shame if an update ruined everything? Or you want to change a hardware component on your computer, which is sometimes associated with the risk of a system no longer running properly. So what do we do as a precaution? That's right!
We create a backup!
Let's briefly repeat that again. We make a backup! But that's easier said than done. A fully set up computer can quickly take up more than a terabyte of storage space and most of the data is not useful to back up because it is added by the respective installation programme anyway.
It therefore makes the most sense to concentrate on the configuration settings of the respective programmes. And this is where the difficulty usually begins. Where are the configuration settings managed? The following list should give you some orientation.
When is the best time for a backup? Now is the time!
General information
- %appdata% = C:\Users\YOURUSERNAME\AppData\Roaming\
- %localappdata% = C:\Users\YOURUSERNAME\AppData\Local\
- %programdata% = C:\ProgramData\
- Documents = C:\Users\YOURUSERNAME\Documents\
You can access the path by pressing `Win+R` and entering e.g. %appdata%, then Enter.
Prepar3D v5.4
Configuration and Settings
%appdata%\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v5\Prepar3D.cfg
Scenery
%Programdata%\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v5\Scenerie.cfg
Content.xml and Add-on-Configuration
%programdata%\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v5\add-ons.cfg
%programdata%\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v5\exe.xml
%programdata%\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v5\dll.xml
Flight plans and saved flights
Documents\Prepar3D v5 Files
Add-ons
Documents\Prepar3D v5 Add-ons
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020
Community-Folder (Add-ons: sceneries, aeroplanes, tools)
%localappdata%\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages\Community
Configuration
%localappdata%\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\UserCfg.opt
%localappdata%\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\FlightSimulator.cfg
%localappdata%\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Cameras.cfg
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
Community-Folder (Add-ons: sceneries, aeroplanes, tools)
%localappdata%\Packages\Microsoft.Limitless_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages\Community
Configuration
%localappdata%\Packages\Microsoft.Limitless_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\UserCfg.opt
%localappdata%\Packages\Microsoft.Limitless_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\FlightSimulator.cfg
%localappdata%\Packages\Microsoft.Limitless_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Cameras.cfg
ProSim A320
Back up the installation directories of all ProSim A320 programmes. In particular the config.xml
in the respective folder.
Licence data is found here:
C:\ProgramData\ProSim-AR\ProSimA322
SayIntentions
The installation files can be found here:
%appdata%\Roaming\SayIntentionsAI
Immersive Display Pro
Back up the entire folder:
C:\WARP0000
We strongly recommend that you also save the Immersive Calibration Pro configuration files in this folder!
Nvidia App
Profiles for driver settings are NOT offered by the app for backup.
No backup is required for normal operation.
SimSounds
Back up the entire program folder, e.g.
C:\SimSounds
FSTL (FS Live Traffic Liveries)
Injector-Settings and Presets
%appdata%\Roaming\FSLTL_Injector
Modells and further ressourcen for FSTL (e.g. in MSFS2020 Community-Folder)
%localappdata%\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages\Community\fslivetraffic-aircraft
Navigraph
%programdata%\Navigraph\
You install AIRAC data on the simulator NEW - no backup necessary.
Skalarki Profiler
Save the configuration setting of the profiler.
%appdata%\Roaming\SkalarkiIO Profiler 5.1
VIER IM POTT CLS Rudders
Back up the entire installation folder. In particular the "Licences" folder.
If you are missing the location of a programme or find an error, let's complete the list together!