Why does flight simulator multiplayer keep disconnecting?

Flight simulator multiplayer usually keeps disconnecting because of packet loss, an expired platform sign-in, a service outage, mismatched simulator builds, or VPN, firewall and NAT filtering. In Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, “Connection to network lost” can also mean its streamed online services failed even though the simulator itself remains open.

This answer covers flight simulators generally, with specific checks for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024, Xbox, shared-cockpit tools and separate online aviation networks. Diagnose which connection failed before reinstalling anything: the simulator, platform account, multiplayer service and external pilot client are separate layers.

What does “Connection to network lost” mean in MSFS 2024?

In MSFS 2024, the message means the simulator lost access to one or more online services; it does not prove that your entire internet connection stopped.

Because MSFS 2024 streams substantial simulator content, a service or routing failure can affect scenery, live weather, traffic, multiplayer or other online data while the aircraft and simulator continue running. MSFS 2020 can show similar online-state failures, although it relies less heavily on streamed content.

If the application exits to the desktop or console dashboard, use our MSFS crash troubleshooting steps. Firewall and NAT changes rarely repair a crash caused by an aircraft, scenery package, driver or exhausted system resource.

How do I fix Microsoft Flight Simulator online and multiplayer disconnects?

The reliable Flight Simulator online fix is to test the connection in layers, beginning with service availability and account authentication before touching firewall or router settings. A mistake we see constantly is changing ports, DNS, add-ons and account settings together, which hides the real cause.

1. Identify exactly what disconnected. Record the full message and ask whether other players failed at the same time. If native multiplayer still works but a shared-cockpit or online ATC client disconnects, troubleshoot that client separately.
2. Rule out a service interruption. Check the official service-status information for the simulator and platform. Players on unrelated networks failing at the same moment strongly suggests a service or regional problem that cannot be repaired on your router.
3. Close the simulator and refresh authentication. On PC, exit the simulator and the platform or launcher application rather than leaving either suspended. On Xbox, quit the game from the dashboard instead of resuming it through Quick Resume. Sign out and back in where necessary, and set the system clock and time zone automatically because an incorrect clock can invalidate account tokens.
4. Install matching updates. Every participant needs the same supported simulator build and compatible versions of any required aircraft or multiplayer client. Official online authentication also requires a licensed, unmodified installation. A crack or altered executable may fail authentication and version checks; firewall rules cannot make it compatible with official multiplayer.
5. Match the online session. Enable online functionality and multiplayer, select the same available server region, recreate the group and compare traffic and privacy settings. A missing aircraft is not always a disconnection; our guide to MSFS player visibility, groups and server matching explains the settings that can hide another player.
6. Stabilise the local connection. Test with wired Ethernet, pause downloads and cloud synchronisation, and restart the router. MSFS 2024 can use considerable bandwidth while streaming content, but packet loss and sudden latency changes are usually more damaging to a live session than a modest but stable download speed.
7. Remove VPN and security filtering from the test. Disconnect a VPN temporarily and allow the simulator, launcher and separate multiplayer client through the firewall. Do not leave security software disabled; make one reversible exception at a time and remove it if it changes nothing.
8. Check NAT only when the connection method requires it. Native MSFS cloud multiplayer normally works through ordinary NAT without manual port forwarding. Direct-hosted, peer-to-peer and some shared-cockpit sessions are more sensitive to strict NAT, double NAT or carrier-grade NAT, where the provider shares one public address between customers.
9. Run a clean simulator session. Use a default aircraft and default scenery. On PC, temporarily empty or rename the MSFS Community folder; on console, disable optional add-on packages where the platform permits. Reintroduce aircraft, scenery and utilities individually after the basic session remains connected.

Does high ping cause Flight Simulator to disconnect?

High but steady ping usually causes delayed or jerky traffic; packet loss and jitter are more likely to terminate a multiplayer session. A normal speed test can miss both because it measures a short burst rather than the stability of a long flight.

On Windows, run a continuous ping to the router with ping -t <router-address>, then repeat against a reliable internet host. Loss to the router points to Wi-Fi, cabling or local hardware. A clean router test followed by internet loss points farther upstream. Stop the test with Ctrl+C and inspect both lost packets and large swings in response time.

Ping is only a clue. Multiplayer servers may ignore or deprioritise ping traffic, and a clean result does not prove that the simulator’s authentication or regional service is healthy.

What should I check if both players are on Xbox?

If both players are on Xbox, fully quitting MSFS and restarting each console is the first check because Quick Resume can preserve an expired online session.

• Confirm that both consoles have installed the same simulator update and any required aircraft content.
• Check each account’s multiplayer, privacy and cross-network permissions, especially for family-managed accounts.
• Use the console’s network test and compare NAT status. A strict or unavailable NAT result deserves attention even when streaming and web services still work.
• Select the same MSFS server region, recreate the group and verify that neither player is being hidden by traffic or privacy settings.
• If both consoles share one router, remove duplicate manual port-forwarding rules. The same inbound port cannot be forwarded to two consoles; automatic UPnP mappings are usually a better fit for this arrangement.

When MSFS also reports that the console is offline, follow our detailed Xbox offline and authentication checks. These apply to MSFS 2020 and 2024 on Xbox Series X|S. MSFS 2024 is also available on PS5 and PS5 Pro, where the equivalent platform sign-in, privacy and network checks apply; MSFS 2020 was not released on PlayStation.

Why is Flight Simulator stuck on Connecting?

A simulator stuck on Connecting is usually waiting for authentication, service discovery or an update check rather than attempting to join a specific multiplayer flight.

• Fully close the simulator and platform application, then restart the device.
• Verify that the correct platform account is signed in and that its subscription or multiplayer permissions, where required by the platform, are active.
• Install pending simulator, launcher and platform updates before testing again.
• Return custom DNS and proxy settings to automatic for a test, and disconnect any VPN.
• Restart the router if other devices also have trouble resolving online services.
• Check for a wider service interruption if several users or devices fail together.

Changing DNS is not a universal online fix. It helps only when domain-name resolution is failing; it does not repair packet loss, an expired sign-in, mismatched builds or an unavailable service. Reinstalling the entire simulator should also be a last resort because it does not reset a platform outage or restrictive account permission.

Why does shared cockpit disconnect more often?

Shared cockpit is less tolerant of loss because it synchronises controls, switches and aircraft state in addition to position and attitude.

Both pilots should use the same simulator build, aircraft package, livery dependencies and compatible configuration. Test the shared-cockpit tool with a supported default aircraft first. If that works, the network path is probably sound and the custom aircraft or its configuration becomes the leading suspect.

Direct hosting can fail behind strict or carrier-grade NAT even when native MSFS multiplayer works. Choose a relay mode when the tool provides one, or let the participant with the less restrictive NAT host. Forward only ports documented for that specific tool; opening guessed ranges creates risk without proving the cause.

Are PMDG service-based failures caused by a network disconnection?

No. In PMDG products that offer them, service-based failures belong to the aircraft’s simulated reliability and maintenance system, not the multiplayer or internet service.

If an aircraft system fails while every player remains connected, inspect the PMDG aircraft’s failure and maintenance options rather than resetting the router. The exact controls vary between products. A network problem becomes relevant only when a separate shared-cockpit tool loses synchronisation or the whole simulator crashes while loading that aircraft.

What causes disconnections from an online aviation network?

An online aviation or ATC network adds a separate pilot client and simulator connector, so its disconnection can occur even while native simulator multiplayer remains healthy.

• If the pilot client reports a network disconnect, check its account session, service availability, VPN and firewall access.
• If the client remains logged in but the aircraft position stops updating, check SimConnect or the simulator-specific connector or plugin.
• If native multiplayer fails but the pilot client stays connected, troubleshoot the simulator’s own online service instead.
• If only one aircraft or shared-cockpit partner desynchronises, compare add-on versions and aircraft support.

FSX users can use our guide to separating FSX, SimConnect and VATSIM connection problems. FSX LAN or direct-host multiplayer, Steam multiplayer and an external ATC network do not use the same connection path.

How do I know the disconnection is fixed?

The fix is proven only when a controlled session remains stable for longer than the usual failure interval.

Use a default aircraft at a quiet airport, keep every participant on the same simulator build and server region, and remove optional multiplayer utilities. Add custom aircraft, scenery, VPNs and external clients back one at a time. If the failure returns immediately after one change, repeat that comparison before blaming the wider network.

Save the exact error wording, time, simulator and platform, server region, NAT status, active add-ons and whether other players disconnected simultaneously. A failure recurring at a regular interval often points to an expiring account session, router time-out, Wi-Fi power management or external client rather than raw broadband speed.