Compare MSFS 2020 vs 2024 offline play: scenery, aircraft, sign-in requirements, missing features and the best choice for unreliable internet.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 is the better offline simulator: after preparation, it can use an installed offline scenery package and locally stored aircraft. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is cloud-first, so much of its world and content is streamed; downloaded packages help, but they do not turn 2024 into a fully self-contained offline simulator.
MSFS 2020 vs 2024 offline differences
The main difference is where each simulator keeps its content. MSFS 2020 installs more of the simulator locally and offers lower-detail offline world data, while MSFS 2024 relies much more heavily on cloud delivery. That architecture also explains why MSFS 2024 occupies less local storage.
| Area | MSFS 2020 offline | MSFS 2024 offline |
|---|---|---|
| World scenery | Uses an installed offline world package, with noticeably less detail than streamed Bing imagery and photogrammetry. | Much of the world is designed to be streamed. Cached data and downloaded packages cannot provide a complete offline world. |
| Aircraft and airports | Locally installed aircraft, airports and many add-ons normally remain available. | Selected owned packages can be stored locally, but other content remains cloud-delivered. |
| Starting the simulator | Repeatable offline use is practical after installation, authentication and platform-specific offline preparation. | A working connection should be expected for authentication and normal operation; a cold start without internet is not dependable. |
| Connection loss in flight | The flight can generally continue using offline scenery, although online services stop. | Local and cached data may keep the session running, but scenery, activities or other cloud-dependent functions can degrade or stop. |
| Live features | Live weather, multiplayer, real-time traffic, Marketplace access and streamed scenery are unavailable. | The same online features are lost, with a larger effect because more core content is streamed. |
Which version is better for unreliable internet?
Choose MSFS 2020 if regular offline flying is a requirement. Once its offline world data and required aircraft are installed, it offers a predictable fallback for travelling, metered connections and prolonged outages.
Choose MSFS 2024 when you normally have a stable connection and want its newer simulation features and content system. We would not buy or install 2024 on the assumption that downloading a few favourite aircraft will make it equivalent to 2020 offline. Our separate explanation covers the internet and authentication requirements in MSFS 2024.
How should I prepare MSFS 2020 for offline play?
MSFS 2020 must be prepared and tested while the internet is still available.
- Install and update the simulator: complete any mandatory simulator and platform updates before disconnecting.
- Install the offline world package: obtain the optional offline scenery data offered through the simulator or your platform's content management system. Turning off Online Functionality by itself does not install this data.
- Download required content: make sure the aircraft, airports, world updates and add-ons needed for the planned flights are stored locally.
- Prepare platform licensing: enable the relevant offline or primary-console permissions while signed in. The exact process differs between PC launchers and consoles.
- Test before travelling: disconnect the network, restart the simulator and load a flight in the intended aircraft and region.
The final test matters. A common failure is preparing the simulator but forgetting that the launcher, an aircraft licence manager or an external add-on still expects a connection. See our detailed MSFS 2020 offline preparation guide for the platform-specific limitations and available features.
Can downloaded MSFS 2024 content make it fully offline?
No. Downloading selected MSFS 2024 aircraft, airports and packages reduces streaming and makes those particular assets less vulnerable to a brief connection problem, but it does not install the complete streamed world or remove authentication and cloud-service dependencies.
Use the simulator's library management tools to store important packages locally where that option is offered. Our breakdown of which MSFS 2024 content can be downloaded instead of streamed explains what local installation does and does not protect.
Does the rolling cache count as offline scenery?
A rolling cache is not a dependable offline scenery library. It contains only recently streamed data, may be replaced as new regions load, and can be cleared or rebuilt. Treat it as a performance and bandwidth aid, not as preparation for a week without internet.
What stops working without an internet connection?
Both simulators lose services that require live data, although the effect is substantially greater in MSFS 2024.
- Streamed Bing aerial imagery and photogrammetry
- Live weather and real-time traffic
- Multiplayer and other connected services
- Marketplace browsing and new content downloads
- Cloud-backed activities, account synchronisation or external add-on services
Locally installed add-ons are not automatically safe from these restrictions. An aircraft may load normally while its live charts, weather feed, licence check or online tablet features remain unavailable.