See what MSFS 2024 World Update 23 adds, how to install or stream it, and how to fix missing, owned or unchanged scenery.
MSFS 2024 World Update 23 is a free, optional regional scenery package. It supplies refreshed terrain and aerial imagery, enhanced cities, handcrafted points of interest and airports, and regional activities where listed. Update the simulator first, claim the update in Marketplace, then stream it or download its components through My Library.
What is included in World Update 23?
World Update 23 is made up of regional scenery assets rather than a new simulator build. Its in-simulator Marketplace card is the definitive manifest for the covered area and named locations, as Microsoft can revise individual packages and dependencies after release.
- Terrain and imagery: revised elevation data, aerial photography and other regional ground-data improvements.
- Enhanced cities: higher-detail urban areas or photogrammetry where that technology is available. These elements normally require Online Functionality to be enabled.
- Points of interest: handcrafted landmarks such as bridges, monuments, towers and distinctive buildings.
- Airports: selected airports may receive handcrafted terminals, ground layouts and surrounding objects. Some appear as separate child packages in My Library.
- Regional activities: discovery flights, landing challenges or similar activities may be supplied when they are listed on the product card.
The update number does not mean that World Update 23 contains the previous 22 packages. It also is not a core update, aircraft pack, live weather update or navigation-data replacement. If an aircraft or activity is not named in the listing, do not assume it is included.
The product may be displayed as World Update 23, World Update XXIII or under its regional title. If none of those appears after the simulator is fully updated, the package is not yet available to that account or platform build; a third-party download using the same name is not the official update.
How do I install MSFS 2024 World Update 23?
Install the latest platform and simulator update before acquiring World Update 23, because an older client may not display or recognise its packages.
- Update the simulator: close Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and install any pending update through the platform that owns the game. Launch it again and allow the in-simulator update check to finish. Our MSFS 2024 updating instructions explain the two update layers.
- Confirm the correct account: sign in with the account that owns the simulator and make sure Online Functionality is enabled. Marketplace access and streamed scenery depend on an online connection.
- Find the package: open Marketplace or My Library and search for
World Update 23,World Update XXIIIor its regional name. Menu labels vary slightly between PC, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. - Claim the free entitlement: open the official Microsoft listing and select the available acquire, get or install option. A package marked Owned has been claimed but is not necessarily downloaded.
- Choose its delivery method: leave eligible content streamed to save storage, or select the local download option in My Library when offered.
- Check every component: select the main package and any listed airports, points of interest or activity dependencies. A mistake we see constantly is installing the parent entry while leaving its child packages unselected.
- Let installation finish: keep the simulator open until queued items show as installed. Restart the simulator before checking a changed airport or city.
For more detail on filters, package states and component checks, use our complete World Update installation procedure.
Should I stream World Update 23 or download it?
Choose a local download when storage is available and connection consistency matters; choose streaming when saving drive space is the priority.
| Option | Best when | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|
| Streamed content | You have a stable, sufficiently fast connection and limited local storage. | Detail can load late or fall back when online services or bandwidth are unavailable. |
| Local download | You repeatedly fly in the updated region or want predictable asset availability. | Uses more storage and must be updated when the package changes. |
The displayed download size can vary by platform, selected components and later package revisions, so the figure shown in My Library is more reliable than an old published size. Our explanation of streamed versus locally installed MSFS 2024 content covers the storage and connectivity trade-offs.
Why is World Update 23 missing or not changing the scenery?
If World Update 23 is missing or appears ineffective, the cause is usually an outdated simulator, an uninstalled dependency or disabled online world data.
- The listing does not appear: install pending platform and simulator updates, restart the game, remove restrictive Marketplace filters and search by both Arabic and Roman numerals.
- It says Owned but not Installed: open My Library, filter for owned or uninstalled content and select the main package plus its dependencies.
- The scenery looks unchanged: confirm Online Functionality, photogrammetry and world-data streaming are enabled. Restart the flight after changing those settings.
- An airport has duplicated buildings: temporarily disable third-party scenery for that airport or region. Older Community add-ons can overlap the new handcrafted version.
- The download stops or loops: verify free storage, cancel other queued packages and restart the simulator before trying again. On consoles, also check the platform’s storage management screen.
- Old imagery remains: restart first; if the problem persists, disable or rebuild the rolling cache using the simulator’s data settings.
Do I need the earlier World Updates?
No, World Update 23 can be installed without downloading every earlier World Update. Each package covers its own region and optional content, although all required dependencies shown with World Update 23 should be installed.
Installing every regional package consumes substantial storage and offers little benefit if you never fly in those areas. Use our numbered MSFS 2024 World Update index to choose the regions relevant to your flying.
Can I uninstall World Update 23 later?
Yes, removing World Update 23 does not uninstall Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 or delete your control settings. Open My Library, filter for installed content, select the update and its child packages, then use the available uninstall or remove option.
The underlying streamed world remains available, but the package-specific airports, landmarks and activities may disappear or revert to their base-world versions. If only storage is the problem, remove the largest local components first rather than deleting unrelated simulator files manually.