Why does Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 get stuck loading at 97%, and how do I fix it?

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 usually gets stuck at 97% because the sim is hanging while checking installed packages, loading your profile data, or reading a broken add-on, cache file or peripheral input. The quickest fixes are to remove third-party content, clear cache, let the sim rebuild its files, and verify the installation.

Why MSFS 2024 hangs at 97%

That last few per cent is where the sim often finishes work that is not obvious on screen. It may be validating official content, reading packages from the Community folder, syncing your account data, loading controller profiles, or waiting on damaged files that never complete properly.

So 97% is not usually a graphics issue by itself. In most cases, it points to one of four things:

• Broken or outdated add-ons, especially aircraft, scenery, utilities or liveries carried over from an older install.
• Corrupt cache or package files, which can leave the sim stuck near the end of loading.
• Profile or cloud-sync problems, where settings or controller bindings do not load cleanly.
• Permission, antivirus or drive issues, which stop the sim reading or writing files it expects to access.

What should you try first?

Start with the least destructive fixes. Do not immediately reinstall the whole simulator; that is slow, and it often does not fix the real cause.

1. Wait longer once. If you have just updated the sim, moved it to another drive, or changed a lot of content, give it extra time on the first run. A genuine freeze will usually show no disk activity for a long period, but one slow first load can be normal.
2. Disconnect non-essential USB devices. Leave only your keyboard, mouse and one main controller connected. Stuck loads can be caused by odd controller profiles, duplicate bindings or problematic USB hardware.
3. Reboot the PC. A full restart clears locked files, stalled gaming services and driver states that survive a normal app close.
4. Run the sim normally, not through multiple launch layers at once. If you use the Xbox app, Steam, or shortcuts with overlays, try launching from the platform you actually own it on and close background overlay tools first.

The most common fix: empty the Community folder

If MSFS 2024 loads to 97% and goes no further, third-party content is the first thing we would check. Even one incompatible package can hold up the whole start-up process.

1. Close MSFS 2024 completely.
2. Find your Community folder. Its location depends on where and how the sim is installed.
3. Move everything out of Community into a temporary folder on your desktop or another drive. Do not delete anything yet.
4. Start the sim with an empty Community folder.
5. If it loads properly, one or more add-ons are causing the problem. Add them back in small batches until the fault returns.

Be strict here. Old aircraft mods, toolbar utilities, liveries, airport packs and sound packs can all cause a 97% hang. Content made for a previous sim version, or installed into the wrong folder structure, is especially likely to do it.

How do you identify the bad add-on?

Use a simple process:

1. Add back a small group of packages.
2. Launch the sim.
3. If it works, close it and add the next group.
4. If it fails, remove half of the last group and test again.

That narrows the culprit quickly without guessing. Once found, remove that package or replace it with a version known to work with MSFS 2024.

Clear cache and let MSFS rebuild it

Corrupt cache data can also stop loading near the end. If you can still reach the sim menu occasionally, clear the rolling cache from the data settings and restart. If you cannot reach the menu at all, remove the relevant cache file from the simulator's local data location so the sim creates a fresh one next time.

We would also clear temporary package leftovers if you recently had an interrupted update. Do not randomly delete your whole content library, but removing obviously temporary cache data is often safe and effective.

Repair or verify the installation

If the Community folder is empty and the sim still sticks at 97%, assume the core installation may be damaged.

1. Use your platform's verify or repair option for MSFS 2024.
2. Allow it to check all files and replace anything missing or corrupt.
3. Restart the PC after the repair finishes.
4. Launch MSFS 2024 before reinstalling any add-ons.

This is much faster than a full reinstall and often fixes incomplete updates, damaged official packages and launcher mismatches.

Check storage, permissions and antivirus

MSFS needs reliable read and write access to its package folders. If the drive is nearly full, disconnected, slow to wake up, or protected by security software, loading can hang without giving a useful error.

If you installed the sim or packages across multiple drives, double-check that the expected package path still exists and that Windows has not changed the drive letter.

Could your cloud profile or settings be causing it?

Yes. A damaged profile sync, bad controller preset or corrupted settings file can stop the loading process very late.

Typical clues are these:

• The sim only hangs on one Windows user account.
• It started after changing lots of control bindings.
• It loads after disconnecting a certain controller.
• It breaks again as soon as your old settings return.

In that case, reset or rebuild the relevant local settings, then let the sim recreate them. If there is a prompt about using local or cloud data, choose carefully; using a bad cloud copy can bring the problem straight back. If you are unsure, back up anything you can first.

Advanced checks if 97% still will not clear

1. Disable overlays and background injectors such as performance overlays, recording tools and external sim utilities.
2. Update GPU and chipset drivers if they are old or unstable, but avoid changing many things at once.
3. Turn off overclocks on CPU, GPU or RAM while testing. MSFS is good at exposing borderline instability.
4. Check Windows event logs and app crash history for repeated file or access errors around launch time.
5. Create a clean test boot with unnecessary startup apps disabled, then try the sim again.

If a clean start works, another background app is interfering. Add your usual tools back one by one until the problem returns.

When should you reinstall MSFS 2024?

Reinstall only after you have done these three things:

• Tested with an empty Community folder
• Cleared cache and rebuilt settings where needed
• Verified or repaired the installation

A full reinstall makes sense when official packages are badly broken, the package path is a mess, or the launcher cannot repair missing content properly. Before you do it, back up any settings, controller profiles and add-ons you want to keep.

Best fix order for MSFS 2024 stuck at 97%

If you want the shortest practical troubleshooting path, use this order:

1. Reboot the PC
2. Disconnect extra USB devices
3. Empty the Community folder
4. Clear cache
5. Verify or repair the sim
6. Check drive space, permissions and antivirus exclusions
7. Reset settings or controller profiles if needed
8. Reinstall only if all of the above fails

For most simmers, the fix turns out to be an incompatible add-on, a damaged cache file, or a broken package after an update. Those are the three places we would look first every time.