Find why an aircraft is not loading in MSFS 2024 and fix add-on conflicts, missing dependencies, bad installs, cloud streaming and console content.
An aircraft that will not load in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is usually blocked by an incompatible or damaged add-on, a missing dependency, an incorrect Community-folder structure, or failed cloud content delivery. Test a default aircraft first; that single check separates an aircraft-package fault from a wider connection, content-delivery or simulator problem.
How do I identify the failure?
A Free Flight test using an unmodified default aircraft at a stock airport provides the quickest diagnosis. Use the same airport and conditions when retesting so that scenery, weather and mission settings do not change the result.
| Symptom | Likely cause | First check |
|---|---|---|
| A default aircraft loads, but one add-on does not | Damaged, incompatible or incomplete aircraft package | Remove that aircraft's liveries and dependencies, then reinstall it cleanly |
| The aircraft is absent from the selector | Wrong installation folder, menu filter, missing entitlement or unsupported platform | Confirm that the package is installed and compatible with MSFS 2024 |
| The aircraft appears, but the flight hangs | Package conflict, obsolete module or missing library | Test with an empty Community folder on PC |
| The model is invisible, incomplete or pink | Broken livery, texture reference or missing base model | Load the aircraft's default livery |
| Every aircraft fails | Streaming, account, core installation or global add-on problem | Test online services and all third-party content |
If the aircraft does not appear anywhere in the selection menu, use our checks for missing aircraft, package nesting and menu filters. That is an installation or visibility fault rather than a loading-screen fault.
Fix an add-on aircraft that will not load
The reliable fix is to isolate the aircraft, reinstall it without obsolete files and then restore related add-ons gradually.
- Close MSFS 2024 completely. Do not move or overwrite package files while the simulator or its launcher is running.
- Establish a default-aircraft baseline. Start a simple Free Flight with a standard aircraft and stock airport. If the simulator offers Safe Mode after a failed start, use it for this test.
- Empty the Community folder on PC. Move its contents to a temporary folder rather than deleting them. Test the affected aircraft alone if it is a manual add-on, or test the Marketplace aircraft with all Community packages removed.
- Check the package structure. A manually installed package should not sit inside extra wrapper folders. Files such as
manifest.jsonandlayout.jsonshould normally be near the package root, not several folders belowCommunity. Our MSFS aircraft installation checklist covers the folder and compatibility checks in detail. - Install every required dependency. Some aircraft need a particular base aircraft, edition entitlement, avionics package or shared developer library. A livery also has to match the exact aircraft model it was made for.
- Reinstall a clean copy. Remove the old aircraft folder first; copying new files over it can leave obsolete modules behind. For in-simulator content, remove and redownload the aircraft through the owned-content library.
- Restore other add-ons gradually. If the aircraft loads alone, another package is conflicting with it. With a large collection, return half the packages at a time to identify the culprit faster than testing each one individually.
- Retest cloud delivery. MSFS 2024 streams substantial content, so confirm that online functionality is enabled, the connection is stable and there is enough local storage for downloaded data. Restart the simulator after restoring connectivity.
A first load after reinstalling or updating an advanced aircraft can take longer while the simulator processes its package. If repeated attempts stop at the same point, however, waiting longer is unlikely to fix it.
PC and console differences
The cause is similar across platforms, but only PC users can inspect and isolate a user-accessible Community folder.
| Platform | Relevant troubleshooting |
|---|---|
| PC | Empty Community, correct package nesting, remove duplicate versions and reinstall manual or in-simulator content cleanly. |
| Xbox Series X|S | Restart the console, confirm the purchasing account and entitlement, then remove and redownload the aircraft through the simulator's content library. |
| PS5 and PS5 Pro | Confirm that the aircraft supports the PlayStation version, check the signed-in account and reinstall it through the simulator. PC Community packages cannot be copied to the console. |
Do not assume an aircraft bought or downloaded for another platform is available automatically. Platform support and content entitlement must both be present.
Why did the aircraft stop loading after an update?
An update can expose obsolete aircraft code, change a dependency or make an old livery incompatible with a revised model. Remove liveries and enhancement mods first, then install the aircraft build intended for MSFS 2024 rather than assuming its MSFS 2020 package will work unchanged.
Also check for duplicate Marketplace and manual installations of the same aircraft. If it worked before a simulator update, follow our update-specific aircraft recovery process before reinstalling the whole simulator.
Why does it work in Free Flight but not Career Mode?
An aircraft that loads in Free Flight is installed correctly, even if Career Mode will not offer it. Career availability can depend on certification, mission type, company progression, aircraft ownership and whether the add-on supports Career integration; reinstalling it will not bypass those restrictions.
What if no aircraft will load?
If default aircraft also fail, treat the problem as a simulator-wide loading fault rather than an aircraft fault. Remove all PC Community content, restart the PC or console, verify online services and account access, check free storage, and repair the core installation using the platform's own tools.
Avoid deleting cloud saves, controller profiles or every local data folder as a first step. When every flight hangs after aircraft selection, use our full flight-loading isolation process to check scenery, cached data, streaming and damaged core packages.