Install PMDG Liveries: MSFS2020 & MSFS2024 Guide

by Alex Johnson 49 views

Are you looking to enhance your Microsoft Flight Simulator experience with custom liveries for your PMDG aircraft? Installing these liveries can add a personal touch and realism to your sim. However, the installation process for PMDG liveries is slightly different from standard liveries. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps for both MSFS2020 and the upcoming MSFS2024, ensuring a smooth and successful installation.

Understanding PMDG Liveries

PMDG (Precision Manuals Development Group) is renowned for creating highly detailed and realistic aircraft add-ons for flight simulators. Their liveries, which are the paint schemes of the aircraft, often require a specific installation procedure to ensure they function correctly within the game. This is because PMDG aircraft have unique file structures and configurations that need to be considered during the installation process.

This guide focuses on installing liveries for the PMDG 777-200ER, but the process is very similar for other PMDG aircraft such as the 777-300ER. The key difference often lies in the directory names, so pay close attention to the specific folders mentioned for your aircraft model. Let's dive into the step-by-step instructions to get your favorite liveries up and running in your simulator.

Installing PMDG Liveries in MSFS2024

For the upcoming MSFS2024, the installation process remains largely similar to MSFS2020 but with slight variations in the directory structure. This section will guide you through the steps, using the PMDG 777-200ER as an example. Remember, the process is nearly identical for the 300ER variant, with only the community folder directory differing slightly. It's crucial to follow these steps meticulously to avoid any issues.

Step 1: Unzipping the Livery Folder

The first step involves extracting the contents of your downloaded livery zip file. You need to unzip the folder into a specific directory within your MSFS2024 installation. The path is as follows:

"C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Limitless_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages\Community\pmdg-aircraft-77er-liveries\SimObjects\Airplanes\PMDG 777-200ER\liveries\pmdg"

Replace "USERNAME" with your actual Windows username. This directory is where MSFS2024 stores community add-ons, and placing the livery folder here ensures the simulator can recognize and load the new livery. Ensure you are extracting the entire livery folder, which typically contains textures, configuration files, and other assets necessary for the livery to function correctly.

Step 2: Updating the layout.json File

The layout.json file is a crucial component that tells MSFS2024 which files are part of an add-on. Whenever you add or remove files from the Community folder, you need to update this file. To do this, you'll use a tool called MSFSLayoutGenerator, which can be found here. This tool automatically scans your livery folder and updates the layout.json file accordingly. It is a critical step. If you miss this, the livery won't load in the simulator.

The layout.json file you need to update is located in this directory:

"C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Limitless_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages\Community\pmdg-aircraft-77er-liveries"

Run the MSFSLayoutGenerator and point it to this directory. The tool will analyze the folder structure and update the layout.json file to include the newly added livery files. This ensures that the simulator can properly load and display the livery.

Step 3: Copying the options.ini File

The options.ini file contains specific configuration settings for the livery. This file needs to be copied from the livery folder to a different location depending on whether you are using the Microsoft Store version or the Steam version of MSFS2024. This step ensures that the livery is properly integrated with the PMDG aircraft systems.

First, locate the options.ini file in the following directory:

"C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Limitless_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages\Community\pmdg-aircraft-77er-liveries\SimObjects\Airplanes\PMDG 777-200ER\liveries\pmdg\LIVERY FOLDER"

Replace "LIVERY FOLDER" with the actual name of the livery folder you extracted in Step 1. Now, copy this options.ini file to one of the following directories, depending on your MSFS2024 version:

Microsoft Store Version:

"C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Limitless_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\WASM\MSFS2024\pmdg-aircraft-77er\work\Aircraft"

Steam Version:

"C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024\WASM\MSFS2024\pmdg-aircraft-77er\work\Aircraft"

Step 4: Renaming the options.ini File

The final step in the installation process is to rename the copied options.ini file. The new name should be the aircraft's registration number followed by the .ini extension. For example, if the aircraft's registration is N777ER, you would rename the file to N777ER.ini. This renaming step is crucial as it tells the PMDG aircraft which livery to load based on the aircraft's registration.

This step completes the installation process for PMDG liveries in MSFS2024. You should now be able to select and fly with your newly installed livery within the simulator. Ensure you restart the simulator if it was running during the installation process to allow the changes to take effect.

Installing PMDG Liveries in MSFS2020

The process for installing PMDG liveries in MSFS2020 is very similar to MSFS2024, with slight differences in the file paths. This section will provide a detailed guide for MSFS2020 users, ensuring you can easily add new liveries to your PMDG aircraft. Again, we will use the PMDG 777-200ER as an example, but the steps are almost identical for the 300ER, with only minor adjustments to the folder names.

Step 1: Unzipping the Livery Folder

As with MSFS2024, the first step is to extract the contents of the livery zip file. You need to unzip the folder into the correct directory within your MSFS2020 installation. The specific path is:

"C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages\Community\pmdg-aircraft-77er-liveries\SimObjects\Airplanes"

Make sure to replace "%USERNAME%" with your actual Windows username. This directory is the primary location for community-created content in MSFS2020. Extracting the livery folder here ensures that the simulator can detect and load the new paint scheme. It is vital to extract the entire livery folder, as it contains all the necessary files for the livery to function correctly.

Step 2: Updating the layout.json File

The layout.json file plays a critical role in MSFS2020 by informing the simulator about the files included in an add-on. Whenever you add or remove liveries or other content, you need to update this file. You can use the MSFSLayoutGenerator, available here, to automate this process. This tool scans your livery folder and updates the layout.json file to reflect the changes.

The layout.json file you need to update is located in the following directory:

"C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages\Community\pmdg-aircraft-77er-liveries\"

Run the MSFSLayoutGenerator and direct it to this directory. The tool will analyze the folder structure and automatically update the layout.json file to include the newly added livery files. This step is essential to ensure the simulator recognizes and loads the livery.

Step 3: Copying the options.ini File

The options.ini file contains livery-specific settings that need to be copied to a particular location for the livery to function correctly. The destination directory depends on whether you are using the Microsoft Store or the Steam version of MSFS2020. This step is crucial for integrating the livery with the PMDG aircraft systems.

First, locate the options.ini file in the livery folder. The path is typically:

"C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Packages\Community\pmdg-aircraft-77er-liveries\SimObjects\Airplanes\%LIVERY FOLDER%"

Replace %LIVERY FOLDER% with the actual name of the livery folder you extracted in Step 1. Now, copy this options.ini file to one of the following directories, depending on your MSFS2020 version:

Microsoft Store Version:

"C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\Packages\pmdg-aircraft-77er\work\Aircraft"

Steam Version:

"C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft Flight Simulator\Packages\pmdg-aircraft-77er\work\Aircraft"

Step 4: Renaming the options.ini File

The final step is to rename the options.ini file to match the aircraft's registration number. This ensures that the PMDG aircraft can correctly identify and load the livery. For example, if the aircraft's registration is N777ER, you would rename the file to N777ER.ini.

This completes the installation process for PMDG liveries in MSFS2020. You should now be able to find and select your new livery within the simulator. Remember to restart MSFS2020 if it was running during the installation to ensure the changes are applied.

Key Considerations

  • 777-200 vs. 777-300: Note that the directory structure slightly varies between the 777-200 (referred to as 77er) and the 777-300 (referred to as 77w). Ensure you are using the correct folder paths for your specific aircraft model.
  • MSFSLayoutGenerator: This tool is essential for updating the layout.json file. Always use it after adding or removing liveries.
  • Restart the Simulator: After installing a new livery, always restart MSFS2020 or MSFS2024 to ensure the changes take effect.
  • Correct File Paths: Double-check that you are using the correct file paths for your version of MSFS (Microsoft Store or Steam) and your aircraft model.

Conclusion

Installing PMDG liveries in MSFS2020 and MSFS2024 involves a few specific steps, but with this guide, you should be able to easily add your favorite paint schemes to your aircraft. By following these instructions carefully, you can enhance your flight simulation experience and enjoy flying with a personalized touch. Remember to always update the layout.json file and rename the options.ini file correctly to ensure the liveries load properly.

For more information about PMDG products and support, visit the official PMDG website. Happy flying!