Microsoft Flight Simulator Marketplace not working? Fix loading, sign-in, purchase and missing add-on problems on PC, Xbox and PS5.
The Microsoft Flight Simulator Marketplace usually stops working because online services are down, the simulator is not authenticated to the correct Microsoft or platform account, online functionality is disabled, or the sim needs an update. Missing purchases are more often an entitlement, compatibility or incomplete-download problem than a failed Marketplace itself.
These checks cover Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 on PC and Xbox, plus MSFS 2024 on PC, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. Menu labels and package-management screens differ, but the underlying account, service and entitlement checks are the same. MSFS 2020 was not released on PlayStation.
What does each Marketplace failure mean?
The exact symptom usually identifies which part of the Marketplace chain has failed.
| Symptom | Likely cause | First check |
|---|---|---|
| Marketplace is missing or greyed out | Online functionality is disabled, authentication failed, account restrictions apply or the sim needs updating | Check sign-in, online data settings and updates |
| Marketplace loads indefinitely or shows an empty page | Service outage, expired session or network filtering | Restart the sim and test another online feature |
| Buy or download button fails | Transaction service problem, account mismatch or a pending purchase | Check purchase status before trying again |
| Purchased add-on is missing | Wrong account, active filters, incompatible simulator version or incomplete entitlement sync | Open the owned-content library and verify the account |
| Download is stuck | Insufficient storage, another queued package or damaged partial download | Check free space and the download queue |
How do I fix the Marketplace when it will not load?
A full restart, fresh authentication, enabled online data and an up-to-date simulator resolve most local Marketplace failures.
- Check whether other online features work. Test live weather, multiplayer or another online service. If several services fail together, avoid deleting packages and allow time for the service to recover. If the simulator reports that it is offline, follow our checks for the “You are currently offline” error. A Marketplace-only outage can still occur even when live weather works.
- Quit the simulator completely. Returning to the main menu is not enough. Close the game and its launcher or platform client, then restart the device. On Xbox, remove MSFS from Quick Resume before reopening it because Quick Resume can preserve an expired Marketplace session.
- Verify the signed-in accounts. Use the Microsoft account that owns the Marketplace purchases and the intended account in the platform client. On PlayStation, confirm that the expected Microsoft account is linked. Do not unlink accounts experimentally; account-link changes can complicate entitlement recovery. If Xbox remains stuck during sign-in, use the Xbox authentication repair steps.
- Enable online functionality. In the simulator's data or online settings, confirm that online functionality is enabled and that no data limit has disabled network features. Console privacy settings, child-account controls and purchase restrictions can also hide or block Marketplace functions.
- Install all required updates. Update the base simulator through the platform launcher or console, start it again and let any mandatory in-sim update finish. Marketplace catalogue and entitlement services can reject an outdated client even when ordinary flights still load.
- Rule out network filtering. Temporarily disable a VPN, proxy, filtered DNS service or aggressive firewall rule, then test again. Ensure the device's date and time are automatic. Testing through a different connection can distinguish a router or provider problem from a simulator problem; do not open random ports as a first response.
- Check storage and pending downloads. A full drive or stalled package can prevent Marketplace installation while leaving the catalogue accessible. Cancel duplicate queue entries, free sufficient space and restart before resuming one package at a time.
Why is a purchased Marketplace add-on missing?
A missing add-on normally means the purchase entitlement has not synchronised, the item is filtered from view, or that product is unavailable for the selected simulator version or platform.
- Confirm that the transaction completed. A pending or failed payment is not an entitlement. Do not buy the item again merely because it has not appeared; repeated attempts can create duplicate or pending charges.
- Check the owning account. Compare the account used for the purchase with the account signed into the simulator. Reinstalling cannot make an entitlement from another account appear.
- Open the owned-content or library screen. Clear filters such as installed, not installed, content type and search text. In MSFS 2020, Marketplace packages are commonly managed through Content Manager. MSFS 2024 can stream more content, so “owned” and “installed locally” are not always the same state.
- Verify compatibility. An item offered for MSFS 2020 is not automatically compatible with MSFS 2024, and availability can differ between PC, Xbox and PlayStation. Check the product's listed simulator version and platform rather than assuming ownership transfers everywhere.
- Finish the installation and restart. Let the package complete without suspending the simulator, then close and reopen MSFS. Xbox users can work through our Xbox entitlement and installation checklist for missing content, incomplete downloads and account mismatches.
If payment completed but the entitlement remains absent after the service has recovered and the correct account is signed in, treat it as a purchase-entitlement case. Keep the order reference and transaction time; reinstalling the entire simulator is unlikely to repair the account record.
Should I clear the rolling cache or reinstall MSFS?
Neither should be the first fix for a broken Marketplace because the rolling cache stores streamed world data, while Marketplace purchases and ownership are held by account services.
- Rolling cache: Clearing it may help corrupted streamed scenery, but it does not restore purchases, fix payment records or authenticate an account. Our explanation of what the rolling cache actually stores shows when deleting it is appropriate.
- Community add-ons: Temporarily disable them only if the Marketplace interface began crashing or the entire sim became unstable after installing third-party content. Community packages cannot grant or remove a Marketplace entitlement.
- Official package files: Do not manually delete official-content folders or console reserved storage as an early troubleshooting step. This can turn a sign-in problem into a large redownload.
- Full reinstall: Reserve this for verified local file corruption after service, account, update and network checks have passed. Marketplace purchases tied to the correct account should remain owned, but installed packages may need downloading again.