The current version of MSFS 2024 is Sim Update 5. Learn how to verify the exact build number and update on PC, Xbox Series X|S or PS5.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024’s current major version is Sim Update 5, released in April 2026. The precise dotted build number can differ after hotfixes and platform-specific patches, so Sim Update 5 identifies the release branch; check the build shown in your simulator to confirm that your installation is fully updated.
Is Sim Update 5 the same as the build number?
No. Sim Update 5 is the name of the major release, while the dotted number displayed by MSFS 2024 identifies the exact executable build installed on your system. A hotfix can change that number without turning Sim Update 5 into Sim Update 6.
| Identifier | What it means | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Sim Update 5 | The major MSFS 2024 release issued in April 2026 | Confirming the current release branch |
| Dotted build number | The exact revision installed on a particular platform | Troubleshooting updates, crashes and compatibility |
| Content or add-on version | The revision of an aircraft, airport or other package | Checking that individual package only |
Our explanation of how Sim Update labels relate to full build numbers covers this distinction in more detail. The edition you own does not change the core simulator version; our breakdown of MSFS products and editions also explains why MSFS 2020, MSFS 2024 and their editions must not be confused.
How do I check my installed MSFS 2024 version?
The reliable method is to record the complete dotted build number displayed by Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 rather than relying solely on the Sim Update name.
- Launch MSFS 2024 and allow it to reach the main interface completely.
- Find the displayed version in the simulator’s version information area. Its exact position can move when the interface changes.
- Record every digit in the dotted number. Two installations may both be called Sim Update 5 while one is missing a later hotfix.
- Check the platform update queue for a pending core simulator update, then restart the simulator after installation.
For platform-specific locations and identification tips, use our guide to finding the exact MSFS build number.
Why might my version number not match someone else’s?
A different number does not automatically mean your installation is faulty. Hotfix deployment can vary briefly between PC storefronts, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5, while suspended console sessions may continue showing the version loaded before an update.
- Fully quit and relaunch: do not rely on a suspended or Quick Resume session.
- Check the correct product: MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 have separate builds.
- Ignore add-on numbers: an aircraft or scenery package version is not the simulator build.
- Check for a core update: in-simulator content downloads do not necessarily update the executable.
- Restart the platform client or console: this often refreshes an update queue that has not detected the patch.
How do I update MSFS 2024 to Sim Update 5?
Close the simulator and install the core update through the platform that manages your copy: the relevant PC client, the Xbox update queue or the PS5 system update command. Relaunch afterwards and check the dotted build again; our platform-by-platform MSFS 2024 update instructions cover the full procedure.
If the simulator identifies itself as Sim Update 5 and your platform offers no pending core update, you are on the current major version. A different dotted number may simply indicate that another Sim Update 5 hotfix is available or has not yet been offered to that platform.