Fix Microsoft Flight Simulator not responding by checking real hangs, isolating add-ons, clearing caches, and correcting graphics, drivers and files.
Microsoft Flight Simulator usually stops responding because it is still processing scenery or shaders, an add-on has stalled, the rolling cache is damaged, graphics settings have exhausted VRAM, or a driver or game file is unstable. Wait for genuine loading activity first, then isolate Community content, rebuild caches, reduce graphics load and repair the installation.
Is Microsoft Flight Simulator really frozen?
A Windows Not Responding label does not by itself prove that Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 or 2024 has crashed. Windows displays it whenever the application temporarily stops processing interface messages, which can happen during a large update, first load, shader processing or detailed scenery load.
Open Task Manager and watch the simulator's CPU, disk, memory and network activity. If the values continue changing, give it time. Treat it as a genuine hang when activity has effectively stopped for several minutes, the window never recovers and the same problem occurs again at the same point.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Best first test |
|---|---|---|
| Not Responding while CPU, disk or network activity continues | Heavy loading or package processing | Wait without repeatedly clicking the window |
| Freeze at the same loading point | Add-on, scenery package, update or cache problem | Start in Safe Mode or empty the Community folder |
| Freeze with one aircraft or airport | Aircraft, avionics, livery or scenery conflict | Use a default aircraft at a default airport |
| Freeze after take-off, a camera change or arrival at a large airport | VRAM pressure, graphics driver or unstable hardware settings | Lower graphics load and restore standard clock settings |
How do I fix MSFS not responding?
The fastest reliable fix is to establish a clean baseline, then restore add-ons and settings one group at a time.
- Confirm that loading has genuinely stopped. Avoid force-closing the simulator while it is writing an update or decompressing packages. Repeatedly clicking a busy window can make Windows label it unresponsive even though work continues in the background.
- Restart the whole PC. End the task only after confirming a real hang, then restart Windows rather than immediately reopening the simulator. This clears stalled launcher, gaming-service, audio and graphics-driver processes.
- Start without third-party content. Choose Safe Mode when MSFS offers it after an unsuccessful session. Otherwise, move or rename the active
Communityfolder temporarily. A mistake we see constantly is emptying an obsolete Community folder from an older or abandoned installation while the simulator is using a different packages location. - Run a default-content test. Load a default aircraft at a default airport with preset weather. If that works, the core simulator is probably sound; restore add-ons in small groups until the freeze returns.
- Rebuild the rolling cache. Delete and recreate the rolling cache from the simulator's data settings, or leave it disabled for one test. This is most useful when the freeze happens as streamed scenery loads; it is unlikely to fix a cockpit freeze caused by a local aircraft package.
- Reduce graphics pressure. Lower render scale, texture resolution, Terrain Level of Detail, Objects Level of Detail and traffic. Disable frame generation temporarily where available. In MSFS 2020, test
DX11if the problem occurs underDX12; MSFS 2024 users with an unusable profile can follow our procedure for rebuilding MSFS 2024 graphics settings. - Return the system to a stable baseline. Install a suitable graphics driver, or roll back if the freezes began immediately after a driver change. Remove CPU and GPU overclocks or undervolts for testing, close overlays and hardware-monitoring hooks, retain a system-managed paging file and make sure the installation drive has usable free space.
- Repair the installation. On Microsoft Store or Xbox app installations, use the Windows application repair option before the more destructive reset option. On Steam, verify installed files, then allow MSFS to check its own content packages. Back up or move Community content first, and expect package verification to trigger additional downloads if files are missing.
Why does MSFS freeze with one aircraft or airport?
A repeatable freeze tied to one aircraft or location almost always points to that package or one of its dependencies. Test the same airport with a default aircraft, then test the suspect aircraft at a simple default airport; this separates aircraft faults from scenery faults.
Remove associated liveries, avionics extensions and scenery enhancements as well as the main add-on. If the aircraft freezes while loading cockpit systems or manipulating displays, use our aircraft and avionics WASM troubleshooting steps. An empty Community folder does not exclude an installed Marketplace or other managed package, so disable or reinstall the affected package through the simulator's content management tools when possible.
When several add-ons are involved, restore half at a time rather than testing them individually. This binary-search method identifies the offending group quickly without permanently deleting a working library.
What if MSFS hangs only while loading or closes completely?
A loading-screen stall and a crash to desktop require different diagnostic branches. If the simulator remains open but cannot reach the main menu or flight, follow these loading-screen hang checks for packages, caches and memory.
If the process closes, restarts or returns to the desktop, treat it as a crash rather than a Not Responding fault. Our clean-baseline MSFS crash diagnosis covers Community isolation, VRAM pressure and crash records without duplicating those steps here.
Should I reinstall Microsoft Flight Simulator?
Reinstallation should be the last step, not the first. It is justified only when MSFS still hangs with no third-party content, standard graphics and hardware settings, rebuilt caches and repaired files.
Do not delete the entire Official packages folder, cloud profile or content tree as an early cache fix. Record the active packages location and preserve the Community folder before resetting or reinstalling; otherwise, a troubleshooting step can turn into an unnecessary full content download.
Does the fix differ on Xbox or PlayStation?
Consoles do not display the Windows Not Responding state, but the same distinction between slow loading and a repeatable freeze applies. Fully close the simulator, restart the console, install pending simulator and content updates, then test a default aircraft without recently added content. On Xbox, do not rely on a suspended Quick Resume session for this test.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 is not available on PlayStation, so PlayStation 5 troubleshooting applies only to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Community-folder, Windows driver and PC file-repair instructions do not apply to either console platform.