Check your Microsoft Flight Simulator version on PC, Xbox or PS5, distinguish MSFS 2020 from 2024, and understand build and Sim Update numbers.
To check your Microsoft Flight Simulator version, launch the sim and read the full dotted build number shown at the edge of the loading or main-menu screen. The title tells you whether it is Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024; the older release is usually labelled simply Microsoft Flight Simulator.
How do I find the exact MSFS build number?
The build number displayed inside Microsoft Flight Simulator is the best version to record for troubleshooting or bug reports.
- Launch the simulator itself. Do not rely only on the version shown by Steam, the Xbox app or the console dashboard.
- Wait for the loading or main-menu screen. Look around the screen edges for the dotted version number. Its position can move when the interface is updated.
- Record the complete number. Do not shorten it to a Sim Update name or copy only the first section.
- Restart after installing an update. This confirms that the number belongs to the newly loaded build rather than the session that was already running.
When requesting help, give the product, platform and full number together, such as MSFS 2024, PC, build [full dotted number]. Saying only “the latest version” is unreliable because updates can roll out at different times across platforms.
Do I have Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 or 2024?
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 are separate products, not two update levels of the same installation.
| Product | How it is usually identified | Native platforms |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 | Often displayed simply as “Microsoft Flight Simulator”, without 2020 in the title | PC and Xbox Series X|S |
| Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 | Displays “2024” in its title and library entry | PC, Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and PS5 Pro |
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 was never released for PlayStation. If the installed game is running on PS5 or PS5 Pro, it is Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
Standard, Deluxe and Premium Deluxe describe editions and content entitlements, not different core builds. Likewise, Game of the Year or anniversary branding on the older simulator does not turn it into MSFS 2024.
Can I check the version without launching the simulator?
You can inspect the installed package through your platform, but that number may not match the build displayed inside MSFS.
| Platform | Where to look | What the number represents |
|---|---|---|
| Xbox Series X|S | Highlight the game, press the Menu button, open Manage game and add-ons, then File info | The installed Xbox package version |
| PS5 or PS5 Pro | Highlight MSFS 2024, open Options, then Information | The installed PlayStation package version |
| Steam | Open the game’s Properties and inspect its update information | Steam may show a Build ID rather than the simulator’s dotted version |
| Microsoft Store or Xbox app on PC | Inspect the installed app details in Windows | The Windows package version, which can differ from the in-sim build |
If the game launches, use its own displayed build number when reporting a problem. Platform package numbers are mainly useful when the simulator will not start.
Why do the version numbers differ?
Different numbers can describe different parts of the installation, so a mismatch does not automatically mean an update has failed.
- Full dotted build number: the exact core simulator build loaded during that session.
- Sim Update label: the named release family containing one or more builds and possible hotfixes.
- Platform package or Build ID: the identifier used by Microsoft, Steam, Xbox or PlayStation to distribute files.
- Content version: the separate version assigned to an aircraft, airport, world package or add-on.
Our guide to understanding Sim Update labels and full build numbers explains why these identifiers should not be compared as though they were interchangeable.
How can I tell whether MSFS is fully updated?
Microsoft Flight Simulator is normally current when the platform reports no pending update and the simulator reaches its main menu without requesting a mandatory update.
For the newer release, follow the correct MSFS 2024 update procedure for your platform, then relaunch it and check the in-sim number. Add-on and content packages may still have their own updates even when the core simulator is current.
If MSFS 2020 cannot get beyond its startup check, use our fixes for a stalled Checking for Updates screen. If the platform says the game is current but MSFS repeatedly demands another update, follow the mandatory update loop repair steps rather than comparing unrelated platform and simulator numbers.