How to troubleshoot download & Installation issues

Download and installation issues can be a major inconvenience, especially when you’re eager to play your game. There are several common reasons why these issues might occur, and you may need to repair the Microsoft Store or the MSFS app itself. Look below for the scenario that fits best your situation, and follow the corresponding troubleshooting steps.

 

>> TROUBLESHOOT THE MICROSOFT STORE APP

If you're having trouble launching the Microsoft Store app or finding Microsoft  Flight Simulator, you should follow the steps listed in these articles: 

• Fix problems with apps
• Can't find or install an app
• Can't push an app or game to a device
• Can't find Microsoft Store app in Windows 10
• Microsoft Store app doesn't launch

 

>> TROUBLESHOOT THE FLIGHT SIMULATOR APP

Go through the following checklist if you are in one of the following situations:

• You cannot install or update Microsoft Flight Simulator
• You're prompted to install the update again

RESTART YOUR DEVICE

As basic as this is, a simple restart can set many things right.

 

MAKE SURE THE ENGLISH (US) LANGUAGE PACK IS NOT MISSING

Microsoft Flight Simulator requires the English (United States) Language Package.

• Go to Language Settings > Speech > Manage Voice
• Click on Add voices
• In the search bar type "English"
• Install the English (United States) Language Pack

MAKE SURE WINDOWS IS UP TO DATE

1. Press the Start button on the taskbar, type settings, and then select Settings.
2. On Windows 10, select Update & Security. On Windows 11, select Windows Update.
3. On the Windows Update page, select Check for updates to see if any updates are available for your device.
4. Once the updates have downloaded, select Install now to start the installation.
5. Following installation, we recommend that you restart your device so that the latest updates can take effect.

For more info, go to Windows Update

SYNCHRONIZE TIME SETTINGS

• Go back to Start, then select Settings > Time & Language.
• Select Date & Time and toggle the “Set time automatically setting" and “Set time zone automatically” to ON.
• Click on Synchronize your clock to synchronize your system's clock with an Internet time server.
• Then click Region, double-check that your country or region is correctly set up (for example if you live in Canada, make sure that the region isn’t automatically set to the USA or vice-versa)

MAKE SURE BOTH THE XBOX AND GAMING SERVICES APPS ARE UP TO DATE

1. Press the Start button on the taskbar, type store, and open the Microsoft Store app.
2. Select Library.
3. Under Updates & downloads, check if there are any updates available for the Xbox app or Gaming Services app. If an update is available, select Update.

MAKE SURE YOU'RE SIGNED IN TO THE XBOX APP AND THE STORE WITH THE SAME ACCOUNT

To make sure your permissions for the game can be validated, be sure to sign in to both the Store and the Xbox app using the account that was used to purchase Microsoft Flight Simulator.

For help with signing in, go to: Sign in to Xbox

INSTALL THE XBOX APP

On your Windows device, select Search on the taskbar, type Xbox, and then select it from the list. If the app isn’t installed, you can get it for free from the Microsoft Store.

Get the Xbox app for Windows

WHAT'S NEXT?

Now that you have ensured that no essential application updates were waiting to install and that the connection to Xbox services has been restarted, install/update Microsoft Flight Simulator again via the Xbox app.

To continue troubleshooting the Microsoft Store, go to Basic Troubleshooting: How to troubleshoot games and apps from Microsoft Store