Grumman Duck shows in MSFS 2020 but not MSFS 2024 despite being compatible

Grumman Duck missing in MSFS 2024 – things to check

Hi John — if the Duck works in 2020 but doesn’t show up at all in 2024 (not in Hangar and not in My Library), that usually points to one of two things: either 2024 isn’t actually “seeing” the package, or the package is being skipped during the 2024 content scan.

Here’s the practical way I’d tackle it.

1) Confirm where the Duck is installed
If you installed it via the in-sim Marketplace in 2020, that doesn’t automatically mean it’s installed into 2024. Likewise, if it’s a manual install, 2024 may be pointed at a different Community folder than 2020.

1. In MSFS 2024, go to your content/installed packages area and verify which package locations it’s using (Community/Official).
2. Make sure the Duck is physically present in the MSFS 2024 active Community folder (or Official folder if it’s a Marketplace item).

2) Remove any duplicate installs
If you have one copy in the 2020 Community folder and another copy in a shared folder or 2024 Community folder, 2024 can sometimes ignore it or behave oddly.

• Temporarily move the Duck out of every Community folder you have.
• Put back only one copy into the MSFS 2024 Community folder and test.

3) Check for a “package not loaded” situation
MSFS 2024 will silently skip some add-ons if it doesn’t like the structure or detects a mismatch.

Quick sanity check on the folder layout (manual installs):

• The aircraft folder should contain a valid manifest.json and layout.json at the package root.
• Avoid nested folders like Community\duck\duck\manifest.json — that’s a very common reason for “it doesn’t show up”.

4) Eliminate conflicts by testing with an empty Community folder
This is still the fastest diagnostic step.

1. Rename your MSFS 2024 Community folder to something like Community.OFF
2. Create a new empty Community
3. Install only the Duck into that fresh Community
4. Start 2024 and see if it appears

If it shows up then, something else in Community is preventing the scan from completing cleanly.

5) If it’s Marketplace content
Marketplace aircraft generally won’t appear in 2024 unless they are installed through 2024’s content system and the entitlement is recognized there. “Compatible” doesn’t always mean “already granted/installed in both sims” — it can still require installing the 2024 version (or waiting for it to be published on the 2024 side).

A couple of targeted questions so I can narrow it down

• Is your Grumman Duck from the in-sim Marketplace, or a third-party/manual install?
• Are MSFS 2020 and 2024 using the same Packages location, or separate ones?
• When you say it’s “supposed to be compatible,” where are you seeing that (Marketplace listing, developer notes, etc.)?
• Do other third-party aircraft show in 2024, or is it only the Duck that’s missing?

Answer those and I’ll tell you exactly which path to follow (Marketplace entitlement/install vs. manual package scan issue).