Save MSFS scenery data in cache to reduce internet traffic, how to use rolling cache and manual cache
Microsoft Flight Simulator has rolling cache and manual cache functions to save scenery data. If you use this skillfully, you can reduce network traffic.
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MSFS cache function
There is a "rolling cache" function that automatically temporarily saves game data (satellite photos, etc.) for the region you have flown to, and a "manual cache" function that allows you to download game data for any region in advance. These features allow you to fly comfortably even in slow internet environments.MSFS2024
MSFS2024 is structured so that almost all data is stored in the cloud, so the use of "rolling cache" is mandatory and the "manual cache" function is no longer available.
Changing the storage drive and capacity of rolling cache
Game data (satellite images, etc.) for the region you have flown to is temporarily saved in a data area called rolling cache. This reduces the amount of data downloaded from the internet when flying over the same area again.MSFS2024
By default, the rolling cache is stored in "C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024\ROLLINGCACHE.CCC" with a maximum size of 16GB.
You can change this if your C drive is low on space or if you want to create a larger cache.
To do this, open the [General] - [Online] screen on the settings screen and set it in the [Rolling cache settings] field. You can specify the cache capacity in the [ROLLING CACHE LIMIT (GIB)] field. You can change the cache storage location in the [ROLLING CACHE PATH] field.
When you're done, click [Save and Back] at the bottom left of the screen.
MSFS2020
By default, the rolling cache is stored in "C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft Flight Simulator\ROLLINGCACHE.CCC" with a maximum size of 8GB.
You can change this if your C drive is low on space or if you want to create a larger cache.
This can be changed in the [ROLLING CACHE SETTINGS] field on the [OPTIONS]-[GENERAL OPTIONS]-[DATA] screen. You can specify the cache capacity in the [ROLLING CACHE LIMIT (GIB)] field. You can change the cache storage location in the [ROLLING CACHE PATH] field.
[DELETE ROLLING CACHE FILE] disables rolling cache. Return the [ROLLING CACHE] field to [ON].
Finally, click [APPLY AND SAVE] at the bottom left of the screen.
Download scenery data in advance using manual cache
By using a function called manual cache, you can download game data for any region in advance. You can reduce the amount of data you download from the internet by caching some of the regions you frequently fly to.However, this feature is not available in MSFS2024.
MSFS2020
To create a manual cache, click the [VIEW] button in the [MANUAL CACHE] field on the [OPTIONS]-[GENERAL OPTIONS]-[DATA] screen.
Then you will see a screen like this.
First, specify the storage location of the manual cache in the [Cache Location] field on the right side of the screen. It can be in the same location as the rolling cache above.
Specify the cache capacity in the [Maximum Overall Cache Size] field below.
Next, enter the region name, airport name, POI name, etc. you want to cache in the search box on the left side of the screen. Then click the [CACHE NEW REGION] button at the bottom right of the screen.
This will take you to a screen where you can specify the region where you want to save data.
You can move the map display area by holding down the left mouse button and dragging.
If you hold down the right mouse button while dragging, a blue box will surround the map. Specify the area to save in cache.
If you drag the mouse while holding down the [SHIFT] key, the area where the mouse cursor is located will turn blue. Additional space will be added to the cache.
If you hold down the [CTRL] key while dragging the mouse, a red box will surround the map. You can delete the area saved in the cache.
Turn the scroll wheel on your mouse to zoom in or out on the map. The display in the [CACHE QUALITY] column at the bottom right of the screen will switch between [Low], [Medium], and [High] depending on the map enlargement ratio. The resolution of data saved in the cache will change.
Once you have decided on the area to save in the cache, click the [FINISH AND DOWNLOAD] button at the bottom right of the screen. You can also name the cache you want by entering characters where it says [NEW REGION 1].
When you click the [FINISH AND DOWNLOAD] button, the screen will change and the download will begin.
The download time depends on the size and resolution of the area you select.
In the example shown in the figure above (central Tokyo), when [Medium] was specified, it took about 3 minutes.
Once the download is complete, a list will be displayed in [CACHED REGIONS] on the right side of the screen.
You can also add high-resolution caches on top of areas that have already been cached.
Here, I added Tokyo Haneda Airport in [High] resolution.
Haneda Airport has been added as [NEW REGION 2].
Click the blue eyeball on the right end of a cache name to display the area saved in that cache on a map.
You can delete a cache by checking the white box to the left of the cache name and clicking the [DELETE SELECTION] button.
You can also save three types of data in one cache: [Low], [Medium], and [High].
Simply switch to each resolution and repeat the area specification.
In this example, Nagoya city and its surrounding area is set to [Medium], and Chubu Centrair International Airport and Nagoya Airfield are set to [High].
In urban centers where there is a large amount of information, the size of the cache becomes enormous.
The [High] resolution data for central Tokyo, shown in red in the figure, is several thousand times the size of other caches, even though it is such a small area.
If this amount of data were to be downloaded from the internet every time, the amount of communication and communication load would be enormous.
If you fly frequently in this area, I think you should save it in your manual cache.