Disclaimer
The methods mentioned in this tutorial are for research and learning purposes only. I am not responsible for any legal liabilities and losses caused by using or expanding this tutorial and method.
ALWAYS checkout latest version here first if you have trouble: https://github.com/derekhe/msfs2020-google-map/releases
!!!!!MUST DO BEFORE YOU USE THIS MOD!!!!!
PLEASE VIEW THE VIDEO FOR INSTALLATION AND USAGE:
New installation and uninstallation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqaD2y7HA6o
Old Video: https://youtu.be/Lk7GK5XLTt8
SweViver made this great comparsion and installation here: New FS2020 Google Maps MOD for the entire world!
Some people use cracked verison of MSFS, please don't use this mod, it is not supported.
If you have any problem, please watch the videoes first and look at this FAQ page: https://github.com/derekhe/msfs2020-google-map/wiki/FAQ
Preview
Whole journey from Chengdu to Xian: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1nQ4y1S7vy/
Side by side comparsion: https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1kq4y1r711/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WRj8yhi0tc&t=138s
Donate
I will keep this mod up to date for every MSFS update as much as I can. If you like this plugin and want to offer me a coffee, please click the "DONATE ME A COFFEE" button, or here is the link: https://paypal.me/siconghe?country.x=C2&locale.x=en_US
Thanks for your support!
Background
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 uses Bing's satellite map. However, the satellite map is relatively old, and many areas are not directly equipped with map settings a few years ago. This phenomenon occurs in different regions of the world. The map on the mainland is even 10 years ago. There are a large number of regions where satellite images are not available. Microsoft uses the program-generated map instead, and the quality is very poor. After the replacement, the image quality and details have been significantly improved, as shown in the figure below
History and related information
I have been studying the possibility of replacing it with Google Maps for a long time, and there are also YouTubers on the Internet who have provided [some ideas](https://flightsim.to/file/4074/google-earth-decoder-optimisation-tools?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__= pmd_2902fb008a3441de2f812b093625596ad796f737-1628304162-0-gqNtZGzNAk2jcnBszQjO), use a crawler to crawl the data from Google and import it into MSFS2020. But this method is more complicated and cannot be used on a large scale.
Later I studied the network request and found that MSFS will download pictures from Bing's server. In theory, it should be possible to replace the pictures with other pictures. And it happens that the slicing method of bing and google’s satellite images is similar and can be seamlessly switched, and even Microsoft also provides the converted [source code] (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/bingmaps/articles/ bing-maps-tile-system) (see this function QuadKeyToTileXY)
In the process of constant search, I found examples similar to my thinking. But his main purpose is to remove some unnecessary things to improve the quality of the landscape. He also built an additional warehouse to demonstrate a [method of using proxy to replace landscape] (https://github.com/muumimorko/MSFS2020_Proxy). Unfortunately, this warehouse lacks some necessary things and cannot operate normally.
| 
derekhe
Recently in comments we have some rude comments, which is not I want to see. I don't want to delete them and let time to judge. I understand the mood that the app can't run on your machine, but please also be aware that everyone's environment is different and I can't guarantee it works on everyone's environment.
If you have issues, please look at the FAQ page first (https://github.com/derekhe/msfs2020-google-map/wiki/FAQ)
I will keep it update to date for common issues.
The videos are important to follow.
If it still can't resolve, please search and find out if you have similar problem (https://github.com/derekhe/msfs2020-google-map/issues).
If you still have problem, please provide me details and post it into (https://github.com/derekhe/msfs2020-google-map/issues)
Your feedback is important for me to improve the mod and let more user to use. If I can't fix a bug in recent days, please be patient and go back to see it after a while.
Thanks all, please keep your comments clean and polite.
grostoni
Thanks a lot for this brilliant mod ! Unfortunately, while it was working perfectly before, since some time now (about time of SU7), it is no longer working. It seems to be working fine when looking at the shell window, where I see things downloading OK from google maps servers, but in the game I keep seeing the same old bing maps textures 😞 Any idea what may be wrong ? (I do clear data cache each time, and I have disabled rolling cache anyway)
wink86
Hi, I can´t use the mod every time it say......
PermissionError: [Errno 13] Permission denied: 'C:\\Windows\\System32\\drivers\\etc\\hosts'
what I´m doing wrong?
Thank you & best regards from Germany
Cherax74
hi, there are any reason than the game stays charging in the middle ?
TacOtter
Absolutely amazing how much better this makes the sim look!! Great work thank you!
abranpuko
i used this mode since two weeks. i love it, but, today, it made suttters and finally a ctd near LEVC.
i thought: lets uninstall it just to test if it was this or that.
i returned to activate memory caché to 120 hgb and bing maps and MSFS worked very smooth.
im sad: ui love this mod.
is there a way to use it without stopping memory cache? it seems my pc needs it to breath.
derekhe 17 hour(s) ago
did you fly a long trip?
abranpuko 14 hour(s) ago
No. The stuttters were given at the beginning, on my pushback. The flight is LEVC-LEBL. after, i reloaded MSFS, without the mod, and i won a lot of smoothness. so i suppose it was the mod. (although never before this mod was bad for me!)
miguel4330
Nice work, working flawlessly 😊 I'm buying you a cup of coffee
Pmg021226
HI...i followed the instructions...as unzipped, i have the "run" but not .BAT....i have it as a window file....so then i can not open that "run" as an admistrator..i tried everything..no clue..can u help.. thanks
delosx
Hi there, 2.3.1 is working great for me. Is there any difference between the imagery in this update since it’s a different server? Thanks!
derekhe 23 hour(s) ago
The loading speed may improve.
G8V8S
Still completely functional as of 2.3.1
Bilger2021
Doesn't seem to work anymore. MSFS will not make it past the loading screen. Was working great before. I did shut it down properly last time. Strange. When I deleted the MOD, MSFS worked perfectly fine with Bing of course. Just FYI. Thanks
Cherax74 1 day(s) ago
all its ok
tatopanix
Brillant POC. Thanks for the hard work. Quick question, when I use it, I have some weird sound issues, pop and crackles. I can't figure out why. I have a potato PC though (i7 3770, 1060, 16gb running in high settings 1080p dx11, ssd SATA3) so it might just be the reason. Does anybody encounters sound issues while this mod download textures in the background?
kvari
hi, thanks for such a cool tool. having seen a section in the changelog regarding photogrammetry I want to ask if the amazing goole pg is now included in the data streaming ?
Cherax74
very very nice,, 5 stars... The only thing I find is that with google you see a more strange color, bluish greenand looks all a bit whitish. if someone know how improve or invent something would be incredible.
Thank you very much.
Vermu
I have problems over Nassau with this mod. I get lot's of artifacts on sea around Nassau island. This latest patch improved tile issue a bit though. I also tried Male island and no problems there. So far every other place have been working but Nassau. If you can do something about it it would be great. This mod made my home town so much better.
derekhe 2 day(s) ago
I think I just switched to latest google server 😊 If you have issue with the place you flight through, please "click" cache tab in the mod and clear the cache.
Vermu 2 day(s) ago
I cleared cache and Nassau is better now. I spotted only 2 blocks or areas that are not working. Other than that it's very nice.
jeanclaude34
excellent programme merci
BEPPY
MY GAME CRASHED AND NOW ITS NOT LOADING HELP
Dubman 2 day(s) ago
delete the two lines in the host file https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqaD2y7HA6o
Claviateur
Thanks for the great app!!!
Now for some reason, sometimes, MSFS is freezing at this screen:
https://ibb.co/8cNJ2YS
But sometimes MSFS loads ok and I see in the Windows dialog box the tiles loading...
It was ok (with SU7 and previous versions) but started to do this a couple of days ago.
rostkor 2 day(s) ago
I affirm this freezing. So, I start sim without this mod, close sim and start sim again with mod.
Angel92 2 day(s) ago
I have this problem too
cam987
This mod is absolutely fantastic! Amazing work bro! Donated!
Alemanne
Thanks for the great tool. I have been using it for days without any problems. Sometimes the FS hangs on startup, but that is very rare. If now all the cities that could be displayed in photogrammety this would be more than stunning.
Thank you very much.
hoth98
This is great!!!!