Steam or Microsoft Store for Microsoft Flight Simulator?

For most PC-only simmers, buy Microsoft Flight Simulator on Steam if that is where they manage their games. Choose the Microsoft Store/Xbox app version for PC Game Pass access or Xbox Play Anywhere. The simulator, aircraft and performance are effectively the same; licensing, accounts and cross-device access are the decisive differences.

Steam vs Microsoft Store: which should you choose?

Choose Steam for a PC-only Steam library; choose the Microsoft Store when Game Pass or access on a compatible Xbox console matters.

Storefront and edition are separate decisions. Compare the same simulator generation and edition on each store: a Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 licence does not become Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, and buying Standard rather than a higher edition changes included content regardless of storefront. Our guide can help you compare the MSFS 2024 editions and their official purchasing routes.

What is the same on both PC versions?

Steam and Microsoft Store deliver the same core simulator when the release and edition match.

• Performance: neither storefront provides a meaningful FPS, graphics-quality or loading-time advantage on equivalent hardware and settings.
• Aircraft and scenery: the included content is determined by the simulator generation and edition, not by Steam versus Microsoft Store.
• Multiplayer: Steam users are not placed in a separate multiplayer population; Microsoft/Xbox services handle the simulator's online identity.
• Peripherals: yokes, throttles, pedals, headsets and other PC hardware are not restricted by the storefront. Steam Input can affect some controller mappings, but it can be configured or disabled without changing simulator ownership.
• PC add-ons: both versions support compatible Marketplace products and manually installed Community packages.

Claims that one version has better flight modelling, higher visual quality or substantially better performance are unfounded. Store clients and background services can occasionally cause individual faults, but they do not make one edition of the simulator technically superior.

Does the Steam version still require a Microsoft account?

Yes. Buying Microsoft Flight Simulator through Steam does not remove the Microsoft/Xbox account requirement.

The Steam account proves ownership of the Steam licence, while the Microsoft/Xbox account supplies the in-simulator profile, online identity and Marketplace relationship. Changing that Microsoft account later can make cloud-backed profile data or purchased content appear to be missing.

With the Microsoft Store version, keep the Microsoft Store, Xbox app and simulator signed into the account that owns or is entitled to the game. An account mismatch is a common cause of licence errors that ask a legitimate owner to install or purchase the simulator again.

Marketplace ownership should also be treated separately from the base-game licence. In-simulator purchases are associated with the Microsoft/Xbox account, but availability can still depend on the simulator generation, platform and product compatibility. Before buying heavily there, read our explanation of how Marketplace ownership and installation differ from manual add-ons.

Does the Microsoft Store version include Xbox access?

A qualifying digital Microsoft Store purchase includes Windows PC and compatible Xbox access when that release is sold with Xbox Play Anywhere; a Steam purchase does not.

This is the strongest reason to choose Microsoft Store over Steam. Use the same Microsoft account on both systems, and remember that Game Pass access is a subscription entitlement rather than permanent ownership. If the subscription or the title's inclusion ends, a separate purchase is required to continue playing.

Some cloud-backed profile information may follow the Microsoft account, but local settings and manually installed add-ons should not be treated as cloud backups. Xbox consoles also do not provide the open Community-folder workflow available on PC, so buying through Microsoft does not make manually installed PC scenery or liveries available on the console.

Do mods and add-ons work differently?

Both PC storefront versions support Community add-ons; the main difference is where the simulator stores its packages.

The active Community folder depends on the storefront, simulator generation and package location selected during installation. It may not sit inside the obvious Steam library or Microsoft Store app directory. Use our instructions to locate the active Community folder for each PC installation rather than copying files into a guessed path.

Do not place manual add-ons in the protected WindowsApps directory or modify files inside the official package area. Extract each compatible package so its manifest sits at the package's top level in Community; an unnecessary extra folder layer is a frequent reason for aircraft or scenery not appearing.

Moving the Steam application to another library does not necessarily move the simulator's separately downloaded packages. The same applies when changing drives through Windows or the Xbox app. Check the package path before deleting the old directory.

How do installation and updates differ?

The storefront delivers the launcher and entitlement, while Microsoft Flight Simulator may download, validate or stream additional simulator content through its own interface.

A mistake we see constantly is assuming the Steam, Microsoft Store or Xbox app update was the entire update. Depending on the simulator release and installation, another package stage may begin after launch.

1. Update the storefront client first. Install any pending Steam, Microsoft Store, Xbox app or supporting service updates, then restart the client if requested.
2. Launch from the owning storefront. Let the simulator complete any internal package check or content update before troubleshooting missing aircraft.
3. Confirm the account. If ownership is not recognised, verify the storefront account and the Microsoft/Xbox account before reinstalling a large package library.
4. Test without Community add-ons. After a simulator update, temporarily move Community packages elsewhere and launch with an empty folder. An outdated aircraft, scenery package or utility can stop loading even though the storefront installation is healthy.
5. Check the package location and free space. A small launcher update can be followed by a much larger content operation on a different drive.

Steam's file verification primarily checks files managed by Steam; it may not repair every package downloaded from inside the simulator. Also remember that a long in-simulator download can register as application runtime in Steam, so review the applicable purchase and refund terms before leaving a new installation running unattended.

What happens if you switch stores or reinstall?

Reinstalling from the same storefront does not require another purchase, but changing between Steam and Microsoft Store normally requires buying the base simulator again.

A Steam entitlement cannot be transferred into the Microsoft Store, and Microsoft Store ownership cannot be converted into a Steam licence. Do not assume a new storefront will automatically adopt the existing package directory or recognise every edition entitlement and add-on.

On a replacement PC, install through the original owning account and then sign into the same Microsoft/Xbox account used inside the simulator. Our walkthrough covers reinstalling Microsoft Flight Simulator while keeping the storefront and in-simulator accounts straight.

Our recommendation

We give Steam a slight edge for PC-only users who already keep most of their library there, but Microsoft Store is the better choice when Xbox Play Anywhere or Game Pass is part of the plan.

• Choose Steam if library management and Steam's client features matter most and you do not need a console entitlement.
• Choose Microsoft Store if you want a qualifying purchase shared with a compatible Xbox console or you are starting through PC Game Pass.
• Stay with your existing storefront if you already own the simulator there. Switching rarely provides enough practical benefit to justify rebuying the base game.

Whichever route you take, record which storefront account owns the base simulator and keep using the same Microsoft/Xbox account inside it. That prevents far more trouble than choosing one client over the other.