Find why Microsoft Flight Simulator is slow to start and fix add-on scans, storage, cache, update and network delays on PC or console.
Microsoft Flight Simulator is usually slow to start because it is scanning installed packages, checking updates and licences, synchronising cloud data, and initialising online services. Large or faulty Community add-ons, a slow or nearly full drive, antivirus scanning, corrupted caches, and network delays can make that process much longer.
What makes MSFS startup take so long?
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024 perform several jobs before reaching the main menu; loading the executable is only one of them. The simulator may enumerate package manifests, validate installed content, contact account and online services, process an update, and rebuild data after a change.
| Where it slows down | Likely cause | Best first check |
|---|---|---|
| Before or during the opening screens | Storage, security software or damaged programme files | Check drive activity, free space and file verification options |
| Package or main loading screen | Large, outdated or malformed add-ons | Start with an empty Community folder |
| Checking for updates or synchronising data | Network, account or platform-service delay | Confirm the connection and account sign-in |
| First start after an update | Package migration, indexing or cache rebuilding | Allow one uninterrupted launch to finish |
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 can accumulate a very large local package library, so package scanning is a frequent cause there. Our version-specific MSFS 2020 loading diagnosis covers its package, cache and storage issues in more detail.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 relies more heavily on streamed and online data, but it still checks local packages and needs authentication services. A fast SSD cannot compensate for an add-on conflict or a stalled online request.
How do I make Microsoft Flight Simulator start faster?
- Identify the slow stage. Note whether the delay occurs before the loading screen, while checking for updates, during cloud synchronisation or after the loading bar appears. Different stages point to different causes.
- Finish pending updates. Update the simulator, its launcher or platform software, then restart the device. The first launch after a major simulator, add-on or graphics-driver change can legitimately take longer.
- Test without Community add-ons on PC. Move the contents of the active
Communityfolder to a temporary folder outside the simulator's package directories. Do not delete or rename theOfficialfolder. If the sim starts normally, restore add-ons in batches until the slowdown returns. - Confirm that you are testing the active package location. Store, Steam and custom installations can use different package paths. If the folder appears unexpectedly blank, use our explanation of how to locate the active MSFS Community folder rather than modifying the first similarly named folder you find.
- Check the installation drive. Keep reasonable free space available and use an SSD where possible. A mechanical hard drive, external drive entering a power-saving state, or a drive under heavy use can make thousands of small package reads painfully slow.
- Inspect security scanning. Antivirus software may repeatedly inspect large package archives and manifests. Do not disable protection permanently; first check its activity or logs, and only create narrowly scoped exclusions for trusted simulator folders if you understand the security trade-off.
- Check online services and sign-in. Restart the router if other services are also slow, confirm that the platform account is signed in, and avoid simultaneous large downloads. Console users should manage optional content through the simulator or console interface rather than looking for a Community folder.
- Repair files last. Use the platform's verify or repair facility only after isolating add-ons and basic storage or network causes. Back up manually installed add-ons and record any custom package location first, because repair behaviour differs between platforms.
Do Community add-ons slow down startup?
Yes, especially when the Community folder contains hundreds of packages, duplicate scenery, outdated aircraft or incorrectly nested archives. The number and condition of package manifests often matter more than the total size of the folder.
A mistake we see constantly is removing only the newest add-on and assuming everything else is safe. Restore packages in halves or logical groups—aircraft, liveries, airports and utilities—because two individually working add-ons can conflict when loaded together.
Is a slow first launch normal?
A single slower launch can be normal after a simulator update, graphics-driver installation, large content change or cache rebuild. Repeated slow starts with no recent change are not normal and usually point to packages, storage, security scanning or an online-service delay.
Deleting every cache is not a good first response. The rolling cache mainly affects streamed scenery, and recreating it can increase downloading later; clear it only when corruption or scenery-data problems give you a reason.
When is slow startup actually a loading failure?
Treat the problem as a failure when the same screen repeats indefinitely across multiple launches, the programme stops responding, or update and sign-in messages never advance. In that case, follow our checks for MSFS not opening or completing its load rather than waiting longer each time.
If Microsoft Flight Simulator reaches the main menu promptly but stalls after you press Fly, startup is not the problem. Aircraft, airport, scenery and flight-plan conflicts become more likely, so use the separate steps for a simulator that will not finish loading into a flight.