Why MSFS 2024's download is smaller than MSFS 2020, what it streams, how storage grows and when to keep aircraft and airports locally.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is so small because it installs a relatively thin simulator core and streams much more aircraft, airport, activity and scenery data from Microsoft’s cloud on demand. Its initial download is not the complete content library, so the saving is mainly permanent drive space—not detail, internet usage or eventual storage needs.
What changed between MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024?
MSFS 2024 extends cloud delivery beyond the world imagery already streamed by MSFS 2020. Instead of keeping most included aircraft, handcrafted airports, activities and world-update packages on the drive, it retrieves more assets when a flight needs them. Our overview of the architectural differences between MSFS 2020 and 2024 covers the wider changes.
| Content | MSFS 2020 | MSFS 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Simulator core | Installed locally | Smaller local core, including the executable, interface and essential packages |
| Aircraft, airports and activities | Many packages retained locally | More content delivered on demand; supported items can be downloaded locally |
| World imagery | Mainly streamed | Mainly streamed |
| Photogrammetry | Streamed when enabled and available | Streamed when enabled and available |
| Main trade-off | Higher permanent disk use | Greater dependence on bandwidth and cloud availability |
Improved packaging and compression also help, but they are not the main explanation. The decisive difference is where the content lives.
Is the small initial download the whole installation?
No. On some platforms, the first store download is effectively a bootstrap or core package. MSFS 2024 may check for mandatory files and updates when first launched, then fetch flight-specific content later.
Download size and installed size are different measurements. Compressed files expand during installation, while reserved space, caches and optional packages may be reported separately. Owning a larger edition also grants access to its additional content; it does not mean every entitled asset has already been copied to the drive.
- Finish the platform download before opening the simulator.
- Launch while online and allow mandatory updates or content checks to complete.
- Load a flight before deciding that the unusually small installation is missing files.
What makes the MSFS 2024 installation grow?
Updates, caches, locally retained content and add-ons can make MSFS 2024 considerably larger than its initial download.
- Core updates: New simulator files may replace or add to the original installation.
- Rolling cache: Recently streamed world data can be retained to reduce repeated downloads, consuming drive space in return.
- Downloaded official content: Locally stored aircraft, airports and other supported packages add to the base footprint.
- Community add-ons: Aircraft, scenery, liveries and utilities remain local and may eventually outweigh the core simulator.
- Update headroom: Installation can temporarily require extra space while files are downloaded, unpacked and replaced.
Use our realistic MSFS storage planning figures rather than treating the storefront number as the final requirement. MSFS 2024 generally starts smaller than MSFS 2020, but large caches, downloaded packages and duplicated add-on libraries can narrow that difference sharply.
On PC, the application, Packages data, cache and Community content may occupy different locations. A mistake we see constantly is deleting an unfamiliar Packages folder solely because it is large. Clear recognised caches through the simulator where possible, back up third-party content and use the platform’s file verification or repair function before removing core data.
Can MSFS 2024 content be downloaded instead of streamed?
Yes. Post-launch updates added and expanded local-download controls for supported official content, including selected default aircraft and airports.
- Keep content streamed when SSD space is limited and the connection is fast, stable and uncapped.
- Download frequently used content when the connection is unreliable or repeated streaming would consume a limited data allowance.
Available categories and labels can differ by simulator build and platform. Downloading aircraft or airports does not create a complete offline copy of the world; detailed terrain, imagery, photogrammetry and online services still depend heavily on cloud delivery.
Does a smaller installation mean lower quality?
No. MSFS 2024 can provide detailed aircraft and scenery without storing every asset permanently, but the quality and timing of delivery depend more heavily on the connection.
Slow servers, restricted bandwidth or an unstable connection can cause blurry ground textures, delayed objects and visible scenery loading. We cover the relevant data and graphics adjustments in our guide to reducing scenery pop-in in MSFS 2024.
Internet usage varies with the route, aircraft, scenery density, graphics settings, cache behaviour and whether the area has been visited before. The small installation therefore suits limited SSD space best when paired with a stable, uncapped connection.
Cached and downloaded assets can reduce that dependence, but MSFS 2024 cannot reproduce its normal online experience from the small core alone. Aircraft or airports never retained locally may be unavailable, while streamed scenery, photogrammetry and other online services can be reduced or absent.
How can I tell whether the small installation is normal?
If MSFS 2024 reaches the main menu and loads a flight after its mandatory checks, the small installation is normally working as designed.
Repeated mandatory-download prompts, failure to reach the menu or the same update restarting on every launch indicate an installation, free-space or account problem rather than ordinary cloud streaming. Let pending downloads finish, confirm that the correct account owns the content and run the platform’s repair or verification process before reinstalling.