Fix MSFS 2024 crashing during sign-in on PC, Xbox or PS5 by repairing account tokens, Gaming Services, login caches and network access.
MSFS 2024 usually crashes during sign-in because its Microsoft/Xbox authentication token is stale, the Store, Xbox app and simulator are using different accounts, or a login component such as Gaming Services or WebView2 is damaged. Fully restart first, align the accounts, repair those components, then rule out network filtering and injected add-ons.
Is it really an MSFS 2024 sign-in crash?
The point at which Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 fails determines which fix to use. A crash while the account window opens points towards authentication; a crash after the main menu appears usually does not.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Start with |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop closes while the login window opens | Account token, WebView2 or Xbox component | Repair the Windows login components |
| Stuck on Signing in or Connecting | Service, network or expired-token problem | Cold restart and network checks |
| Sign-in completes, then the screen turns black | Content loading, graphics or add-on problem | Black-screen troubleshooting |
| Crash occurs when starting a flight | Aircraft, scenery, driver or memory problem | Crash isolation rather than account repair |
Steam ownership does not remove the Microsoft/Xbox account requirement inside the simulator. It simply means Steam supplies the game entitlement while the Microsoft account supplies the Xbox profile and connected simulator services.
How do I fix MSFS 2024 crashing at login on PC?
On PC, work through these steps in order and test after each major change. Reinstalling the entire simulator should not be the first response to an authentication fault.
- Rule out a service interruption. Check whether the Xbox app can display your profile and whether Microsoft Store updates work. If authentication fails in several Microsoft applications or on another device, local game-file repairs are unlikely to help until the service or connection recovers.
- Perform a complete restart. Close MSFS 2024, Steam if applicable, the Xbox app and Microsoft Store. Restart Windows rather than reopening the simulator from a suspended session, then ensure Windows date, time and time zone are set automatically. Incorrect system time can invalidate login tokens.
- Align the accounts. For the Microsoft Store or Xbox-app edition, sign out of both applications and sign back in with the account that owns the game or subscription and the Xbox profile you intend to use. If the Store purchasing account is intentionally different, confirm that the Store still shows the entitlement. Steam users should keep the correct Steam account active and use their established Microsoft account inside MSFS. Our PC account-mismatch and hidden-login-window checks cover this part in more detail.
- Look for a hidden login prompt. Use the Windows task switcher after starting MSFS 2024. A Microsoft consent or Xbox sign-in window can open behind the simulator, making the game appear frozen or causing it to close when the prompt times out. Run the launcher and simulator at the same privilege level, preferably without administrator mode.
- Update and repair the login components. Install pending Windows, Microsoft Store, Xbox app and Gaming Services updates. In Windows installed-app settings, use Repair for the Xbox app and Gaming Services first; use Reset only if repair fails because reset signs the applications out. Repair Microsoft Edge WebView2 as well if Windows offers that option.
- Clear the Store cache. Close the Store, run
wsreset.exe, allow the Store to reopen and sign in again. This does not uninstall MSFS, but it can clear a damaged entitlement or login cache. - Test an unrestricted connection. Temporarily disable VPNs, proxies and network-level filtering, and make sure Microsoft Flight Simulator, Gaming Services and Xbox components are not blocked by the firewall. A short test through a different connection, such as a mobile hotspot, is useful: if login works there, investigate the router, DNS filter or security software rather than reinstalling the game.
- Remove injected software and add-ons for one test. Close frame-generation utilities, overlays, monitoring tools and shader injectors. Rename the Community folder while MSFS is closed so the simulator starts without third-party packages. Add-ons are less likely than account corruption when the crash occurs before login, but injectors can fail as the simulator changes from the sign-in display to the rendered menu.
- Verify the installation. Use the repair or file-verification function provided by Steam, the Xbox app or Microsoft Store. Do not delete cloud-synchronised save data as a routine sign-in fix; that risks settings or progress and rarely repairs the Windows authentication stack.
How do I fix sign-in crashes on Xbox or PlayStation?
Console login crashes are usually caused by a suspended session, stale profile token, pending update or account-link problem rather than damaged scenery or aircraft files.
Xbox Series X|S
- Quit MSFS 2024 completely from the console menu and remove it from Quick Resume before relaunching.
- Restart the console and router, then check for both system and simulator updates.
- Refresh the profile by signing out and back in. Remove and re-add the Xbox profile only after the simpler steps, and make sure you know its credentials first.
- Preserve the save data. Do not delete local and cloud data together merely to test authentication.
If the failure follows Quick Resume or affects only one Xbox profile, use our Xbox profile-token and entitlement fixes.
PlayStation 5 and PS5 Pro
Close MSFS 2024 rather than leaving it suspended, restart the console, install pending game and system updates, and verify the console's date and network connection. Complete any Microsoft-account code or consent screen with the account originally intended for the simulator.
Do not repeatedly unlink Microsoft and PlayStation accounts as a diagnostic step. Account-link restrictions can make reconnecting the intended profile difficult; exhaust restart, update and network checks first.
What if MSFS 2024 stays on Signing in without closing?
A persistent Signing in or Connecting message is an authentication loop, not technically a crash. The same account and time checks apply, but expired credentials, blocked service endpoints and unresolved consent prompts become more likely; follow our authentication-loop troubleshooting sequence rather than changing graphics settings.
Why does MSFS 2024 go black just after sign-in?
If the account name appears and authentication completes before the display turns black, login probably succeeded. Content loading, a graphics API problem, cache corruption or an add-on may be failing during the transition to the menu; use the MSFS 2024 black-screen checks instead of repeatedly resetting the Xbox account.
Should I reinstall MSFS 2024 for a login crash?
Reinstall only after account alignment, component repair, cache clearing, network testing and file verification have failed. Authentication data lives partly outside the simulator installation, so downloading the game again often leaves the real fault untouched.
For a persistent PC crash, note the exact failure stage and check Windows Reliability Monitor for the faulting application and module. A reference to an Xbox, Gaming Services or web-login component supports an authentication diagnosis; a graphics driver or injected DLL points towards rendering software. Record any error code before resetting applications, but never publish account credentials or authentication codes.