Why won't Microsoft Flight Simulator download or install on PC?

If Microsoft Flight Simulator will not download or install on PC, first identify whether the failure is in Microsoft Store/Xbox, Steam, sign-in or the simulator's own content download. Then fix that layer: confirm entitlement, free space and the package path; repair the platform services; and remove only any corrupt partial package.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 commonly installs in two stages: a relatively small launcher from the platform, followed by large simulator packages downloaded from inside MSFS. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 streams more content and has a different storage profile, so a smaller local installation does not by itself mean files are missing. References below to Official, OneStore and UserCfg.opt apply chiefly to MSFS 2020.

Where is the Microsoft Flight Simulator install failing?

The symptom usually reveals which part of the installation needs attention.

How do I fix Microsoft Flight Simulator not installing?

Work through the account, platform, storage and package checks in that order; reinstalling the entire simulator should be the last step.

1. Confirm the edition and entitlement. For a Microsoft Store or Xbox installation, check that the Store account owns the purchase or has a qualifying PC subscription, and that the Xbox app is using the intended Xbox profile. Windows itself does not necessarily need the same sign-in. For Steam, the Steam account must own the game, while the Microsoft sign-in inside MSFS supplies the Xbox profile. Game Pass users should also check how PC entitlement and the first-run content download work.
2. Restart before repairing anything. Close MSFS, Steam, the Xbox app and Microsoft Store, then restart Windows. Check that the PC's date and time are set automatically because an incorrect clock can break account authentication.
3. Check both drives for free space. The platform application may be on C: while the large packages folder is elsewhere. Both drives need spare capacity for temporary downloads and extraction; having just enough room for the final files is not sufficient.
4. Update and repair the platform layer. Install pending Windows and app updates. Store/Xbox users should repair Microsoft Store, the Xbox app and Gaming Services through Windows' installed-app options, using Reset only if Repair fails. Running wsreset.exe can clear a stuck Store cache. Steam users should verify the installed files, although this checks the Steam-managed launcher rather than every MSFS 2020 package in Official.
5. Choose a simple local packages path. An internal SSD with an NTFS volume and a short path such as D:\MSFS\Packages is the safest choice. Avoid OneDrive-synchronised folders, network locations and removable drives. An external drive can work, but it must remain connected, retain the same drive letter and not enter aggressive power-saving states.
6. Select the correct folder level. When reusing an MSFS 2020 installation, select the parent folder that directly contains Community and Official. Do not select Official itself, or the installer may create another folder level and begin downloading everything again.
7. Keep permissions consistent. Run Steam, Xbox and MSFS normally rather than running one as administrator and another without elevation. Do not take ownership of or manually rearrange protected WindowsApps folders; use the platform's storage controls and the package path offered by MSFS instead.
8. Check security software. Windows Controlled Folder Access or third-party anti-ransomware protection can block package extraction without producing a useful MSFS error. Review the protection history and allow the trusted simulator and package folder where necessary. If protection is paused for diagnosis, restore it immediately afterwards rather than leaving the PC unprotected.
9. Stabilise the connection. Disable VPN or proxy software temporarily, pause other large transfers, prevent the PC from sleeping and use Ethernet where practical. If MSFS says it is decompressing and the drive remains active, let it finish; network traffic can fall to zero while files are being unpacked.

What if Microsoft Store or the Xbox app will not start the download?

A download that never leaves Queued is usually a Store, Xbox or Gaming Services problem, not corrupt simulator scenery.

Confirm the purchasing or subscription account first. Then update Microsoft Store and the Xbox app, run wsreset.exe, and use Windows' Repair option for the Store, Xbox app and Gaming Services before restarting the PC. If other Store applications also fail to install, continue fixing that platform layer rather than deleting MSFS package files.

Check the destination drive selected in the Xbox app as well. A missing external drive, changed drive letter or unsupported destination can leave the install button apparently doing nothing.

Why does Steam finish but MSFS still need a large download?

For MSFS 2020, Steam may install only the platform-managed client before the simulator's own Installation Manager downloads the main content.

Steam file verification can repair that client, but it does not validate every aircraft and scenery package downloaded inside MSFS. If the large second-stage download stalls, concentrate on the Microsoft sign-in, packages path, write permissions, security software and connection rather than repeatedly reinstalling the Steam client.

Why does the in-game download loop on one package?

A repeatable stall on the same named package usually means that package is incomplete, cannot be written or is being blocked during extraction.

1. Record the package name displayed by the installer and close MSFS completely.
2. Find the MSFS 2020 package root. Inside it, the official content is normally under Official\OneStore for the Microsoft edition or Official\Steam for Steam.
3. Rename or remove only the matching incomplete item. Renaming is safer when enough free space is available because it preserves a backup. Do not delete unrelated packages or the entire Official folder.
4. Relaunch and retry. MSFS should fetch a clean copy. If a different package then fails, recheck storage health, permissions, security protection and network stability rather than deleting packages one by one indefinitely.

If the on-screen package name is unclear, do not guess. Renaming the whole packages folder forces a very large redownload and should be treated as a last-resort clean installation, not a routine fix.

Why does MSFS try to download everything again?

MSFS 2020 usually redownloads existing content because InstalledPackagesPath points somewhere other than the folder containing the packages.

The active path is recorded near the end of UserCfg.opt, whose location varies between the Microsoft Store and Steam editions. With the simulator closed, back up that file and verify the path against the real package location. Also confirm that the drive still has its original letter and is available before MSFS starts.

A common mistake is choosing Official instead of its parent. The selected package root should directly contain both Community and Official; otherwise MSFS can create nested folders and present the full update again.

When should I reinstall Microsoft Flight Simulator?

Reinstall only after confirming the licence, repairing the platform services, checking both drives and correcting the package path.

Uninstalling the small launcher does not always remove the large package directory, so reinstalling can either reuse healthy downloads or inherit the same corrupt files. Our guide to reusing packages or performing a clean MSFS installation explains which approach to choose.

Do not reinstall the simulator merely because one downloaded aircraft is absent. Reaching the main menu means the base installation succeeded; if only third-party content is missing, check the correct Community folder and aircraft package structure instead.