See the internet speed MSFS 2020 and 2024 need, practical Mbps targets, and why Wi-Fi, packet loss, streaming settings and data caps matter.
For Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, 20 Mbps is a sensible target and 50 Mbps gives streamed scenery more headroom. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is more dependent on streaming: aim for at least 50 Mbps, with 100 Mbps preferable at high-detail locations. Stability, latency and packet loss matter as much as headline speed.
MSFS 2020 and 2024 internet speed requirements
Microsoft’s published connection tiers provide a useful baseline, but the minimum figures are not the speeds we would choose for consistently detailed scenery.
| Simulator | Minimum | Recommended | Ideal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 | 5 Mbps | 20 Mbps | 50 Mbps |
| Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 | 10 Mbps | 50 Mbps | 100 Mbps |
These figures are download speeds in megabits per second. They are not megabytes per second: a 50 Mbps connection has a theoretical maximum download rate of about 6.25 MB/s before protocol overhead and other traffic are considered.
The minimum tier may load the simulator, but it leaves little margin for dense photogrammetry, fast aircraft, content downloads or another person using the connection. MSFS 2024 streams more of its world and aircraft content, so sustained throughput matters more than it does in MSFS 2020.
Is 25 or 50 Mbps enough for Microsoft Flight Simulator?
A stable 50 Mbps connection is enough for most individual MSFS users, while 100 Mbps is the safer choice for MSFS 2024 or a shared household.
- 10–20 Mbps: workable for MSFS 2020 with compromises, but restrictive for MSFS 2024 and dense streamed scenery.
- 25–50 Mbps: suitable for normal MSFS 2020 flying and generally usable in MSFS 2024 if the connection is not shared heavily.
- 100 Mbps or faster: useful for MSFS 2024, detailed cities, quick content downloads and homes where televisions, consoles or computers share the same line.
Speeds above 100 Mbps can shorten large downloads, but they do not automatically improve frame rate or cure every scenery problem. Once the simulator has enough sustained bandwidth, its servers, your hardware, the graphics settings and the local cache can become the limiting factors.
Why can scenery look blurry on a fast connection?
Fast broadband cannot compensate for packet loss, unstable Wi-Fi, an in-simulator bandwidth cap or a congested route to Microsoft’s services.
- Shared bandwidth: the speed sold by the provider is for the whole connection, not just the simulator.
- Wi-Fi interference: a speed test may show a high peak while the wireless link still suffers brief drop-outs.
- Packet loss and latency: retransmissions interrupt sustained scenery delivery even when the headline Mbps figure looks adequate.
- Data settings: disabled online functionality, photogrammetry or Bing world data will prevent the expected scenery from appearing. A configured bandwidth limit can also throttle delivery.
- Server congestion: local broadband cannot fix a temporary problem affecting the simulator’s online services.
- PC or console performance: low frame rates, storage delays and main-thread limits can resemble streaming stutter even when the scenery has downloaded.
A common mistake we see is relying on one short speed test. That measures a brief transfer to a nearby test server, whereas Microsoft Flight Simulator needs steady delivery throughout the flight. Our guide to diagnosing low-bandwidth warnings in MSFS 2024 covers packet loss, latency, wireless quality and scenery density in more detail.
How should I set up my connection for MSFS?
The best setup gives the simulator consistent bandwidth and leaves spare capacity for short traffic spikes.
- Test the actual simulator device. Measure the connection on the PC or console you use, not on a phone beside the router.
- Prefer Ethernet. If that is impractical, use a strong modern Wi-Fi connection and avoid weak-signal rooms or crowded wireless channels.
- Leave headroom. Pause operating-system updates, cloud backups and large downloads. Other users streaming video can consume much of a 25 or 50 Mbps service.
- Check the simulator’s data options. Confirm online functionality and the desired world-data services are enabled, then make sure a bandwidth or data limit is not unintentionally restricting them.
- Use the rolling cache where appropriate. A cache can reduce repeated downloads when revisiting the same area, although it cannot replace the connection needed for new streamed content.
Do I need unlimited data or just fast broadband?
Connection speed and monthly data allowance are separate concerns: a fast capped service can still become expensive or throttled after extensive flying.
Photogrammetry, streamed terrain and repeated visits to uncached areas can consume substantial data. If your broadband or mobile connection has a limit, our breakdown of MSFS 2024 data consumption and ways to reduce it explains which online features have the greatest effect.
Can Microsoft Flight Simulator work on slow or offline internet?
MSFS 2020 can use locally installed content with reduced online features, while MSFS 2024 depends much more heavily on internet-delivered content.
Without adequate connectivity, streamed photogrammetry may be replaced by less detailed scenery, and live weather, traffic and multiplayer will be unavailable or degraded. Our explanation of MSFS 2020’s online, offline and data behaviour covers the older simulator; for the newer release, see what MSFS 2024 needs an internet connection for.