Microsoft Flight Simulator Xbox: List of known bugs, launch issues, and how to fix them

Microsoft Flying Simulator is finally bachelor on Xbox Series 10 and Xbox Serial S in improver to PC, and information technology looks frankly stunning on Microsoft'south powerful current-gen consoles. However, it'south non been entirely smooth as some players are experiencing some turbulence getting into Microsoft Flight Simulator for Xbox the start time around, with a handful of bugs and problems detracting from the experience. We've scoured the internet to compile all the known bugs and launch issues for Microsoft Flying Simulator on Xbox we could find, including some methods to fix them, potentially.

Even with a contingent of problems currently plaguing the game, Microsoft Flying Simulator even so holds on tightly to its place on our listing of best Xbox games. If you want to know why, exist sure to cheque out our total Microsoft Flying Simulator Xbox review for the full scoop.

What are the top bugs and issues in Microsoft Flying Simulator for Xbox?

Here are some of the biggest issues afflicting Microsoft Flight Simulator for Xbox right now, and how you might exist able to set them.

Game not starting

Summary: Microsoft Flying Simulator is behaving as if the game hasn't really released yet, and won't outset

Quick prepare / workaround: Microsoft Flight Simulator for Xbox has a twenty-four hour period one patch update that needs to be downloaded before playing

Some players are reporting that, even after Microsoft Flying Simulator officially launched on Xbox, they are unable to start the game. In the cases we've seen the reason behind this is because, even if you preloaded or preinstalled Microsoft Flight Simulator on your Xbox, there'southward withal a sizeable 24-hour interval 1 update to install before y'all're able to play MSFS.

Before you try and play Microsoft Flight Simulator, be sure to bank check for updates on your Xbox to see if you lot've downloaded the day ane update. If you have the full MSFS downloaded (coming out to nearly 102 GB), the day ane update should exist around 27 GB. On the other hand, if y'all've elected to remove the "offline manner" pack for Microsoft Flying Simulator to bring your full install size to around 42 GB, the update should be about 18 GB. Installing the mean solar day one update does not affect the full install size of the game.

Endless search for updates

Summary: Microsoft Flight Simulator always checks for updates at launch, and many players are experiencing extremely long waits

Quick gear up / workaround: Unfortunately, there is no easy fix for this issue other than simply waiting (between five and 30 minutes)

Microsoft Flying Simulator is a massive game, and it has countless add together-ons and boosted installations (over 200 correct from the first!) that can all be updated independently of the master game. Because of this, Microsoft Flight Simulator will always automatically check for updates whenever y'all starting time the game. Some players are reporting that this screen never progresses and that they're unable to make information technology past.

Just like the endless loading bar below, it seems players may demand to wait this i out. Hopefully, Xbox Game Studios and Asobo Studios volition update MSFS to resolve this aggressively long wait times to play the game, merely for now players may have to wait upwardly of 30 minutes to get past this screen (or the countless loading bar). Fortunately, both of these issues seem to be relatively random. While nosotros were affected by the endless loading screen, we did not experience the endless updates screen.

It's worth mentioning that this bug, and the endless loading issues found below, may simply be related to the large influx of players connecting to the Microsoft Flight Simulator servers during the Xbox launch, and may resolve themselves automatically every bit things stabilize and calm down.

Endless loading bar

Summary: The initial loading screen for Microsoft Flight Simulator can take ages to progress, often freezing close to completion

Quick ready / workaround: Unfortunately, in that location'due south no easy fix for this issue other than simply waiting (betwixt five and 30 minutes)

When you first start up Microsoft Flight Simulator, you're met with the typical loading screen and a frustratingly slow blue loading bar at the lesser of the screen. While it makes sense that the game'due south first launch would accept the longest, MSFS has been taking seemingly forever for a lot of players. The loading bar volition progress at a pretty standard step until virtually the end of the screen (well-nigh 80-99%), and then just freezes.

While nosotros can't speak for every instance, this doesn't appear to be a game-breaking issues like information technology might at first glance. We likewise encountered this issue when first starting MSFS, merely an extended wait of about ten minutes resolved the problem. Some players reported having to wait for fifteen minutes or more for this initial loading bar to complete. This is understandably frustrating, merely probably the best affair to practise with this loading bar is simply to look.

This problems is nigh identical to the endless updates screen bug above, simply we've seen some cases of crashes on this screen, resulting in players having to restart their long look.

Menus freezing and stuttering

Summary: Various menus in Microsoft Flying Simulator either freeze, don't show the cursor, or are difficult to navigate

Quick prepare / workaround: Players accept been able to circumvent this bug by waiting patiently, restarting the game, connecting a USB mouse, and fifty-fifty opening the Xbox Guide and endmost it once again

Equally a simulator, MSFS features a ton of various menus that players need to navigate to set up flights, choose activities, download additional content, manage settings, and interact with the game's numerous systems. Nosotros've seen reports that many of these menus are freezing for players, or they're unable to reliably navigate the menus without the cursor jumping around or failing actually to interact with menu elements.

Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to exist an easy fix for this, fifty-fifty if you're patient. Nosotros've seen signs that this problem can be resolved simply by waiting, similar many of Microsoft Flight Simulator'due south other bug, and that the menus aren't necessarily frozen, they're just incredibly ho-hum. Restarts may also ready the problem with menus in MSFS, but this comes with the take chances of encountering one of the countless loading bugs mentioned above.

Other players have reported being able to gear up the problems with the card by plugging in a USB mouse and using the mouse to navigate, only this is an imperfect solution. One of the easier fixes that may not work is just opening the Xbox Guide (by hitting the "Xbox" push your on controller) then immediately bankroll out. Since nosotros haven't experienced this particular bug, we haven't been able to verify these fixes.

Forced crashes and closes

Summary: Microsoft Flight Simulator is strength closing to the Xbox Dashboard, particularly during the endless loading screen

Quick fix / workaround: Unfortunately, there's no easy set for this event other than restarting the game and trying once again

Seemingly playing into the issues Microsoft Flying Simulator is having loading into the game or checking for updates, some players are reporting forced crashes that send them dorsum to the Dashboard. As Microsoft Flight Simulator'south Xbox launch continues, nosotros're starting to come across more of these reports coming in. If Microsoft Flight Simulator'southward lingering Xbox launch issues are due to an influx of players stressing servers, it'due south possible that the issue is only getting worse every bit we attain the peak traffic time of day.

Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a set to prevent these crashes at these times, and some players are reporting being subjected to the endless loading bugs again later restarting the game. If you're afflicted past a crash, you'll either demand to restart the game and run the risk of a long wait once more, or wait until later today to see if servers stabilize for Microsoft Flight Simulator on Xbox.

What are the other bugs and issues in Microsoft Flight Simulator for Xbox?

Here are all of the other, less serious known bugs and problems in Microsoft Flying Simulator for Xbox, and how you might be able to fix them.

Random Achievements being granted

Summary: Some players are being granted a completed Xbox Achievement when first starting the game

Quick gear up / workaround: This isn't really a bug that needs to be worked around or fixed, but it may be abrasive for Accomplishment completionists

While non equally egregious or as frustrating as other MSFS issues, this is still undoubtedly a issues. When first starting the game, some players are reportedly being granted a random Xbox Achievement. It's hard to tell, but the random Achievement may be related to whether or non y'all've played the game on PC (and may even accept been an Achievement that was completed on PC only never given).

We ran into this consequence personally, as I earned the "Challenge Accepted" Achievement (complete any activity) upon start starting Microsoft Flight Simulator for Xbox but before actually playing the game. I previously had played MSFS on PC just long enough to finish the first tutorial and had not been given whatsoever Achievements.

Xbox friends not appearing in leaderboards

Summary: Xbox friends that also play Microsoft Flight Simulator are non actualization on in-game leaderboards

Quick fix / workaround: Add together your Xbox friends to your Microsoft Flight Simulator friends list as well to brand them appear on in-game leaderboards

If you have a lot of friends on the Xbox network and like to play competitively, it may have been disappointing not seeing them announced on the in-game leaderboards in Microsoft Flying Simulator. This is a known issue, and also has a pretty simple fix, if a little fourth dimension consuming.

If you lot want to see you Xbox friends appear on in-game leaderboards, exist sure to add together them every bit friends within Microsoft Flight Simulator as well. One time they take your in-game friend request, they'll announced on leaderboards like normal.

We may earn a committee for purchases using our links. Learn more.

Check out Windows Central's Best of MWC 2022 picks!

Simply the all-time

Check out Windows Cardinal's All-time of MWC 2022 picks!

Another Mobile World Congress is in the books, and this yr it brought enough of exciting announcements from Lenovo and Huawei. Here'due south a wait at what defenseless our attending, earning Windows Central'south Best of MWC 2022 awards.

Stolen NVIDIA data is being used to bypass Windows security

Nether attack

Stolen NVIDIA data is being used to featherbed Windows security

Some of the data leaked by ransomware grouping Lapsus is being used past cyber attackers to featherbed Windows security measures. Ii code-signing certificates were leaked, which are now existence used to make malicious files appear genuine.